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Powditch Family's Family Gathering 2006
14 - 17 September 2006
The Overview
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You are here: home > 2006PowditchGathering > Thursday14Sept2006 > The Overview
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The Second Powditch Gathering at Morston;
Overview.Goodness knows where the 24 months between the first (and very successful) 2004 Powditch Family
Gathering had 'flown' but here we were, in Morston, Norfolk once again (September 2006) and all
looking forward to everything which had been planned for the Second family event.
Although everyone at the first ever Powditch Family Gathering (September 2004) realised that the
very special events organised that year could never be repeated, the thrill they had of meeting other
family members, visiting places associated with Powditch ancestors and hearing about their
'exploits', discovering various parts of Norfolk, and being able to share a Family Meal etc, was
enough for their suggestion that further Family Gatherings be held. Indeed, at our Family Meeting,
it was suggested that future events should be held on a bi-annual basis; the year 2006, and the
venue, Morston, being the time and place proposed for the Second 'PFG'.
As had been set out in the overview for 2004, when family members asked "Why Morston?", I would
just wish to repeat that;-
 first of all, the 3rd entry in that Church’s Parish Registers for the year 1538 was for a very important marriage (Powditch-wise) between one James Apowdiche and Anabell ... . Secondly, descendants from that marriage as well as other Powditch’s had worshipped at Morston and had lived both in the village as well as in surrounding villages from at least the early 1500s; although by the mid-1700s they had chosen to move further afield. Thirdly, the last Powditch known to have actually lived in Morston had died in 1751, so after a period of over 213 years worship there, and apart from the occasional visitor to the Church who (when the door hadn’t been locked) had signed the Church’s Visitors’ Book, no Powditch member had lived in Morston for some 253 years.and Fourthly, every known Powditch in the world today (and there are only about 180 individuals) owe their descent to that 1538 marriage between James and Anabell.On a more 'mercenary' basis, another reason for the venue being Morston was that (as family
members who have visited 'All Saints' Church at Morston will verify) the 'family church' has (and has
had) many 'problems', with water coming through the roof, the building having no electricity or heating,
woodwork needing treatment and much more.
That the Church has at least two Powdich graveslabs inside the building, and that one has much
deteriorated during the past century (indeed, over the last couple of years) is of concern, and with a
213 year association with the Church, Village and local economy (albeit in the 1538-1751 period),
it was felt by the current day Villagers (led by a retired Army Major (Jocelyn - known as ‘Joc’ -
Wingfield) who is a leading light in the Friends of Morston Church - a Charity formed to raise much
needed funds for the upkeep and preservation of the Church of All Saints at Morston, that present-day
Powditch family members might wish to reassociate themselves with the Church and Village by
holding their Family Gathering (the first ever as it turned out to be, in 2004) at Morston; the logic
behind the suggestion for the event being held in their Village and Church, being that the need for
raising funds for the Church's upkeep and preservation would be highlighted through the publicity for,
and attendance by, the Powditch's at their first ever Family Gathering, as well as from those attending
the event (both Powditch and other dignitaries/attendees).
September 2004 was a resounding success from start to its reluctant finish ('reluctant' because so
many friends had been made, and few wanted to leave!) and although many were not able to make
the journey to Morston due to family commitments, school terms, distance, infirmities, etc, the event
did attract 23 family members (2 from Australia, 1 from New Zealand, 4 from South Wales, 2 from
Kent, 2 from Hampshire, 2 from Buckinghamshire, 1 from Cambridgeshire, 2 from Nottinghamshire,
1 from Essex, 2 from Northamptonshire, and 4 from Lincolnshire). As you might agree, out of a total
of only 184 persons (approximately) worldwide with the Powditch surname, the fact that 23 family
members were able to come was very good, especially as for 2004 we had arranged the event
without any foreknowledge of the best time of year to hold it, as well as not knowing whether the
number of days and events, or whether the amount being charged for ‘everything’ would be agreeable
to everyone, or indeed, whether the dates would conflict with others' arrangements.
With the knowledge gained from 2004 and with the suggestions in place for the Second Powditch
Family Gathering being held in September 2006, meant that we all looked forward to the Second
Family Gathering, and so it was, after
months of preparation, of letters, phone calls, emails, together with many successes and a few failures, the event was almost upon us - and then, after an
urgent phone call from Joc Wingfield of Morston, on the afternoon of 25 August 2006, everything
changed as Joc had rung to let me know that in the early hours of that morning, The Anchor at
Morston (our venue for Registration, the Family Meeting and all Family Meals) had had a catastophic
fire, and that the building was now just a 'shell' !
Thankfully no-one was seriously hurt in the fire, although 4 members of staff were in the building,
asleep, when the fire actually started, and had to be rescued by the Fire Brigade, who had raced to
the scene. Joc advised me that as it was highly unlikely that The Anchor would be rebuilt in time for
our Family Gathering, it would be best to secure an alternative venue, and he suggested the Red Lion
at nearby Stiffkey as being suitable for our family meals; the Village Hall at Morston coming to our
rescue as the venue for the Registration and the Family Meeting.
To cut a long story short, the Red Lion was more than pleased to provide meals for us on each
evening, and once The Anchor had confirmed that they wouldn't be able to 'accommodate' the 2006
Powditch Family Gathering on their premises, we were able to book everything with the Red Lion,
change a few times, notify everyone (especially those travelling from abroad) and update the
information on the Powditch website etc.
Just over three weeks later, we undertook a long cross-country drive from South Wales to Norfolk,
stopping at the Milton Keynes Travelodge for one night en-route, and then mid-afternoon of
Wednesday 13 September, we arrived in Blakeney, and not long afterwards, we settled into the
holiday bungalow we'd rented for the week, all ready (or so I hoped !) for the whole of the 3½ day
Powditch Family Gathering.
For what happened next, please click on the following link:
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 Morston Church
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