The Barnes Wallis Exhibition held yesterday to commemorate Effingham’s most famous resident, 40 years after his death, at the Tithe Barn in Manor House Lane was a huge success. Around 1,000 visitors enjoyed the exhibition. Almost £850 was raised from donations for refreshments for The Friends of All Saints, Little Bookham Church and St. Lawrence, Effingham Church.
EFFRA is grateful to the six descendants of Sir Barnes and his wife who attended the exhibition and to the family for their support and for lending artifacts and providing family photographs to be used. The family members who attended covered three generations including his only surviving child, Elisabeth. Five of them are pictured below with two of the exhibition organisers.
The family asked to express their appreciation of the exhibition and to thank the many volunteers who gave their time to make the day such a success.
The EFFRA Committee would also like to thank the approximately 40 residents who helped on the day and without whom we would not have been able to put on the exhibition. We would also like to thank Brooklands Museum, Christ’s Hospital, the Barnes Wallis Foundation and the Surrey History Centre for their support and loan of artifacts and other village organisations for their support, including Effingham Parish Council for a grant from the Community Fund to help finance the event.
A 32 page illustrated commemorative booklet (pictured above) was produced which includes an account of the life of Sir Barnes, with some family photographs. A limited number of copies are still available and will be made available through a local retail outlet with details to be posted on the website when available. Until supplies run out, individual copies of the booklet can also be obtained by non-retailers by sending name and address details and a cheque made out to “The Effingham Residents Association” endorsed on the back “Barnes Wallis Commemorative Booklet” for £6.50 which includes postage and packing to: EFFRA, 5 Orchard Gardens, Effingham, Surrey KT24 5NR. Please allow 30 days for receipt and include a telephone number for any queries.