Ellesmere Society's Covid-forced end with library donation

Officials of the Ellesmere Society have blamed the disruptive restrictions imposed during the pandemic for the decision to cease operating.

But members have donated more than £1,000 to the town’s library to help fund future local history activities, according to Fred Williams, who has overseen a disrupted two years as chairman.

“Because of Covid, we haven’t met since early 2020," he said.

"It’s been extremely difficult to get things going again and from the response we’ve had, we came to the conclusion that, sadly, the Society had run its course.

"Some people have joined other groups and many of our older members no longer want to venture out to meetings on cold, wet winter evenings.

"The society was founded in the late 1980s and became affiliated to the now defunct Shropshire Building Preservation Trust."

Past president Peter Sanderson added: “As well as holding monthly meetings with guest speakers, members became very active in helping to provide way-markers, plaques and signboards around the town, relating to Ellesmere’s history.

"We also produced a number of booklets on various aspects of local history and some volunteers worked hard to compile a detailed index for a variety of documents lodged in the local library archives.”

Long-serving secretary Paul Goulbourne said: “At its peak, the Society had about 50-60 members, but numbers have dwindled since the pandemic.

"We still had more than a thousand pounds left in our coffers, we’ve donated this to the library where it will used to promote local history”.

Library manager Sheila Williams thanked the group for their support.

She said: “We’re very grateful for the Society’s very generous donation.

"We already have plans to use some of the money for future local history projects and guest speakers on local historical topics, and we also hope to arrange a coach outing to the Gladstone Library in North Wales.”