Programme for 2024
Thursday 4th January
Speaker: Alan Wallington for Graham Walker
Subject: Post Christmas Excravaganza
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: John Turner & John Welsby
Thursday 18th January
Speaker: Alan Wallington for Graham Walker
Subject: Music from the Land of Song
Speaker's Friend: Ken Spilman
Tea/Coffee: John Turner
Thursday 15th February
Speaker: Elaine Cook
Subject: Keynsham Abbey
Speaker's Friend: James Bayley
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cook & Dave Moore
Thursday 29th February - Ladies Day
Speaker: Alan Freke
Subject: Frenchay Hospital's Hidden History
Speaker's Friend: Ken Sheppard
Tea/Coffee: James Bayley & Barry Dibble
Thursday 7th March
Speaker:Mary Cowerd
Subject: The Clifton Observatory
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Peter Blackmore & Brian Bloomfield
Thursday 21st March
Speaker: Dave Hartnell
Subject: Route 66
Speaker's Friend: Sarah Chivers
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Alan Snook
Thursday 4th April
Speaker: Brian Rutter
Subject: Tax, Care & Toy Boys
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Graham Walker & John Welsby
Thursday 18th April
Speaker: Gary Gowens
Subject: Cave Art of SW France
Speaker's Friend: Alan Snook
Tea/Coffee: Stan Cruse & Ron Beer
Thursday 2nd May
Speaker: Roger Windsor
Subject: Hanham Past & Present
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball & Sarah Chivers
Thursday 16th May
Speaker: Brian Griffiths
Subject: A Shropshire Lad
Speaker's Friend: Ken Spilman
Tea/Coffee: Peter Blackmore & Brian Bloomfield
Thursday 30th May - Ladies Day
Speaker: Mike Britton
Subject: Images of Change from the 1930's
Speaker's Friend: John Welsby
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cooke & Dave Moore
Thursday 6th June
Speaker: David Cheesley
Subject: Motoring Memories
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 20th June
Speaker: Bob Rogers
Subject: The Eagle Has Landed
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Ken Spilman & John Welsby
Thursday 4th July
Speaker: Chris Bigg
Subject: Concorde - Queen of the Skies (part 1)
Speaker's Friend: James Bayley
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball and Bryan Rowe
Thursday 18th July
Speaker: Jackie Baker
Subject: Downend & Bromley Heath in Bloom
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Sarah Chivers & Pat Moore
Thursday 1st August
Speaker: Karen Whiles
Subject: Caring for our Feet
Speaker's Friend: Bryan Rowe
Tea/Coffee: Ron Beer &James Bayley
Thursday 15th August
Speaker: Pat Bye
Subject: A Journey to Poland
Speaker's Friend: Sarah Chivers
Tea/Coffee: Peter Blackmore & Brian Bloomfield
Thursday 29th August - Ladies Day
Speaker: Richard Lunn
Subject: Concorde - The Dramway
Speaker's Friend: Peter Blackmore
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cook & Dave Priddey
Thursday 5th September
Speaker: Katie Bell
Subject: Behind the Curtain at the Bristol Hippodrome
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 19th September
Speaker: Jenny Benson
Subject: Great Western Air Ambulane Charity
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: Ken Spliman & Graham Walker
Thursday 3rd October
Speaker: Rob Jones
Subject: Serial Killer, My Part in his Downfall
Speaker's Friend: David Priddey
Tea/Coffee: John Welsby & Eric Arnold
Thursday 17th October
Speaker: Pat Bye
Subject: Annual General Meeting
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball & Rita Carmody
Thursday 31st October - Ladies Day
Speaker: Tim Mayo
Subject: Concorde - Nothing Like a Dame
Speaker's Friend: Ken Sheppard
Tea/Coffee: Sarah Chivers & Pat Moore
Thursday 7th November
Speaker: Bernard Purrier
Subject: The Whale & Dolphin Trust
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Ron Beer & James Bayley
Thursday 21st November
Speaker: Garry Atterton
Subject: Home of the Bristol Poor in Victorian Times
Speaker's Friend: Ken Spilman
Tea/Coffee: Peter Blackmore & Brian Bloomfield
Thursday 5th December
Speaker: Graham Walker
Subject: It's Christmas Time
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cook & Dave Priddey
Thursday 26th December
Closed for Christmas
Programme for 2023
Retained for reference
Thursday 5th January
Speaker: Chris Bigg
Subject: The Heart of the City of Bristol in Pictures
