Two really enjoyable talks this week, 'So You Want to Trace Your Ancestors'
to Newmillerdam WI, then 'After You're Dead'
to Marston Moor YCA Group.
Both really nice friendly groups and a pleasure to talk to them.
Four more talks this month, and all on the same subject, the Gunpowder Plot, aka the story of Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night.
I'm pleased to say my guided walk around Pontefract for the Boroughbridge Historical Society went off very well, well I would say that wouldn't I?
A new venture for me and I enjoyed the challenge of condensing a millennium of history into a 90 minute talk/walk.
In other news, it being August a lot of societies aren't meeting so it's a quiet time for talks. One this morning to Thorner Probus but nothing now until September when things are back to normal, four in September and no fewer than nine in October, with the Gunpowder Plot being the most requested.
It also includes a few new organisations, the Escrick Heritage Project and West Cowick Ladies Guild being just two whom I've not spoken to before.
I'm starting to think about putting together a new talk, the History of the British Coinage System is one possibility, an explanation of just where did we get those pounds shillings and pence from, now long-gone since the advent of the decimal coinage we now use every day.
Last April I gave a talk to the Boroughbridge and District Historical Society and when they mentioned they were planning an organised society trip to Pontefract, my home town, I offered to be their guide for the day.
Consequentially, I am now in the process of putting together a morning's tour of what I hope will be the most interesting parts of the town.
This will be similar to the tour I had planned around the town's almshouses, before the Covid restrictions made such things impossible, but which I may now resurrect.
Both these are new ventures for me. although I have done the Almshouse tour once, for the Pontefract Family History Society, and I have offered to repeat it for the Pontefract Civic Society's annual Heritage Programme.
In other news, the talk programme is progressing satisfactorily, with some old friends such as Harrogate Probus and Thornton Antiquarian Society, and new ones like Hemsworth Probus and West Wolds U3A, all booking talks for this year, and Aireborough Civic Society and York Probus getting in early with bookings for 2023.
I am constantly revising and fine-tuning my talks, both to meet groups expectations or to impart some new aspect, such as a recent revision to Votes for Women to describe the difficulties, especially for women, in obtaining a divorce prior to 1857.
Things, it seems, are gradually getting back to normal.
Since Christmas I've given face-to-face talks to, amongst others, Ackworth Heritage Group; Harlow Hill Men's Forum; Craven U3A; Leeds Probus and Shadwell Country Womens' Association.
I still have a few Zoom bookings left over from more restricted times, Carmarthenshire 50 have been steadily working their way through my entire repatoire, but it does seem that a measure of normality is now returning, long may it continue.
I certainly haven't been without bookings throughout the Covid years and Model Villages, The Story of the English Canals, The Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun and Crime and Punishment continue to top the charts.
Between now and the end of June I have over 20 talks booked, all but 3 of them will be in-person and I'm pleased to welcome some new groups including the Probus Club of Worksop; Aireborough Civic Society; the Beverley National Women’s Register, the Marston Moor YCA Group and the Worsbrough Wifes group.
I look forward to meeting them all and making some new friends.
Thank you to all the groups who have contiued to support me despite the troubled times we've been through.
Oh and I've got a brand new screen, slightly bigger than my old one so my presentations should be even better.
