List of our past talks from 1994 to 2025
Talks 2026
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Talks 2025
Date Talk Title Speaker Nov 27 Concorde – First to Last Peter Gibbs Oct 30 Oxfordshire’s Military Heritage in 50 objects Henry Spilberg Sep 25 The Story of The Cotswolds: Wool, Warfare, Recession, Return Sean Callery Jun 26 Visit to St Mary’s, Shifford with a talk on Shifford’s History Andrew Long & Russell LaForte May 25 Local Probate Inventories In House Apr 25 AGM & The Peculiar History of Fishponds and Fishing in Oxfordshire Stephen Wass Mar 25 Artists in Wonderland – The Pre-Raphaelites in Oxford Mark Davies Feb 25 The Oxford to Fairford Railway Trevor Jackson
Talks 2024
Nov 24 Crime and Punishment in Victorian Britain Simon Wenham Oct 24 World War II Rationing and Cooking for Victory Karen & Brett Wiles Sep 24 Pole Lathe demonstration David Knight Jul 24 Ascott Martyrs Carol Anderson Jun 24 Trench Humour in the First World War Stephen Barker Apr 24 AGM & The Roman invasions, occupations & colonisation of Britain Bill King Mar 24 Ernest Shackleton’s Epic Adventure Russell La Forte Feb 24 Parish History Simon Townley
Talks 2023
Nov 23 Food of the Gods – Adventures in Chocolate Melanie King Oct 23 Dry Stone Walling Russell La Forte Sep 23 Bird Watching Barry Hudson Jul 23 The Village Wheelwright Andrew Long Jun 23 Lives of Local Medieval Saints Marie-Loiuise Kerr Apr 23 AGM & Cosciencious Objectors in WWI Susan Smith Mar 23 Food of the Gods – Adventures in Chocolate Melanie King Feb 23 600 years of Morris Dancing Michael Heaney
Talks 2022
Nov 22 Local place names. A hands-on in-house session In house Oct 22 Apples! The Myth and Mystery of England’s Favourite Fruit Tim Healey Sep 22 The Impact of the First World War on Oxford’s women’s lives Katherine Bradley Jul 22 1066 Oxfordshire’s part in the Norman Conquest Julie Ann Godson Jun 22 A Family History evening David Barber May 22 Antiques Roadshow Daryl Hazel May 22 The Poppy Bill King Apr 22 Aston 150 years ago In house Apr 22 AGM & Archie Johnson readings in house Feb 22 The Guilds Julian Sayers Jan 22 Supper and Social – quiz In house
Talks 2021/20
Nov 21 Pub names Andrew Long Oct 21 My RAF service during the Gulf War Trevor Jackson Sep 21 Social Evening & review of group’s 25 years & object quiz In house Feb 20 Daisy’s Story John Caldicott
Talks 2019
Nov 19 A 17th Century Christmas Tim Healey Oct 19 Early Oxford Maria Ruiz Sep 19 Dunkirk’s Little Ships Paul Bennett Jul 19 The Lost Villages of Oxfordshire Dr Muriel Pilkington May 19 The Water Gypsy Julie Ann Godson Apr 19 AGM; DVD ‘1999 A Year in the Parish’ Mar 19 Masquerade – The History of the Mask Christine Farmer Feb 19 Papists at the Manor – The Yates and Throckmortons of Buckland & Lyford in the Vale of the White Horse Tony Hadland Jan 19 Supper and Social; Evacuation Play In house
Talks 2018
Nov 18 Glen Miller – The Magic and Mystery Bill King Oct 18 Poverty, Pestilence and Public Health in Victorian Britain Simon Wenham Sep 18 The Remarkable Story of our National Chair – The Windsor Stewart Lindford Jul 18 The Foundling Hospital – The UK’s first childen’s charity John Caldicott Jun 18 Visit to Claywell Farm – The Hidden Village Sarah Richards May 18 Women Soldiers – women who joined the army as men in the Dan Allen Apr 18 AGM & Corner House, Cote Donna Thynne Mar 18 James Sadler of Oxford- The first English Aeronaut Mark Davies Feb 18 The Falklands Russell LaForte
Talks 2017
Nov 17 The Tudor Warship, The Mary Rose’ Colin Fox Oct 17 Chatsworth and the Cavendish Family Dr Gillian White Sep 17 Beer, Sausages and Marmalade Liz Wooley Jul 17 Biscuits and Bandages -History of Blood Donation Duncan Brown May 17 An Anecdotal History of Oxford University Alastair Lack Apr 17 AGM & Back Lane and West End Andrew Long and Martin Bowley Mar 17 Tunnel Vision, History of the Underground Chris Caddy Feb 17 Local Stagecoaches and Highwaymen Martin Way Jan 17 Supper and Social; Oxfordshire Flag; Village quiz In house
