Category Archives: Meetings

The History and Work of the British Red Cross – 11th November 2025 – Jayne Owens

The British Red Cross was formed in 1870 as the British National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded and was inspired by the Swiss businessman Henry Dunant. He showed compassion for people fighting on both sides of a war. The British Red Cross is a humanitarian organisation that provides support to people in crisis, both in the U.K. and internationally.  It’s part of the larger Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, a global network with thousands of volunteers

Bringing a Secret History up to date – 8th July 2025 – Mark Temple

We are not very far from two important centres of research, information, code breaking and listening, which played a very important role in helping the Allies defeat the Axis powers during World War 2, namely: In 1941 MI8 set up a project, under the direction of Churchill’s war office, to establish wireless intelligence (W.I or Y) stations in over 30 locations all over the country. Their job was to intercept communications being sent between enemy forces across Europe. Beaumanor was

Foxton Inclined Plane Boat Lift – 12th August 2025 – Penny Arscott

Penny Arscott is the Manager of Foxton Canal Museum located in the reconstructed Boiler House, which once powered the Foxton Boat Lift. In her engaging illustrated talk, Penny explores the fascinating history of the world’s first transverse inclined plane boat lift which opened in 1900  (initially to replace Foxton Locks) as a quicker alternative to the locks system on the once busy Grand Union Canal. Using photographs from the archives, she will explain both the successes, challenges and failures of this

The Pilgrim’s Way – 9th June 2025 – Mike Burton

Journey with the medieval pilgrims – and the modern pilgrims – as they travel the ancient Pilgrims’ Way from Winchester to Canterbury. It’s their adventure of a lifetime. On the way they tell tales and visit places of interest. The excitement of the journey increases as they near the great cathedral which houses the relics of the “holy blissful martyr.” Our speaker, Mike Burton, is a former journalist and teacher who worked for 16 years as a newspaper journalist and editor, and

Roman Leicestershire – 13th May 2025

Peter Liddle MBE, former County Archaeologist, joins us in May to tell us about the fascinating Roman finds recently discovered nearby. Roman Leicestershire has been the subject of study for centuries but the last few decades have seen a massive step forward in our understanding with field walking, geophysics and excavation all contributing. The Rutland Villa with its amazing mosaics has given us an unprecedented view of a rich site but three sites recently excavated between Lubenham and Harborough have helped

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