The Talks programme for the current season is listed below, after some basic information.
Venue
These talks will be given at:
The Hastings Room
St Andrew's Church Centre
Roger's Lane
Stoke Poges,
SL2 4LN
There is a car park here and so parking should not be a problem. The Hastings Room is best accessed via the outer door by the sign "Lighthouse Cafe".
Day & Time
2nd Friday of the month Sep - Jun, 7.30pm.
(except where the 2nd Friday clashes with Good Friday).
Cost
Talks are free to members and £2 to visitors.
Talks are followed by complimentary tea, coffee, and biscuits.
Previous talks
To get an idea of the range of talks we hear, Click here to see our previous talks.
Talks programme for the 2026/27 season are listed below:
Fri 11 Sep 2026, 7:30pm: How Heathrow Works Richard Smith
Heathrow handles 480,000 aircraft movements (a movement is an arrival or departure) a year, or an average of 1315 a day. How it lands, turns around and departs that amount of aircraft is down to considerable planning and organisation, along with the hard work of the various staff across a range of organisations. And when it goes wrong, 'someone' has to sort it all out.
Mon 5 Oct 2026, 7:30pm: The Romans in Buckinghamshire Dr Jill Eyers
Note: This talk was originally planned by The Stoke Poges Society and will take place in the Main Hall, St. Andrew’s Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges, SL2 4LN.
The talk will be given by Dr Jill Eyers who has been involved in a variety of interesting projects including Iron Age, Saxon and Norman sites, and, in particular, investigations into a Roman villa site in Buckinghamshire: Yewden Villa. The results of this project went world-wide with research into 97 baby burials. These findings were broadcast on BBC television’s "Digging for Britain" and have resulted in several professional papers.
She may bring along some Roman artefacts..
Fri 9 Oct 2026, 7:30pm: The Olmecs: Forerunners of the Maya and Aztecs Colin Oakes
The Olmecs of primarily Mexico, were the first distinct culture to develop and lead onto the Maya and Aztecs, who are more famous now. They are known for their Basalt large head sculptures, but also initiated many of the features of later cultures such as Pyramids and the ball courts. We will explore their material culture, but also their origins and differences from what came later under the Aztecs.
Fri 13 Nov 2026, 7:30pm: The Life and Curious Wartime Death of the Duke of Kent Tony Eaton
In August 1942, Prince George - the Duke of Kent - set out on a special mission, only to be killed in a mysterious air crash on a remote Scottish hillside. All documents relating to the crash have since gone missing as part of what increasingly looks like a concerted effort to airbrush him from public memory.
Hugely popular with the British public in the 1930s he is now the Forgotten Prince. There are no statues, no Royal biographies and no hospitals, charities or causes bearing his name. Sensitive records remain embargoed - protected by the 100-year non-disclosure rule accorded, uniquely, to the Royal Archives at Windsor.
In this new talk, Tony Eaton separates the facts from the fiction and reveals the secrets behind this hidden part of our World War 2 history.
Mon14 Dec 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm. Victorian Christmas Tim Healey
Note: This talk was originally planned by The Stoke Poges Society and will take place in the Main Hall, St. Andrew’s Centre, Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges, SL2 4LN.
Christmas in Britain was hardly celebrated early in the Victorian era but towards the end of Victoria's reign it had become an important annual celebration. The Victorians introduced and made popular a lot of the Christmas traditions we celebrate today.
Fri 8 Jan 2027, 7:30pm: The Darkness Behind the Edelweiss Bernard Foot.
Ahhh, Austria – the land of oompah music, apfelstrudel, and beer, with edelweiss growing in mountains ringing to the sound of music. But there is some dark history behind that edelweiss. The first half of the 20th century was a turbulent time that fashioned the modern world, with 60 million violent deaths, the fall of monarchies and empires, and the emergence of new superpowers. And it was little, beautiful Austria that caused all this. Yet in Britain we never hear anything about Austria during this time. This talk will fill in your understanding of what was going on there and then.
Fri 12 Feb 2027, 7:30pm: Talk to be confirmed Speaker to be confirmed.
When confirmed, the talk details will appear here.
Fri 12 Mar 2027, 7:30pm: Zulu battles of Isandhlwana & Rorkes Drift Tony Birkett
The Zulu battles of Isandhlwana and Rorkes Drift in 1879 are featured in two films: "Zulu Dawn" (1979) and "Zulu" (1964). Tony will put them in context, informed by his visits to the battlefields.
Fri 9 Apr 2027, 7:30pm: Talk to be confirmed Speaker to be confirmed.
When confirmed, the talk details will appear here.
Fri 14 May 2027, 7:30pm: Talk to be confirmed Speaker to be confirmed.
When confirmed, the talk details will appear here.
Fri 11 Jun 2027, 7:30pm: AGM 2027 followed by: Talk to be confirmed Speaker to be confirmed.
When confirmed, the talk details will appear here.