Welcome to WIAS!
We hope that we can boost our ZOOM audience amongst members & visitors who have preferred not to use it before. Help and advice is readily available – please get in touch. If you haven’t joined a ZOOM meeting before please consider giving it a try!
Non – Members are very welcome at Live meetings and ‘ZOOM’ meetings. If you would like to join a ‘ZOOM’ meeting please complete our simple form at this link. WIAS suggests a voluntary donation of £3 for non-members to assist with running costs.
WIAS guide to joining a Zoom meeting
WIAS Member – Many will be aware of these arrangements already, but this is the formal announcement provided by John:
Janet Caroline Willock died at Harper Fields Nursing Home, Balsall Common on the 8th August 2026. She was eighty-five years old. Janet was a Senior Chartered Physiotherapist who also specialised in Hydrotherapy, working in the medical department of the Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, for many years, and then subsequently at Castel Froma in Lillington. Janet was a WIAS member for many years and was well versed in engineering; her father had been a leading designer and patentee of high-precision gear grinding machinery. Janet had gamely battled dementia for at least seven years. She was married to John for fifty-six years.
Janet’s Memorial Service will be held at St Mary Magadalen, Lillington, on Thursday 3rd of September 2026, at 12.30pm. There will be a reception in the adjacent Octagon building immediately after the service. Martin Green, Chairman. 20th August 2026
WIAS Member – Members may be aware of the recent death of Philip Adock, one of the Coventry stalwarts who have supported WIAS over many years. He was 98 years old and had spent recent years in a Care Home. Martin Woolston has passed on details of the funeral arrangements. The funeral will be on Thursday, September 3rd at 2 pm at Lenton’s Lane Cemetery, Alderman’s Green, Coventry CV2 1AA, for an internment. A Reception will be held afterwards for mourners’ recollections of Philip at a venue yet to be decided. Martin Green, Chairman. 13th August 2026
Photo Gallery – The gallery has been tidied up and a few new shots of Saltisford Basin, Warwick, on a glorious sunny morning, added. The Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd narrow boat, with its tiny viewable living area, is interesting! Link here. The site is always open, free to enter and has an extremely good free audio tour to enjoy as you stroll around. There are some excellent short videos on how the basin originally looked and was saved. Link here. 12th August 2026
Videos Update –The problem is now resolved and the videos are back! 9th August 2026
Videos on the WIAS Website -Due to a critical security vulnerability in the software that powers the videos, they are temporarily unavailable. Once the problem has been resolved they will be restored as soon as possible. 28th July 2026
Coventry Climax – Many thanks to Stuart Robertson for drawing our attention to this You Tube video. A good option to enjoy away from the mid-day sun. “Here is a You Tube Video I think will be of interest to some WIAS members. I have heard a lot about Coventry Climax (Automotive Engine manufacturer, F1 Engines, Fork Lift Trucks, WW1 & 2 portable electric searchlight generators, Godiva Fire Pumps etc) but never the full story. This video gives it all. Can’t check on the accuracy though but the content seems pretty reliable”. Follow this link. 22nd June 2026
History Worth Telling – Martin Green – The first in a new podcast series where Mark Ellis of Postmaster Media interviews people who are passionate about local history, and have felt motivated to do something about it – write a book, make a film, create an event, set up a society, etc. We find out more about what they’ve done, where that passion comes from, and why they have focused their attention on that specific area of local history. Our own Martin Green, Chairman of Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society, joins Mark to talk about WIAS, his passion for industrial heritage, and why this needs to be preserved for future generations. Follow this link to see the film and many others on our ‘Films Page’. 10th June 2026
‘The Leamington Kitchener’ –This new production, written and directed by Mark Ellis, has been added to our films page and some of those taking part will be familiar to WIAS members. You will find it at the bottom of the films page, click here. 6th June 2026
WIAS Newsletter No. 89 – The latest newsletter is now available at this link. Thanks to all involved in its creation! 5th June 2026
2026 WIAS Members & Supporters Survey – Our on line survey of members and supporters has now finished and the form has been removed from the web site. Very many thanks to the 40 plus people that replied; all the comments and views expressed will now be reviewed and will undoubtedly help the society plan for the future. 5th June 2026
Reminder about the June 2026 Meeting – 4th June 2026
‘The Making of Milestones. Hampshire’s Living History Museum, from conception to completion.’ – Gary Wragg.
PLEASE NOTE – THIS IS THE FIRST THURSDAY IN JUNE! 17th May 2026
AIA News – The lastest AIA e-news Bulletin includes the sad news of the death of Sir Neil Cossons, one of the pivotal figures in the industrial heritage movement. The eNews is full of interesting developments and requests in the world of IA. Do take a look, it’s available at this link. 14th April 2026
The Riley Archive Coventry – The Spring event for 2026 was re-named the Victor Riley Memorial Day and held on the 11th April at the home of the archive, Coventry Canal basin. A fine collection of Riley cars was on display and the archive was open. If you are in the area it is well worth a vist, an excellent breakfast and other refreshments are available at the canal basin cafe! Some photos have been added to our gallery here. 12th April 2026
2026 WIAS Members & Supporters Survey – We will be carrying out this survey to help us understand the background and opinions of our members & supporters so that we can improve the programme and make plans to attract new members. The results will not be used to identify individuals, unless you wish to provide your name. If you do, we shall be pleased to follow up any matter that you wish to discuss. Take our on line survey now at this link. 24th March 2026
WIAS Newsletter No. 88 – The latest newsletter is now available at this link. Thanks to all involved in its creation! 2nd March 2026
WIAS 12th March 2026 Meeting – The speaker for the next meeting, James Davies, has had to withdraw as he unexpectedly has had to go to South Africa. He will deliver his presentation as part of next season’s programme. The talks will now be;
‘Empress Coaches: a family history’ – David Daniel and ‘Galvanizing Profits in Birmingham, Spreading Wealth in Warwickshire: Joseph Ash, zinc and the National Trust’ – Martin Green. 25th Feb 2026
Welcome to WIAS 2026 – Our second meeting of the year is the last of our winter Zoom only meetings on Thursday 12th February at 7.30pm, (join from 7pm onwards). The subject is ‘Concorde: The First Time Machine’ by Guy Bartlett. 16th Jan 2026