Updates  Summer 2017. Tributes have been paid to the society's former treasurer, Mr John Cowell of Sandbriggs Court, Garstang. Mr Cowell, who died on June 27, 2017, had served as treasurer and a committee member for several years. His wife, Nancy, had also been a committee member. The two of them stepped down from the committee about two years ago. Mr Cowell, a quiet but hard working and thoughtful man, was a retired farmer from the Chipping area. A minute's silence in memory of Mr Cowell will be held at the September 2017 meeting of the society. The funeral service will be held at All Saints Church, Barnacre on Wednesday July 12th 2017 at 12.00 noon. All Saints Church, Barnacre on Wednesday July 12th 2017 at noon. January 2017 - Condolences to the Stott family of Garstang on the death of Mr Joe Stott, one of our society members, who was regularly accompanied to our meetings by his son, Peter. Joe had been a leading local bowler and a popular member of a local music group. January 2017 - A charity helping people in Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) has been given a boost with a donation of £50 from Nev Joseph of Garstang, the money being his fee for his lecture to the society in January. Tax-gifting the fee has made the £50 gift worth £65. Thanks to Nev for his generosity.  November 2016 Garstang's poppy appeal has been given a pre-Remembrancetide boost from the sale of a book commemorating the town's First World War heroes. Last year local historian Paul G Smith and journalist Anthony Coppin published "Garstang's Great War Heroes" a paperback about the life and times of men from Garstang, Bonds and Bowgreave who served in the global conflict, many of them giving their lives for their country. The proceeds from the sale of the book over the past 12months, along with a donation from Garstang Historical Society, have now been presented to Garstang's poppy appeal organiser Dave Brewin. At a cheque presentation ceremony at Garstang Arts Centre Mr Smith handed over the cheque for £1,400 to Mr Brewin. Mr Smith said: "The book has proved popular with both members of the public who have bought it, and with pupils of the Garstang area primary schools who have been given copies as a gift to mark the current centenary of the war years. "We are delighted with the sales figures and equally pleased to hand over all the money raised so far to the local poppy appeal." Mr Brewin said: "We are grateful to Mr Smith, Mr Coppin and Garstang Historical Society for their donation to Garstang poppy appeal funds." Also attending the presentation were Garstang town mayor
Coun Alan Cornthwaite, representing the town council which was one of the early
financial sponsors of the "Garstang's Great War Heroes" project, and
Garstang Historical Society chairman, Peter Burrell. A spokesman for Garstang Historical Society, whose treasurer Mrs Maureen Spiers has managed the finances of the book project, said sales of the books and the offer of free copies to pupils and students from Garstang, Bonds and Bowgreave, would continue until autumn 2018 or until the supply of the print run of books runs out - whichever is the sooner.  November 2016 Pupils at Garstang's primary schools have been learning about the part played by local servicemen during the First World War. Copies of the book 'Garstang's Great War Heroes' have been given free to this year's autumn intake of pupils at Garstang Community Primary School, St Thomas's CE Primary and SS Mary and Michaels Catholic Primary, Bonds. A spokesman for Garstang Historical Society, which has over seen the financing and publishing of the Garstang's Great War Heroes book said: "Although the book has been written with adults in mind we have given copies to children with the idea is that it will be a 'long term' gift for both them and their families, with the youngsters' appreciation of the biographies in the book growing over the years." * The book is on sale price £8 at Market Place News, Garstang Arts Centre, KwikKutz Barbers and Garstang Tourist office. For more info about the book, as well as offers of free copies to students from Garstang, Bonds and Bowgreave who attend schools/VIth forms/colleges outside Garstang, or are at university, please ring 01995 605824. Caption: four pupils from Garstang Community Primary School with their history books *** December 2015
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