Programme for 2026
July to December
Thursday 2nd July
Speaker: Dave Cheesley
Subject: Magical Mystery Tour
Tea/Coffee: Derek Baillie & Brian Blestowe
Thursday 16th July
Speakers: Mike Bendrey and Richard Hosken
Subject: Zambia - Aardman Animations
Tea/Coffee: Brian Bloomfield & Barrie Cook
Thursday 30th July - Ladies Day
Speaker: Helen Stock
Subject: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Tea/Coffee: John Cook & Keith Davis
Thursday 6th August
Speaker: Mike Hooper
Subject: Broadmead Before the Shops
Tea/Coffee: Jayne Gould & Janet Norris
Thursday 20th August
Speaker: Melissa Abrahams
Subject: The Work of Age UK in S Glos
Tea/Coffee: Richard Hosken & Ken Ireland
Thursday 3rd September
Speaker: Mike Britton
Subject: Post War Bristol
Tea/Coffee: David Lewis & Roger Netting
Thursday 17th September
Speaker: Ed Sheffield
Subject: Mercy Ships
Tea/Coffee: Sarah Chivers & Pauline Spencer
Thursday 1st October
Speaker: Paul Herbert
Subject: Parnalls - From Warplanes to Washing Machines
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Ken Spilman
Thursday 15th October
Annual General Meeting
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Roger Whiteside
Thursday 29th October - Ladies Day
Speaker: Peter Spence
Subject: Coop Legal Services - Estate Planning & Tax
Tea/Coffee: Derek Baillie & Dave Priddy
Thursday 5th November
Speaker: Bernard Merrick
Subject: Tarka the Otter
Tea/Coffee: Brian Bloomfield & Barrie Cook
Thursday 19th November
Speaker: Emily Larsen
Subject: Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust
Tea/Coffee: John Cook & Keith Davis
Thursday 3rd December
Speaker: Ken Spilman
Subject: Seasonal Theme
Tea/Coffee: Jayne Gould & Janet Norris
Thursday 17th December
Closed for Christmas
January to June 2026
Retained for reference
Thursday 15th January
Speaker: Chris Bigg
Subject: Changes in the Face of Bristol
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Helen Bishop & Sarah Chivers
Thursday 29th January - Ladies Day
Speaker: Russell Budge
Subject: A Career in the Royal Navy
Speaker's Friend: Pauline Spencer
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & James Bayley
Thursday 5th February
Speaker: Rob Jones
Subject: Bristol - The 1994 Domestic Murder - a case study
Speaker's Friend: James Bayley
Tea/Coffee: Pauline Spencer & Val Ball
Thursday 19th February
Speaker: Claire Bounds
Subject: Fraud - Avon & Somerset Police
Speaker's Friend: Helen Bishop
Tea/Coffee: Brian Blestowe & Brian Bloomfield
Thursday 5th March
Speaker: Mark Wardle
Subject: The Wildlife of India
Speaker's Friend: Peter Blackmore
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cook & Bryan Rowe
Thursday 19th March
Speaker: John Lockwood
Subject: Bristol - Men in Sheds
Speaker's Friend: Brian Blestowe
Tea/Coffee: Ken Spilman & Graham Walker
Thursday 2nd April
Speaker: Martin Tobin
Subject: Metal Detecrorist
Speaker's Friend: Brian Bloomfield
Tea/Coffee: James Bayley & John Cook
Thursday 16th April
Speaker: Dave Hartnell
Subject: Calgary to Vancouver Island
Speaker's Friend: Sarah Chivers
Tea/Coffee: John Turner & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 30th April- Ladies Day
Speaker: Helen Bishop
Subject: Bristol - Tales from an Unknown Country
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball & Pauline Spencer
PLUS
A special social meeting and free coffee morning
Thursday 7th May
Speaker: Graham Walker
Subject: Music, Mirth and Amazement
Speaker's Friend: Bryan Rowe
Tea/Coffee: Brian Bloomfield & Barrie Cook
Thursday 21st May
Speaker: Alan Freke
Subject:J.S.Fry & Sons - a Rough guide
Speaker's Friend: Ken Spilman
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Brian Smith
Thursday 4th June
Speaker: Bernard Merrick
Subject: The Grand Tour
Speaker's Friend: Ken Spilman
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Brian Smith
Thursday 18th June
Speaker: Rob Rogers
Subject: One Foot in Paradise (The Island of Mull)
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Helen Bishop & Sarah Chivers
Programme for 2025
January to December
Retained for reference
Thursday 2nd January
Speaker: Luke Paddon
Subject: Haven House, India
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: John Turner & John Welsby
Thursday 16th January
Speaker: Bernard Merrick
Subject: It's Only a Glove
Speaker's Friend: Helen Bishop
Tea/Coffee: John Turner& Pat Moore
