2024/2025 Programme

October 15th A short AGM will be held followed by:

Martin Davies presenting "Wild Arctic Europe", an illustrated talk about Lapland and the Scandinavian mountains and the fascinating fauna and flora to be found there.

November 19th Stephen Owen giving an illustrated talk on "A History of the Bedford and Cambridge Railway". This includes updates from recent discoveries through to what might happen in the future.

December 17th "Finding W H Hudson" - an illustrated talk by Conor Mark Jameson about the writer who came to Britain from Argentina to save the birds.

January 21st "The David Parr House Story". An illustrated talk given by volunteers at David Parr House in Cambridge, exploring Parr's incredible artistic skill used in creating a beautiful home for his family.

February 18th "Gliding from Gransden as an Adventure Sport". This will be an illustrated talk by members of the Cambridge Gliding Centre based at Gransden Lodge airfield. It will cover the modern sport of gliding, how it's evolved from its origins in the 1920s, Cambridge Gliding Centre's Hiatory and activities at Gransden Lodge airfield.

March 18th "The Wimpole Gardens of Thomas Chicheley and Lord Radnor". Archaeological excavations under the present gardens at Wimpole Hall reveal evidence of earlier gardens. This talk by Tom Midgley and Mike Coles explains what has been found and what it means.

April 15th "Hayley Wood - Through Time". This will be an illustrated talk by Richard Dowsett, Honorary Warden of Hayley Wood. It features aspects of the wildlife, ecology and management of this ancient woodland, following it through the seasons.

Details of future meetings to be published when known.

2023/2024 Programme

2023

October 18th A short AGM will be held followed by
John Davison delivering Part 2 of "Into the Wide Blue Yonder", talking about his lifelong interest in aviation.

Novermber 21st.    Cambridege was involved in shaping the sporting revolution that went global in the second half of the 19th century. This talk explores the individuals and sports that made up this revolution and the challenges they faced. Presenter is Nigel Fenner, who is related to Frank Fenner, one of those directly involved in the revolution

December 19th.   Update on the Gransdens Windmill project. As well as the splendid new sails on the windmill, much else has been happening since the last update. This talk, presented by
Martin Davies, will present a review and update on progress both with the restoration programme, what new things we have learnt about the mill’s history, structure and importance and some of the challenges for the future. Come and hear all the latest news!

2024

January 16th       This talk follows the route of the Old North Road from London north to the Humber and beyond. It covers its early history and on to the periods of the mailcoaches, stagecoaches and the turnpike road to the coming of the railways and changes of the last 100 years. Presenter is Stephen Owen.

February 20th MEETING CANCELLED

March 19th John Jefferies will be presenting a talk on farming entitled "The Farm, The Soil, Time and Carbon".

April 16th David Duker will tell us the remarkable story of Battle of Britain pilot Squadron Leader Victor Ekins DFC MBE. Victor had connections with our villages and his story comes from the wartime diaries he kept.

May 21st Jenny Jefferies will give an illustrated talk about "Farming, Fishing and Food".

2022/2023 Programme

2022

October 18th A brief AGM will be held followed by Val Davison showing some old films of The Gransdens taken in the 1950s and early 60s.These are amateur films but show some fascinating material.

November 15th Andy Greaves will be talking to us about his experiences driving to Ukraine.

December 20th Did Oliver Cromwell really ban Christmas? Were mince pies outlawed? Did Cromwell really have anything to do with all this? This talk by Stuart Orme reveals the fascinating story behind the myth of how the festive season was outlawed in the 1640s.

2023

January 17th Chris Roche asks "Where have you been tonight?"  - a lighthearted look at your journey through space and time.

February 21st Philip and Sheila George talk about Gransden bells, then and now.

March 21st "Into the Wide Blue Yonder" - John Davison tells us about his lifelong passion for flying and all things related to aviation.

April 18th Time Travellers DVDs

May 16th Archaeology - MOLA update on archaeological finds during construction of the new A14 road.

June 20th               Summer Evening Farm Visit - Hosted by Charles and Jo Mear at Wood Farm, Vicarage Road, Waresley. Note - start time is 6:30pm at the farm, NOT at the Reading Room.