Wednesday 28 May 2025: The Hunt for the Atocha: Lee Summerall: In 1622, the fabled Spanish “treasure ship” sank in the Florida Straits. Part of the annual fleet of loot sent to Spain, the disaster nearly destabilized the Spanish Empire. Over 350 years later, treasure hunter Mel Fisher found it. But the State of Florida wanted it all
Wednesday 21 May 2025 An Outsider’s Look at Old Town Pezenas: Cathe Bell: How does one come to know a place without local language? I began by observing slowly evolving, silent parts: buildings, small streets, cascading gardens. Walk with me through a day in the old town. Resist human contact-outside of a few haunting exchanges. Enjoy a (mostly) quiet view of old Pézenas.
Wednesday 14 May 2025 Visit to Seigneurie de Peyrat. We took a private tour of the 17th century château, visiting its frescoed chapel, gardens and vineyards and the wine making facilities. After the tour was an optional picnic - olives, cheeses, charcuterie, bread with tomatoes and garlic accompanied by six wines.
Wednesday 7 May 2025 Congorillas; the legacies of Yvette Leroy and her English Lord: Marie Forkin: : The unusual legacies of a caring French businesswoman, an influential English Lord, and Congo gorillas. Against all odds, Yvette Leroy restored to health orphaned baby gorillas till their release into their natural habitat. The feat wouldn’t have been possible without the help of John Aspinall, a charismatic and wealthy aristocrat.
Wednesday 30 April 2025 Working as a Producer on British TV: Sarah Mortimer shared her fascinating experiences as a producer. Starting as a go-fer at BBC but quickly rising into production, Sarah’s creative life was enhanced by unique opportunities to film lives of both “ordinary” people and celebrities. And feed wild hyenas!
Wednesday 2 April 2025 Bulls, bears, backsides: Jonathan Bradley: Under the nom de plume of Jocelyn de Labry. Jonathan will talk about his recently published satirical novel about reckless and corrupt behaviour in the financial world.
Wednesday 26 March 2025 Count Patrick D’Arcy: Dr Michael McGloin: Count Patrick D’Arcy, born in his village, Kiltullagh, Co.Galway. He had a very interesting c.v. Including having a holiday in the Tower of London, becoming director of the Royal Academy of Science in Paris and being elevated to a general in the Kings army, eventually being created a count by Louis XVI.
Wednesday March 19 2025: A History of Model Railways: Steve Benjamin: Steve looked at how the introduction of real railways created an interest in the whole population of owning models of railways/railroads, how the business adjusted to social changes, and where we are now. At the end, we looked at a few famous modellers and what they've created.
Wednesday March 12 2025 Weavers' revolt of 1826: Riot or Uprising? Remembering the East Lancashire Loom Breakers of 1826: Catherine Boyle. In an age when we are seeking to understand the benefits and threats of AI for our lives and work, some are reflecting on whether there are historical parallels in the widespread uprisings of the 19th century as Britain became the world’s first industrialised nation. As we approach the 200th anniversary of these events, Catherine will tell the story of her 4 x great grandfather, Simeon Wright, convicted in 1826 as one of the East Lancashire ‘rioters’. This has been the start of a journey, leading Catherine to discover other aspects of her Lancashire heritage from poetry in desperate times to the uplifting and still thriving brass band tradition.
Wednesday 5 March 2025 History of computers from the abacus to the World Wide Web: Denis Anthony: A short history of computers and connecting computers together.
Wednesday February 26 2025: L’esprit carnavalesque en piscénois: Claude Alranq is the Founder of the “Théâtre de la Carriera” (1968) and an artisan of the renaissance of southern French and Occitan theatre. Alranq wrote, directed and performed some fifty works closely linked to local and international events, in the diverse Francophone settings, both in France (Pays d'oc, Bretagne, Catalogne, Pays Basque...) and elsewhere (Mali, Kanaky and Outremer...).
Wednesday February 19 2025 Canal du Midi: Raymonde Fourcade: history ,construction, its impact and the canal today.
Wednesday 12 February 2025 The Bomb that didn't Explode: Robert Scarborough: A podcast on global population with discussion afterwards
Wednesday 5 February Would I lie to you? Mark Wilson: A game where we had to guess which of three statements given by a member was false
Wednesay 29 January 2025 The Commando Poet: An Irreverent Memoir Jackie Keefe
Wednesday 22 January 2025 Newtown Linford: A Village in Angleterre Profonde: Denis Anthony/Katherine Duffy: The home of Lady Jane Grey - queen of nine days, and the only village to have moved a motorway (M1) which would have destroyed Bradgate Park - given for the quiet enjoyment of the people of Leicestershire by industialist Charles Bennion.
Wednesday 16 October 2024 “The Strange World of French Furniture” Anne-Marie Domens
Wednesday 9 October 2024 “Call of Duty-Free” Robert Scarborough
Wednesday 2 October 2024 “Dr Dave does serious ! Vaccines, Why, how, the past the future?” David Leather
Wednesday, 18 September 2024 “The Balkans: Violence, Mystery and Romance.” Jonathan Bradley
Wednesday 19 June 2024 Lesley Lewis - Street
Wednesday 12 June 2024: How I found my Grandfather with a DNA test ! Elfie Majoie: Elfie gave us an insight into the mysteries which can be unravelled via DNA testing. She explained how the tests work and how testing can be used to trace close relatives. She shared with us the story of how, such a test unravelled a family secret which had been hidden for decades.
Wednesday, 22 May 2024: Languedoc Solidarité avec les Réfugiés Pete Cowan
15 May 2024 Visit to Chateau Lauren
8 May 2024 “The Cardinal, Cleopatra and the Pasha” (Butterflies) Jonathan Bradley
1 May 2024 The Old Flax Mill Sandra Jones
24 April 2024 Visit to Domaine de la Font des Ormes
17 April 2024 Favourite Bakes Afshin Hosseiny
20 MArch 2024 Nowruz Team Hosseiny
6 March 2024 Louis Paulhan Tony Swainsbury
28 February 2024 Amnesty International
21 Februay 2024 Frida Kahlo Tania
14 February 2024 Myths of Writing Life Lee Summerall
7 February 2024 A life in medical media Dave Leather
24 January 2024 St. Dominic Helen Clapham
17 January 2024 The Wall Denise Hosseiny
10 January 2024: Galettes de Rois Afshin Hosseiny