Calendar of Members’ Events
The BHLA cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of the programme information that it has been supplied.
| Date | Society | Event /Talk | Speaker | Time / Place | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 3 September 2018 | Biggleswade History Society | Warden Abbey - The Lost Plot | talk by Margaret Roberts | The Biggleswade History Society meets monthly at the Trinity Methodist Church, Shortmead Street Biggleswade. Usually 7:30pm for 8:00. on the first Monday of the month. Speakers provide a variety of talks and presentations. During the summer months there are guided visits to places of interest, usually for members only. Meetings are free of charge for members. Visitors are welcome to attend most meetings, unless designated ‘Members Only’, for a charge of £3.00 per meeting. | Programme |
| Friday 7 Sep 2018 | Beds Family History Society | The Many Ways of Counting Our Days | Colin Oakes | Meetings are held at Mark Rutherford School (near Mowsbury Park), Wentworth Drive, Bedford MK41 8PX at 7.30 pm. Visitors or potential members are welcome. | BFHS Programme |
| Wednesday 12th September 2018 | BAALHS | The BAALHS AGM - BAALHS Through the magic lantern. | Peter Tipping and Bob Ricketts | Putnoe Heights Church & Community Centre, Bedford, MK41 8EB at 7.30 pm. Visitors £3.00 | Programme |
| Wednesday 12th September 2018 | Leighton Buzzard & District Archaeological & Historical Society | Buckinghamshire Diarists | Julian Hunt An illustrated tour using the words of 17th-20th century writers. The talk will include a Leighton Buzzard diarist. | All talks are at Linslade Community Hall (St Barnabas), Waterloo Rd, LU7 2NR, starting at 8 pm unless otherwise advised. Everyone welcome. Visitors £3. Members Free. | Programme |
| Sunday 16th Sept 2018 | Harlington Heritage Trust | “An Edwardian Menagerie in Ampthill” | Talk by Janice Tuckett at the Parish Hall at 3 p.m. | For further details on the above events please contact John Sorsby on 01525 873689 | Programme |
| Monday September 17th 2018 | Willington Local History Group (WLHG) | Warden Abbey | Margaret Roberts | WLHG meetings are normally at 7.30 pm in the Methodist Church in Willington. | Willington Local History Group |
| Thursday September 20th 2018 | Carlton & Chellington Historical Society | A talk by about the Great War, entitled ‘The Warrior Returns’. | George Carmichael | Unless otherwise stated, talks are held on THURSDAY evenings in CARLTON VILLAGE HALL (The Moor, Carlton, Beds., MK43 7JR) Doors open at 7.30pm for 8.00pm start. ADMISSION: Members £1.00, Visitors £3.00. Tea or Coffee & Biscuits between 7.30 and 8.00 pm | Programme |
| Friday September 21st 2018 | Colmworth & Neighbours History Society | AGM Format and Programme to be advised | at 7pm | All meetings held in Colmworth Village Hall, Fridays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm unless advised differently. | Colmworth History Programme |
| Thursday Sep 27th 2018 | Potton History Society | Laxton & Paxton | John Fowler Laxton and Paxton are two names associated with Bedfordshire. The story of how two sons of the soil became national treasures. | All meetings (except visits & walks) will take place in the Community Centre in Brook End and will normally start at 8pm | Programme |
| Monday Oct 1st 2018 | Ampthill & District Archaeological & Local History Society | Flight Research at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) | Barry Tomlinson | 7.30pm Flitwick Library | Programme |
| Wednesday, 3 October 2018 | Langford & District History Society | Village Memories Evening | Probably the last of Ralph Turner’s slides of old Langford and using his notes. | Meetings are held in the Church Hall, Church Street, LANGFORD from 8pm. | Langford History Society Programme |
| Tuesday Oct 9 2018 | Dunstable and District Local History Society | The Annals of Dunstable Priory | The first complete translation into English of the annals, written here between 1210 and 1300, is to be launched as a hard-back volume in November. Until now only scholars with a good working knowledge of medieval Latin could read this unique year-by-year account of local, national and international affairs, as recorded by the canons of Dunstable Priory. Publication of this translation by David Preest has been prompted by the local team behind the recent “Medieval Dunstable” project. Stephen Williams, who has watched work on the translation unfold, tells the story behind this publishing coup. | The society meets at 7.45 pm at the Methodist Church Hall (opposite Wilkinson’s). Membership is £6 pa (June-Dec £3). Visitors to meetings pay £2. | Website Programme |
