Crowland Hub History Research Group
On Saturday the 20th of September 2025 the ‘Crowland Library Local History Research Group’ collaborated with the ‘Gosberton Local History Group’ for their ‘Gosberton at War Day’.
We took along an assortment of First and Second World War articles, medals, uniforms, gas masks, guns etc. to hopefully bring to life what war time Britain would have been like. The event started at 10:00 and finished at 16:00 and we were busy all day long.
Many men of a certain age, who had been conscripted after World War 2 had ended, loved to handle the Lee Enfield rifle, and happily regaled us with stories of their National Service years. Many people also remembered having the ration books and identity cards on show, and said they were going home to dig theirs out.
Days like this are not only about us imparting information to the public but also, we hear stories and tales of what happened to them during that period. For instance, I now know birdseed was scarce during the war years and some people found ways of making extra money on the black market from this. Who would have thought it!
This collaboration came about after we joined a group called the ‘South Holland Heritage Network’ who’s aim is to get together any South Lincolnshire historians, or groups, to preserve, save and share their knowledge of the local area, and pass this knowledge on to current and future generation, in an educational and entertaining way. You do not need to be a history professor or have a degree in history. If you love the rich history this area has, please join the ‘Network’ or find your local history group and join in. After all we are all living history.
Togs n Cloggs Fashion Show 2025
On Friday 19th September Togs N Cloggs held their 2025 Fashion Show. With about 45 guests to this event our 6 models modelled some wonderful fashion for Spring, Summer, Autumn and winter. All clothes modelled were from donations received from the residents of Crowland. A number of the items were purchased at the end of the evening. With attendance and a raffle the evening generated in the region of £400 - a great result. our thanks to all who volunteered at and supported the event.
Crowland Flower Festival
We are delighted to have been one of the sponsors of Crowland flower festival this year. As usual, the flower displayers in the Abbey are beautiful and well worth of you. Here are some of the delights from this festival.
A Donation from Trinity Lions
On Monday Trustees and Volunteers met with representatives from Trinity Lions to receive a cheque for £165 following a fundraising activity they held. We were their nominated beneficiaries from this and were delighted to receive this cheque. We have already used some of this donation to enhance materials for the craft sessions in the summer and in preparation for craft sessions later in the year.
Thank you Trinity Lions
Our Breast Cancer Now
Afternoon Tea raises £157
Hi Sue,
Wow, thank you so much for sending over those fabulous photos. I love seeing everyone’s Afternoon Tea and how their hard work has paid off!
It looks like a perfect day.
What a fantastic total! I am so glad it was such a success!
Thank you so much for all your generous support – we really are so grateful and couldn’t do it without you! You have made such a difference ❤
Best wishes,
Honor
Breast Cancer Now
Crowland Hub Quiz night - July 2025
On Saturday, the 5th of July nine teams took part in our second quiz night battling it out for the quiz trophy winner. Teams faced a number of questions and rounds including made you think, who am I? Numbers, landmarks, Britain, dingbats, music and song plus bonus questions throughout the evening.
We held a raffle during the evening and at the end of the night the winners, (The Pick and Mix Team were given the opportunity to choose which local organisation they would like receive the profits of the evening.
The Team chose the Crowland Community Fire Service. Sue Simmons, Secretary of the Hub went to advise them of their win on Tuesday evening.
Our quizzes run every 6 months. If you would like a place at one of our future quizzes, please let Sue (Secretary) know.
Storytime
The Upside Down Bat With Penny Boreham
On Saturday, the 21st of June 2025 we were delighted to welcome Penny Boreham Crowland Community Hub as our guest story teller. Penny brought with her some of her outstanding books that she has written and illustrated and shared The Upside Down Bat with a group of young children who also made a bat at the end of the session. Children are clearly delighted with this story. Penny has written a number of books for young people and they are available via her Facebook page or by emailing her. Penandrick@outlook.com
It is hoped that we will run further storytelling sessions for young people in the future. Watch out for our Facebook posts and posters to advertise these.
These pictures show the great time the children had with Penny.
Togs N Cloggs
Our Fashion Show - Save the date...
Toggs n Cloggs Fashion Show - 19th September 2025.
Watch this space for exciting news about Cloggs n Togs fashion show. This will be happening on the 19th of September 2025 at Crowland Hub.
We look forward to sharing with you some of the latest trends from the shop and also give you the opportunity to buy clothes at the end of the show.
We are looking for models too so if you feel you could strut your stuff on our cat walk please contact Shen at the shop directly or email secretary@crowlandhub.com
More details of this event and how to buy your tickets to follow.
