Harry Combo: The Valley’s Greatest Showman
At the age of 42, buck-jumping champion Harry Combo from Dingo Creek, was considered the “old man” as he took centre stage at the 1920 Wingham Show. With the grandstand full to overflowing…
Christina ‘Ruth’ Gardiner
Christina ‘Ruth’ Cameron was born 31 March 1909 at Wingham to Alexander and Agnes Cameron and is believed to have been the first baby born at Nurse Cameron’s Private Hospital…
When John Gardiner met Ruth Cameron…
They spoke for seven years before they met face to face. Mervyn Machin decided to play matchmaker and reportedly said to John who had a reputation for being a man of few words…
John Gardiner, MC
John Gardiner was born near Glasgow, Scotland in 1894. At age 17 he enlisted in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) as part of the Territorial Forces. With the start of WWI…
22 Canget Street, Wingham: A women’s affair
During an era when most women did not have control over their finances, this house represents a diversion from that norm…
Edward Cannon: Bight Cemetery
Edward Cannon was one of many British teenagers assisted to migrate to Australia between 1911 and 1939 under the Dreadnought Scheme…
Ian David Redman – a little boy’s handprint
The story of a little boy’s handprint in the cement of a shed at 101 Bungay Road, Wingham has touched people’s hearts. Thanks to community input the sad ending to this tale has been uncovered…
101 Bungay Road, Wingham
In the back shed of 101 Bungay Road Wingham is a child’s handprint pressed into the concrete slab with the date 17-7-54. After watching episodes of Restoration Home during Covid19 social distancing measures, the hunt was on to work out whose print…
Breach of Promise of Marriage…
“I could kiss you to death.” “I am going to fill this letter with kisses…” The letters from James Campbell Summerville to his fiancée Margaret Charlotte Challinor were filled with these endearing statements…
The Brown Family at the Bight Cemetery
Towards the back of the Bight Cemetery is a headstone that recognises the deaths of four members of the Brown family. What is the story that lies behind this stone?