02 Jan 2026
The Wheathampstead and District Preservation Society (WDPS) has commemorated its 30th anniversary with the burial of a time capsule in the village.
The ceremony took place exactly three decades after the Society’s inaugural meeting on December 17 1995 and the capsule will remain buried until that same date in 2055.
Its contents vividly capture contemporary life in Wheathampstead and a snapshot of the village community as it stands today. Among the items chosen were editions of the PUMP, WDPS newsletters, and local memorabilia reflecting everyday life in 2025.
One particularly touching element came from St Helen’s and Beech Hyde primary schools, where the head teacher and pupils wrote letters to the children of the future — messages of hope, curiosity, and what they most value about their village, highlighting the spirit of continuity and care that sits at the heart of WDPS’ mission.
Two special guests, Annie Hitch and Chris Coles — members of the original WDPS committee present at the Society’s first meeting in 1995 — were invited to attend the
ceremony and provide a link between past and present as the village reflected on 30 years of community effort, stewardship, and pride.
WDPS celebrated the moment as “a gift to the future: a record of community, curiosity, and care,” emphasising that preservation is not only about buildings and landscapes, but about people, memory, and responsibility for generations yet to come.
Annie Hitch, founding member of WDPS said “In 1995, when I helped found WDPS, I was new to the village and excited with all it had to offer my young family. I am so thrilled that WDPS still thrives today to help keep this village special. Here’s to the next 30 years.”
WDPS thanked Wheathampstead Parish Council for their support with this project and facilitating the time capsule burial in their grounds at a location in the centre of the village.
