Do you love history? Are you fascinated by the Viking Age? Or maybe you’re just looking to learn something new in 2026! This exploratory and fun history course delves into the thrilling history of the Viking Great Army. We will focus on their famous winter camp in Repton, as well as who the Vikings were, what they believed and why they invaded the Midlands kingdom of Mercia in the mid 800s. Along the way, you’ll be introduced to a range…

This talk looks in detail about the terrible explosion that occurred in November 1944 at Fauld, just north of Burton. Fauld was a massive underground armaments store and the occurrence was the 4th largest man-made explosion during World War 2, causing tremendous damage  In Burton and it also had an impact in places like Lichfield.

If you enjoyed the talk about 'The WW2 Spy Princess' Noor Inayat Khan, then you may also like this one. Have you heard of Josephine Baker — the dancer who wowed France with feathers and fame? But did you know she also risked her life as a spy in the French Resistance? Join Sundeep Braich to uncover the secrets behind the Dancing Spy’s double life.

Everyone knows of the error which resulted in the deaths of many troops at the Charge of the Light Brigade, but this is by no means the only error nor does it come close to the biggest error in history. Hear how history has recorded some of the dopiest decisions, some of which can hardly have seemed the brightest idea at the time and even worse today. Speaker Anthony Poulton-Smith.  

A talk by Alun Jones. Lichfield. What comes to mind? The Ladies of the Vale, Georgian elegance, Dr. Johnson and a "loyal and ancient city". We think of tradition, history and an innate quiet conservatism but beneath the polished façade of this Cathedral City lies a deep, enduring and sometime bloody streak of radicalism. Uncover the rebels, the thinkers and their pursuit of change.

Free entry to the sale. All proceeds go towards the running of this independent museum and charity. Any donations of jigsaws will be gratefully received.

Speaker Vanessa Morgan: My father, Francis Hill, joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in September 1939 and was with the British Expeditionary Force in France until May 1940. They were then told to make for Dunkirk, and it was on his way to Dunkirk that he, and a group of friends, were captured. Sent to a POW camp in Poland he was quickly sent out on working parties for the next four years. He was then part of the…

Come and find out about the fascinating and often tragic stories of the girls and women who signed up to be munition workers. They suffered danger, explosions and poisoning whilst involved in making munitions for the War effort during the First World War! Speaker Paul Wilkins.