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Parish Office Opens and Time Capsule is Buried

(25 June 2002)

Monday 24th June saw the opening of the new Parish office on the site of the recently opened Library and Community complex in High Road, next to Cookham Rise Primary School. Not only that but the Cookham Time Capsule was also buried there at the same time.

Rev John Copping takes a final look at the Time Capsule

It had been intended that the Time Capsule should have been buried during the Millennium, but it was also thought that the new Library would be a good place to actually have it, so we had to wait for the building work to be completed. The capsule contained a variety of items including fascinating autobiographies of Cookham families with some lovely photographs. The information contained in many of these will be unique and will be lost apart from the information contained in the Time Capsule. Apart from the family information, there were menus from local restaurants, the Medical Centre annual report, the Cricket Club fixtures, newsletters from local organisations, a Cookham Twinning mug, the Cookham Society's magnificent Golden Jubilee Souvenir Programme, books on Cookham, including the booklet written by Elisabeth Sanders on EDlizabeth House, and a myriad of other items that represent Cookham as we know it, even the plans of the new Library complex.

Some of the many items that went into the Time Capsule

The time capsule had been hermetically sealed and it is hoped that it will withstand the ravages of time. No time has been given as to when it should be dug up. That is being left up to future generations.

Brian Clews, who organised the capsule, stands in front of the HOLE!!

The Time Capsule was officially buried by Dr David Mercer, who has recently retired. He also opened the new Parish Office that has moved to the new building from Elizabeth House.

Dr David Mercer cuts the tape to the Parish Office

The opening was followed by a get together with a finger buffet prepared by Jill Cruse. Jill had been up late the previous evening preparing her family piece for the Time Capsule!!

David Armstrong, Clerk to the Parish Council, enjoys a snack

Mike Piggott who had been on the Parish Council during the 1990s and had then moved down to Devon in the mid 90s came back with his wife especially for the opening, which was much appreciated by the other members of the Parish Council most of whom remembered him well.

Drs David and Julia Mercer chat with Father Michael Smith

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