Talks 2016
Nov 16 The Witney Aerodrome Site, WWI onwards Stanley Jenkins Oct 16 40 Years of Bomb Disposal Ian Jones Sep 16 A Spencer Love Affair Allan Ledger Jul 16 The Anglo-Saxon Burials at Chimney – 10am at Chimney Sally Crawford Jul 16 Chedworth Roman Villa (talk) Nick Humphries May 16 Members’ Meeting Apr 16 AGM; Another look at Aston Square Andrew Long and Martin Bowley Mar 16 Lives of Women in Victorian Times Jane Stubbs Feb 16 William Morris Gena Chadwick Jan 16 Supper and Social; The Organ Grinder John Hunt
Talks 2015
Nov 15 The Post Office John Rogers Oct 15 Covert Catholics of the Bampton Area Tony Hadland Sep 15 Chapels also Evolve Graham Kirby Jul 15 Life in a Medieval Monastic Cloister Gregory Stores May 15 Droving Through the South Midlands Bruce Smith Feb 15 Metal Detecting – held in the church Daniel Spencer Jan 15 Supper and Social; A Musical Evening Three Pressed Men
Talks 2014
Nov 14 William Gill – Victorian Explorer and Spy Tony Hadland Oct 14 WWI and War Graves Ron Curtis Sep 14 Bradwell Grove – A Wartime Airfield Liz Harfield Jun 14 Castles in the Air Nick Brazil Apr 14 AGM The Hidden Meaning of Nursery Rhymes Moira Byast Apr 14 AGM and North Street and Cote Road Andrew Long & Martin Bowley Mar 14 The Battle of Cropredy Bridge Stephen Baker Mar 14 Taste the Past Moira Byast Feb 14 Vikings Martin Way
Talks 2013
Nov 13 Folk music / Morris Dancing The Three Pressed Men Oct 13 Stonesfield Slate Alan Cobb Sep 13 Wantage Tramway Laurence Waters Jul 13 Bell Ringing Roger Barnes May 13 Salters of Oxford Simon Wenham Apr 13 Quaker Clockmakers Tim Marshall Mar 13 Chimney In-House Talk Andrew Long and Martin Bowley Feb 13 You can’t Judge a Book by its Title Roger Barnes
Talks 2012
Nov 12 The Ridgeway Russell Cherry Oct 12 Grandma flew Spitfires Richard Poad Sep 12 Emigration from Oxfordshire in the 19th Century Shaun Morley Jul 12 The History of Bampton Church Rev David Lloyd May 12 Lodging Houses Liz Woolley Feb 12 Old Musical Instruments Robert Longstaff
Talks 2011
Nov 11 Oxfordshire Family Societies Shaun Morley Oct 11 Ducklington Roger Barnes Sep 11 WWII at Coleshill Liza Dribble Jul 11 Chimney Meadows Andy Fairbairn May 11 18th Century Cooking Jane McDonald Mar 11 Christopher Kempster – Stone Mason Chris Walker Feb 11 Wesley Barrell Isobell Barrell
Talks 2010
Nov 10 Transport Revolution in Oxfordshire Mark Goss Sep 10 Barley, Beer and Barrels Martin Way Jul 10 Medieval Craftsmen Tim Porter May 10 Petticoats and Partletts Barbara Allison Apr 10 Tudor Easter Martin Sirot-Smith Mar 10 Child Labour in 19th Century Oxfordshire Liz Woolley Feb 10 The Bicycle Bill King Jan 10 The Manufacture of Stained Glass Windows Keith Petchell
Talks 2009
Nov 09 The Levellers at Burford Muriel Pilkington Oct 09 The Green Man Tim Healey Sep 09 Oxfordshire and the Great Exhibition Muriel Pilkington Jun 09 History and Archaeology of the Radcot Crossing Martin Way Apr 09 Members’ bring and show; bring and talk; quiz In house Mar 09 The History of Bees Ian Gourlay Feb 09 Stranger Aspects of Oxford History Brian Lowe
Talks 2008
Nov 08 Historical Dances of the 17th Century The Vale Island Dancers Oct 08 The Black Death Mark Goss Sep 08 The History of Thatching In house May 08 Sex, Drink and Death in the 17th Century Tim Healey Apr 08 A look at the Archives’ In House Mar 08 The Geology of the Aston area Guy Salkeld Feb 08 Oxford Castle Mark Davies Jan 08 A Look at Local Place Names In house
Talks 2007
