2026
Next event
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.
Upcoming events
2026
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.
9 December (Wed) Windsor and Shakespeare Dr David Lewis
Of Shakespear’s oeuvres, The Merry Wives of Windsor is a very important play and
the only one set in an English town. It is often cited by those claiming Shakespeare
was no playwright, that his works were actually penned by someone else. In this talk
Dr David Lewis is going to examine these claims in comparison with decisive
evidence, Windsor’s sixteenth-century layout.
And still more intriguing, Dr Lewis also looks at the several mysteries in this Windsor
play. For example, why it was set in an actual but small, Windsor inn, the Garter,
when the audience in distant Southwark would hardly know of the place; Why its
innkeeper is never named, but simply referred to as ‘the host’? All matters revolving
around the Privy Council’s suspicion that Queen Elizabeth, when visiting Windsor
Castle, was vulnerable to attack from the spirit world. A danger, over many years,
uniquely perceived by ‘the host’ and shockingly resolved by putting to death five
residents from Windsor’s almshouses, supposed witches. What was the truth and
how did ‘Shakespeare’ get to know of this tale?
After a career in banking, Dr Lewis took a PhD at London University in the history of
medieval Windsor. He continues to publish widely on this topic and the history of
Eton in the academic press and with the Berkshire Local History Association. He is
also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
2027
20 January (Wed) The History of British Gardens Lindsey Engers
This talk covers the story of gardening and horticultural techniques in Britain from prehistoric times to the present day.
We will look at garden designs and their owners and designers from tiny early enclosures later grander landscapes and buildings. On the way we will look at the kinds of plants that were grown and the significant cultural influences on garden styles.
Finally, we will reflect on the fantastic history of British Gardens and their unique features which we can all learn from in our own garden practices.
We will use a mixture of slide presentations and discussion with time for questions and conclusions at the end of the talk.
Lindsay Engers is a Horticulturalist who has been working as a Horticultural tutor in Buckinghamshire Adult Learning since 1994. He has a BSc in Horticulture from Reading University and a Level 5 Teaching Diploma. He also is the founder and co-owner of Chiltern Heritage Orchards, an organic farming business and also runs a Landscaping Business.
2027
6 February (Sat, 2pm) The Wonders of Wembley – Dr Kathryn Ferry
The 1924 British Empire Exhibition has been largely forgotten but it was a huge event that provided construction work for unemployed veterans and presented a positive image of Britain and its colonies after the devastation of World War I. Designed to be permanent, it was hailed as the world’s first concrete city and gave us the original Wembley Stadium. Across 216 acres, new design ideas rubbed shoulders with stereotyped depictions of global cultures. This talk takes a look around the vast site which included a 50-acre amusement park, a subterranean reconstruction of Tutankhamun’s tomb, a never-stop railway and electric cars.
Dr Kathryn Ferry is an author, historian and broadcaster. She writes about19th and 20th century architecture and design with a particular focus on the British seaside. Kathryn has published eleven books and has written about the Wembley Empire Exhibition for Country Life magazine. She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and Chair of the Seaside Heritage Network. www.kathrynferry.co.uk @SeasideFerry
17 February (Wed) Unusual Pubs – Amazing Stories – Bob Barton
Over the last ten years Bob Barton has visited at least a thousand pubs, all over Britain. It sounds like a crazy pub crawl, and, in a way, it has been. Bob has been on a mission, in search of Unusual Pubs and use any means of transport available to reach them (it’s part of the fun). Shanks’s pony, bicycle, train, bus, canal boat—even a car sometimes, especially when someone else offers to drive. By ‘unusual’ he means an unexpected location, out-of-the-ordinary décor, wacky collections of memorabilia, incredible architecture or community connection, or simply another claimant of ‘this country’s oldest pub’ title.
Among Bob’s favourites, one is very local. Namely, the White Horse in Hedgerley. A hostelry that goes from strength to strength despite having no handpumps, no beer cellar and no bar counter to speak of. But always great ale, cider and food–plus it is the base for a wonderful Wassail each January.
Bob has written three hardback books on the subject: Unusual Railway Pubs, Unusual Pubs by Boot, Bike and Boat and, last but not least, Unusual Pubs, Amazing Stories. So, he could tell you about John Lennon’s student local; an inn where you might meet the World’s Biggest Liar; yet another where a Russian Czar breakfasted on quarts of brandy. Bob could also wax lyrical about the Pub With No Name or the one from which King Charles II fled for his life. And many more. You can visit them too!
Bob’s plea is: please don’t take pubs for granted. They are closing at a frightening rate. In 2026, this country is losing one pub every day. Almost 300 shut their doors in the first nine months alone, resulting in 5,000 job losses (source: British Beer & Pub Association). Well over 2,000 have shut since the Covid-19 pandemic. The Southeast has been particularly badly hit, followed by the North West.
One positive and growing trend is the shift towards community owned pubs, when villagers club together to save an ailing pub. Bob has been impressed with those he has sampled. But generally, if you want them to be around in future, it’s a case of “use it, or lose it”.
Other favourite, quirky hostelries nearby include the Royal Standard of England at Forty Green, the Rising Sun at Berkhamsted and the Bounty beside the Thames at Bourne End. Pubs such as these are much more than just beer and pies: many also have a wonderful story to tell.Bob Barton is an author, columnist for nostalgia magazine Best of British and a member of the Pub History Society. He was formerly Senior Press Officer at VisitBritain. He lives in Hayes, Middlesex.
