The lectures usually consist of two series of illustrated talks on a theme, one in autumn and another in spring. Join the friendly group for one occasion or a whole term and enjoy a stimulating evening: no homework required! Topics covered in the past have ranged from gardens to canals, Tudor portraiture, the rise of Gothic architectural style, or life and landscape in Anglo-Saxon England.
Time: Thursdays, 7.30 – 9.00 pm
Place: Bredon Village Hall (until further notice). Main Road, Bredon, GL20 7QN.
Fee: £5 per lecture (reductions for whole term). Visitors welcome.
Contact: Sue Bennett, 01386 725245, or email rpbennet@waitrose.com.
A breath of sea air to welcome the new term! Paul Barnett, an enthusiastic marine historian and a former member of both the Royal and Merchant Navies, will be giving 8 illustrated talks entitled The Call of the Sea: A Maritime History of Gloucestershire, starting on Thursday 30th September at 7.30pm. Note that the venue for this term will be the Jubilee Room, Bredon Village Hall.
Each talk can be taken as a stand-alone event, and you can come along to as many as you like for the modest fee of £5 a time. Sadly, we cannot provide refreshment, but you are welcome to bring your own for the interval!
To help keep us all safe, we would appreciate it if you could wear a mask until seated.
Seating will be spaced and hand sanitisers will be available.
The Call of the Sea programme (with additional, optional, walking tours)
Talk 1: Fore and Aft – The Purton Hulks
Thursday 30th Sept 2021, 7.30pm - 9pm
Gloucestershire’s hidden gem, the largest ships’ graveyard in mainland Britain.
Talk 2: Lydney's Lost Fleet – The Lydney Hulks
Thursday 7th October 2021, 7.30pm - 9pm
Wander over a Severn-side Georgian dock, amongst its abandoned maritime relics.
Walking Tour 1: Site tour of the Purton Hulks (£6 per person)
Saturday 9th October 10:30 – 12:30
Talk 3: Disaster Waiting – The Severn and Wye Railway Bridge Disaster
Thursday 14th October 2021, 7.30pm - 9pm
Explore and lay to rest a sad chapter of Gloucestershire’s maritime past.
Talk 4: The Cotswolds Navy – The Story of Warship Weeks
Thursday 21st October 2021, 7.30pm - 9pm
Land-locked but not forgotten – Gloucestershire’s inseparable connection to the sea.
Walking Tour 2: Site tour of Lydney Harbour and Hulks (£6 per person)
Saturday 23rd October 10:30 – 12:30
Talk 5: Wrecks to Relics – Purton’s Mulberry Harbour Connection
Thursday 4th November 2021, 7.30pm - 9pm
Explore Purton’s role during Operation Overlord.
Talk 6: Rout on the Riviera – The Slapton Sands Disaster
Thursday 11th November 2021, 7.30pm - 9pm
Maritime archaeology’s role to remember the past and to recover the future.
Talk 7: A Wrecker’s Tale – The Story of Sharpness Ship-breaking
Thursday 25th November 2021, 7.30pm - 9pm
Uncover the changing fortunes of Gloucestershire shipping and its ultimate demise.
Talk 8: Port to Port - A historical journey along Sharpness to Gloucester Canal
Thursday 2nd December 2021, 7.30pm - 9pm
Chart the fortunes of Gloucestershire's waterborne trade via its famous ship canal.