MONTHLY MEETINGS
Exciting talks, delicious lunches, and fantastic company await you. Join Us!
Meetings
We meet in the Pavilion at South Lawns Hotel on the 3rd Monday of every month. The Pavilion has an intimate atmosphere and good acoustics with excellent audio-visual equipment. We have our own dining area next to the meeting room where we enjoy coffee and biscuits before the meeting, chat with fellow members and also order drinks to accompany the excellent lunch - there are usually 3 choices to accommodate dietary requirements. South Lawn are also able to meet dietary requirements such as gluten free.
The True Story of the African Queen - Kevin Patience
C.S. Forester wrote the novel in 1934 based on two true naval stories from the First World War in East Africa. This is the background story to the book which after three rewrites led to the well known film with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn.
The Forgotten Kingdom of Barotseland by Stuart Sherring
'The colonisation of Africa with a special focus on Barotseland, forming the major part of Northern Rhodesia, and influence of missionaries and commerce
Indian Diaspora and my experience - Jay Woogara
Jay Woogara talk reflecting on the way the Indian indentured labourers, as part of Indian Diaspora, were treated under the British rule in Mauritius, the Dodo Island. As the third generation, I explain in this presentation, how I navigated myself through the caste system, dire poverty, discrimination and injustice to reach a level playing field.
Quotes, Jokes and Anecdotes - Gerard O'Boyle
Gerard has written a book on this subject - a humorous compilation. In addition to some examples Gerard also cover the role humour plays in social intercourse and advertising. He was born and graduated from a university in N. Ireland in History and Irish Studies.
Pine Martens in the New Forest - Marcus Ward
The talk will look at the history, current status and future fieldwork on Pine Marten in the New Forest. The talk will feature a number of video clips of both Pine Marten and other key New Forest species recorded during the survey.
Marcus Ward is a trustee of Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS), and is currently chair of the HOS scientific committee, and a species writer for the Hampshire Bird Report and the recent Hampshire Bird Atlas. He is a licensed British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) ringer (A permit), with a training endorsement and five current trainees. Marcus species advisor to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel for Hawfinch and represents Wildlife and Conservation at the New Forest Access Forum. In addition, Marcus is involved in New Forest surveys for organisations such as Butterfly Conservation and BTO, and has published articles on iconic New Forest species such as Firecrest and Hawfinch in the Hampshire Bird Report.
Life & Times of South Devon Railway - Alan Taylor
The story of the former GWR branch line and its rebirth as one of the nation’s premier heritage railways including a light-hearted look at some of the notable events and celebrity visits that have occurred during its existence.
Alan has been a volunteer on the South Devon Railway for over 50 years. In addition to being a trustee of the charity his practical involvement covers many operational roles including guard, booking clerk and buffet steward. He also works jointly with other tourism businesses in helping promote Devon as a holiday destination at various events including major exhibitions around the country. Since retiring from a senior role with a large international organisation he has become the SDR historian appearing on several TV documentaries about Britain’s railways and co-authoring the guide book about the railway.
South East Cyber Crime Unit - Hampshire. - Piers Rochford
We all use our computers, laptops, tablets and phones every day to keep in contact with loved ones and conduct our day to day business. Unfortunately, criminals all too often exploit us or work cleverly to hack and steal our online accounts.
This crime type makes up a significant number of reported crimes each month and costs the public and UK economy substantial sums of money each day, week and year.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary (part of South East Police Cyber Crime Team) will cover a number of different aspects of both online and offline scams, including protecting and securing your email accounts, social media and talking through methods the criminals can use to target us all, even without using our devices.
The Prince’s Murderous Mistress - Steve Herra.
a true story about the affair the Prince of Wales (soon to become Edward VIII) had with a French prostitute, Marguerite, in the 1920’s. What was contained in the letters he wrote to Marguerite? How did she react when he finished the relationship? What were her main reasons for marrying the wealthy Charles Laurent? How many times did she shoot Ali Fahmy? Was she found guilty of murder, manslaughter or was she acquitted?
Secret Lymington - Aimee Durnell
Local author and artist Aimee Durnell will be talking to us about 'Secret Lymington' . Delve into Lymington's fascinating history from ancient Buckland Rings and the early days of settlement to the town's days of seafaring, salt-making, smuggling, even sea bathing. The history of our town is a journey as twisting as the alleyways running down to the quay. Join Aimee on a journey around the nature reserves and hidden streets and enjoy stories of this vibrant town.
