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Forum
Eardley Group
Posted By: David W.Eardley (Audley)
Date: Sunday, 10 December 2000, at 5:30 p.m.
The Eardley Group held it's inaugural meeting on Tuesday November 21st, not in the Parish Hall of St.James in Audley as originally planned, but due to problems with the heating system in the Hall, it was held in the function room at the Butcher's Arms Public House which is nearly opposite the Church. It was an extremely wet and cold evening and the roaring open fire provided by the landlord was very inviting.
The meeting was a great success with eighteen attendees (with apologies received from Bill Eardley and Michael J.Eardley) Those present were as follows:-
Robert Jack Eardley, Cyril Eardley, David W. and Thelma Eardley, Margaret Eardley Beaumont, Bud Eardley, Robert Mayer, Mavis Fryer(nee Eardley) and Husband Bill, Kay Howell(nee Eardley and Husband Peter, Andrew Dan Eardley and Margaret Eardley, Robert C.Eardley and Linda Eardley, Jane Eardley, Clifford Eardley and brother Wesley Eardley.
Being a Public House the refreshments available also added to the enjoyment of the evening, to the extent that it was unanimously agreed that all future meetings should also be held at the Butcher's Arms!
The objectives of the Group, which are to promote the continued preservation of the Eardley name and family and to re-emphasize the focus for the project started on July 15th, to provide finance for the Church to fully restore the prestigious East Window as a memorial to the Millennium gathering of the World-wide Eardley Family.
Following social and geneological discussions between the members present, Robert Jack Eardley who had travelled to the U.K. to be present at the meeting and myself, addressed the the Group and answered questions regarding details of the Eardley Window Fund and the programme for the implimentation of the restoration. Robert Jack Eardley also informed the Group that he had arranged a meeting with Peter Davies the Vicar, to discuss the finer points regarding the finance of the scheme and details of the restoration. Other topics discussed, included how we take forward the exiting recent developments, regarding the news that we had a family member who actually granted 'Independence' to America long before the events of 1776! His name was Sir George Yeardley(Eardley) and he set sail for the infant colony of Virginia on board the 'Deliverance' in 1609, eventually becoming Governor of Virginia, a post he was to occupy three times. A full account of the story can be found on the Eardley Web site. A suggestion was made that we approach the Audley Parish Council, to consider contacting 'The Daughters of The American Revolution' with regard to a possible twinning of Audley with Jamestown or Williamsburg in Virginia - watch this space!
The Group meeting wound up at around 9.30pm after deciding that future meetings be held at 7.45pm on the first Wedneday of each month with the first being on January 3rd 2001.
POSTSCRIPT:
Following Robert Jack Eardley's very successful meeting with Vicar Peter Davies, the feedback regarding the Eardley Window fund is very positive - the fund is steadily growing and it is planned to launch the restoration at a ceremony to be held in St. James Church Audley at noon on Saturday July 21st 2001, both the Vicar and Graham Chaplin(the Restoration Contractor)will be there to explain the project in detail and to answer any questions.It is hoped the Eardley family will be well represented. Dependant on the continued success of funding, the restoration should be completed by the Summer of 2002 and a Service of Dedication is planned for Saturday 20th July 2002 at noon,where we hope to repeat the Eardley Family Reunion of July 15th 2000.As we have mentioned before, all it needs is for each Eardley Family to contribute just £10 to the fund and we shall achieve our goal. The Vicar also confirmed that a plaque, suitably inscribed, will record the details of the World-wide Eardley Family contribution enabling the restoration of the window. Incidentally,Graham Chaplin the contractor selected to carry out the work, was responsible for the restoration of the West Window in the Church some years ago. Robert Jack Eardley has also invited the Vicar to attend our next Group meeting to answer any questions raised by members of the Group. However,because Robert Jack Eardley also intimated his wish to be present at the next Group Meeting and the fact that due to the New Year Holiday weekend, he could not arrange a suitable flight,the Group meeting has therefore been deferred from January to the first Wednesday in February. So the date and time of the next Group Meeting is the 7th February 2001 at 7.45pm in the Butcher's Arms Public House, Church Street, Audley - all you Eardleys out there, please do your best to attend.
In conclusion, Robert Jack, Myself , the Eardley Group and our families wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
David.
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