Speaker's Friend: Ken Spilman
Tea/Coffee: Eric Arnold
Thursday 19th January
Speaker: Bernard Merrick
Subject: The Glories of Venice
Speaker's Friend: James Bayley
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cook & Frank Buffam
Thursday 2nd February
Speaker: Pete Chaplin
Subject: A Job with a Bite
Speaker's Friend: Brian Bloomfield
Tea/Coffee: Dave Moore & Bryan Rowe
Thursday 16th February
Speaker: Georgina Green
Subject: Tai Chi and Mindfulness
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Phil Scull & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 2nd March
Speaker: Paul Gregory
Subject: History of Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Light Railway
Speaker's Friend: Ken Sheppard
Tea/Coffee: Dennis Darch & Barry Dibble
Thursday 16th March
Speaker: Dave Cheesley
Subject: The Golden Age of Picture Postcards
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Tony & Marcia Clift
Thursday 30th March - Ladies Day
Speaker: John Tucker
Subject: Ready, Steady, Go for Summer
Speaker's Friend: Peter Blackmore
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball & Eric Arnold
Thursday 6th April
Speaker: Robert Cutts
Subject: Lima to Punte Arenus (Chile)
Speaker's Friend: Brian Bloomfield
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cook & John Turner
Thursday 20th April
Speaker: Jordon Coates and Megan Haldane
Subject: Fraud & Cyber Crime
Speaker's Friend: Peter Blackmore
Tea/Coffee: Dennis Darch & James Bayley
Thursday 4th May
Speaker: Andy Darlington
Subject: Bristol Channel Pilots
Speaker's Friend: Ken Sheppard
Tea/Coffee: Barry Dibble & Dave Moore
Thursday 18th May
Speaker: Phil Scull
Subject: Stories from a Proper Copper
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 1st June
Speaker: Garry Atterton
Subject: Bedminster Coal, Blood, Sweat and Tears
Speaker's Friend: Bryan Rowe
Tea/Coffee: Ken Spilman & Graham Walker
Thursday 15th June
Speaker: Jim Pimpernell
Subject: Avon Wharf, Bitton - The Dramway
Speaker's Friend: James Bayley
Tea/Coffee: Helen Bishop & Val Ball
Thursday 29th June - Ladies Day
Speaker: Jean Routley
Subject: Musical Memories
Speaker's Friend: Helen Bishop
Tea/Coffee: Eric Arnold & Ron Beer
Thursday 6th July
Speaker: Chris Bigg
Subject: Guilty Pleasures
Speaker's Friend: John Weslby
Tea/Coffee: Graham Walker & Ken Spilman
Thursday 20th July
Speaker: Alan Clark
Subject: Temperance Societies in Victorian England
Speaker's Friend: Alan Snook
Tea/Coffee: Ken Sheppard & Bryan Rowe
Thursday 3rd August
Speaker: Keith Nickless
Subject: Traditional Games
Speaker's Friend: Dave Moore
Tea/Coffee: Barry Dibble & Eric Arnold
Thursday 17th August
Speaker: Alan Wallington
Subject: Four Exhibitions
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: Dennis Darch & Stan Cruse
Thursday 31st August - Ladies Day
Speaker: Dave Addis
Subject: Spruce Goose
Speaker's Friend: Tony Clift
Tea/Coffee: Rita Carmody & Helen Bishop
Thursday 7th September
Speaker: Dr Michael Whitfield
Subject: Medical Care in Bristol before the NHS
Speaker's Friend: Brian Bloomfield
Tea/Coffee: Ron Beer & James Bayley
Thursday 21st September
Speaker: Brian Vincent
Subject: The Butler Family and the Coal-Tar industry
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Eric Arnold & John Welsby
Thursday 5th October
Speaker: Terry Ransome
Subject: Yuri Gagarin & the Chief Designer - Space Race
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Ken Spilman & Alan Snook
Thursday 19th October
Speaker: Penny Deverill
Subject: Two Penn'orth of Poison
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Ken Sheppard & Bryan Rowe
Thursday 2nd November
Speaker: Garry Gowens
Subject: These Boots Were Made for Walking
Speaker's Friend: Barry Dibble
Tea/Coffee: Dave Moore & Dennis Darch
Thursday 16th November
Speaker: Bernard Merrick
Subject: The Glories of Venice
Speaker's Friend: Brian Bloomfield
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cooke & Tony Clift
Thursday 30th November - Ladies Day
Speaker: Martin Poole
Subject: Soup Run
Speaker's Friend: Ken Spilman
Tea/Coffee: Rita Carmody & Helen Bishop
Thursday 7th December- AGM followed by--
Xmas Extravaganza
Subject: In House Barrie Cooke and Graham Walker (Wally)
Speaker's Friend: Ron Beer
Tea/Coffee: James Bayley & Eric Arnold
Thursday 21st December
Closed for Christmas
