Date |
Event |
Venue and
Time |
Monday |
15 January 2024 |
Stonehenge Unroofed or Roofed: A
New Perspective - Sarah Ewbank |
Memorial Hall - 7:30pm |
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Stonehenge
has always been a symbol of mystery and wonder. But what if we've been seeing
only half the picture? Join the author of the revolutionary book that has
reshaped Stonehenge discussions in media and academia. Together, we'll
explore and analyse its tantalizing form for clues and evidence of its
missing roof. Your perception of this iconic site may never be the same
again. |
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Monday |
19 February 2024 |
‘On Two Wheels’ – The fascinating story of the Bicycle – Bill
King |
Memorial Hall - 7:30pm |
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The
Bicycle can be considered as one of the greatest inventions providing
mobility to millions of people across the planet and providing the basis for
the development of the motor-cycle and motor car. This broad non-technical
talk outlines.the development of the bicycle and cycling over the past 180
years and considers its sociological impact. These days the Bicycle is seen
as being ecologically friendly and a ‘Green’ low-cost alternative in urban
personal transport |
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Monday |
18 March 2024 |
The Oxford of Inspector Morse – Alastair Lack |
Memorial Hall - 7:30pm |
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Oxford is
known as an ancient city with a world famous university. It is also known for murder mysteries,
deadly dons and Inspector Morse. This talk on Inspector Morse (and Lewis and
Endeavour) includes the importance of Colin Dexter, who wrote the original
Morse books, and, of course John Thaw
(Inspector Morse) and Kevin Whately ( Sergeant Lewis), with their many
murders to solve and pints of beer to drink. |
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Monday |
15 April 2024 |
Lost Railway Journeys in Gloucestershire – David Aldred |
Memorial Hall - 7:30pm |
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The talk
will be a round trip from Cheltenham to Lechlade along Cotswold railways in
the early 1960s. The journey will be via Gloucester along the Stroud valley
to Cirencester, then to Fairford and Oxford before returning along the line
through Bourton on the Water. |
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Monday |
13 May 2024 |
Friends Ambulance Unit in
the World Wars – Sue Smith |
Memorial Hall - 7:30pm |
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The Friends'
Ambulance Unit (FAU)
was a volunteer ambulance service set up to provide alternative service to
fighting. It was founded by Quakers, in line with their Peace Testimony,
during the First World War when universal conscription first became
compulsory. It operated during both world wars and beyond, in many countries
in Europe, Asia and Africa. It took some years to become accepted,
but by the end of the Second World War, Quakers had been awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize for their non-partisan work providing humanitarian relief. |
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June 2024 |
Visit TBA |
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July 2024 |
Visit TBA |
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Monday |
16 September 2024 |
Celebrity, ceremony and
corruption: the honours system in twentieth-century Britain – Tom Crook |
Memorial Hall - 7:30pm |
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Despite
its medieval origins, the British honours system is still in use today.
Why and how did this essentially feudal system survive into the
twentieth century, when Britain became a fully democratic society? This talk
offers a whistle stop tour of how the honours system changed during the last
century and how it became what it is today - an inclusive institution
that bequeaths honours on people from all walks of life, but also one
steeped in scandal and suspicions of corruption. |
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Monday |
21 October 2024 |
A Victorian Christmas –
Tim Healey |
Memorial Hall - 7:30pm |
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Charles
Dickens spoke of Christmas as 'the only time in the long calendar of the year
when men and women consent to open their shut-up hearts freely’. This
colourful presentation describes how booming industry and a growing empire
shaped Victorian celebrations. Christmas cards, Christmas crackers, Christmas
trees and electric fairy lights were among the novelties, along with mass
produced Books of Carols. Christmas as we know it today was rooted in
Victorian innovation. |
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Monday |
18 November 2024 |
34th Annual General
Meeting |
Memorial Hall - 7:30pm |
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New and old
members and guests welcome. |
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TBA |
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