The trustees

Message from our President - Wisbech is a town with a character all of its own. Architecturally it is captivating with perhaps the finest Georgian river frontage of anywhere in Britain. But it is far more than a tourist’s dream: the houses are all lived-in; the pavements are busy with people; there are also lively pubs, active shops and thriving open-air markets. Wisbech is widely regarded as ‘the capital of the Fens’, but unlike other regional centres it doesn’t dominate the area around it. It has always been part of an evolving landscape. In common with other Fenland towns, such as Spalding, it also has a long history of intellectual enlightenment, featuring Quakers and other progressive thinkers. Today the town’s rich cutural and architectural heritage is in the very capable hands of the Wisbech Society, whose prompt action has saved the Chapel of the General Cemetery and transformed it into a prominent social hub where today talks and other events have become a cherished feature of local life. An important part of this project was the careful modification of the surrounding graveyard, which has now become a peaceful haven for nature and wildlife. I know of few other places that can be more gently tranquil.

About ouur President: Dr. Francis Pryor was born in London in 1945. He read archaeology and anthropology at Trinity College, Cambridge where eventually he took a PhD. After Cambridge he emigrated to Toronto where he joined the staff of the Royal Ontario Museum. Using the Museum as a base, he began a series of major excavations (1971-78) in England, at Fengate, on the outskirts of Peterborough. Here he revealed an extensive Bronze Age field system, plus Neolithic and Iron Age settlements. After Fengate he turned his attention north of Peterborough, to the Welland Valley, where he excavated two large sites, at Maxey (1979-81) and Etton (1982-87). Etton was a superbly preserved earlier Neolithic (3500 BC) causewayed enclosure, an early type of ceremonial centre. In 1982 he also began survey work in the nearby Fens and soon discovered the timbers of a Late Bronze Age (1300-900 BC) timber causeway and religious complex at Flag Fen, just east of Peterborough. This remarkable site was opened to the public in 1987. Today it has become one of the best known Bronze Age sites in Europe and a principal visitor attraction in the region. He was awarded an MBE ‘for services to tourism’ in 1999. Fengate was published in four volumes in the 1970s and ’80s and major English Heritage monographs on Maxey, Etton and Flag Fen appeared in 1986, 1998 and 2001. His popular account of this remarkable site, Flag Fen: life and death of a prehistoric landscape (Tempus Books, Stroud), was revised for a second edition in 2005. His book on prehistoric farming, Farmers in Prehistoric Britain (also for Tempus) is also in its second edition (2006).

He regularly blogs on the trials and tribulations of writing (check out his blog HERE), broadcasting, sheep farming, gardening and archaeology.

Richard was elected as a trustee in 1985 and was the society secretary for five years before becoming chairman in 1990 on the retirement of Ann Carlisle.

Richard held the post of chairman for ten years until 2000 when he retired because he had been elected mayor of Wisbech and in this year he was married to Beverly. At this time the trustees did Richard the great honour of electing him Vice-President of the society.

Richard has been chairman of several local groups, WISARD, Wisbech tourism group, Wisbech Museum and friends, town and county councillor; appointed deputy lord lieutenant in 2003 also served as Cambridgeshire High Sheriff from 2011 – 2012.

Richard is currently a charity trustee of 14 organisations as well as being chairman of two parish councils in Northamptonshire.

Richard has lived in Wisbech since 1976 and works for Clifford Cross Auctions Ltd a company he purchased in 2001. He lives in Barton Road in Wisbech and also farms 750 acres in Northamptonshire where he practises countryside conservation.

Roger was made an Honorary Vice-President of the Society in 2024 on retiring from the board of trustees. He had given long and dedicated service to the Society and has been chairman and vice-chairman.

Before retirement he was head of History at the then Isle College as well as an Open University tutor.

He has published a number of books on local history, including 'Richard Young' for the Wisbech Society.

Moving to the area in 2000 Lorena has spent time within the community as part of, or managing, creative and heritage projects across the town, most recently as Project Co-ordinator for the restoration of the Old Chapel.

With interests and skills across the digital, creative and heritage sectors, her portfolio career of IT Consultant, American car accessories business owner, heritage projects coordinator and textile workshops provider has gained her a range of experiences and a network of people to draw on for interesting connections and ideas for collaboration.

Lorena has been a fellow of the RSA, is on the board of CLLD (a European Funding program for Wisbech) and is proud to add Trustee of the Wisbech Society to the list of voluntary roles that contribute to the local area.

Using this experience and links within the community and further afield, Lorena is looking forward to working within the Society to further its aims and increase understanding of the local heritage across sectors and across communities, locally and further afield.

In August 2001, Ray purchased Sibald's Holme (former home of Algernon Peckover and Gordon Smedley) with the intention of restoring it as a business project.

However, after major restoration works, he and his family decided that Wisbech was the place for them and they moved from Nassington, Northamptonshire, to make Sibald's Holme their permanent home.