Thursday 30th January - Ladies Day
Speaker: Brian Griffiths
Subject: Come to Madeira
Speaker's Friend: Peter Blackmore
Tea/Coffee: Brian Bloomfield & Barrie Cook
Thursday 6th February
Speaker: Chris Bigg
Subject: Brunel's Bristol
Speaker's Friend: Sarah Chivers
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby &James Bayley
Thursday 20th February
Speaker: Dave Hartnell
Subject: Cactus Country
Speaker's Friend: Dave Priddey
Tea/Coffee: John Turner
Thursday 6th March
Speaker: Gary Atterton
Subject: Cotton Threads
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Janet Ashman & Pauline Spencer
Thursday 20th March
Speaker: Brian Vincent
Subject: The Proctor Family & Fertiliers
Speaker's Friend: Bryan Rowe
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball & Pat Moore
Thursday 3rd April
Speaker: Philip Ashford
Subject: South Glos & the Berkley Planation, Virginia 1619-1622
Speaker's Friend: Sarah Chivers
Tea/Coffee: James Bayley & Eric Arnold
Thursday 17th April
Speaker: Peter Carpenter
Subject: Langworthy, Perkinsean Electricity and "Tractors"
Speaker's Friend: Helen Bishop
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 1st May
Speaker: Janet Colley
Subject: The Royal Osteoporosis Society
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Brian Bloomfield & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 15th May
Speaker: Andrew Harper
Subject: Round the World Yacht Race 2013/14
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Eric Arnold
Thursday 29th May - Ladies Day
Speaker: Mark Wardle
Subject: Japan in Winter
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Peter Blackmore & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 5th June
Speaker: Ian Cambell
Subject: Royal British Legion
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: Pauline Spencer & Janet Ashman
Thursday 19th June
Speaker: Kat Mann
Subject: Jessie May Trust - (Children's Hospice at Home)
Speaker's Friend: Dave Priddey
Tea/Coffee: Sarah Chivers & Helen Bishop
Thursday 3rd July
Speaker: Dave Hartnell
Subject: New Zealand North & South Islands
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Peter Blackmore & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 17th July
Speaker: Janet Colley
Subject: Guide Dogs for the Blind
Speaker's Friend: James Bayley
Tea/Coffee: Brian Blestowe & Barry Cooke
Thursday 31st July - Ladies Day
Speaker: Caroline Newton
Subject: My Allotment & Me
Speaker's Friend: Dave Priddey
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 7th August
Speaker: Andre Coutanche
Subject: A Little Kingdom
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Brian Smith & Graham Walker
Thursday 21st August
Speaker: David Cheesley
Subject: The Golden Age of Postcards
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Brian Smith & John Turner
Thursday 4th September
Speaker: Yvonne Cox
Subject: Hedgehog Rescue
Speaker's Friend: Sarah Chivers
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Eric Arnold
Thursday 18th September
Speaker: Mike Bottomley
Subject: Katherine Parr, Gloucestershire's Queen
Speaker's Friend: Bryan Rowe
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball & Pauline Spencer
Thursday 2nd October
Speaker: Stuart Burroughs
Subject: Out of Earth - Bath's Mineral Wealth
Speaker's Friend: Helen Bishop
Tea/Coffee: Ron Beer & Brian Bloomfield
Thursday 16th October
Annual General Meeting
Followed by a musical presentation created by Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Sarah Chivers & Janet Ashman
Thursday 30th October - Ladies Day
Speaker: Geoff Vian
Subject: My Career as a TV Cameraman
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Brian Blestowe & Graham Walker
Thursday 6th November
Speaker: Roy Ackrill
Subject: Digital Miscellany
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: Ken Spilman & James Bayley
Thursday 20th November
Speaker: Paul Barnett
Subject: The Story of Rorkes Drift
Speaker's Friend: Ken Sheppard
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Barrie Cook
Thursday 4th December
Speaker: Alan Wallington
Subject: Music at Christmas
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Eric Arnold & Dave Moore
Thursday 18th December
Closed for Christmas
Re-open Jan 15th 2026
Speaker: Luke Paddon
Subject: Haven House, India
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: John Turner & John Welsby
Thursday 16th January
