Eric Brandreth

Late librarian and local historian

Eric Brandreth in 2009

This page is dedicated to the memory of Eric Brandreth who died on May 10th 2011.

For many years Eric was the Librarian in Harpenden Public Library, but he was also a major force in setting up the Harpenden and District Local History Society.  He was an avid collector of information about Harpenden – photos, cuttings, programmes, articles – and over the years he deposited them with the County Record Office or the Society’s archives.

But Eric was always keen to share information and through the Society he published three booklets of photographs of old Harpenden (now out of print) and a monograph on The Harpenden Races, as well as many items in the Society’s Newsletters, of which he was editor for a number of years until weeks before his untimely death.  He joined the editorial team for Harpenden-History, seeing this as another way to share his enthusiasm.  Many of the articles on this website were either written or contributed by him.

Eric will be greatly missed, but he leaves behind him many resources for future research and the inspiration for others to carry on sharing snapshots and insights into Harpenden’s past.

Comments about this page

  • Sorry to hear about Mr Brandreth’s death. I remember him at the library , and his wife at Roundwood Park School.

    By Hazel Piper nee Towner (27/06/2011)
  • Thank you for putting this information on the website. I am very sorry to learn that Eric has died. I remember him well from meetings and discussions, and appreciated his amazing range of knowledge. He must indeed be missed by society members.

    Margaret Scott

    By Margaret Scott (08/06/2011)

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