Signs of the Times: Reading’s Memorials
The stories behind Reading’s memorials bring the people and events of Reading’s past to life. This talk will describe aspects of the town’s history by considering some of its, often not well known, plaques, statues, and monuments. Even the better-known memorials have secrets to yield in the tales of their origins.
This is the first of three talks in the Autumn Potpourri Talks Series. The other talks take place on 26th November and 10th December. You may book tickets for individual events or for all three talks in the series for a reduced price.
To book
Pre-booking is required, because the event link will be sent in advance.
To join this talk, 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 be asked to download a small piece of software, which will be sent in advance.
Image Above: courtesy of Malcolm Summers.
To book, scroll down.
- Thu 22 Oct 2026
- 14:00 - 15:15
Tickets
- £5.00
Category
Organiser
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The Family Research Centre
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Email
booking@berksfhs.org.uk -
Website
https://berksfhs.org/branches/
Speaker
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Malcolm SummersMalcolm Summers is a retired maths teacher and Deputy Head. Originally from Birmingham, he has lived in Reading for forty years, and is married with two grown up children. He has written three books on aspects of the history of Greyfriars Church in Reading, the most recent published by the Berkshire Record Society. In 2019, Two Rivers Press published his book “Signs of the Times: Reading’s Memorials”. Malcolm has also written biographies 0n: “Henry George Willink” (after whom the school in Burghfield Common is named), “Nicolas Appert”, the French inventor of the process of preserving food by canning (and who is also his wife’s great great great great grandfather) and the lawyer, dramatist, writer and orator, Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd. His latest publication is on the history of Reading’s Dispensary Trust.
Malcolm has been a member of Greyfriars Church since 1981, and is currently its PCC secretary. He is a member of the History of Reading Society and treasurer of Kisiizi Partners, a UK Charity that supports a Hospital and community in south west Uganda.