Tarporley & District

Past Monthly Meetings

June 2018 AGM and Speaker Peter Boughton - The Art of Robin Ironside
Peter returned by popular request to tell us about this little know gay (when it was still illegal) English artist (1912-1965)
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May 2018 Annual Showcase

April 2018 Dave Joy - Liverpool Cowkeepers
The story of his family and dozens of others who kept herds of milking cows right in the middle of the city and supplied milk to their local area right into the 1960s.
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March 2018 Jean Finney - The origins of nursery rhymes
As the title describes, the origins of many nursery rhymes. These were often steeped in irony and political satire.
February 2018
Speaker: John Christopher - 6000 years of clay and pottery
John & wife Annette described the development of pottery and the use of clay. John described the industrialised process for firing pots and regailed us about the Sagger Maker's Bottom Knocker!
Annette made a pressed bowl from discs which were made during the meeting by the members attending. This will be fired and later auctioned for charity. John and Annette then offered some of their work for sale.

January 2018
Speaker: Mike Collins - Discovering my Father
Mike told of his journey of discovery through records and archives to uncover what his father had done during WW2 and what had become of him. Mike offered copies of his book chronicling his search for sale.

December 2017- There was no monthly meeting.

November 2017
Speaker: Judy Popley - Setting up Granada TV.
Judy told of her times working in Granada as a Continuity assistant and researcher. She showed many photos of the stars (and others) that she had met, and dished the dirt on goings-on! Judy liked us so much she has now joined as a member!

October 2017
Speaker: Peter Turner - Through the eyes of the magician
Peter talked of the psychology of the magician and gave some insight into his techniques for distracting our attention whilst hiding or producing cards and handkerchiefs.

September 2017 - We had a panic as our intended speaker met with an accident just a couple of days before the meeting leading to him being hospitalised. Luckily we were able to get our very first speaker from 2013 to return for an encore! Charles Hardy from The Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop came and told us all about CHOCOLATE, and provided samples! A wicked but good time had by all. The seratonin flowed freely again!

August 2017. Christina Spencer - archivist for The Bibby Line - spoke on the history of that company from it's birth in the 18th century up to the present day - through 7 generations of family management.

July 2017. Magician Paul Kay talked about The History of Magic. Then gave a short performance assisted by two of our members, before a Q&A session.
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June 2017. We held our annual Showcase meeting - open to visitors - when all the groups showed off there skills, knowledge, crafts etc.
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May 2017. Speaker: Sheila Dale - The Eddie Stobart Story.
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April 2017. Speaker: Judith Walmsley - Working with the Homeless
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March 2017 Fred Jones - Tales from the life of a Toastmaster. Fred regaled us with a number of inside stories from the many successful - and even more disastrous weddings he has presided over - and in some cases saved!

February 2017 Prof Ian Morison. The search for life beyond Earth.
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January 2017 Geoff Taylor - 200 years of boatbuilding - Part 2.

November 2017 Peter Boughton - "Picturesque Chester. The City in Art"
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October 2016 Graham Binningsley - All at Sea. 30 years in the Royal Navy..
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September 2016 Tom Hughes - Cheshire Myths and Legends. Stories and possible explanations of their roots.
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August 2016 John Miller - A Life at the BBC. The story of John's career within the corporation.
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July 2016 - An open coffee morning meeting. Over 200 people passed through, and 35 NEW MEMBERS joined.
June 2016 - A fascinating talk by Clare Pye on Cheshire's part in the Civil War.
May 2016 - Deirdre Stubbs presented a talk on the history of Osteopathy, before getting down to the nitty gritty of what it is and can do.
April 2016 - Harry Watts, and then his wife told us tales of the local driving instructor.
March 2016 - Liz Royles from Cheshire Museums spoke about Cheshire BEFORE the Romans, presenting a vivid picture of how our county used to be.

February 25th 2016. Peter Ashburner from Wright Marshall talked about Auctions and Antiques and the many other items he has sold. Here he is seen holding a Russian Sub Machine gun sold at auction and valued at about £800.

January 2016 - Rev George Lane explained the fascinating workings of Manchester Airport's Chaplaincy.

November 2015 - Judge David Shannon talked of Humour in Court.
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September 2015 saw Roland Antonelli extoling the virtues of the Barrell Piano.
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August 2015 Doug Haynes described the history of The Brassey Family

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July 23rd 2015. Geoff Williams talked about the History and Making of Walking sticks. Starting with Moses and his staff, passing through the use of staffs as weapons, through various ceremonials, Victorian fashions and up to current times. It proved to be a fascinating talk about the multitude of different sticks.
Geoff then went on to the practicalities of making sticks, the different woods and other materials used. He brought a display of perhaps a hundred different sticks as well as samples of wood, horn and other materials.
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June 2015. Michael Crumplin talked about The Bloody Fields of Waterloo, a fascinating talk for the viewpoint of the medical corps
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May 2015. Mike Murphy talked about British Humour.
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April 2015. Dr Chris Cefai scared everyone witless with talk of Superbugs (like MRSA)!
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January 22nd 2015 ----- Ken Clark from New Brighton spoke about "The story of astronomy and backyard astronomy". About 120 members attended and his talk was extremely informative, not too heavy and very relaxed delivery.
Two new trips were launched.
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August 2014. Arthur Beggs talked about DELAMERE.
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May 2014. Colin Driver talked about Being on MASTERMIND.
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September 2013 - Our very first speaker - Charles Hardy demonstrated Chocolate making.
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