| Wednesday 10th October 2018 | BAALHS | SYLVESTER STANNARD, ARTIST. Book signing. | Richard Morgan | Putnoe Heights Church & Community Centre, Bedford, MK41 8EB at 7.30 pm. Visitors £3.00 | Programme |
| Wednesday 10th October 2018 | Leighton Buzzard & District Archaeological & Historical Society | Auctions and Antiques | Evan Willison Manager of Charles Ross Auctioneers, Woburn | All talks are at Linslade Community Hall (St Barnabas), Waterloo Rd, LU7 2NR, starting at 8 pm unless otherwise advised. Everyone welcome. Visitors £3. Members Free. | Programme |
| Friday 12 Oct 2018 | Beds Family History Society | The Future of Family History | Dr Nick Barratt | Meetings are held at Mark Rutherford School (near Mowsbury Park), Wentworth Drive, Bedford MK41 8PX at 7.30 pm. Visitors or potential members are welcome. | BFHS Programme |
| Sunday 14th Oct 2018 | Harlington Heritage Trust | “Two Artists in Bedfordshire - George Shepherd and Thomas Fisher” | Talk by David Turner at the Parish Hall at 3 p.m. | For further details on the above events please contact John Sorsby on 01525 873689 | Programme |
| Tuesday October 16th 2018 | Willington Local History Group (WLHG) | AGM with historic video | WLHG meetings are normally at 7.30 pm in the Methodist Church in Willington. | Willington Local History Group | |
| Thursday October 18th 2018 | Carlton & Chellington Historical Society | ‘Richard Shuttleworth and the History of the Shuttleworth Estate’ | Alan Reed | Unless otherwise stated, talks are held on THURSDAY evenings in CARLTON VILLAGE HALL (The Moor, Carlton, Beds., MK43 7JR) Doors open at 7.30pm for 8.00pm start. ADMISSION: Members £1.00, Visitors £3.00. Tea or Coffee & Biscuits between 7.30 and 8.00 pm | Programme |
| Friday October 19th 2018 | Colmworth & Neighbours History Society | Bedford and its River | Bob Ricketts | All meetings held in Colmworth Village Hall, Fridays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm unless advised differently. | Colmworth History Programme |
| Thursday Oct 25th 2018 | Potton History Society | Dr Hunter of Gamlingay’s Tragic Story | Jim Brown Victorian ‘Quack’ or a ‘Real’ Doctor. The tragic tale associated with late Victorian Gamlingay. | All meetings (except visits & walks) will take place in the Community Centre in Brook End and will normally start at 8pm | Programme |
| Friday 2 Nov 2018 | Beds Family History Society | Colonel Fred Burnaby - Victorian Superman | Amanda Goody | Meetings are held at Mark Rutherford School (near Mowsbury Park), Wentworth Drive, Bedford MK41 8PX at 7.30 pm. Visitors or potential members are welcome. | BFHS Programme |
| Monday 5th November 2018 | Ampthill & District Archaeological & Local History Society | Charles Dawson: Piltdown and his other hoaxes | Andy McGrandle | 7.30pm Flitwick Library | Programme |
| Wednesday, 7 November 2018 | Langford & District History Society | Time to Thank Them | Audio-visual presentation towards collecting funds for a permanent memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to commemorate all the nurses who died in service during both World Wars. | Meetings are held in the Church Hall, Church Street, LANGFORD from 8pm. | Langford History Society Programme |
| Tues Nov 13 2018 | Dunstable and District Local History Society | The Making of Bedfordshire’s Countryside | Soil scientist Brian Kerr, a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University, describes how the landscape of the county has been affected over the years by farming, market gardening, mining for chalk and clay and the creation of parks and nature reserves. | The society meets at 7.45 pm at the Methodist Church Hall (opposite Wilkinson’s). Membership is £6 pa (June-Dec £3). Visitors to meetings pay £2. | Website Programme |
| Wednesday 14th November 2018 | BAALHS | A THOUSAND YEARS OF KIMBOLTON. Book Sale. | Nora Butler | Putnoe Heights Church & Community Centre, Bedford, MK41 8EB at 7.30 pm. Visitors £3.00 | Programme |
