2022/23
PROGRAMME OF TALKS

Millard Suite

Village Hall

Burberry Road
Buckden
St Neots
Cambridgeshire
PE19 5UY

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7.30 pm start on night

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Members  ~ Free

Visitors  ~ £4 per talk

Children  ~ Free

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Annual Membership ~ £16 

(Our year runs September ~ June)

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If you want to join please contact the Treasurer, Eric Nash, on any talk night or the Secretary, Richard Storey using the Contact Page. 

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Keith talks about the recent renovation to the outer Gatehouse, part of our most iconic village structure, the Towers.

By analysing 18th-century Church of England visitation returns, Simon explains whether the C of E’s pastoral provision was meeting the population’s needs at that time and how people responded, revealing interesting patterns of Anglicanism and nonconformity.

Owen, from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) will talk about the A14 finds and outline MOLA’s plans for specialist archaeological workshops.

We revisit the fascinating diary of local Peterborough surgeon and GP, Dr T. J. Walker, who lived in the city from the 1860s. From Christmas trees to pantomimes and services at the Cathedral, Liz describes how the Walker family and other local people celebrated Christmas during this period.  Warning - this talk includes lots of corny Victorian jokes!

Linda looks at the power politics struggle of the late 17th century and how we lost a king and gained a parliament, culminating with William of Orange.

In Huntingdon 1646 a number of men and women were arraigned for trial accused of witchcraft.  John talks about this event,  the “Witchfinders” Matthew Hopkins and John Stearn, and the Museum’s  historical reenactment in November 2022.

John talks about the Green family and of course about our famous VC recipient.

The industrial revolution and the growth of cities dramatically changed Britain, and helped create modern society as we know it. Grace describes what it was like for families living in big cities and the impact on communities in towns and villages like St Neots and Buckden, and the lessons we can take going into the future.

Using Lottery funding, the Ramsey project, with the help of Oxford Archaeology East, excavated the scheduled monument of Ramsey Abbey.  Roger describes the nationally important results that were discovered.

Was the R101 disaster an unfortunate accident or avoidable political catastrophe?  Terry describes the events that led up to the disaster on its voyage to India on 4 October 1930, from Cardington, near Bedford.

PAST TALKS

Some speakers have kindly left me their notes.  Please select the link below to access them