Trevor Buttle locked Pocklington Station for the last time on the night of 27th November 1965. His personal recollections of working at the station in it's last days were invaluable and fascinating. He has spent a lifetime researching the railways, and works at the National Railway Museum in York as a volunteer. He gave a most interesting 90 minute audio visual presentation of the York to Beverley line, which was a victim of the Beaching cuts.

Over 100 people attended the talk on the night which appropriately was held in the old railway station building, which is now a converted sports hall. Enthusiasts brought the actual signs that hung in the station, and Trevor's illustrations and recollections vividly brought to the audience a real understanding of the day to day operations of Pocklington Station. The vote of thanks expressed a wish and hope that Trevor would be present for any possible reopening of Pocklington Station.

Phil Gilbank and Andrew Sefton gave a talk on 750 years of brewing beer in Pocklington. Phil related how his father grew malting barley at Clayfield Farm, as did Andrew's father at Bishop Wilton on the heavy clay soils. Pocklington Barley was renound for producing good beer helped by the hard water fed from the chalk wolds. Phil related references to Ale and bread given to the Sokemen of Pocklington for ploughing the manor land. Many examples of maltsmen and brewers were given in early times. Andrew related the history of the later town's breweries including Pavement, Waterloo, Cattle's and the clubs brewery. The main families were Staveley's, Collinson, Scaife, Stables, Cattle and Middleborough.A display of old Brewing containers was provided by Steve Elliot and a collection of old beer labels was brought on the night by a local collector (right).

Stephen Holehan maker of the sundial

Geoff Sheasby, Pocklington Town Crier, with an interest in William Watson, who may have been a crier himself in Market Weighton in the 1840's

Members of Pocklington History Group who created and fitted the information board on William Watson

Stephen fits the sundial, but where's the sun?

Chris Rock of the Battle of Stamford Bridge Society gave us a talk on his plans for a possible future visitor centre in Stamford Bridge to commemorate the battle, and also gave a comprehensive rendition of the Battle which took place in September 1066, 10 days before the Battle of Hastings. A victory for King Harold over Harald Hardrada of Norway and Tostig the vanquished brother of Harold. The superbly illustrated talk was given a vote of thanks by David Rumbelow, on behalf of the large audience in attendance.

On a very rainy night, with a superb turnout, we had a most interesting evening with the High Wolds Heritage Group. They led us around the village imparting their obvious knowledge of the history of the buildings in the village. We then entered St. Mary's Church to listen to the 'Sound and light Tour', and then convened back to the Village Hall for refreshments. A most interesting evening, not spoiled by the inclement weather.

Lots of visitors to the PLHG tent

Crowning of the Jubilee Queen

I know that face!

The PLHG tent

The PLHG display with video screen

Bernard Ross talking about his Pocklington Airfield model .

Refreshments in the church

Slides for the kids

Not a flying man but a flying teddy!

Fund raising stalls in good weather.

Jo Green announced the group had been running now for 5 years and gave a summary of a very successful year for the group, followed by treasurers report from Peter Green with good income due to book sales. Roger Bellingham administered the election of officers. Three of the commitee have resigned. They were Alan Cartwright, Pearl Harris and Geoff Pea. Election of two new committee members took place, they were Heidi Woodhouse and Chris Bond. An Interesting talk followed by Phil Gilbank on Pocklington jockey Jem Snowden, and an analysis of the burial records. Andrew Sefton concluded the meeting with a slide show of interesting photographs donated in the last year. 2012/13 Committee: Chair & Secretary– Jo Green, Treasurer – Peter Green, Archivist/Webmaster – Andrew Sefton, Committee – Phil Gilbank, Dennis Moor, Paul Jennings, David Rumbelow, Chris Bond, Heidi Woodhouse. Roger Bellingham is lifetime Honorary President.

William Mackay gave a talk on fieldwalking finds from Pocklington & also conducted old coin and medal identification and valuations. William and the school pupils made a host of remarkable finds whilst fieldwalking in and around Pocklington in the 1970s.

They included Neolithic, Iron Age, Bronze Age and Roman artefacts from such sites as Sherbuttgate, Kilnwick Road, the Airfield and Pocklington School. After leaving Pocklington William went on to become a coin expert for international coin auction house, Spink. Right is a bronze axe exactly the same type as the two bronze age axe heads found whilst fieldwalking near Kilnwick now in the Yorkshire Museum in York.

And in the second part of the evening he helped to identify and value coins, tokens and medals brought to the meeting.

A workshop was held on food and Jo Green introduced the topic by describing some of the old and forgotten foods with recipes including 'Frumaty' and Rook Pie. Attendees brought old recipes which included one for lambs testicles!

Right: This is an old recipe for 'Pock Biscuits' found in the archive of William Watson, the Seaton Ross mapmaker. It was the book of recipes of Sarah Jackson. Watson is known to have had a housekeeper called Elizabeth Jackson.

Yet another lock out for this popular topic. Paul Waddington of the Pocklington Canal Amenity Society gave an illustrated talk on the history of the Pocklington Canal and the creditable efforts of the Society over the past years in renovating the Canal. Photographs of the members shifting half ton blocks of stone and moving huge volumes of Canal sludge clearly demonstrated the dedicated commitment of its members. More work is still needed and a heritage lottery bid has been launched to complete the renovation of the last 3 locks, dredge the section up to Canal Head, and build a possible visitor centre. The History Group would like to apologise to all the people turned away for safety reasons for this popular talk.