The Society's Summer 2007 Meeting
St Luke's Church, Bath
The Society's Summer meeting tends to be a fairly light and movable feast.
This year it was held at St Luke's Church Hall in bath and there was an excellent turnout despite the fact that the country was in the throes of some of the worst flooding for 350 years.
St Luke's Church Hall.was chosen chiefly for its associations with one of the giants of the magic lantern world, the Reverend Matthew Butterworth Moorhouse who was the incumbent there from 1888-1898. Moorhouse was a prolific writer of temperance ballads and many were converted into life model sets by the Bamforth factory in Holmfirth, among them ''The Dustman's Darling' and 'Water is Best' , he also produced an epic service of song adaptation of Longfellow's poem 'The Village Blacksmith' for massed voices and temperance orchestra which was staged in various parts of the country.
The day began with a brief biography of the great man from the Chairman, who also made mention of some other local lantern worthies such as Rudge, Friese Green, Horatio Nelson King and a colourful old reprobate, James Brooke, aka The Rajah of Sarawak. Local historian Daniel Brown then screened some local views and extemporised on similar images supplied by the members.
The two early afternoon presentations were nautically themed with members Alan & Rene Marriott, Reg Bosley and Gill Marsh, providing " Sea Fever - an incomplete anthology of the sea" and David Sebborn delivering a historical tribute to Admiral Blake. The afternoon programme concluded with The Traveling Light Company and a collection of rousing ballads for communal deliverance.
Many members then scurried off to enjoy a slap-up early supper at a beautiful restaurant in Bath overlooking the famous Poulteney Bridge.
List of Bamforth Slide Sets from lectures by Moorhouse
PROGRAMME
9.00 Market stalls open
11.00 Chairman's Welcome
11.10 Moorhouse & More - A look at the life and lantern ballads of the
Reverend Matthew Butterworth Moorhouse and at some other Bath based
lantern worthies.
11.50 A Photogenic City - local historian with a collection of
fascinating local slides .
12.30 Lunch and open Market stalls
14.15 'Sea Fever - An incomplete anthology of the sea'
15.00 A tribute to Admiral Blake.
15.30 Strawberries & Cream. The Market was also open.
15.50 Bring and show - members discuss any new acquisitions or queries.
16.20 'Pulling The Plug' - The Traveling Light Magic Lantern Company brought the
meeting in Bath to a close with more long forgotten songs from the archives.
17.00 Meeting close
