One hundred years from now, perhaps there will be fascinating historic photographs of children walking along the pavement listening to music from giant headphones whilst texting on their iPhones.

Perhaps in time, the day-to-day sights of the 21st Century will come to be viewed with as much nostalgic fondness as the image seen to te right, of children in Mannings Heath. The children are making their way from Mannings Heath School (possibly on ‘wear a hat to school day’).

This is among the images collected and discussed by a new Local History Society in Nuthurst. Launched at the Church of The Good Shepherd in Mannings Heath, the society will cover all parts of the parish of Nuthurst and will therefore embrace Mannings Heath and the hamlets of Monks Gate, Nuthurst, Maplehurst, Copsale and Sedgwick.

Twenty-five people attended the inaugural meeting and signed up as members. They will be looking into the estates and farms, the families and individuals and the houses and properties of past times. Members will also be
delving into social activities, notable events and special happenings in the parish, and analysing the manner in which the communities have evolved. Already dozens of pieces of information -  memoirs, diaries, stories and pictures - have been unearthed. Most of the inhabitants of the parish would be quite astonished to hear about and see them.

The next meeting of the Society will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Church Road, Mannings Heath on January 6th at 7.30pm. The Society would like to see any photos or pictures anyone may have of life in the parish, or any written material that would add to its bank of knowledge.The Society’s intention is to make its archive available to all who are interested, no matter where they reside.

To become a full member of the Society costs £12 per year, and Associate membership costs £6. Please Email Dorothy Hatfield at dh.hatfield@btinternet.com for membership details.