DINTON Historical Society’s annual meeting and first lecture of 2014 was held at Dinton Village Hall on March 27, when a presentation was made to retiring treasurer, John Nield, who has served in the position for five years.

New officers for the coming year were confirmed as Geoff Campey (chairman), Jeff Taylor (vice-chairman) and David Wise (secretary).

A replacement is being sought for the retiring treasurer.

Lucille Campey gave a presentation on the subject of The Wandering Wyndhams of Dinton: George’s Vineyards in Australia and Alfred’s Cattle Ranch in Canada.

She informed listeners that both George and Alfred Wyndham, both of whose ancestral homes are in Dinton, decided to emigrate in the 1800s to Australia and Canada respectively.

George, despite eventually establishing a successful vineyard in New South Wales, soon pined for his roots in Dinton. In contrast, Alfred became a true Canadian and overcame harsh conditions to make a living for his family on his ranch in Alberta.

Both of these members of the Wyndham family had the ability to see into the future, and it was this asset that made them both successful in their dreams of settling in the New World.

The next meeting will be on Thursday, April 24 when Ruth Newman and Jane Howells will give a talk entitled A Working Man’s Samuel Pepys: William Small’s unique memoirs of Victorian Salisbury at Dinton Village Hall at 7.30pm.