Wednesday 9th July. Michael Dark gave a talk on the life of Alan Turing who is considered by many to be the apostle of IT. Whilst most of us are aware of Turing’s wartime work at Bletchley Park, Britain’s codebreaking centre, Michael explained that his work covered much more than that.
Wednesday 25th June. Les Hales gave a talk entitled ‘Ned Ludd” and the Luddite Riots 1811-1813’. Les explained that the term “Luddite” has passed into common parlance, criticising those who are against technological change. This talk will explained where the term came from, and the real effects that the establishment of factories had on the lives of ordinary people and Beau Brummell’s stockings.”
Wednesday 11th June. Lyn Eynon spoke about Environment and Power: origins of the industrial revolution in Wales
Wednesday 28th May. Ian Doyle talked about Comancheria – a Stone Age Empire in the modern age. Ian explained that Comancheria was an historic region of the South Western United States covering the modern states of New Mexico and the western Texas; with Comanches raiding north into territories in Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado and as far south as Mexico. Ian informed the group on the historical context of the Comanche culture as recorded by early Spanish settlers, before to the emergence of the American wagon trains crossing the continental United States to California (1540 – 1824).
Wednesday 14th May. Mike Bailey gave a talk about The Rise and Fall of the Airship.
Wednesday 23rd April. Alison Tamson gave a talk about the building we all know so well. Standing on the shoulders of 400 years of history this talk traced the near 400 years of history from the early stirrings of Puritanism to today’s modern and thriving City United Reformed Church Cardiff.
Wednesday 9th April. Andrew gave a talk about the Maunsell Forts, towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend London and Liverpool from air attack.
Wednesday 26th March. Philip identified the richest man who ever lived – Mansa Musa, the 14th Century emperor of Mali – and examined how he acquired his wealth and used it generously on his 4,500 miles Hajj to Mecca, and on his return contributed to making Mali the centre of learning and culture in the Islamic world.
Wednesday 12th March. Truda’s talk on the Mathematics of Yellow Fever explored the intriguing mathematics of Yellow Fever, which includes a simple formula required to prove how, when and by what means yellow fever is spread.
Wednesday 26th February. Mario Greening presented a talk on ‘The Book of the Dead in which he he explored some ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs and the hope that a personalised crib sheet ensured that the dead’s heart in the afterlife was not eaten en route to immortality by a crocodile.
Wednesday 11th December. Martyn Swain explained the reasons behind The Deceased Wife’s Sister Act of 1907 and its consequences, a little known Act of Parliament which proved to be a lot more interesting than the title sounds.
Wednesday 27th November. Geofrey Hosking explained How Ukraine became a nation.
Wednesday 13th November. Dave Munsen explained the peace treaties which followed the armistice of the First World War. The fighting in WWI took fifty two months to resolve. The final peace treaty took a further fifty six months to resolve after the armistice. Dave took us on a tour through the eight peace treaties to end the war to end all wars and explained why peace was so difficult to agree.
Wednesday 9th October. Sarah Boyce gave the second part of her talk on the History of Holidays, from the days of the Grand Tour to Butlins.
Wednesday 25th September. Ian Doyle gave a talk on the History of the Falkland Islands and in particular the Argentinian claim of their ownership which Argentina calls the Malvenas.
Wednesday 11th September. Andrew Rees gave a talk entitled ‘The pound in your pocket – a history of British Currency’.
Wednesday 24th July. Mario gave his long awaited talk on the Spanish Inquisition.
Wednesday 26th June. Truda explained the Antarctic rivalry between Captain Robert Scott and the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, leading to the tragic death of Scott and most members of his expedition.
Wednesday 12th June. Close to the 80th anniversary of D Day, Mike Bailey looked at the British involvement in the Normandy campaign, and how the British forces evolving from a relatively green force to a far more professional army capable of bettering the Germans.
Wednesday 22nd May. Sarah Boyce explained to us the History of Holidays, through the ages from holiday festivals of Ancient Egypt to Victorian and Edwardian excursionists. Part 2 of her talk followed in October.
Wednesday 8th May. Martin Swain gave a talk on the Newport Transporter Bridge, discussing the history of bridges crossing the River Usk at Newport, the problems with the Old Town Bridge in the late 19th century and the reasons for the construction of the Transporter Bridge, completed in 1906. Martin showed several wonderful old photographs of the Old Town Bridge and the construction of the Transporter Bridge. Martin concluded with a short explanation of the current building of a new visitor centre and the restoration work to the bridge before it reopens later this year.
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Wednesday 24th April Ian Doyle gave a talk about La Reconquista de Buenos Aires, a public painting on display in Buenos Aires depicting the surrender of Major General William Carr Beresford to Jacques de Liniers, a French Captain in the service of the King of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. Ian explained the relevance of the painting to Anglo-Argentine relations and the historical significance of the scene depicted in the painting.
Wednesday 10th April Philip told the story of the courtier and poet Sir Thomas Overbury who died in September 1613, a prisoner in the Tower of London. Why was he there, how did he die and why did he die? This is a fascinating story of political intrigue, sexual relationships and a grisly murder.
Wedesday 27th March Mike gave a talk on the Battle of Flodden. This looked at what is a long forgotten but massively important battle in our history. It looked at Catherine of Aragon’s role as regent and left to deal with an opportunist French-encouraged Scottish invasion whilst Henry VIII was campaigning in France.
Wednesday 13th March Peter gave a talk on the history of train robberies in the U.S.A and beyond in the late 1800s and early 1900s, focussing on Jesse and Frank James, followed by the true facts of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Wednesday, 28th February Les Hales presented a talk on “The Fishing Industry in Hull and Grimsby – Tragedy and Triumph”. In the 1950s and 1960s, the wealth of towns in the east of England was created by deep sea fishing – one of the most dangerous industries in the world. Les Hales’ talk included some tragic losses and the actions of one community, led by women, to improve conditions for trawlermen.
Wednesday 13th Febeuary Sarah gave a talk entitled ‘Grandpa Tom and the Dardanelles/Gallipoli campaign of WW1’. The talk gave a condensed look at the stages of the unsuccessful Dardanelles/Gallipoli campaign of 1915 WW1 and a glimpse into Sarah’s Grandad’s brief service there with the 8th Battalion (Pioneer) Welsh regiment.
Wednesday 24th January Andrew Rees gave a talk entitled Abandoned History of South Wales. Andrew’s talk looked at four lesser known historic sites in South Wales, from Pre-History, Roman, Medieval and Victorian/Edwardian giving a window onto some sites that members may not know about.
Wednesday 10th January David Hughes talked about the Life of Sir Christopher Wren, famous as the architect of St Paul’s Cathedral, rebuilt after the Great Fire in 1666, but also an astronomer, mathematician and physicist.
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