Afternoon Talks

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​Our talks are held at The Methodist Church Centre, South Parade. Talks start at 2.p.m. prompt on Tuesdays on the dates given below.  We look forward to welcoming you. Parking is available on site and nearby in the Pay and Display car park on South Parade.​​​

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20 October - The Gunpowder Plot - Mary Bodfish

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3 November - The Rat: Our Dark Shadow - Kevin Reynolds

To some they are the stuff of nightmares. To others they are loveable pets. They have been our dark shadows for centuries. The fascinating story of our complex relationship with the rat.

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17 November - AGM followed by Wightwick Manor and William Morris - Helen Bratt-Wyton

An introduction to this National Trust property.

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1 December - The Real Dad's Army - Ray Sturdy

The story of our wartime Home Guard. They were trained for our defence and prepared to counter action after invasion. Was it really like the TV comedy?

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5 January - Beasts of the Battlefield: Animal Imagery in the Staffordshire Hoard - Charlotte Ball

The Staffordshire Hoard, discovered in 2009 in a field near Lichfield, remains a landmark archaeological discovery. It transforms our understanding of seventh-century society and material culture. In this talk, we will look at the Hoard from a different perspective – that of the art historian – and dive into the minute details of the objects to discover birds, beasts and the rich symbolic language of the past.

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19 January - Sweet Heritage - Emma

Nostalgic Sweets and Sweet History.

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2 February - “Good Monkery”! The Adventures of Harry Payne - Quintin Watts

The remarkable story of a partially sighted vagrant as he tramped around the British Isles in the 1900s. At each town he earned a few pence by writing a review of that place for the local newspaper. These perceptive snapshots provide a unique worm’s-eye view of Britain before the Great War.

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16 February - The Challenges of Rescuing Industrial Heritage Buildings - Mark Davies

Chance Heritage Trust was formed to restore the Chance Glassworks in Smethwick. Producing all the glass for the Great Exhibition in 1851 and installing lighthouse lenses around the world are just two of Chance Brothers' amazing achievements. The 9-acre site, with 8 Grade II Listed Buildings and 2 Bridges, is predominantly derelict. Mark Davies, chair of the trust, will provide an insight into the challenges of restoring and repurposing this large, nationally important industrial heritage site.

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2 March - Was Boudicca’s battle fought at Mancetter? - Eddie Smallwood

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16 March - The 1951 Festival of Britain – and its legacy after 76 years - Michael Willmott

The Festival was conceived as a “tonic” for a nation affected by war and debt. At a time of ongoing global conflicts and austerity, there are parallels with today. Its impact in 1951 is hard to overstate. What buildings remained in London were smoke-blackened; the air was full of smog. Into this dreary landscape, the festival was an explosion of colour and creativity, offering a dazzling vision of the future. Setting the style for the 60s and 70s, it helped usher in an era of mass consumerism and technological optimism. It created a model for cultural

spaces open to all, not just the wealthy. This presentation should transport you back to 1951 and remind you of how things have changed (and remained the same) in the years since.