Programme for 2025
Unless otherwise stated, our meetings begin at 7.30pm at Wesley Hall, School Rd, Elmswell, IP30 9EE – where there’s ample free on-site parking.
9 January: Members’ Evening – a selection of members’ own researches.
13 February: Mike Walker, “The 1173 Siege of Haughley Castle & Battle of Fornham“.
13 March: Don Mobley, “U.S. Military Aviation in East Anglia“.
10 April: 25th Anniversary Meeting & Celebratory Party. Speaker Lydia Franklin, “Saving Britain’s Heritage over the Past 50 Years, focussing on East Anglia” – http://www.savebritainsheritage.org
8 May: Claire Jowitt, “The 1682 Shipwreck of HMS Gloucester”.
12 June: 7pm, A.G.M., immediately followed at 7.30pm by Neil Instrall, “The MIDDY Railway“.
17 July: 7pm – Outing to Hawstead’s GREAT WAR HUTS WW1 Military Museum.
11 September:
£12 Annual Subs due for payment, plus £4 per attendance = £16 at first attendance to become a Member (or Visitors are always welcome at £6 per attendance).
Speaker Zoe Adlam, “Fool’s Gold – Should the Law of Treasure be Changed to Improve Protection of Portable Antiquities?“
9 October: Mildenhall Museum’s Anne Hughes & Carol Cooper, “Mildenhall’s 1934 Air Race”
13 November: Barbara McElroy, “Suffolk Smugglers”
11 December: Bryan Thurlow, “Borley Rectory”. This renowned local actor will inform and entertain us with his talk/performance about this gothic Victorian building, built in 1862-3 on the site of an old monastery. In 1929, national newspaper headlines declared it to be “England’s most haunted house”, and this account of the ghostly goings-on at the Essex rectory is brought vividly to life, covering the period between 1841 and 1944. It features Reverend Smith and his wife, Mabel, as well as ghost investigator, Harry Price, who was sent to the rectory to find answers to the Smith’s paranormal problems – but was this so-called expert all he professed to be? Do join us to find out and, afterwards, enjoy some seasonal refreshments to steady your nerves!