2026
Next event
16 September (Wed) Elizabethan and Jacobean Playhouses of London Paul McGarrity
Murder, Mayhem and Mischief. Tudor and Jacobean theatre was so much more than
William Shakespeare. This talk looks at the history, archaeology, and the fanciful
tales from one of the most interesting times in English history.
Presented by Paul McGarrity. A former archaeologist who worked on the
excavations of the Curtain Playhouse and at one time was one of the UKs top 4
standup comedian archaeologists (there were only 4).
Upcoming events
2026
23rd September (Wednesday) Guided Tour of Cumberland Lodge Windsor Great Park £15
The Lodge was built in the 17th century by John Byfield, a captain in Oliver Cromwell’s army, and was originally known as Byfield House. It was taken over by Charles II following the restoration of the monarchy, and for much of its subsequent history it was the official residence of the Rangers of Windsor Great Park. The first to reside at the Lodge was Baptist May, Keeper of the Privy Purse. Other rangers to reside at the Lodge include Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, the third son of King George II and from whom the building takes its name.
21 October (Wed) A Story of Henley-on-Thames Graham Horn
Henley is a small riverside town with a great deal of history. This virtual tour
tells the story of the town in relation to its people, such as Charles Clements
and Mary Blandy, and its buildings such as Brakspear’s Brewery. All backed of
course by the tales of the River Thames.
Graham Horn is a Blue Badge Tourist Guide, living in the Thames Valley near
the borders of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. He is a
Geographer by training, a Transport Planner in a previous career and an
explorer by nature. He is a frequent speaker at clubs and societies, trying to
find the stories behind less well-known aspects of his talks.
31 October 2026 (Sat) Autumn Lunch and Titan of the Thames Peter Williams
This presentation seeks to capture the essence of the life of William Grenfell
via his roots locally in Buckinghamshire to his role on the national and
international stage. Now largely forgotten he was once “the go to man” in
British public life. His life passed through stages, from being an outstanding
sportsman, then sports administrator, politician and public servant and of
course setting up and running the first London Olympics in 1908. A full life, he
died at 89, alongside family tragedies and triumphs. Once described as having
the skill of D’Artagnan, the strength of a Porthos , the heart of an Athos, and
the body of an Englishman!
Peter Williams is a writer and researcher and is a Departmental Fellow in the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge. He has had a long career in academia, financial services and as a government adviser working mainly on housing market and housing policy issues. He lives in Surbiton and is an active racing punter at Dittons Skiff and Punting Club and a season ticket holder at Harlequins FC.
18 November (Wed) “For people who hate dates: the dates in English history which really matter, and some that don’t” Peter Phippen
For me, history is about people and how their lives have changed over time. People just like us. Sometimes their lives have been shaped by momentous events beyond their control. But it’s always about people. Sadly, I know that many children are put off history at school, thinking of it as a series of dates and they hate it for that reason. (Just as some of us were put off science at school, thinking of it as a series of equations). And apart from 1066, they can’t remember any dates and can’t see the point. Quite understandably in my view.
They were also turned off history by learning about an endless series of battles, many of them of very little relevance to the way ordinary people lived their lives over the centuries. And yet there’s no disputing that there have been some key moments in our history with far-reaching consequences. Which were they? How do they affect us to this day?
This talk puts forward the speaker’s own view of some of those moments. And also, a little tongue in cheek, suggests some famous incidents that can safely be forgotten. Does 1066 make the cut? You’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting to find out.
And the net result is the complete history of England in one hour. Or your money back!
Peter Phippen’s career was in the media, for many years on the Board of BBC Worldwide, at various times running the BBC’s commercial businesses in the UK and North and South America. He is currently Chair of NHS Charities Together, Chair of the Chiltern Society and Chairman of Hedgerley Historical Society
28 November (Sat) The Really Great Escape Bernard Foot
The Really Great Escape – the story of a truly great Prisoner of War escape. But this is a story we do not hear about – it is not the story the famous film was made about. This is about a far larger and more successful escape, with 105 PoWs (mainly British and Commonwealth) escaping, with 99 making it safely home. It took place in the former Yugoslavia, and the real heroes were the Yugoslavian Partisans. The presentation gives a background to Yugoslavian history, describes the Partisans, and explains the German PoW camp system before talking about the escape.
Bernard Foot studied physics at university and subsequently worked in the IT industry until his retirement in 2015. He hated history at school, and it was the first subject he gave up. But in later life he developed an interest in history and what you can learn from it and the pointers it gives to the future. His mother came from southern Austria and so Bernard has developed an interest in the history of that region: the POW escape that is the subject of this presentation took place in the former Yugoslavia, just across the border from his mother’s birthplace.
Editor’s Note
Publicity photos are a bit problematic as I’m unsure of the copyright status of the images I use in the talk. However, I am attaching a picture of the book that forms the basis of my talk, plus one of my own images of the site in Slovenia where the escape took place – the railway which plays a key part in the initial escape is visible in the picture.
I don’t have any recent pictures of myself – I’m a keen photographer, but I’m always behind the camera!
9 December (Wed) Windsor and Shakespeare Dr David Lewis
20 January 2027 (Wed) The History of British Gardens Lindsey Engers
HHS 