Bearsted & District

Events

We meet at 2:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in Detling Village Hall, Pilgrim's Way, Detling, Kent, ME14 3EY.

We have booked some interesting speakers for our monthly meetings. Scroll down this page to find full details of all Meetings and Social events.

SPEAKERS AT MONTHLY MEETINGS
Although we have to book speakers months or sometimes years in advance we are always very keen to hear members suggestions and recommendations for speakers or subjects for our monthly meetings. Use the blue pigeon send a message button to send a quick email to our Speakers Secretary Richard who will be pleased to hear your views.

Please note that Speakers may be subject to change. Any alterations appear here as soon as known. The details in the Monthly Newsletter are up to date at the time of publication

The various groups will be setting up tables so that members can talk to Group leaders and Group members, and perhaps expand or indulge their interests by getting involved by joining a particular group. (There will not be a speaker this month.)

This talk is an exploration of the colourful pageantry, calander customs and ceremonies in Londons 'Square Mile`, with reference to the Churches, the Worshipful Companies and civic customs, notably the famous annual Lord Mayors Show.

A very welcome return visit from Toni, whose talk recently on Medieval Housewives was so well received. This talk should be just as entertaining and full of fascinating detail.
Toni is a tutor and prolific author on the Medieval ages and has been published across the world.

Steven is the Warden at the Reserve and will be telling us about the history of the land, how it became a nature reserve, how it is managed, the future of the reserve and how that fits in with national conservation efforts.

The Thames is the longest river entirely in England at 215 miles in length. There are over 200 crossings and Chris will be looking at those between Hampton Court and London, a stretch that includes over 30 bridges, most of which have been replaced at least once. We will hear about several of these bridges, learn why they were built, who built them and why so many were replaced.

Sharon is an author, journalist and playwright. She has been published in `The Lady`, `The Guardian`, `The New York Post` and as a columnist in `The Daily Express`. Her talk is about Lily Cove and Dolly Shepherd, two Edwardian skydivers, who made a living jumping from balloons and floating to earth by parachute. The story has tragedy, good luck and at times is described as `nail biting`. Dolly repeatedly cheated death and lived to 90 !  A true story of plucky and liberated young women.

This talk is about Alan Turing the man rather than his momentous achievements codebreaking at Bletchley Park in World War Two - although this will feature. In 1954, his suicide went largely unnoticed by the press, yet in 2019, BBC viewers voted him the most significant icon of the 20th Century.. What happened in between ? Jonathan looks at Turing's life and the myths that have arisen since his death, reflecting on what his legacy reveals about British attitudes to sex, class, computers and mathematics then and now.

Margaret is a Professional Concert Harpist and is an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society. Margaret has played for Royalty, at National Trust properties, the City Guildhall, The Savoy, The Ritz, Glyndbourne Opera House to name but a few. She is a very active member of `Music in Hospitals` giving concerts to the mentally and physically disabled and in specialist care homes and nursing homes. We will learn about the construction of the harp and, no doubt, hear some wonderful music played on her golden harp.

Following the resounding success of Cameo at our 10th Anniversary / Christmas function in December 2023, how could we not invite them back ? The feedback from that occasion was quite remarkable. The format and presentation of the return performance is yet to be established, but be assured they are booked to return for another Christmas presentation.