Monday 13 January 2025
The history of Basing House – Alan Turton
[Alan Turton is a military historian and will talk about Basing House from it’s Tudor origins to it’s role in the English Civil War. Alan was curator at Basing House for twenty four years and has been involved in Civil War re-enactments at the site.]
Monday 10 February 2025
Spitfire production in Tadley – Richard Brown
[Why was the Spitfire fighter so important to Britain? Why was it produced in sheds and garages spread around Central Southern England? What was built in Hangar 5, Tadley? What happened to Hangar 5? Are there any Tadley Spitfires left Richard of TADS Project Group will tell us the intriguing tale that answers these questions.]
Monday 10 March 2025
It’s not all beer and skittles – Sue Ellis
[The British love their pubs and history suggests our enjoyment of beer and brewing is longstanding. This talk is a gentle and hopefully amusing ramble through the history of brewing, breweries and pubs from Romans to the present day, with some examples of local pubs and breweries. As well as a look at their ephemera (sadly no samples!).Sue Ellis is a local historian in the Thatcham and Newbury area who has taken the idea of hands-on research seriously and has felt constrained to visit many of the pubs she mentions!]
Monday 14 April 2025
Donnington Castle, Newbury – David Peacock
[Medieval Knights, Chaucer, a queen of France and a Civil War siege all feature in the story of Donnington Castle just outside Newbury. A small castle on a hilltop with commanding views. Only the gatehouse and an outline of the walls survive. Local historian David Peacock will talk about the castle and its occupants.]
Monday 12 May 2025
Battle of Hastings: regime change 11th century style – Mike Cooper
[Three men, one kingdom, two great battles and an amazing embroidery. Was Harold the rightful king of England? What changed? In this talk Mike Cooper looks at England in 1066, at the rival claimants to the throne and the available evidence for what happened and its possible impact on Britain.]
Monday 9 June 2025
The invisible corps – Roy Larkin
[A brief look at the story of The Army Service Corps 1914-1918, revealing a story of evolution, ‘passing the buck’ and meddling civilians.[
Monday 14 July 2025
The Real Downton Abbey – what it was really like to be in domestic service – Ian Porter
[Ian begins by describing the living conditions of servants in big houses and the importance of having servants. He will move on to describe what the jobs and lives of servants entailed, romantic opportunities, the ‘servant problem’ from 1901and how The Great War and Spanish Flu changed things. He will concentrate on indoor servants but outdoor servants are mentioned in passing.]
Monday 12 August 2025
Summer recess – no meeting
Monday 8 September 2025
900 years of Pamber Priory – David Cullum and TADS Project Group
[This talk will be accompanied by a display and a video.]
Monday 13 October 2025
British railways during World War II – Richard Marks
[Industrial and railway historian Richard Marks will explore the impact of World War II upon Britain’s railways, and the important role that Britain’s four railway companies had in achieving victory in World War II. Discover the war work that was undertaken in the railway company works across the country and the impact of Luftwaffe operations over Britain’s railway network. This talk will also look at how the legacy left by the Victorian railway builders benefited Britain in war.]
Monday 10 November 2025
Beatrice Shilling – female aviation engineer – Ken Fostekew
[Beatrice was a female aviation engineer who lived and worked in Hampshire. She was largely behind the development work which led to resolving the issues with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine.]
Monday 8 December 2025
Annual General Meeting and social