A Potpourri of Social History Talks – Winter Series
This all series ticket covers all three talks in the Winter “Potpourri of Social History” talks series, for the discounted price of £12.50 (members £10.00). You may also book each talk individually – see each separate event page. All three talks are on Thursdays at 2pm and last about an hour. Afterwards there will be time for questions and discussion. This is an online talks series using Zoom.
Thursday 23 January “The Victorian Legacy – what our Ancestors did next“: 2 – 3.15pm with Helen Baggott
We are delighted to welcome the acclaimed and popular author and speaker Helen Baggott to lick-off our online talks programme for 2025. This talk explores the lives of our ancestors through the messages that they wrote and the postcards they sent. Millworkers in Yorkshire, families affected by the first national rail strike, visitors to London and the execution of murderers are just some of the stories included in this talk. Our ancestors left a remarkable record of their lives; will you discover your own ancestors through postcards from the past?
Thursday 27 February “Putting Berkshire on the Map“: 2 – 3.15pm with John Leighfield
Maps allow us to better identify where our ancestors lived and worked and the local environment in which they spent the vast majority of their time. If you like maps – this is one not to miss. John will talk about the history of mapping with particular emphasis on Berkshire, beginning with Matthew Paris’ map of Britain c. 1250 and finishing with Google and modern mapping. He will explore the various reasons why maps were commissioned and how best to interpret them.
Thursday 27 March “A Walk on the Thames Path Oxford – Pangbourne“: 2 – 3.15pm with Bill King
This is a stunning section of the Thames as it meanders its way through the countryside and past villages and towns with particularly interesting histories including Oxford, Abingdon, Wallingford and Pangbourne. Many of us will have ancestors who came from this area and were very familiar with the river, possibly using it for their leisure activities and perhaps even dependent on it for their income. Bill is a popular speaker to the Society and his journey along the Thames is richly illustrated with images.
Zoom Talk Requirements
To join these talks, you will need a computer device with speakers. Ideally, also a webcam and microphone. You also need to be able to access the internet from it. First-time users of Zoom, will need to download a small piece of software – included in the link.
How to Book
Pre-booking is required because places are limited. Full joining instructions will be emailed to attendees in advance. Bookings close one day before the first event.
To book – scroll down.
Date
- Thu 23 Jan 2025
Tickets
- £12.50
Organiser
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The Centre - Berkshire FHS
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Email
booking@berksfhs.org.uk -
Website
https://berksfhs.org/branches/
Speakers
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John Leighfield CBE MA
John Leighfield was educated at Oxford 1958-1962 (Greats at Exeter College).
His career has been in IT from the pioneering days of 1962 onwards. He has been Chairman/President/Master of various national IT institutions and chairman of a number of IT companies. John has also always had a keen interest in education. He has served as Chairman of Council of the University of Warwick and been a member of the Development Boards of the Bodleian Library and of Exeter College, Oxford. He has also been chairman of governors of a number of schools.
John has been collecting maps of Oxfordshire and adjoining counties, and of Cornwall, since 1966 and regularly lectures on the topic.
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Bill KingBills’ main historical specialism is the Second World War, with particular reference to the role of Airborne and Special forces and in clandestine warfare. He has conducted extensive research on the role of the British Resistance Organisation (Auxiliary Units) and has contributed to the books ‘With Britain in Mortal Danger’ (2002) and ‘Churchill’s Underground Army’ (2008).
Bills interests and research has led him to contributing articles to ‘After the Battle’ magazine and to elements of the books ‘D-Day – Then and Now’, ‘Operation Market – Garden – then and now’ and ‘Glenn Miller in Britain – Then and Now’. He is a former Chairman of the Ridgeway Military and Aviation Research Group (RMARG) and is a member of The Western Front Association and of the Military Vehicle Trust.
Bill has appeared on radio and TV on many occasions, including Countryfile’ on BBC1, ‘History Mysteries’ on BBC2, the Channel 4 series ‘Dads Secret Army’, the Channel 5 Select series ‘Secrets of the National Trust’, and ‘The Thames, Britain’s Great River’ with Tony Robinson. In addition, Bill is a regular speaker throughout Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Dorset.
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Helen BaggottFreelance editor & writerHelen Baggott is a freelance editor, writer and speaker. For as long as she can remember, she has loved writing and the research that goes with it.