Past Talks
By Clicking on the Past Talks 2023 button you will see a report for each talk held this year.
January 10th Due to our speaker being ill, Thorold Masefield was asked if he could stand in at the last minute. And Thorold did not disappoint, his talk titled Gods not Slaves was a thought provoking theory that West Africans were the catalyst to the great civilisations in Central America. The Olmec, Maya, Inca and Aztec Cultures all derived from a chance storm that took a dozen unsuspecting Nigerian Fishermen to the Gulf of Mexico
February 14th. The Role of the Verderers and Agisters in the New Forest. - Jonathan Gerrelli.
This talk was very much a follow up to the one on Commoning by Sue Kempe in autumn 2021. Mr Gerrelli is Head Agister.
March 14th we listened to the talk titled The Search for the North West Passage by Brian Margetson. The booming trade with the far east spurred on by the industrial revolution required a hazardous voyage round the Cape of Good Hope (no Suez or Panama Canals then). Surely there must be an easier way?
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April 11th. Trees and the Law. - Mark Hinsley. This talk by a professional arboricultural consultant was particularly relevant to us in Brockenhurst where TPOs and Conservation Areas are common.
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May 9th The Lost Island Civilisation of Atlantis- Richard Hutley
The subject of many films, it is a fascinating topic. What do we know? Where could it have been located? Is there evidence of it today?
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June 13th It Started with a Kiss - Brian and Jacqueline Sutton
A talk about the life and times of the brilliant but doomed poet including his friendship with noted local artist and bon viveur Augustus John.
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July11th The Queen Elizabeth 2 Liner Story - Steve Herra
A talk about the Story of QE2 from its conception in the 1960s until its retirement in 2008
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August 8th. Natural Wonders of Iceland - Gerald Ponting. Featuring spectacular sights of mountains, glaciers, volcanos, hot springs, icebergs, lakes, waterfalls and even small forests plus some bird life and wildflowers.
September 12th. Explosive Demolition: Blowing up part of London - Dr Colin Jolly. This talk described the preparatory work required to “blow down” a heavy, tall industrial building - the meticulous planning and safety issues.
October 10th. We welcomed Rosemary Tiffin who spoke about her life and times as an asylum and immigration judge.
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November 14th .Retired Col Jeremy Prescott gave members a moving and intriguing talk on the Remembrance Poppy. Entitled “The Miracle Flower - From Flanders to The Tower” it explained how the Poppy became the flower and symbol of remembrance.
December 12th “How do you take yours?” by actress and historian Jane Glennie. Set at the end of rationing in 1953, Jane portrayed etiquette enthusiast Mrs Cox giving advice on how to make a “proper” cup of tea.
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