Upcoming Events
February 2027
Cheers – A Talk by Sheelagh James
‘For centuries ‘small beer’ was one of the safest drinks in the nation, drunk by men, women and children. This talk looks not only at ale, beer and porter in the Georgian period, but where it was served, what it was served in and who drank it, the zenith of the coaching era, the growth of the breweries and a notorious brewery explosion.’
Find out more »March 2027
Sweet Memories
A jaunt down to the sweetie shop to recall some of our favourite sugary treats…some classic adverts to jog your memory too! A nostalgic talk by Kath Reynolds
Find out more »April 2027
Dr William Palmer of Rugeley – Saintly Billy or Mass Murderer?
A talk by Steve Booth. Dr William Palmer, better known as the Rugeley Poisoner. was convicted in 1856 for murder. Born in Rugeley executed at Stafford Prison. Gambling, Strychnine, and Victorian Killer all contributed to his downfall. Who was William Palmer and what lead to his heinous crimes?
Find out more »May 2027
“A Brief History of Hypnotherapy”
"From the Ancient Greeks to AI" Jim Moorhouse will take us on a whistlestop tour of the history of therapeutic applications of hypnosis from ancient times to the present. Often viewed with trepidation, curiosity and suspicion, particularly from the medical establishment, hypnotherapy has, nonetheless a long and remarkable history in areas as disparate as midwifery, psychiatry, dentistry and surgery. Jim will also explore some of the myths about hypnosis. There will be brief demonstrations to illustrate, and plenty of opportunity…
Find out more »July 2027
The Adventures of Harry Payne – the Edwardian “Literary Tramp”.
A talk by Quintin Watt Looking at the remarkable story of a partially sighted vagrant, who tramped around the British Isles. Each town he visited, he earned a few pence by writing a review of that place for the local newspaper. These perceptive snapshots provide a unique worm’s-eye view of Britain before and during the Great War. They earned Harry the epithet, “Literary Tramp”, and challenge the myth that poor people left no written evidence of their lives and experiences
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