Recent email from Ailene Brooks in Weare, Somerset:-

I created a web site for Weare, in Somerset, where Rev Draper was vicar in his later years.  I was contacted by someone who is interested in him and his family, and had come across our web site.  Through this I came to your site, and thought you, and his grandsons who contacted you, might be interested in Rev Draper's obituary,

  Click here to view the site

First, a warm welcome to all those of you who are new to the mailing list….though the mailings could well be a little erratic as I am finding it harder to arrange a programme of events. I would ask if any of you find out about lectures, walks etc with a historic theme, do let me know so that I may pass them on to everyone.

People filled Adel Church on 18^th February to hear Emeritus Professor Joyce Hill present her illustrated talk on the Staffordshire Hoard. She was introduced by Dr Barrie Hopson, Chairman of the Adel Association who, with the Church, hosted the talk to raise money for the church bell-tower. He stressed that although the Association was non-denominational our ancient church was an important part of the community. He emphasised how lucky we are to have Joyce as a speaker by mentioning that she was just back from Rome where she had been a guest of the Vatican.

Via the website we recently received this email from a descendant of the Draper Family.   Thanks to Joan for this contribution.

I would like to add some information to the note attached to your research group's history of members of the Draper family whose names appear on the Adel war memorial. My brother Michael and myself are the children of John Godfrey Beresford Draper, who was the fourth son of W.H. Draper, the third son of his second marriage. He, like his elder brother William, served in France during the war, but he survived, in spite of being at one point severely gassed. He married Aileen Masefield in 1923, and died in 1972. My brother and I both have children and grandchildren; his four grandsons carry on the Draper name. A friend drew my attention to your interest in the Draper family. I was glad to hear of the commemoration of those who tragically died in the war.

Adel History Group (Affiliated to the Adel Association) 2009 Review  

Val’s History of Adel

This is perhaps the most notable achievement to date. Launched in December in aid of the Bell Tower Appeal, sales have already covered production costs. One consequence is that we are now receiving more information on Adel’s past. A book “The Commons, Waste Lands and Urban Moors of Leeds” by Graham Branston and notes on Adel in the 1950’s and 60’s from a long-time resident are two examples. An appeal for photographs in the local magazines at the same time has resulted in some offers – tours, photographs, maps, deeds (property in Headingley on Eddison land) and properties (Stairfoot Cottage, Aisling Cottage) which all add to our knowledge.

Revisions to the War Dead on the memorial, after the 1911 census

At 11am on 10th November Churchwarden, Geoff Steel, welcomed us to Adel Church and introduced members of the Royal Armouries Interpretation Team,

David Eliot and Eden (in a World War One uniform).  Eden read a poem by the Yorkshire-born Sir Herbert Read which told the sobering story of a desertion - how it happened, what it felt like and how it ended. David then turned our attention to the Adel War Memorial and gave biographies of the three brothers, sons of Rector Draper. The family became real. The names on the memorial were read by Eden, who then read a (WW2) poem, by Osbert Sitwell which was thought-provoking. It had been an inspirational, moving ceremony powerfully illustrating the tragedy of war.

Adel History Group – Summer bulletin     

 Thanks to members who supported recent events:

Matthew Hall’s talk on Cookridge Hospital to 1953, Janet Douglas’s superb walk around Victorian Adel and Val Crompton’s excellent history talk at York Gate.

For further information on Lawnswood Cemetary and its History please click here

Family history enquiries relating to previous Adel residents can now be dealt with more speedily. The 1837 -1917 Marriage Register for St John the Baptist Church has been transcribed onto computer by Meryl Auty. Ann Lightman has done the same for the 1876 - 2006 Burial Register. The Adel History Group was asked for their help in this task as the Parish safe was overflowing. So not only can computer searches be done instantly but the original registers have been placed in the West Yorkshire Archives, Sheepscar, Leeds, where they are protected and accessible. It is hoped that volunteers can be found to transcribe the remaining registers, including baptisms. Enquiries can be made via the Church website: www.adelstjohnchurch.org.uk or by contacting Val Crompton on 0113 225 9142.