Speaker: Bernard Merrick
Subject: It's Only a Glove
Speaker's Friend: Helen Bishop
Tea/Coffee: John Turner& Pat Moore
Thursday 30th January - Ladies Day
Speaker: Brian Griffiths
Subject: Come to Madeira
Speaker's Friend: Peter Blackmore
Tea/Coffee: Brian Bloomfield & Barrie Cook
Thursday 6th February
Speaker: Chris Bigg
Subject: Brunel's Bristol
Speaker's Friend: Sarah Chivers
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby &James Bayley
Thursday 20th February
Speaker: Dave Hartnell
Subject: Cactus Country
Speaker's Friend: Dave Priddey
Tea/Coffee: John Turner
Thursday 6th March
Speaker: Gary Atterton
Subject: Cotton Threads
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Janet Ashman & Pauline Spencer
Thursday 20th March
Speaker: Brian Vincent
Subject: The Proctor Family & Fertiliers
Speaker's Friend: Bryan Rowe
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball & Pat Moore
Thursday 3rd April
Speaker: Philip Ashford
Subject: South Glos & the Berkley Planation, Virginia 1619-1622
Speaker's Friend: Sarah Chivers
Tea/Coffee: James Bayley & Eric Arnold
Thursday 17th April
Speaker: Peter Carpenter
Subject: Langworthy, Perkinsean Electricity and "Tractors"
Speaker's Friend: Helen Bishop
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 1st May
Speaker: Janet Colley
Subject: The Royal Osteoporosis Society
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Brian Bloomfield & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 15th May
Speaker: Andrew Harper
Subject: Round the World Yacht Race 2013/14
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Eric Arnold
Thursday 29th May - Ladies Day
Speaker: Mark Wardle
Subject: Japan in Winter
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Peter Blackmore & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 5th June
Speaker: Ian Cambell
Subject: Royal British Legion
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: Pauline Spencer & Janet Ashman
Thursday 19th June
Speaker: Kat Mann
Subject: Jessie May Trust - (Children's Hospice at Home)
Speaker's Friend: Dave Priddey
Tea/Coffee: Sarah Chivers & Helen Bishop
Thursday 3rd July
Speaker: Dave Hartnell
Subject: New Zealand North & South Islands
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Peter Blackmore & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 17th July
Speaker: Janet Colley
Subject: Guide Dogs for the Blind
Speaker's Friend: James Bayley
Tea/Coffee: Brian Blestowe & Barry Cooke
Thursday 31st July - Ladies Day
Speaker: Caroline Newton
Subject: My Allotment & Me
Speaker's Friend: Dave Priddey
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 7th August
Speaker: Andre Coutanche
Subject: A Little Kingdom
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Brian Smith & Graham Walker
Thursday 21st August
Speaker: David Cheesley
Subject: The Golden Age of Postcards
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Brian Smith & John Turner
Thursday 4th September
Speaker: Yvonne Cox
Subject: Hedgehog Rescue
Speaker's Friend: Sarah Chivers
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Eric Arnold
Thursday 18th September
Speaker: Mike Bottomley
Subject: Katherine Parr, Gloucestershire's Queen
Speaker's Friend: Bryan Rowe
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball & Pauline Spencer
Thursday 2nd October
Speaker: Stuart Burroughs
Subject: Out of Earth - Bath's Mineral Wealth
Speaker's Friend: Helen Bishop
Tea/Coffee: Ron Beer & Brian Bloomfield
Thursday 16th October
Annual General Meeting
Followed by a musical presentation created by Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Sarah Chivers & Janet Ashman
Thursday 30th October - Ladies Day
Speaker: Geoff Vian
Subject: My Career as a TV Cameraman
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Brian Blestowe & Graham Walker
Thursday 6th November
Speaker: Roy Ackrill
Subject: Digital Miscellany
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: Ken Spilman & James Bayley
Thursday 20th November
Speaker: Paul Barnett
Subject: The Story of Rorkes Drift
Speaker's Friend: Ken Sheppard
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Barrie Cook
Thursday 4th December
Speaker: Alan Wallington
Subject: Music at Christmas
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Eric Arnold & Dave Moore
Thursday 18th December
Closed for Christmas
Re-open Jan 15th 2026
