LISS Area Historical Society (LAHS) members marked the end of an era at their last meeting in 2015 when they celebrated the society’s 30th anniversary with a cake.

Formed in November 1985, the society has arranged eight meetings a year and 23 annual trips away for members and guests, as well as numerous day visits, and talks are held each month from September through to April.

LAHS chairman Ron McCann, who lives in Petersfield, said: “This is a tremendous milestone and it has been achieved through the work of all the members and committee members over the years.”

There have been 12 exhibitions in the last 30 years, including A Year in the Life of Liss in 1988, 100 years of life in Liss in 1992, Railway 150 in 2009, and The First World War and 70th anniversary of D-Day in 2014. More than 400 people attended this last exhibition and thoughts are now turning to the next one.

The society also supports local events with historical contributions. Last summer, the society was invited to display its Longmoor Military Railway material at the Farewell to the Garrison event at Bordon. Several hundred people visited the stand, which told the story of the railway and its part in the life of the garrison.

At the start of their 31st year, LAHS members are looking forward with optimism as they move to a new venue for their monthly meetings. Meetings will be held at the Triangle Centre on the third Wednesday of the month. The first meeting at the Triangle is tonight (Wednesday) at 7.30pm. The centre has good audio and projection facilities, as well as better access for people with impaired mobility.

Ron added: “We’re looking forward with confidence and have taken the opportunity to move to a more central location in the village which will hopefully be more suitable for people.”