Live Bee Removal - Marcus Collings
Marcus Collins local Bee keeper and producer of honey and wax products. He will speak about bees and the safe live removal of swarms.
Join us for our monthly gathering at The South Lawn Hotel's Pavilion Suite in Milford on Sea. Members are warmly invited from 10:00 AM to mingle over coffee. Our engaging talk begins at 10:45 AM and concludes by 12:15 PM. Following the discussion, enjoy a leisurely lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Arrive early to relax with friends and enjoy a drink from the bar outside our meeting space. Please purchase your beverages prior to the meeting to facilitate the staff's preparation for dining. The dress code for the event is smart casual. We look forward to welcoming you.
The Universe: What we know, How we know, What we don’t know - Dr Ian Corbett F.R.A.S.
The Universe - What we know; How we know; What don’t we know
This will be an amazing and fascinating talk, and we really appreciate Dr Corbett giving his time to us.
About Dr Corbett:
Born: 13 May 1941 in Bletchley, England.
Oxford D. Phil. Particle Physics 1965
1851 Research Fellowship 1965-1967
Research Lecturer and tutor in physics, Christ Church, Oxford, 1965-1970
Researcher at Rutherford Appleton Lab, Harwell, and CERN, Geneva. 1971-1981
Head of Applied Science Division, Rutherford Appleton Lab, 1981-1989
Head of Astronomy and Particle Physics, Science and Engineering Research Council, Swindon, responsible for strategic planning and funding of government supported UK research. 1989-1994
Director Science and Deputy Chief Executive, Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, Swindon, 1994-2001
Deputy Director General, European Southern Observatory (ESO) – the European centre for astronomy, based in Munich with telescopes in Chile. 2001-2006
Assistant General Secretary, International Astronomical Union (IAU) – the international organisation of 12,000 professional astronomers, based in Paris. 2006-2009
General Secretary, International Astronomical Union (IAU) 2009-2012
Consultant to Square Kilometre Array Observatory 2012-2015
Join us for our monthly gathering at The South Lawn Hotel's Pavilion Suite in Milford on Sea. Members are warmly invited from 10:00 AM to mingle over coffee. Our engaging talk begins at 10:45 AM and concludes by 12:15 PM. Following the discussion, enjoy a leisurely lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Arrive early to relax with friends and enjoy a drink from the bar outside our meeting space. Please purchase your beverages prior to the meeting to facilitate the staff's preparation for dining. The dress code for the event is smart casual. We look forward to welcoming you.
The New Forest Prepares for D-Day - Marc Heighway
Hidden in Plain Sight: Reminders of WW2 in the New Forest
During the Second World War the New Forest area saw a huge amount of activity. It was home to several airfields, training areas, D-Day camps and an embarkation point, a secret spy school, a POW camp, traps were set for invading armies, and it was also the scene of the biggest ever bomb dropped on UK soil. This presentation takes the form of a photo tour and talk on areas of the New Forest you will be familiar with, but showing you things left over from the war you might not have noticed before, and the stories behind them.
Join us for our monthly gathering at The South Lawn Hotel's Pavilion Suite in Milford on Sea. Members are warmly invited from 10:00 AM to mingle over coffee. Our engaging talk begins at 10:45 AM and concludes by 12:15 PM. Following the discussion, enjoy a leisurely lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Arrive early to relax with friends and enjoy a drink from the bar outside our meeting space. Please purchase your beverages prior to the meeting to facilitate the staff's preparation for dining. The dress code for the event is smart casual. We look forward to welcoming you.
What they don't tell you about being a head - Alistair Brien
What they don’t tell you about being a head!- Alistair Brien
Our speaker today is Alistair Brien (pronounced Brye-ann). For 18 years Alistair was the headteacher of a large and successful secondary school in Bournemouth, the last three of which was spent getting through covid and coming out the other side! Alistair is going share with his own experiences as a headteacher and his thoughts on education today and what really matters. He says that his aim is to inform, amuse and set you thinking in equal measure! He is also a Celebrant and also a member of the Magic Circle. There might even be a trick or two in his talk!
