Speaker: Alan Hunton Serendipity is a remarkable phenomenon which describes a most beneficial outcome achieved purely by chance. We will see that a significant number of scientific discoveries throughout history have been made by mistake; such that the intended result failed but the unintended consequence was so dramatic and useful to society that the researcher […]
Speaker: Angela Chantry Considered by many to be the greatest flamenco dancer of all time, Carmen Amaya gave her own definition to the art of flamenco. Her career began at the age of four and throughout her childhood she performed alongside her father in the taverns and music halls of Barcelona. With the outbreak of […]
Speaker: Rosalind Miranda As a lead-up to the New Deal in the USA in the 1930s & some of the artists who were helped by this program, I will start with some nostalgia about the Roaring Twenties. Even if we didn’t live through those years, it’s fun to hark back to those wild times. All […]
Speaker: Angela Chantry Considered by many to be the greatest flamenco dancer of all time, Carmen Amaya gave her own definition to the art of flamenco. Her career began at the age of four and throughout her childhood she performed alongside her father in the taverns and music halls of Barcelona. With the outbreak of […]
Speaker: Alan Hunton Ancient civilisations had little understanding of our planet and the general opinion was that it was flat or saucer shaped. All the heavenly bodies appeared to revolve around the Earth. Pythagoras and other Greek philosophers working in Alexandria in Egypt during the first millennium BC disproved the flat Earth theory and within […]
Speaker: Peter Atkinson We are absolutely delighted to welcome back one of our favourite speakers, Peter Atkinson, who is returning to this area for a short time from his new life in Canada and has kindly fitted in one of his superb talks for our members whilst here. His presentation will explore the work and […]
Speaker: David Ebsworth Elihu Yale is a major figure in our history, though now mostly forgotten. One of the first nabobs, (a Muslim official or governor under the Mogul empire) Yale bequeathed his name to one of the world’s most famous universities. At the same time, he left nothing to poor Catherine except the slur of branding […]
Speaker: Keith Smith When the word Medieval is mentioned, one conjures up images of death, disease and depravity. But what was life in the Middle Ages in Europe really like?What did people eat and drink?What leisure activities did they pursue?What were attitudes to sex? When could they have sex? When not? Who decided this? and what […]
Speaker: Mike Granville Speaker: 1946 was a year of profound change. In particular the United States and Soviet Union were emerging as superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War. This talk will explore how the events and developments of 1946 laid the groundwork for the modern world. It will also look at the lives […]
Speaker: Gary Johnson Gary Johnson aims to show you how a little known Arabian Princess was to blame for the downfall of Edward VIII and how this happened.
Lecturer: John Hopwood Frank Winfield Woolworth was the son of a farmer recently returned from the American Civil War and in 1879 at the age of twenty-one he founded the 5 & 10 cents stores which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, became the largest retail business and department store chain in the world […]
Speaker: Angela Chantry Over two thousand years ago one of the greatest military leaders in history almost destroyed Rome.Hannibal, a daring African general from the city of Carthage, led an army of warriors and battle elephants over the snowy Alps to invade the very heart of Rome’s growing empire. But what kind of person would […]
Speaker: Ally O Brian What are the stories behind some of the famous products? Birds Custard and Royal Baking Powder were both invented because Alfred Bird’s wife was allergic to yeast and eggs. “Marriage is a lot more harmonious when one’s wife can satisfy her sweet tooth”!!! Why is there no sugar or flavouring in […]
Speaker: Angela Chantry César Manrique Cabrera (1919-1992): described as the man “building paradise in the ruins of hell”.César Manrique Cabrera was a Spanish painter, sculptor and artist, best known for his architectural projects as artistic director. He was one of the foremost exponents of contemporary art in the Canary Islands, and a reference in the […]
