Upcoming Talks

Our monthly meetings take place at the Clifton Centre, Ashdene Road, and start at 7:30pm.

Below is a list of our upcoming talks, but for more information please contact: Mrs Sally James (Treasurer) on 01869 243804 or email: sallyjames46@hotmail.com

15th April 2024
The Otmoor Riots in a Wider Context
Ciarán Walsh

This talk offers a comprehensive survey of the events which took place in 1830, from local, national and global perspectives. It places the events within the historical continuum of popular struggle against enclosures and iniquitous modernisation. It also explores the legacies of the kind of direct action resistance the people of Otmoor and their allies engaged in, during the long agitation against the enclosure of Otmoor.

20th May 2024
Bicester's Gothic Architecture
Pat Snelson

The gothic architectural style has flourished twice in England – firstly in the Medieval period and then, 350 years later, in the Victorian Gothic revival movement. This talk will explore the history of this style using Bicester’s own buildings as examples and seek to explain some of its socio-political and cultural underpinnings, as well as its architectural characteristics.

16th September 2024
AGM & On this Day...
Matthew Hathaway

The AGM will be followed by a talk from our newsletter and magazine editor, Matthew Hathaway, outlining events from this day across the years.

21st October 2024
Bicester Shops & Shopping
Bob Hessian

Bob's talk, illustrated with old photos of Bicester town centre, will explain how shopping in the town has changed over the years and the challenges that retailers now face.

18th November 2024
Trench Humour in the First World War
Stephen Barker

Soldiers often turned to humour to alleviate the stress of life in the trenches. Jokes, puns, and satirical songs were a part of the soldiers’ oral culture. Much of the humour was lost on those outside the soldiers’ group, but it resonated with the soldiers and allowed them to cope with the strain of service and combat. This presentation takes a light-hearted look at trench humour in slang and through tunes, cartoons, satirical journals, concert parties and in many other ways.

15th December 2024
Christmas Music & Song Through the Ages
Ian Giles