Local author receives prestigious award

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Val Bott wins with book on the Brentford flood of 1841

Local author and historian Val Bott has received a prestigious award for her book on the Brentford flood of 1841.

The London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS), established in 1855, gave the award for the best local history publications in Greater London.

The Awards were presented at the recent LAMAS Local History Conference at the Museum of London. Val received a certificate and the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society a cheque for £125. The publishers of the three other shortlisted books received £25 each.

Val is a museums consultant and local historian who lives in Chiswick and has been a member of the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society sine the 1970s. She spent many years researching the story of the Brentford Flood before writing the book. She said “I am absolutely delighted and very proud that my book has won this new prize. I would very much like to share the award with Toni Marshall, whose approach to the design made it very special.”

As this was the first time such an award had been made books by members of, or produced by the 50 or so local history societies affiliated to, LAMAS, and published in the last 5 years were eligible.

From the twenty-nine entries received, four were short-listed. including 'When the Bombs Fell - Twickenham, Teddington and the Hamptons under Aerial Bombardment during the Second World War' by Paul Barnfield, 'Victorian Seven Dials' by David A Hayes , 'The Cresswells of Winchmore Hill: a gifted Victorian family' by Peter Hodge

Flood! is available from Hounslow Libraries at £7.95 or by post at £8.75 from the Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society, 25 Hartington Road, London W4 3TL.

December 1, 2004