PRESENTATION SPEAKER: 2025

Friday, 3 January 2025

Well my Christmas break is over, it's now 2025 so it's back to work.

Two talks next week, both to groups I've spoken to in the past, Garforth Probus want the new 'Monuments' talk while the Skipton Retired Men's Forum have asked for 'Highwaymen'.

Then a busy following week with talks on the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th - wow!

That'll keep me out of mischief!

My Current Programme

MY LATEST TALK

Around the World with Ten Famous Monuments and Buildings - The stories and the people behind some world famous monuments and buildings such as the Eiffel Tower, The Taj Mahal, the Statue of Liberty and Big Ben.

Stand and Deliver - The Highwaymen, from Dick Turpin to Claude Duval, the story of those ‘Gentlemen of the roads’, and of that infamous highway woman, the 'wicked lady' herself Katherine Ferrers.

When the saints go marching in – The stories behind all those saints we know so well, Christopher, Nicholas and Valentine, as well as the patron saints of the four countries of the British Isles, and some you might not know!

Votes for Women - The story of the suffragettes and suffragists and their struggle for emancipation from 1865 to 1928 including a pen-picture of the principal protagonists.

Model Villages and the rise of the Philanthropic Movement - From Saltaire to Bournville, how and why the Industrial Model Village developed during the 19th century.

Crime & Punishment - From the Anglo Saxons onwards. The development of the law under the Normans, the beginnings of the prison system and the eventual abolition of all other forms of punishment, including capital punishment, up to the present day.

The History of the English Canals - from their beginnings in 1759, their construction and design, the post-war decline and the later restoration movement.

The Pontefract Murder - The story of Cardwell & Barrett and the murder which shocked a small town in 1918.

After You’re Dead - The history of grave robbing and dissection including the notorious Burke and Hare with some light-hearted asides.

Barnbow - The development of the Barnbow Munitions Works during WWI and the tragic accident there in 1916.

Remembrance - The establishment of War Memorials and the Unknown Warrior after WWI, which would include wherever possible the war memorial or memorials in the location of the talk.

Culloden - Bonnie Prince Charlie’s last battle, the last one fought on British soil, it's causes and aftermath.

Stay Safe On-Line - How to protect yourself from, and recognise both computer and telephone scams. A non-technical guide to help recognise and avoid there pernicious tricks.

Armistice - The fascinating story of how the First World War came to an end in 1918

Wonderful Things - The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun and a description of some of the treasures found there.

The Gunpowder Plot - Guy Fawkes and the plot to blow up Parliament on 5th November 1605. The people behind the plot, it's reasons, ultimate failure and what happened afterwards.

PRESENTATION SPEAKER

Friday, 3 January 2025

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