I gave my Canals talk on 14th of December to the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society at the Swarthmore Learning Centre. Over lunch in the pub afterwards a chap from the Friends of Pudsey Roller, a group dedicated to the preservation of an historic Leeds-built Steam Roller talked to me about giving the same talk to his group.

Our talk moved on to the use, limited though it was, of the use of steam propulsion in canal boats.

In expectation of a booking from the Pudsey Rollers I carried out  some research on steam engines in canal boats and revised the talk to include a 'steam element' so as to make the talk more attractive to this particular audience. 

I will see if the work has been worthwhile and a new booking results from my endeavours.

 Well it's ages since I last posted and my good friend Jackie Depelle, a highly recommended speaker on family history and associated topics, 

(check out her site at https://depellejg.wixsite.com/mysite)

reminded me that it was about time I up-dated my blog.

The most significant news is I now have a new talk, Ten World Famous Monuments, which takes the form of a round-the-world tour, starting in London with Nelson's Column before travelling to Paris for the Eiffel  Tower, Italy and the Leaning Tower of Piza, onto Egypt and the Great Pyramid, India and the Taj Mahal before visiting New York and the Statue of Liberty.

Back in the UK we go to the Angel of the North before returning to London for Tower Bridge and Big Ben, ending our journey at Stonehenge.

                                           The Statue of Liberty, New York USA

As well as continuing my talks program in September, as part of Pontefract Civic Society's Heritage Weekend, I conducted a series of guided walks around Pontefract and later that same month I took part in a local history event at Worsborough Dale in conjunction with the Worsborough Local History Society.

I continue to run a family history group for Sherburn u3a and to be a trustee of the Pontefract and Ackworth Almshouse Charity.

I'm always thinking of new topics for my talks and would like to do one on Witches, Wizards and Warlocks, if only I can find the time.

In the meantime, my sincere thanks to all those groups who have listened to my talks in the last year and my very best wishes to them, and all my readers, for Christmas and the New Year, and I will try to post more often in the future,

It seems ages since I last posted anything, so this is by way of an up-date. 

 As you can see from my programme I have added a new talk, Highwaymen, the story of those famous, and infamous, 'Gentlemen of the Road'; Dick Turpin of course but also Claude de Val and that well-known highwaywoman, Lady Katherine Ferrers, made famous on film by Margaret Lockwood. 

And who exactly was it who rode from London to York in a single day? Book this talk to discover the truth behind the legend. 

 So what else has been happening in my 'speaker's world'? 

 I am still very busy giving talks to a great variety of organisations, some new and some old friends although the Zoom talks are mostly at an end now the Covid emergency is behind us. I'm not sorry about that as one of the pleasures of doing this job is meeting new people face-to-face. Chatting on a computer is a poor substitute. 

 I do still have three Zoom regulars, but only because they are too far away for realistic travel; two in Lancshire and one in south Wales. 

 I have a very full programme for 2024 and am now taking bookings for 2025 but there are still some vacancies this year, so if you need a speaker, even at short notice, give me a ring or drop me an email, I will always do my best to accommodate you. 

 I am giving some thought to another talk to add to my repertoire; 'Witches, Wizards and Warlocks'. I'd be interested to hear what you think, is that something that might interest your members? 

Please let me know, and if there are other topics you might like me to cover I'd welcome your suggestions. 

 I know it's a little late in the day but I hope you and your members have a happy and peaceful New Year.

I've had a very busy two weeks giving some very well received talks in places as diverse as Ripon, York and Doncaster.

As things are a bit quieter just now I've decided to write two new talks, one is finished, provisionally called 'When the Saints go marching in'. 

It's not about the song but the stories behind all those saints we think we know so well, Christopher, Valentine, Nicholas and the four patron saints of the British Isles - George, Andrew, David and Patrick, as well as two other saints, one of which might qualify as the patron saint of Yorkshire.

The talk is presented in a non-religious manner making it suitable for all audiences. 

As with all my talks it is well illustrated with colourful and informative PowerPoint slides.

In preparation is the second new talk, this one is to be about highway men, the myths, the legends and the truth, at least as far as I can determine it.

It will of course cover that most famous of highwaymen, Dick Turpin, and look in detail at the oft-repeated tale of his supposed ride from London to York in just one day. Did he really do it, or was it some other highway man? Book the talk to hear the true story. 

 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.

My New Walks

 So here are the details of the two walks around Pontefract that I'm now offering

 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.

                                                  Pontefract Buttercross

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.

                                                      George III Gold Guinea