| Thursday November 15th 2018 | Carlton & Chellington Historical Society | ‘William Cowper and his Hares’ | Kate Bostock | Unless otherwise stated, talks are held on THURSDAY evenings in CARLTON VILLAGE HALL (The Moor, Carlton, Beds., MK43 7JR) Doors open at 7.30pm for 8.00pm start. ADMISSION: Members £1.00, Visitors £3.00. Tea or Coffee & Biscuits between 7.30 and 8.00 pm | Programme |
| Friday November 16th 2018 | Colmworth & Neighbours History Society | Archaeological findings from the Biddenham Loop and Northern Bypass excavations | Mike Luke | All meetings held in Colmworth Village Hall, Fridays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm unless advised differently. | Colmworth History Programme |
| Sunday 18th Nov 2018 | Harlington Heritage Trust | “Theatrical Presentation: In the Aftermath; Focussing on the end and after W.W.1” | Toddington Amateur Dramatic Society at the Parish Hall at 3 p.m. | For further details on the above events please contact John Sorsby on 01525 873689 | Programme |
| Tuesday November 20th 2018 | Willington Local History Group (WLHG) | Willington in World War 1, a talk to mark the centenary of the end of the war | Rob Bollington | WLHG meetings are normally at 7.30 pm in the Methodist Church in Willington. | Willington Local History Group |
| Thursday Nov 22nd 2018 | Potton History Society | AGM Potton in 1918 | *7.30 start for the AGM of the Society* Peter Ibbett A look back at the final year of the ‘Great War’ through local and national newspapers and magazines as well as our archives. | All meetings (except visits & walks) will take place in the Community Centre in Brook End and will normally start at 8pm | Programme |
| Sat Nov 24 2018 | Dunstable and District Local History Society | 10.00 – 3.00 Priory Church | Series of short talks to launch the publication of the first full translation of the Dunstable Annals, the diary of events kept in medieval times at the Priory. Talks by Stephen Williams, Hugh Garrod, John Buckledee, Tony Woodhouse and Jean Yates. | The society meets at 7.45 pm at the Methodist Church Hall (opposite Wilkinson’s). Membership is £6 pa (June-Dec £3). Visitors to meetings pay £2. | Website Programme |
| Monday 3rd December 2018 | Ampthill & District Archaeological & Local History Society | Failed to Return | Tony Eaton | 7.30pm Flitwick Library | Programme |
| Tuesday December 4th 2018 | Willington Local History Group (WLHG) | A Magic Lantern Show | Kevin Varty | WLHG meetings are normally at 7.30 pm in the Methodist Church in Willington. | Willington Local History Group |
| Wednesday, 5 December 2018 | Langford & District History Society | Social Evening | Could be a talk, slides or a film: tba | Meetings are held in the Church Hall, Church Street, LANGFORD from 8pm. | Langford History Society Programme |
| Thursday Dec 6th 2018 | Potton History Society | Pictorial Entertainment. | Finish the year with Christmas refreshments and enjoy a dip into our photographic & video archives of past & present Potton. | All meetings (except visits & walks) will take place in the Community Centre in Brook End and will normally start at 8pm | Programme |
| Friday 7 Dec 2018 | Beds Family History Society | My 50th Great Grandfather | Norman Holding | Meetings are held at Mark Rutherford School (near Mowsbury Park), Wentworth Drive, Bedford MK41 8PX at 7.30 pm. Visitors or potential members are welcome. | BFHS Programme |
| Tues Dec 11 2018 | Dunstable and District Local History Society | A Tudor Christmas | Martin Sirot-Smith, former director of Sulgrave Manor, will be in Tudor costume to enact the story of Lawrence Washington (President George Washington’s five times great grandfather) who lived at Sulgrave with his wife and eleven children. This will give an appropriately seasonal flavour to our December meeting, with festive snacks and our famous (non-alcoholic) hot punch. This meeting is for MEMBERS ONLY, tickets to be purchased in advance. | The society meets at 7.45 pm at the Methodist Church Hall (opposite Wilkinson’s). Membership is £6 pa (June-Dec £3). Visitors to meetings pay £2. | Website Programme |
| Wednesday 12th December 2018 | BAALHS | A REGENCY CHRISTMAS. Christmas refreshments and wine during interval. | Janet Stow | Putnoe Heights Church & Community Centre, Bedford, MK41 8EB at 7.30 pm. Visitors £3.00 | Programme |
| Saturday 15th Dec 2018 | Harlington Heritage Trust | Christmas Party At 2a Pilgrims Close at 8 p.m. | For further details on the above events please contact John Sorsby on 01525 873689 | Programme | |