By training, Ray is a Marketing professional, but now regards himself as a "lapsed" member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, having left the industry in 2000 to establish himself in the field of period property restoration.

His business career has provided roles in the UK, Europe and five years in Australia, but the character and history of England has always been a defining interest, with the heritage and people of Wisbech a key attractor to the town.

His interest led him to becoming a member of the Society, and a Trustee and in 2024 he stepped down as Chairman of the Trustees having given 12 years dedicated service. He is staying on as a Trustee.

David was brought up in Leverington and attended Wisbech Grammar School. He left Wisbech in 1962 to study Civil Engineering at Sheffield University and after graduation worked on major construction projects around the UK.

David and Tricia (nee White from Emneth) and their young family lived in the Middle East for 6 years, before returning to the UK, at Newton, when David became Managing Director of a major British International Contractor.

From 1992 to retirement, David was majority shareholder of a medium sized local contractor and was a Trustee of Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House where he played a major role in the funding and implementation of the Reunification Project.

Recently he was Honorary Project Director of the Centenary Green and Lambert's Walk projects and Team Leader for Phase II of the General Cemetery development.

In 2024 David stepped down from the Treasurer role at the Society, having given a long and dedicated service. He is staying on as a Trustee.

Paul was born in Wisbech, as were his mother, grandmother and great grandmother before him. Having lived and worked in Edinburgh, and then in and around London, he returned to Wisbech with his family in 2007.

A freelance aerospace writer and editor, Paul has edited and written for the Official Royal Air Force Annual Review since 2011 and did the same for the official RAF Dambusters publication in 2013.

He also writes for specialist industry magazines and blogs.

The author of three books, he has edited many more and has even been known to venture into automotive and military subjects.

Bob is the Membership Secretary.

Peter was born in 1955 and raised in Wisbech and has lived here all his life. He married Ruth in 1994 and has two adult children from his former marriage. He also has two grand-children.

He left school at 15 and, until 2000, he spent most of his working life at BRS. He started as a fork lift truck driver and ended his career there (due to redundancy) as a shift manager.

He then had a complete change of direction and has worked as a self-employed ceramic tiler ever since, nowadays on a part-time basis.

Peter spent 7 years as a Special Constable with Cambridgeshire Constabulary in the 2000s, policing Wisbech.

He is passionate about Wisbech and cannot imagine ever living anywhere else.

Susanah moved to Wisbech in 1999 having fallen in love with the place whilst passing through: a stop for a cup of tea ended in a house purchase. She and Jonathan were married in the Parish church of St Peter & St Paul in 2000.

Her interest in local history grew from working in local studies departments in libraries, culminating in working as a librarian at the National Archives in Kew. During her time at Kew she also completed an MA in Local History from Kingston University with a dissertation on Pig Insurance Clubs.

Although born and raised in South London, she has lived in Wales and Scotland and has a strong love of the countryside. She initially started work milking cows, however, this was followed with a detour cataloguing finds for the Scottish Urban Archaeological Trust before joining Nottinghamshire Libraries.

After Kew and before taking early retirement in 2019 she was Wisbech Town Council Deputy Clerk from 2006. This period saw the Town Council taking back many responsibilities lost in the Local Government Re-Organisation of 1974 such as the running of Wisbech Market. She also gained an MSc in Local Governance from the University of Birmingham with a dissertation on the provision of allotments.

Since moving to Wisbech she has become involved in many local community activities. She is currently the Chairman of the Fenland Family History Society, Secretary of the Wisbech Unit of the Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets, and a Director of Wisbech Projects CIC.

Her interests are wide and varied, but her current passion is searching car boots and antiques fairs for interesting bits and pieces.

Daljit was born in Wolverhampton and moved to Whittlesey in 1986.As a Practice Manager for Boots Opticians. Daljit has experience of working across East Anglia and developing business’ across the region for the Group. In 1999 he gave up his career to look after his father.

As well as being Chair of the Business Forum, he was President of the local Whittlesey Rotary Club. Daljit employed over 100 people locally and was the largest supplier of special needs transport to Cambridgeshire County Council in 2000, using his coaching and mentoring skills to upskill the local workforce, achieving Investors in People award in 2001.

Married with four grown up children, and two grandchildren, he moved to Wisbech in 2004, where he has been President of the Wisbech Rotary Club, a Town Councillor and a Fenland District Councillor. He is also the area co-ordinator and member of the executive advisory panel for Neighbourhood Watch for Wisbech and surrounding village working with the force to reduce crime in our community.

Daljit actively promotes the rich history that Wisbech has to offer, as its such a great place to live and work. Anyone coming to Wisbech will see what great opportunities it presents. It is a privilege to act as a trustee and use my skills and knowledge to move our town from strength to strength.

The Wisbech Society is always looking for new people as members and Trustees - if you are interested, please get in touch.