THE Wellington Parish History Society had a magnificent, informative, well delivered talk on the subject of the Marden Bell at the end of November.

Samantha Craig kept us gripped as she revealed the folklore surrounding the bell as well as the history of other pre Conquest ecclesiastical bells.

Her interpretation of the documentary evidence about the bell was spellbinding.

We've had lots of very positive comments about Samantha's talk. Samantha even brought a replica of the bell along for us to handle. Afterwards members and visitors mingled over refreshments including the promised giant Eccles cake, baked by the chairman to coincide with Lancashire Day. Samantha even managed to weave in the origins of the place name "Eccles" in to her talk.

The first meeting of 2017 for the Wellington Parish History Society is on January 26.

Bill Laws will talk to us about the Herefordshire Home Front in the First World War.

We meet at 7.30pm in Wellington Village Hall. All are welcome; we are a friendly society and always pleased to see new faces. Free refreshments are provided after the talk.

Given the topic of the speaker's presentation we can perhaps anticipate a revisiting of Trench Cake. Contact Gill Bullock 01432 839109.