This article written by Jackie Rickenberg was published in the Parish Magazine in August 2020 to mark the retirement of Michael as Chairman of the Thursley History Society
Michael O’Brien has lived in Thursley, with his wife Marion and family for 56 years and not many of us can claim such village longevity! The O’Briens moved into Vine Cottage as a newly married couple and five years later decamped almost literally next door to The Lodge, where they live up to the current day.
Michael wrote an interesting piece in this magazine a couple of months ago about the strange coincidence of recently finding his father’s name in the church register during a visit in 1938. Michael was five years old at the time, living with his family in London, and was completely unaware of his father’s detour whilst out on a drive with a great friend. Twenty-six years later, in 1964, Michael and Marion settled in Thursley, and Michael can only imagine that his father had completely forgotten this turn of events as his previous visit was never mentioned. Maybe not surprising as his father was the distinguished and somewhat busy Baron O’Brien of Lothbury, an independent Peer in the House of Lords and, during his time, Chief Cashier of The Bank of England. He went on to become the Governor of the Bank between 1966-73 and continued an illustrious career in finance until his retirement at the remarkable age of eighty.
Michael’s early career in the City, saw him commuting from Thursley to the Stock Exchange and latterly he was an expert in the Sporting Gun department of Christie’s Auctioneers. Throughout his life, Michael’s loves have included the country outdoor pursuits of shooting and fishing, and the Arts, but perhaps the overriding interest throughout his life has been history. He and Marion joined the Thursley History Society shortly after its inception in 1990. He was Chairman from 1998 until 2011, and has remained on the committee until his recent retirement. At the ripe old age of 86, we can forgive him his wish to take things a little easier, especially in our strange new world.
During his time in the society, Michael has been instrumental and involved with many wonderful and fascinating initiatives (at this point, he would, I’m sure, like to point out that he worked and served with many other great enthusiasts throughout the years):
1995 – Assisting Sally Scheffers in creating the 50-year WW2 exhibition in the Village Hall.
1999/2000 – As part of the Millennium celebrations, a whole village photograph was arranged by the late Peter Anderson, with over 300 villagers (and a couple of passers-by, allegedly!). This now hangs over the stove in The Three Horseshoes and over the winter, it is hoped the author, Michael, Marion and anyone else willing to help, will attempt to name the majority of the residents for future reference.
Early 2000’s – Archiving the discovery of a 200-year-old vault underneath the chancel in the church. The lead lined and highly decorated coffins of Ann and Edmund Woods were uncovered by chance, before resealing the vault shortly afterwards.
2004 – along with John Walshe, prepared and presented “A walk through old Thursley”, repeated in 2009.
2006 – archived the Minutes Book of the Thursley Institute (now Prospect Cottage) covering its period from 1887-1920.
2013 – Living History Project, the primary purpose of which was to chart the change of Thursley from an agricultural community to a residential one over the previous 70 years.
2013 – Through the study of the 1911 census, the discovery of the recording of a tented community in Willow Reeds, a copse on Thursley Common, which included, amongst others, a chimney sweep, his wife and children and a beehive maker.
2014 – Assisting in the preparation and research for the Great War Centenary Commemoration exhibition organised by John Walshe, David Brickwood and Peter Hanauer. This concentrated on the village in 1914 and how Thursley went to war. It reported on the inhabitants that went, their stories and where they had lived in the village.
On his election as Chairman in March 1998, Michael wrote, in the newsletter of the time, the following letter:
“Although always interested in matters historical, my interest in Thursley’s past was largely triggered by a chance introduction to a Mrs Barbara Bell (nee Robertson) who had been born in The Lodge in 1897, daughter of the Victorian artist Arthur Robertson. Barbara quickly became a great friend of the family and when she first came to lunch with us in 1972, we discovered that it had been sixty years exactly since she had last passed through the front door of The Lodge. Rather an emotional moment for all of us! Her memories were very happy ones, and for us of course, fascinating to hear.
Many of you will have had similar opportunities to discover aspects of the history of Thursley and surrounding areas, and indeed, a very good deal has come to light since our society was founded. I urge you all to continue on the lookout for anything that is of historical interest, and let the society know of your discoveries”.
The current Chairman of the History Society, Anthony Langdale and Sukey, along with all of the committee, would like to send their heartfelt thanks and gratitude for all of Michael and Marion’s invaluable service and support over the past thirty years. They will be very sorely missed! So, finally, if this has stirred any appetite for all things ancient, please come and join our merry band and help sustain our wonderful village’s memories and stories for future generations.