Project Purley

 

Talks Given by Members

 

 

 

A number of our members give talks to other local societies. Please call them on the numbers given below if you would like to arrange a speaker

 

MARTIN BISHOP

Contact Martin on

 

CATHERINE BUTCHER

Contact Catherine on

 

JOHN CHAPMAN

Contact John on 0118-942-6999

All the talks are illustrated – mostly by Computer controlled presentations.

 

  • The GWR comes to the Thames Valley Covers the very early period from approximately 1835 and takes the story to the end of the Broad gauge.  I usually try to tailor it to the area where I am talking.

 

  • Early Postal History of Reading The postal history of Reading begins in the middle ages and can come right up to date if there is time. However usually we only get to the start of the first world war. It focuses upon the services offered by the Post Office and is illustrated by examples of post marks and postal material.

 

  • The Royal Berkshire Regiment in WW1 When I talk about the Royal Berkshire Regiment in the First World War I try to focus on social rather than military aspects. For example what did men do for the high proportion of their time when they were not in the trenches. I also try to set a context for people who are researching their family history.

 

  • Ephemera can be fun No I am not going to talk about dragonflies. My meaning of ephemera relates to objects produced for a specific purpose and usually thrown away after that purpose has been achieved. What I try to do is to identify the several types of ephemera and talk about the social history that can be gleaned from collecting and studying it. (no projector)

 

  • History of St Mary’s Church, Purley on Thames St Mary’s church in Purley on Thames is a very ancient foundation. My talk ranges over the early history of Christianity in the area and then relates the architectural history of the church to stories of clergy over the last 800 years or so.

 

  • The Falklands – The geography, history and wildlife of the islands.

 

  • Ascension Island – the geography and history of the island

 

  • The History and Archaeology of Purley on Thames

 

 

JEAN DEBNEY

Contact Jean on 0118-942-3323

 

Talks include

 

  • Dating your Old Photographs
  • Digging up your Ancestors
  • In a Manor of Speaking

 

BEN VILJOEN

Contact Ben on 0118-984-3170

 

Talks on landscape  gardening

 

 

H96 23/11/2008