Dr Nick

Have been doing a bit more work on refreshing my website, got a few news posts to go, just need to finish the podcast section off - things are progressing. In mean time continuing research on Dunston House, #Thatcham - see https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2023/10/the-dunston-estate/ . Got a few new names connected to it, would like to track down what happened to materials that were sold off, know some already. Thinking this is going to be a BIG research project

Continuing the BHF #WalkForHearts today between jobs, walk crossing from Hampshire to West Berkshire, Headley to Crookham to Greenham. Finding history and defibrillators along the way. Got about 66 miles left to complete.

The latest Blue Plaque for #Thatcham at the old deopt site. Will do a blog post soon with more information.

I like my walking, I like my history, so love combining the two. Just a few of the walks from various places visited, Theale, Wallingford, Barnstaple, Bath, Lyme Regis, Charmouth, various BBOWT wildlife walks - what better way to get active, relax and learn!

A brief history of "Thatcham Twinned with Nideggen" now on my blog - https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2026/01/thatcham-twinned-with-nideggen/

Backpack from Blacks, first aid kit restocked, waterproofs ready, BHF top ready, guess thats me ready to start the BHF #WalkForHearts. Grateful for any & all donations via @JustGiving - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamDeeds-2026-WalkForHearts . Oh and the AED/defibrillator will be coming on some of the walks to raise awareness. Will be doing part of Kennet & Avon Canal, Blue Plaques in the area, milestones on the Great West Road, Nature Reserve, etc...

Following on from my Walk For Hearts for the BHF ( https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamDeeds-2026-WalkForHearts ) I will be giving a #Thatcham history talk for the Mayor of Thatcham in aid of Home-Start West Berkshire, Swings & Smiles and Bridge for Young People - details at https://thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk/event/thatcham-in-old-photographs/

Now signed up for
the British Heart Foundations #WalkforHearts event, having earlier this week had an ICD change only highlights even more the importance of the work by the BHF. I am committing to walking 100 miles in February. Donate via https://justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamDeeds-2026-WalkForHearts

Plan to cover some local (Thatcham, Newbury, Greenham, etc) history & nature on the walks. And I will do parts of it carrying a defibrillator!

Later in the year will do some fundraising for other charities too.

I will be talking to Bucklebury History Group (see https://www.hugofox.com/community/bucklebury-history-group-20816/events/the-cedars---dr-nick-young-89701 ) in February about some of the historic houses in #Thatcham including the Poplars ( see https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2025/03/the-poplars/ ) and Dunston House (see https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2023/10/the-dunston-estate/).

Many still think #Thatcham is a village and I actually still say I am going to "The Village" (meaning the town centre / shops) but we have been a town since 1974. See my @nickbits@mastodonapp.uk blog for more details - https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2024/08/thatcham-a-village-or-town/

We have some fantastic Blue Plaques around #Thatcham, take a look at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-KcfPVoZazsYFym9Z7Bej9414-VMGPep and have your say on the next plaque(s) via Thatcham Town Council ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdn11BU0jRLbFggGg6ahYKCPqMePQ9rNcyljiIpJsAKYTcFhA/viewform )

Thatcham has a lot of history and this week
Thatcham Town Council
are sharing short histories of the current blue plaque scheme. Jump over to their YouTube channel to watch - https://youtube.com/watch?v=NW1Sfgz0UP8&list=PL-KcfPVoZazsYFym9Z7Bej9414-VMGPep - you will also see three of our own members taking parts, see if you can spot them!

I wrote a post ( https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2018/03/thatcham-britains-oldest-inhabited-settlement/ ) on my blog back in 2018 - "Is #Thatcham Britain’s oldest inhabited settlement?" where I noted about the Saxon origins. As more archaeology (reports) has become available I have become more convinced that Saxon Thatcham lay just to the south west of the church, with possibly a bit extending northwards. I will write a new version of the post with the updated evidence and a map. In mean time see where the name #Thatcham comes from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U9jYQTqwjE (thanks to SoG)

This years Thatcham Festival I have the following events:

Beating of the Bounds Talk (10th October)
--
Soldiers of Thatcham (12th October)
--
Thatcham Around and About (15th October)
--
And there are plenty of other history and non-history events on. Thatcham Historical Society will be in the St Marys with a display of various materials, Thatcham Town Council will be unveiling another blue plaque and much more. See https://ticketpass.org/o/57776337/thatchamtowncouncil/events for more details.

Got two of these (
ulanzi ) #VIJIM VL81 Bi-Colour LED during the pandemic for doing remote schooling & some #Thatcham history talks online. They have been brilliant, several people ask me what camera i use as video is good, just a cheap webcam with good lighting. Battery now going on them and switch issues on other. Lasted well, time to replace.

Invested a few months ago in new medical alerts. Prefer the white on black, the silver one looks nice but can be difficult to see. Both on Casio W-96H watches - neither perfect fit but do work. For those interested, links for both https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1799585927/allergy-tagcustom-medical-alert-tag-for and https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1671532894/personalised-parkrun-qr-code-tag-for