Speaker: Chris Bigg
Subject: The Heart of the City of Bristol in Pictures
Speaker's Friend: Ken Spilman
Tea/Coffee: Eric Arnold
Thursday 19th January
Speaker: Bernard Merrick
Subject: The Glories of Venice
Speaker's Friend: James Bayley
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cook & Frank Buffam
Thursday 2nd February
Speaker: Pete Chaplin
Subject: A Job with a Bite
Speaker's Friend: Brian Bloomfield
Tea/Coffee: Dave Moore & Bryan Rowe
Thursday 16th February
Speaker: Georgina Green
Subject: Tai Chi and Mindfulness
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Phil Scull & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 2nd March
Speaker: Paul Gregory
Subject: History of Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Light Railway
Speaker's Friend: Ken Sheppard
Tea/Coffee: Dennis Darch & Barry Dibble
Thursday 16th March
Speaker: Dave Cheesley
Subject: The Golden Age of Picture Postcards
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Tony & Marcia Clift
Thursday 30th March - Ladies Day
Speaker: John Tucker
Subject: Ready, Steady, Go for Summer
Speaker's Friend: Peter Blackmore
Tea/Coffee: Val Ball & Eric Arnold
Thursday 6th April
Speaker: Robert Cutts
Subject: Lima to Punte Arenus (Chile)
Speaker's Friend: Brian Bloomfield
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cook & John Turner
Thursday 20th April
Speaker: Jordon Coates and Megan Haldane
Subject: Fraud & Cyber Crime
Speaker's Friend: Peter Blackmore
Tea/Coffee: Dennis Darch & James Bayley
Thursday 4th May
Speaker: Andy Darlington
Subject: Bristol Channel Pilots
Speaker's Friend: Ken Sheppard
Tea/Coffee: Barry Dibble & Dave Moore
Thursday 18th May
Speaker: Phil Scull
Subject: Stories from a Proper Copper
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Bryan Rowe & Ken Sheppard
Thursday 1st June
Speaker: Garry Atterton
Subject: Bedminster Coal, Blood, Sweat and Tears
Speaker's Friend: Bryan Rowe
Tea/Coffee: Ken Spilman & Graham Walker
Thursday 15th June
Speaker: Jim Pimpernell
Subject: Avon Wharf, Bitton - The Dramway
Speaker's Friend: James Bayley
Tea/Coffee: Helen Bishop & Val Ball
Thursday 29th June - Ladies Day
Speaker: Jean Routley
Subject: Musical Memories
Speaker's Friend: Helen Bishop
Tea/Coffee: Eric Arnold & Ron Beer
Thursday 6th July
Speaker: Chris Bigg
Subject: Guilty Pleasures
Speaker's Friend: John Weslby
Tea/Coffee: Graham Walker & Ken Spilman
Thursday 20th July
Speaker: Alan Clark
Subject: Temperance Societies in Victorian England
Speaker's Friend: Alan Snook
Tea/Coffee: Ken Sheppard & Bryan Rowe
Thursday 3rd August
Speaker: Keith Nickless
Subject: Traditional Games
Speaker's Friend: Dave Moore
Tea/Coffee: Barry Dibble & Eric Arnold
Thursday 17th August
Speaker: Alan Wallington
Subject: Four Exhibitions
Speaker's Friend: Barrie Cook
Tea/Coffee: Dennis Darch & Stan Cruse
Thursday 31st August - Ladies Day
Speaker: Dave Addis
Subject: Spruce Goose
Speaker's Friend: Tony Clift
Tea/Coffee: Rita Carmody & Helen Bishop
Thursday 7th September
Speaker: Dr Michael Whitfield
Subject: Medical Care in Bristol before the NHS
Speaker's Friend: Brian Bloomfield
Tea/Coffee: Ron Beer & James Bayley
Thursday 21st September
Speaker: Brian Vincent
Subject: The Butler Family and the Coal-Tar industry
Speaker's Friend: Val Ball
Tea/Coffee: Eric Arnold & John Welsby
Thursday 5th October
Speaker: Terry Ransome
Subject: Yuri Gagarin & the Chief Designer - Space Race
Speaker's Friend: Graham Walker
Tea/Coffee: Ken Spilman & Alan Snook
Thursday 19th October
Speaker: Penny Deverill
Subject: Two Penn'orth of Poison
Speaker's Friend: Eric Arnold
Tea/Coffee: Ken Sheppard & Bryan Rowe
Thursday 2nd November
Speaker: Garry Gowens
Subject: These Boots Were Made for Walking
Speaker's Friend: Barry Dibble
Tea/Coffee: Dave Moore & Dennis Darch
Thursday 16th November
Speaker: Bernard Merrick
Subject: The Glories of Venice
Speaker's Friend: Brian Bloomfield
Tea/Coffee: Barrie Cooke & Tony Clift
Thursday 30th November - Ladies Day
Speaker: Martin Poole
Subject: Soup Run
Speaker's Friend: Ken Spilman
Tea/Coffee: Rita Carmody & Helen Bishop
Thursday 7th December- AGM followed by--
Xmas Extravaganza
Subject: In House Barrie Cooke and Graham Walker (Wally)
Speaker's Friend: Ron Beer
Tea/Coffee: James Bayley & Eric Arnold
Thursday 21st December
Closed for Christmas
