Our 2026/27 meetings
29th September - AGM Commences at 7:30pm then....
Blacksmith to Dental Surgeon
Speaker: Mike Muncater
"From Blacksmith to Dental Surgeon" is a fascinating historical lecture presented by Dr. Mike Muncater. It explores the evolution of dentistry, detailing how the extraction-heavy, trade-based practices of early toolmakers and blacksmiths gradually gave way to the conservation dentistry and advanced clinical practices recognized.
27th October at 7:45pm - The History of Cambridge to Bedford Railway
Speaker: Stephen Owen
The Bedford and Cambridge Railway line, known as the Varsity Line, opened in 1862 linking Bedford with Cambridge. The history of this line has been meticulously documented and physically preserved by railway enthusiast Stephen Owen, who saved and restored the former Old North Road station near Longstowe. The talk starts with the history and building of the line and then takes a trip along the line from Bedford to Cambridge, concluding with future proposals to reinstate the line, which closed in 1968.
24th November at 7:45pm - Medieval Medicinal Plants
Speaker: Dr Gwen Kyd
(This is a joint meeting with Riseley Gardening Club)
This talk gives us an introduction to the medieval use of plants in healing, with an overview of medicine during the period followed by an exploration of some commonly used plant medicines. The conditions these could be used to treat - as well as those they couldn't - are also discussed.
The speaker, Gwenda Kyd, is a scientist and complementary medicine practitioner and author of the book "Molecules, Medicine and Mischief"
15th December at 7:45pm - The Wicked Wit of Alan Bennett
Speaker: Steve Dimmer
An examination of the career of this popular playwright showing many examples of his work, his compassion and his wicked humour.
26th January at 7:45pm - The Strawberry Hill Farm Story.
Speaker: To be confirmed
Strawberry Hill Farmhouse, Knotting, was built by the Duke of Bedford, then Lord of the Manor of Knotting, in 1868.
Strawberry Hill was once a productive wheat farm. However, in the late 1980s, the landowner, Hugh White, made the decision to stop farming the 377-acre site, allowing it to return to nature. Without the constant ploughing and cropping, the land slowly transformed. Dense scrubland and young woodlands emerged, creating a thriving habitat for a variety of wildlife, including nightingales, cuckoos, and turtle doves. Over time, the site has become a refuge for many species, quietly evolving into a significant piece of rewilded land. This was rewilding before rewilding became a ‘thing’.
The farm is now owned and managed as a reserve by the Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust
23rd February at 7:45pm - Building for the Cold War Special Structures to Help Survive Bombing
Speaker: David Oliver
During the Cold War, the threat of nuclear bombardment led governments globally to construct highly specialized, hardened structures designed to ensure survival and continuity of operations. These ranged from subterranean governmental command centres and early-warning radar arrays to localized fallout shelters intended to withstand severe blast overpressures and radiation.
30th March at 7:45pm - Secret Bedfordshire
Speaker: Cameron Dewson
Cameron Dewson as the Archivist at The Military Intelligence Museum, Chicksands, is able to tell us some fascinating stories about history of military intelligence across the three services - army, navy and air force - from the Boer War to the present day and how the Chicksands centre led these activities in Bedfordshire.
27th April at 7:45pm - Women in the First World War
Speaker: Stephen Barker
Women played many roles in the First World War, including in the military, on the home front, and in factories. This talk aims to highlight these well-trodden paths, but also some lesser-known themes.
As well as increased financial independence, women also enjoyed a greater social freedom. For the first time, young single women could openly visit pubs, cinemas, and other public places unaccompanied by men. Not all of these freedoms were welcomed by all however, societal concerns about ‘morality’ often resulting.
The talk also highlights the impact of the war on women’s health and well-being, relationships and child rearing. It looks also at the challenges faced by housewives on the Home Front, charitable giving and what happened when the Armistice had been signed. Fully illustrated, and with film clips.
25th May at 7:45pm - Factory Life in the Boot and Shoe Industry
Speaker: Ruth Thomas
Factory life in the Northampton boot and shoe industry was defined by a shift from home-based workshops to massive, industrial-scale production. It shaped the town's identity with a strict division of labour, strong trade unionism, and a legacy of craftsmanship that still survives today.