A REDDITCH historian who has penned several books on pubs in the area has released the final edition in the series. 

Richard Churchley, of Astwood Bank, has just brought out Having a drink round Alcester, which follows on from the Bidford, Studley, and Feckenham, Inkberrow and Atwood Bank editions. 

The new book focuses the history of pubs, past and present, in Alcester and its surrounding villages, including Arrow, Great Alne, Haselor, Kinwarton, Oversley and Weethley. 

Mr Churchley has researched many aspects of local history, and since 1978 he has written many articles for Local Past, the journal of the Alcester and District Local History Society, of which he is a member. 

He is also a member of the Feckenham Forest History Society and has written various articles about the history of Astwood Bank and for the society’s successful local history exhibitions covering the history of their area of East Worcestershire.

The former editor of the Astwood Bank News, continues to write local and natural history articles for the village magazine. He also writes articles for other local history magazines such as the Bromsgrove Rousler and the Studley Historian. Over the years Richard has often been interviewed on local radio about folk music and the history of pubs and pub names.

Mr Churchley’s first degree was a BA in German at the University of Reading, but in recent years he was awarded an MA in English Local History from the University of Birmingham.

The book is available directly from Mr Churchley for £9 with postage and packaging, or £7 from Girl Friday and Classic Clutter in Alcester, Purity Brewery at Spernall and ASAP Printing in Headless Cross. 

For more details, or to buy a book, email rachurchley@totalise.co.uk, call 01527 892361 or see churchley.org.uk.