| Tues Jan 8 2019 | Dunstable and District Local History Society | Bedfordshire’s Garden History | A lavishly illustrated miscellany of the county’s garden heritage ranging through the centuries from the Waldon Pear mentioned by Shakespeare to the 1990s gardens at Stockwood Park. Felicity Brimblecombe uses paintings, postcards, diaries and maps in a talk ranging from walled gardens to sun dials | The society meets at 7.45 pm at the Methodist Church Hall (opposite Wilkinson’s). Membership is £6 pa (June-Dec £3). Visitors to meetings pay £2. | Website Programme |
| Wednesday 9th January 2019 | BAALHS | BEDFORD'S TRANSPORT HERITAGE. | David Fowler | Putnoe Heights Church & Community Centre, Bedford, MK41 8EB at 7.30 pm. Visitors £3.00 | Programme |
| Wednesday 9th January 2019 | Leighton Buzzard & District Archaeological & Historical Society | Crime in 19th Century Leighton Buzzard - | Kathryn Faulkner, archivist, Bedford Record Office Kathryn is also responsible for the LBO weekly series on WWI. | All talks are at Linslade Community Hall (St Barnabas), Waterloo Rd, LU7 2NR, starting at 8 pm unless otherwise advised. Everyone welcome. Visitors £3. Members Free. | Programme |
| Saturday 12th January 2019 | Ampthill & District Archaeological & Local History Society | Celebrity Lunch | Speaker TBC, (Booking essential) | Programme | |
| Monday 4th February 2019 | Ampthill & District Archaeological & Local History Society | Many Mansions | Pamela Birch | 7.30pm Flitwick Library | Programme |
| Tues Feb 12 2019 | Dunstable and District Local History Society | Man On The Spot | Reflections on 50 years as a radio and tv broadcaster by former BBC journalist Bill Hamilton, whose front-line reports included revelations about Stalinist Albania and who was once the voice of BBC Television’s Saturday football match results. | The society meets at 7.45 pm at the Methodist Church Hall (opposite Wilkinson’s). Membership is £6 pa (June-Dec £3). Visitors to meetings pay £2. | Website Programme |
| Wednesday 13th February 2019 | BAALHS | A THOUSAND YEARS OF PUTNOE. | Bob Ricketts | Putnoe Heights Church & Community Centre, Bedford, MK41 8EB at 7.30 pm. Visitors £3.00 | Programme |
| Monday 4th March 2019 | Ampthill & District Archaeological & Local History Society | Speaker TBC | 7.30pm Flitwick Library | Programme | |
| Tues Mar 12 2019 | Dunstable and District Local History Society | On The Ball | Dunstable Town Football Club, established in 1883, was based for many years at Kingsway before moving to its present ground at Creasey Park. The club’s chairman, Alex Alexandrou, a professional historian, talks about the club, its most famous players and its role in the life of the town, Illustrated by numerous photos. The talk follows the society’s annual meeting. | The society meets at 7.45 pm at the Methodist Church Hall (opposite Wilkinson’s). Membership is £6 pa (June-Dec £3). Visitors to meetings pay £2. | Website Programme |
| Wednesday 13th March 2019 | BAALHS | WHY DO CHURCHES HAVE TOWERS? | David Bond | Putnoe Heights Church & Community Centre, Bedford, MK41 8EB at 7.30 pm. Visitors £3.00 | Programme |
| Monday 1st April 2019 | Ampthill & District Archaeological & Local History Society | AGM | Speaker TBC | 7.30pm Flitwick Library | Programme |
| Tues April 9 2019 | Dunstable and District Local History Society | King Henry’s Cathedrals | After the closure of the monasteries, Henry VIII had planned to create a number of new cathedrals, including one at Dunstable. Local historian Tony Woodhouse describes what happened. | The society meets at 7.45 pm at the Methodist Church Hall (opposite Wilkinson’s). Membership is £6 pa (June-Dec £3). Visitors to meetings pay £2. | Website Programme |
| Wednesday 10th April 2019 | BAALHS | THE AIR WAR OVER THE WESTERN FRONT 1914 - 1918. | Barry Tomlinson | Putnoe Heights Church & Community Centre, Bedford, MK41 8EB at 7.30 pm. Visitors £3.00 | Programme |
| Tues May 14 2019 | Dunstable and District Local History Society | Invasion 1940 – What If? | Popular speaker Tony Eaton, who has already intrigued Dunstable history society audiences with clandestine stories about Glenn Miller, Rudolf Hess and Leslie Howard, talks about the RAF’s secret partner in 1940 and the real reasons why Hitler’s planned invasion of Britain never took place. | The society meets at 7.45 pm at the Methodist Church Hall (opposite Wilkinson’s). Membership is £6 pa (June-Dec £3). Visitors to meetings pay £2. | Website Programme |