History

What do we do?

This group explores events from the 19th century – events that changed the lives of average people.  We look beneath the layer of queens, kings and battles.  We are looking for the evens that affected the day-to-day lives of ordinary people in Victorian Britain.  Ours is a discussion group, not a lecture session. We choose a topic; each member researches the topic.  The shared discussion expands our personal knowledge.  If you are interested in discovering what made the people of Britain great, come and add to the discussion.

New members welcome.

What do we do?

We are looking at the era of English History 1714 – 1914 covering the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods. Exploring subjects such as Arts and Culture, Notable People, Government, Law and Order and Science and Industry. Topics are chosen by those group members who wish to present a topic, with group discussion encouraged. New members welcome.

What do we do?

We are a mixed group, from those with more than 25 years of experience to those who have yet to begin. If you have ever wondered about your ancestors this is the group for you. We would love to help you get started. We also like to try to break through member’s own particular ‘Brick Wall’ which has proven very successful in the past. We are open to suggestions for topics for discussion.

What do we do?

From our pre Referendum start in 2016,our lively and participative group have discussed a wide range of policy issues and the current and future Government and political implications arising.
In recent times,we have considered the future of the UK,the Green New Deal,Criminal Justice,Housing and Health Inequalities.
We have maintained a continuing debate by e mail on Covid 19 and it’s aftermath during the lockdown and look forward to meeting new members when we can meet again.

What do we do?

We meet every 5-6 weeks, on a Tuesday afternoon in members homes, subject to present limitations and advice on Covid-19; presently limiting our membership to a total of 6 persons. As we stand we could welcome 1 or 2 new members.
We are basing our study on Dan Jones book ‘The Plantagenets’. Undoubtedly, there are many other sources which in discussion, we shall encounter. A fascinating period, emerging from The Dark Ages to a highly organised kingdom, of empire building and loss, developments in the law and the evolution of parliamentary representation, in architecture, the arts and the rudiments of a civil society all still impacting on our lives today. A story of a great royal dynasty of eight generations of kings, of their ruthlessness, achievements and tragedies.

What do we do?

Talks and discussions on a wide range of maritime matters.
Ships, seas and people

What do we do?

Various aspects of military history are chosen by members for presentation and discussion.

New members welcome.

What do we do?

Each December the Group decides on the programme for the coming year. Members organise the visits to the church or village of their choice, finding a person to talk to the Group about its history, architecture and other features of interest. Coffee and an optional venue for lunch are normally organised.

What do we do?

This self-help group aims to give support to its members by sharing memories thus prompting recollections of our own past. Each month everyone reads something they have written and the Group discusses each piece and makes (helpful) comments. Some hope to publish, others just want to compile their life story for family and friends.
There is the occasional lunch or visit.

For your enjoyment, click below to see two small articles written by a member of this group. If you can imagine a Midwest voice telling the tale in that distinctive accent, well.. read it and see for yourself!
Click here for 1st Article and here for 2nd Article

And here is a poem written by Brenda Fraser-Newstead who has re-located and which she dedicated to Sue Rawlings, a member of the group, who passed away in Sept. 2016