New Members Information & Joining Form

Dear New Enquiry,

I hope that you will decide to join our group and enjoy being a member. I find that our Members really enjoy meeting up at the events, and I hope in some small way that our group is encouraging more people to dress in costume.

We are a Society of about 160 Members of varying ages, with a similar number of men and women. Members are from different parts of the country, as far south as Eastbourne, north to Cumbria, west to Mid Wales and east to Norfolk. Although many of our Members live in the Midlands I obtain details of events countrywide. We are not just a Victorian and 1940s Society, although we tend to be involved in events connected to the Victorian and 1940s periods more than others. The earliest period we have represented is Mediaeval, the latest being the 1940. Some of our Members regularly attend the Dickens Festivals at Rochester.

We originally began in 1993 with a small number of people who go regularly to the Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival each August, and who thought it would be a good idea to try other Victorian style events. As a result, I was chosen to be the co-ordinator of the Group and to find out the dates and places of period events, and other information, which would be of interest to our Members.

Each year I produce a full list of events, and a shorter version of those where it may be possible for a group of us to go. These are mostly venues to which we have been before and which would like us back again, or where we have been recommended by another organiser. They include stately homes and other historical properties, museums and also town period events. I make a note of what type of participation is required by the organisers. Generally we just get free admission to the event, sometimes refreshments and occasionally expenses. Some of the money we have received has been put towards the purchase of our own croquet set for use at appropriate events. For those interested in other periods, such as Mediaeval, I include these on the list.

Members use the information I produce for various purposes. We have some who because of the nature of their business find the contacts useful, others use the list to visit events on their own, and a good number of us have been to many events during the last few years as a group providing either an additional costumed presence, and talking to visitors and the general public, or to provide simple entertainment to fit in with the nature of the event. So far we have ranged from country dancing at an 1820s Harvest Event at Hartlebury Castle to 1940s War Weekends on the Severn Valley Railway, North Norfolk Railway and other steam railways providing them with a “spiv” and singing war songs on the trains and stations. Some of us enjoy Music Hall, and would like to do more.

Each year I also produce two newsletters, with contributions from Members, and try to get these out in June and November. As well as the list of useful addresses I send out information about costume and help new Members with ideas for adaptations to get started. A few Members have original clothing which they wear for short periods indoors or outdoors in fine weather, but most rely on making their own or adapting what they can acquire - Charity Shops are always good places to go for bargains, even if it is just for the right type of material. Members quickly become enthusiastic to learn more about the periods themselves, and by looking the part they also feel the part. As we participate in various activities it is more enjoyable if you are not constantly afraid that a valuable item of clothing is getting damaged.

Finding our props takes as much luck as anything, being in the right place at the right time! The popular time is March at our Annual General Meeting when Members bring items of costume and accessories for sale, which perhaps they have duplicated or which no longer fit or have just been an irresistible bargain. I also put a wanted list in the Newsletter so that Members can help each other with specific items. I have a selection of costume for sale.

In the new member pack I enclose a copy of the minutes of the last AGM and a copy of the previous year’s accounts. Items to go in the Newsletter are needed by the end of April for the June edition, and the end of September for the November edition. The interest lists are all of those that I have produced over the years - updated annually.

The pack also includes the full list of dates for events in the coming year, which I have been able to find out about. Additional lists are sent out during the year when extra events are advised. Where participation is required I enclose a list in duplicate asking where Members are interested in attending. I do find that Members are more willing to travel distances in the summer months.

Badges, fobs and key rings with the Nostalgia Unlimited logo in silver and grey on a burgundy background are available at £2 each plus 50p postage and packing. These items are a useful talking point and also helpful to Organisers of events and help in spotting other Members.

I also keep a record of Members and their specialities, which I can provide to Organisers.

I hope you will join us.

Joyce Perry, Co-ordinator Nostalgia Unlimited

To join us, please copy or print, the form below.