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 […]
Because we are increasingly finding it more difficult to find good speakers willing to spend hours researching their subject and then presenting it to our members we must, very occasionally, repeat and old talk. This time it is one which was presented eight years ago – although it is considerable modified from the original. So, […]
Speaker: Angela Chantry In the early 16th century Hernán Cortés and his conquistadors defeated the great Aztec Empire, built a new city for colonists from Spain and took control of vast lands stretching from today’s south-western U.S. down through most of Central America. A story not often told, however, is that one of the reasons […]
Speaker: Rosalind Miranda Naïve Art is usually is usually defined as art that is created by a person who lacks the formal education and training that a professional artist undergoes, & is characterized by childlike simplicity & frankness of execution and vision. It is simple, unaffected, and unsophisticated. In the right hands, however, this does not make […]
Spèaker: John Hopwood To Understand The Background And Emergence Of The Samurai We Must Look At Japan’s Early History, Mainly From Around The Year 800ad. Everyone Knows Something About The Samurai. The Literal Translation Means One Who Serves. For Many Years, They Were The Warrior Class In Japan And Whilst They Had A Tradition Of […]
Speaker: lan Brown Ian Brown will give us a presentation on the 1,000 year History of Freemasonry, from its Origins via its Ritual and Tradition to the Structure of Freemasonry today and a particular reference to Freemasonry in Spain.Many of us think that the Masons are very secretive but most of us know several members […]
