16^th June 2025

Poverty, Pestilence & Public Health in Victorian Britain
Dr Simon Wenham

Britain may have been the ‘workshop of the world’ in the Victorian period, but the sceptre of poverty and pestilence loomed large over the lives of many of its citizens. A large proportion of people were not only close to the bread line, but repeated epidemics decimated whole swathes of the population. This talk explores the wealth and health of the British during the Victorian period and the State’s struggle to improve conditions.

15^th September 2025

AGM & Analysis of Members' Questionnaire
Committee & Pat Snelson

20^th October 2025

House Arrest in Woodstock
Pete Seward

17^th November 2025

Bicester in WW2
Matthew Hathaway

15^th December 2025

Xmas Social

16^th February 2026

The Role of the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire
John May

As John May nears the end of his year as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, he will give us an insight into the oldest civil appointment in the country: there has been a High Sheriff in the county every year since before 1066. John's particular focus is: Hearing the Young Unheard – listening to children and teenagers who often feel overlooked, and helping to champion those who are doing amazing work with them across Oxfordshire. He will come dressed in his full regalia.

16^th March 2026

St Edburg, Fact or Fiction?
Nigel Collett

The talk will cover what is currently generally known about St Edburg and discuss whether it is possible to be certain of any aspect of her history.  The importance of St Edburg in the middle ages, both locally and nationally, will be outlined.  The talk will conclude by placing St Edburg in the context of the 7th Century in which she lived.

16^th November 2026

1918 - Peace & Remembrance in Bicester
Nigel Walton

This talk will look at the events of 1918 leading up to the Armistice, and how the news of the end of the war was received in Bicester.  It will consider the aftermath of the war and how Bicester decided to honour the returning soldiers and remember its fallen.