Creativity at its Best
On May Day - 5th May 2025 we welcomed a number of children to our May Day Arts and Crafts Junk modelling morning at Crowland Community Hub. These mornings offered free and are run by our team of volunteers at the Hub. They allow children to create and design with freedom to style and create something from start.
Check out our 'What's on diary' for more events like these later in the year
Crowland Coffee, Cake & Natter May 2025
On May 12, we had the second in our series of Crowland coffee Cake and Natter sessions at Crowland Community Hub. These sessions allow any Crowland residents and visitors from outlying villages to come and spend up to 2 hours at the Hub with coffee and cake ( charged at minimal cost of £2 per head) and catch up with and meet friends.
On May 12 we were delighted to welcome a number of ladies to this event. One of our visitors didn’t know many people in Crowland when she came but when she left she had nine new friends which was great.
Our next monthly event will be on Monday, the 9th of June where a fresh fresh batch of cakes will have been made. We welcome you come join us for a drink and a cake and some friendly chat.
We hope to see you soon
Funds raised from these events will go to to local projects
Crowland from Library’s local History Research Group – By Mike Hutchinson
On Thursday the 8th of May ‘Crowland Community Hub and Library’ opened its doors for a display to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE-Day. As many may know, a team of dedicated people have been working away now for almost two years researching the men and women who served during both World Wars. We had information on display for 13 of the 19 local people who never returned after WWII. We also had a few information sheets on local people who did return after serving, along with our WWI sheets. These information sheets are a snapshot of their lives before and during their war service, (and if they were lucky enough, after). We really do not want these people to be forgotten, including the ones who survived. (Any help you can give us with this is truly welcome).
Most of the items on display this time were from WWII and included local ARP items, local service medals, and even an old battered suitcase full of one local man’s life memories.
All the people involved with this would like to thank all who attended, (we had many more than we expected considering it was a workday), and even stayed open later than the advertised time. We would also like to thank the people who bought in photographs, documents and information to help us move forward with new sheets and add to existing ones.
We left part of our display out for the Friday morning men’s group before an even larger display was laid out on Snowden Field on Saturday the 10th of May. Our stand was busy all day with the opportunity for people to have photographs taken in uniforms, wearing tin helmets and caps, holding genuine WWI and WWII guns etc. We were joined by friends who arrived in a fully equipped jeep, which children, (and some older children!), could sit in. Winston seemed pleased to see the display anyway.
So, thank you Crowland, and remember we are in the library every Thursday morning from 9:30 to 12:30 if you would like to join us, or bring us your memories on any Crowland related subject, it isn’t just the war years we research. Hope to see you in the Hub soon.
Footnote
Our History and Research Group – From the Trustees
The history group that meets at Crowland Community Hub on a Thursday morning is one of the busiest groups we have at the Hub.
The wealth of knowledge about Crowland within this group is absolutely superb. The group are always happy to help you look into your history and past.
Do pop into the Community Hub when you have some spare time and take a look at their displays.
If you want to know more about your families past you can access ancestry.com from the Hub for free if you would like to or pop in and see the group on a Thursday morning.
Crowland Abbey Poppy Drape 2025
In the past 2 years we have, supported by the Strictland Brothers, affixed our large poppy drape to the Abbey in October. This was started by Julie Smith in 2023 who had the vision for this project. The drape has been well admired by many over the last two years and this year we are aiming to give it a refresh. Crowland Cares, Pins and Needles Group have taken on the task of knitting more poppies to assist this. these poppies will be added to the drape in September / October this year before remembrance day. Anyone willing to knit poppies should hand them into Crowland cares by the beginning of September. Anyone willing to help sew on poppies should contact Sue, secretary@crowlandhub.com. Knitted poppies need two wool strings on the back to be used for attaching to the drape.
Working with Southview School
During the past year The Crowland Community Hub has worked in partnership with Southview Primary School to support the educational journey of their pupils. This started with a training package for school staff to support children with speech and language challenges. This is in place and working well. In addition we supported the purchase of three chickens who have been happily accepted into School. These chickens have taught the children many skills such as responsibility, Looking after, caring for, feeding, watering cleaning and of course collecting eggs. The eggs are also used for the cookery club where we supported the purchase of resources to enable this club.
Coffee, Cake & Natter
Making Mondays more enjoyable - On Monday 14th April we started the first of our monthly Coffee, Cake and Natter events. With homemade cake, a bit of soothing music ladies, gents and little Thea joined us to enjoy a morning of chill and chat. our next event is on Monday 12th May and our bakers are ready to make cake to be enjoyed with a nice coffee or Tea or Juice. Anyone is welcome to join us at the Community Hub at these events.