Nov 07 Morris Dancing Ray Borritt Oct 07 Salt Murial Pilkington Sep 07 St James Church John Ordish Jun 07 Antiques Unwrapped Christine Whild May 07 Pole Lathe Turning and Bodging Bob Field Apr 07 Faringdon Manor, Abbey and Castle Graham Soffe Mar 07 Daily Life in Tudor Times Martin Sirot-Smith Feb 07 Oxfordshire Saints and Martyrs Tim Porter
Talks 2006
Nov 06 Eynsham Abbey Alan Hardy Oct 06 Witney Union Workhouse Dr Jane Cavell Jul 06 Morris Dancing Ducklington Morris May 06 The Development of Witney Simon Townley Apr 06 Aston Training School and Laundry In house Mar 06 The Odd Word F Robertson Feb 06 The Shipton on Cherwell Railway Accident Linda Haynes
Talks 2005
Nov 05 The Battle of Radcot Dr John Turner Oct 05 The Mitford Sisters Muriel Pilkington Sep 05 Decline and Fall of Wychwood Forest Charles Tyzack May 05 Archers at Agincourt Martin Way Mar 05 Early Photography and the Local Dr John Wilson Feb 05 The Upper Thames Patrol Bill King
Talks 2004
Nov 04 The Witney Woollen Industry Charles Gott Oct 04 Memories of Village Schools Gordon Ottewell Sep 04 Family Life in the 19th Century Dorothy Calcutt May 04 Kelmscott and William Morris Dorothy Wise Apr 04 Palaeontology Linda Haynes Mar 04 Music in the West Gallery Tim Porter Feb 04 Farming in the 19th Century Dr John Wilson Jan 04 Members’ Supper and Social & Natalia Benjamin
Talks 2003
Nov 03 Village Hand Tools before the age of Plastic M Hallam May 03 Some Dos and Don’ts of Antiquing Michael Bull Apr 03 A Look at Aston Square In house Mar 03 A Walk along the Evenlode on slides Gordon Ottewell Feb 03 Writing and Publishing your Parish History Angela Spencer-Harper
Talks 2002
Nov 02 A History of Canals Martin Way Oct 02 The Traditions of Harvest Christine Whild May 02 Saving the Past Dr John Wilson Apr 02 Hands-on project with Tithe Map In house Mar 02 The WRVS Story Rowena Howse Feb 02 The Thames From Earliest Times Dr Mark Robinson
Talks 2001
Nov 01 Cotswold Manors and Manor Houses Anthea Jones Oct 01 Victorian Crafts and Pastimes Christine Whild Sep 01 Medieval Churches – Raising the Roof Howard Gatling Mar 01 Home Front Martin Way Feb 01 Discovering your House History Julia Melvin
Talks 2000
Nov 00 Locks and Wiers on the River Thames Steve Capel-Davies Oct 00 Witney Woollen Industry R Martin May 00 Aston Probate Records In House Apr 00 Church Bells Brian White Feb 00 Introducing William Dorothy Wise
Talks 1999
Nov 99 The Aston Wheelwrights Andrew Long Sep 99 Civil War David Eddershaw Mar 99 Metal Detecting Pete Butler Feb 99 Local Archaeology Chris Merrick
Talks 1998
Nov 98 Family History Research Marc Hiles Oct 98 Benefit Societies Chris Walker Sep 98 Nuneham Courtney Dr G Howat Apr 98 The Open Field and its Enclosure David Eddershaw Mar 98 The Aston Enclosure Map – hands on Graham Sparrowhawk Feb 98 Roman Britain Martin Way Jan 98 Bampton Mummers Play Bampton Mummers
Talks 1997
Nov 97 Making a Village Trail In house Oct 97 A History of Aston Simon Townley May 97 Alfred the Great Tim Porter Apr 97 Flora Thompson and Lark Rise David Eddershaw Mar 97 Antiques Road-show with valuations Peter Cresswell Feb 97 Local Stagecoaches and Highwaymen Martin Way
Talks 1996
Nov 96 Oxfordshire Sinners and Villains Carl Boardman Oct 96 Oxfordshire Seasonal Customs Christine Bloxham Apr 96 The Witney Railway Stanley Jenkins Mar 96 The White Horse Project David Miles Feb 96 Cotswold Shepherds and Sheep Martin Way Jan 96 Looking at 1891 In house
Talks 1995
Nov 95 The History of Witney Charles Gott Oct 95 Traditional Song in Oxfordshire Bill and Heather Long Sep 95 Going to School in Victorian Oxfordshire David Eddershaw Mar 95 Disappearing Villages J Bond
Talks 1994
Nov 94 Local Churches Graham Sparrowhawk Apr 94 Village History Exhibition – April 16th Jan 94 20th January first meeting
