It is a coincidence that both our award winners profiled in this issue of Local History News are graduates in English, though as you read it becomes clear that writing has remained important to both of them. Barbara Applin studied at Newcastle (when it was King’s College, University of Durham), and joined in the excavations at Hadrian’s Wall. After various administrative posts with the Museums Association, evening classes and then a diploma in Archaeology, she became Assistant Curator at the Willis Museum, Basingstoke, when the town was being redeveloped for London overspill. This meant rescue digs on vast housing estates, and on the route of the M3. With the founding of Hampshire Museums Service, Barbara became Keeper of Archaeology. She was invited back to the Museums Association as Acting Secretary for a short spell, and then moved to Macmillan where she edited books teaching English as a foreign language, and wrote some children’s readers.

 

Barbara was a founding member of Basingstoke Archaeological & Historical Society (BAHS) in 1971, and is described as ‘one of its driving forces ever since’. Her diverse skills and interests are revealed in the products of her involvement in local history and archaeology. In 1986 she co-wrote (with ian Cullen) a play 'Swing Swang lane' based on Basingstoke history, that was performed locally, and in 1993 she wrote the script (and participated in the narration) for a video (now a DVD) on Basingstoke’s archaeology Beneath Basingtsoke. Her abilities as a playwright were used again for ‘A day in Tudor Basingstoke’ where she brought research into sixteenth century records to life for a modern audience, resulting in at least one person becoming hooked on local history!

 

Some readers will be aware of Basingstoke’s reputation as ‘Doughnut City’. Undeterred by this nickname, one of Barbara’s books is Roundabout Basingstoke which examines historical stories relating to some of the many roundabouts on local roads in the area.

 

Becoming less fit for digging, Barbara has continued to work on a database of Basingstoke. It began as a card index of billheads, has subsequently expanded to include many more sources, been computerised, and now provides information for enquirers. Barbara and her husband have also been closely involved with the volunteer project to revise the Basingstoke Hundred section of Hampshire Victoria County History (see LHN 88 p6 and 89 p5).

 

In recent years Barbara’s main focus has been the Basingstoke Talking History Project. She has spearheaded this programme, leading a group of volunteers who have recorded interviews with people in the area, capturing memories before, during and after the town’s rapid expansion of the 1960s and 1970s. Well over 200 have been recorded, transcribed and deposited with the Wessex Film and Sound Archive at Hampshire Record Office. The team has also transcribed some earlier recordings held at the Willis Museum, making them much more accessible. It doesn’t stop there: the project is using their results. The first book Taking the Pulse of Basingstoke is a collection of memories of health before and after the introduction of the National Health Service. Happy Christmas Basingstoke! has just been published.

 

Barbara Applin’s enthusiasm for her home town is infectious. She has not only worked hard for local history over many years, through involvement in organisations like Basingstoke Archaeological & Historical Society, Friends of Willis Museum, Friends of Basing House, Hampshire Field Club, and Basingstoke Heritage Society, but has also been instrumental in encouraging others to follow in her footsteps.

 

 Thanks to Barbara Applin, David Lee, Mark Preyer, and Derek Spruce