HEDON AND DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Photo: courtesy of Hull Daily Mail It is with great sorrow that Hedon & District Local History Society announces the death on 14 May 2016 of our president and friend, Dr John Markham, Honorary Freeman of the Town of Hedon. John founded the Hedon & District Local History Society in 1971, serving in a number of capacities over the next 45 years, latterly as president and programme secretary. A particular highlight of recent years has been his annual President's Evening, held in the gracious surroundings of Hedon Town Hall. A generous donation will support these lectures in future and has also equipped the society with a top-quality digital projector. Only a fortnight ago John was in Hedon to enjoy our May meeting, and he left happily anticipating our summer trips to Swine, Dowthorpe Hall and Thwaite Hall Gardens. John's funeral will take place on Friday 17 June, 11.30am, at the Church of St John of Beverley, 5 North Bar Without, Beverley HU17 7AG, and afterwards

Few Victorians were more passionate about ceramic decoration than Hull builder David Reynard Robinson. Many of his gloriously tiled buildings in Hull have sadly been demolished, including his own offices in Freehold Street, but his pièce de résistance - the curious house he built for his retirement in Hornsea - survives. Naming the house 'Farrago', Robinson used every surface, inside and out, to experiment with multi-coloured, multi-textured tiles of every available type. Attracted by the richly tiled stairwell and first-floor hall, Josie Adams (former curator of Scarborough Art Gallery and co-founder of the Tile Society) bought 'Farrago' in 1975 and has since worked tirelessly to return the house to its full glory, slowly uncovering the treasures hidden by a mask of paint, wallpaper and polystyrene in a restoration project that continues to the present day.  Josie Adams has also invited members to enjoy a closer view of 'Farrago' on Tuesday 9 A