Programme for 2010

Previous Years' Programmes

Meetings are normally held on the second Thursday of the month, in St John's Church Room at 7:30pm.

January 14th Cancelled because of weather conditions - sorry!
February 11th Local Countryside History
Illustrated talk by Ashley Cooper, starting at 7:30 pm.

March 11th William Pretty & Son - Suffolk Corset Manufacturers
Illustrated talk by Roger Kennell, starting at 7:30 pm.

April 8th The Black Death
We are pleased to welcome Clive Paine once again; the talk will start at 7:30 pm.

May 13th Serving you through all your days
A history of many of the Stowmarket business familes that have served the town for generations, by Steve and Sue Williams, starting at 7:30 pm.

June 10th Elmswell - a village history in words and pictures
Talk by Norman Kenyon, illustrated from the village history website, starting at 7:30 pm.

July 8th
Annual outing: a visit to a private museum in Debach is being arranged - more details later
September 9th History of British Coins
– from Romans to Pre-Decimal, by David Threadgall starting at about 7:30pm, after our 7:00 AGM

October 14th The River Gipping Trust
Illustrated talk by Spencer Greystrong, starting at 7:30 pm.

November 11th Fig Leaves, Farthingales, & Fichues
– Fashion Through the Ages, by Frances Saltmarsh, starting at 7:30 pm.

December 9th A Victorian Evening
Once again we welcome Gill Nicholls to present Olde Tyme Music Hall songs & lead a Christmas sing-a-long. Light seasonal refreshments will be served afterwards. Note that this meeting will be at the Wesley Hall in School Road, starting at 7:30 pm.

Programme for 2011

Previous Years' Programmes

Meetings are normally held on the second Thursday of the month, in St John's Church Room at 7:30pm.

January 13th Origin & Development of Surnames
We welcome back Derek Palgrave to give this illustrated talk, starting at 7:30 pm.

February 10th The Euston Estate, near Thetford
Illustrated talk by Edward Wortley, starting at 7:30 pm.

March 10th One Man’s War
– How I Researched my Father’s Army Career, by Anne Grimshaw, starting at 7:30 pm.

April 14th Toll Houses of Suffolk
Illustrated talk by Patrick Taylor, starting at 7:30 pm.

May 12th History of Punch & Judy
- together with an actual performance for us all to enjoy!
Presented by Peter Battey, starting at 7:30 pm.
Note that this meeting will be at the Wesley Hall in School Road, starting at 7:30 pm.

June 11th History of Morris Dancing
We welcome back Desmond Herring to give this illustrated talk, starting at 7:30 pm.

July 8th
Annual outing: Visit to Ashley Cooper’s Museum, Gestingthorpe, (near Sudbury) – a collection of Roman Villa, Medieval Guildhall, Farming Bygones & Local History
September 8th A Picture History of Margaret Catchpole
Illustrated talk by Pip Wright in the Wesley Hall, School Road, starting at about 7:30pm, after our 7:00 AGM

October 13th A walk round Elmswell in 1911
Illustrated talk by Norman Kenyon in the Wesley Hall, School Road, starting at 7:30 pm.

November 10th ‘Vanners’, Weavers & the Silk Weaving Industry of S.W. Suffolk
by David Tooth, starting at 7:30 pm.
N.B. This meeting will be held at Little Elms Pre-School, in Cooks Road

December 8th Movie History Landmarks
by Mark Mitchels – how the movies were invented & developed, from 1894 to ‘Casablanca’. Illustrated by movie extracts.
Fancy Dress (optional) – come as your favourite film star/character! Seasonal light refreshments will be served.
We are back in the Wesley Hall, School Road for this meeting. Admission by ticket (members £4, non-members £5.50) from Stella.

Programme for 2012

2011 Programmes for 2001-2010

Meetings are normally held on the second Thursday of the month, in the Wesley Hall, School Road at 7:30pm.

Forthcoming meetings (Members £1.50, visitors £3 at the door)
Our thanks to Stella Chamberlin for arranging our meetings
January 12th Members contributions
Sir Robert Gardiner; local connections to the Titanic disaster; snippets from 19th c. press; and more...

February 9th Victorian Social History in East Anglia
Illustrated talk by Denise Hammond-Webb, starting at 7:30 pm.

March 8th The Suffolk Regiment, 1685-1959
by Gwyn Thomas, starting at 7:30 pm.

April 12th Elmswell re-visited
Illustrated talk by Clive Paine, starting at 7:30 pm.
May 10th Codes, Ciphers & Enigma
- from 480BC to WWII’s Bletchley Park
Presented by Joyce Kimber, starting at 7:30 pm.

June 14th Suffolk Suffragettes
- the 1914 Fire at Felixstowe’s Bath Hotel
Illustrated talk by Phil Hadwen, starting at 7:30 pm.

July 12th
Annual outing
t.b.a.