"THE Campden Wonder" was the title of a talk, given to the society on the May 30 by local historian Mr Ralph Richardson.

It is the true tale of events which took place between 1660 and 1662 and which involved a number of people of the town Chipping Campden.

It is also a compelling justification for those who oppose capital punishment.

The main characters of the story are William Harrison, the steward of the estate of Lady Juliana Campden, absentee Lady of the Manor.

John Perry, who was Harrison's resident servant; Joan Perry, John's mother and Richard Perry, John's brother.

Others involved in the story were Sir Thomas Overbury JP, a magistrate at Bourton on the Hill and Sir Robert Hyde, a judge at Gloucester Assizes and the interpretation of the "Act of Indemnity and Oblivion".

Harrison disappeared after visiting a nearby village to collect a relatively large sum of money and various searches failed to trace him. Finally John Perry confessed to his murder but later retracted the confession.

However, as a result of his confession all three members of the Perry family were convicted of murder, despite the lack of a body.

They were hanged, close to the top of Fish Hill near Broadway, for a murder that never took place because 15 months later Harrison returned to Campden with a barely believable story of his disappearance. Now, more than 400 years on, there is no definitive answer to the mystery.

Nevertheless Mr Richardson brought the whole episode vividly to life and had the audience on the edge of their seats all evening.

He finished his presentation with a most lively and prolonged session of questions, postulations but no definitive answers to the mystery.

The next open meeting of the Society will be held on September 26 and will be the AGM and an evening of pictures and historical information on Wythall.

The venue is the Baptist Church Hall, Chapel Drive Wythall commencing at 7.30pm.