Monday, 24th July 2006

PRESS RELEASE

l to r Mrs Janice Morris, Secretary; Mr Norman Biggs, Chairman; Cllr Maureen Gant, Mayor of Tamworth; David Swift Chief Constable of Staffordshire; Roger Bragger; Speaker; Mrs Christine Moss, Treasurer and Cllr Ken Gant.

The Peel Society gave a warm welcome to the new Chief Constable of Staffordshire, David Swift, at their 26th Annual General Meeting held recently at Middleton Hall where their unique collection of Peel family memorabilia is displayed. David Swift is a Patron of the Peel Society.The Mayor of Tamworth, Councillor Maureen Gant presided over the meeting. She was accompanied by her consort, Councillor Ken Gant.

The Chairman, Mr Norman Biggs reported that the Society had continued to increase membership and had run a number of successful events, including a visit to the site of the Battlefield of Waterloo and a glittering reception in the grounds of the British Embassy in Paris. The Society had also welcomed and guided TV crews from Japan and Korea. They were making programmes about the Tamworth Manifesto issued by Peel in December 1834.

The Peel Bust by M. Noble

The Society had also been successful in purchasing more important items of Peel memorabilia for the collection. A recent example was on show for the first time. This is a Staffordshire figure based on a bust of Peel in the National Portrait Gallery in London. This bust was originally modelled by Matthew Noble (1817-1876), who also sculpted the Peel statue outside the Tamworth Town Hall.

After refreshments taken in the lovely gardens of Middleton Hall, the meeting enjoyed an interesting presentation by Peel Society committee member, Roger Bragger entitled "Lawrence's Air Force" Roger gave the meeting an insight into the remarkable adventures of T. E. Lawrence and his pilots who attacked the Turkish forces in the Hejaz in 1916/17 and their impact on world history. Roger showed his unique collection of medals and documents relating to these events.

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