Join us for our monthly gathering at The South Lawn Hotel's Pavilion Suite in Milford on Sea. Members are warmly invited from 10:00 AM to mingle over coffee. Our engaging talk begins at 10:45 AM and concludes by 12:15 PM. Following the discussion, enjoy a leisurely lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Arrive early to relax with friends and enjoy a drink from the bar outside our meeting space. Please purchase your beverages prior to the meeting to facilitate the staff's preparation for dining. The dress code for the event is smart casual. We look forward to welcoming you.
Florence Nightingale
Most people know of Florence Nightingale as the lady with the lamp who nursed soldiers during the Crimean War. The war only lasted for a short time. What else did she do in her long life? Discover more about the real Florence and her local connections.
Join us for our monthly gathering at The South Lawn Hotel's Pavilion Suite in Milford on Sea. Members are warmly invited from 10:00 AM to mingle over coffee. Our engaging talk begins at 10:45 AM and concludes by 12:15 PM. Following the discussion, enjoy a leisurely lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Arrive early to relax with friends and enjoy a drink from the bar outside our meeting space. Please purchase your beverages prior to the meeting to facilitate the staff's preparation for dining. The dress code for the event is smart casual. We look forward to welcoming you.
Pine Martens with Emily-Louise Griffin from New Forest Wildlife
Louise Griffin from New forest wildlife will speak about Pine Martens. New forest Wildlife' s mission is to deliver wildlife survey and monitoring data to support wildlife conservation. Pine Martens were previously thought to be extinct in the South of England but have recently been recorded in the New Forest. The talk will look at the history, current status and future fieldwork on Pine Marten in the New Forest. The talk will feature a number of video clips of both Pine Marten and other key New Forest species recorded during the survey.
Join us for our monthly gathering at The South Lawn Hotel's Pavilion Suite in Milford on Sea. Members are warmly invited from 10:00 AM to mingle over coffee. Our engaging talk begins at 10:45 AM and concludes by 12:15 PM. Following the discussion, enjoy a leisurely lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Arrive early to relax with friends and enjoy a drink from the bar outside our meeting space. Please purchase your beverages prior to the meeting to facilitate the staff's preparation for dining. The dress code for the event is smart casual. We look forward to welcoming you.
Mysterious theft of the Irish Crown Jewels – Steve Herra
Steve Herra is an experienced speaker who previously spoke to about the life of Coco Chanel. The theft of the Irish crown jewels is a true story from 1907 investigated by Scotland Yard but what was the outcome ?
Join us for our monthly gathering at The South Lawn Hotel's Pavilion Suite in Milford on Sea. Members are warmly invited from 10:00 AM to mingle over coffee. Our engaging talk begins at 10:45 AM and concludes by 12:15 PM. Following the discussion, enjoy a leisurely lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Arrive early to relax with friends and enjoy a drink from the bar outside our meeting space. Please purchase your beverages prior to the meeting to facilitate the staff's preparation for dining. The dress code for the event is smart casual. We look forward to welcoming you.
250 years of fighting the Americans - Charles Rees
Charles Reece is a retired family doctor with a keen interest in history and is a member of the American Civil War Round Table ( UK) .250 Years of Fighting the Americans is a talk describing the special but uneasy relationship between the two countries ( sharing common ancestry and language) ,through several wars and beyond .
Join us for our monthly gathering at The South Lawn Hotel's Cornwallis Suite in Milford on Sea. Members are warmly invited from 10:00 AM to mingle over coffee. Our engaging talk begins at 10:45 AM and concludes by 12:15 PM. Following the discussion, enjoy a leisurely lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Arrive early to relax with friends and enjoy a drink from the bar outside our meeting space. Please purchase your beverages prior to the meeting to facilitate the staff's preparation for dining. The dress code for the event is smart casual. We look forward to welcoming you.
What a wonderful world, Louis Armstrong - Chris Walker
Our next speaker is Chris Walker , who took up the clarinet at the age of 15 . He played with the Real Ale and Thunder Band for 18 years and has run the 5 piece Swingtet for the last 30 years . He has also produced jazz programmes for local radio .
His talk " What a wonderful world. Louis Armstrong" traces his career from a home for waifs in New Orleans ,through New York Cabarets to the formation of his All Stars in 1947 which he led until his death in 1971 and will include some of his recordings .
Rolls Royce and the Silver Lady – Kevin Patience
Join us for our monthly gathering at The South Lawn Hotel's Cornwallis Suite in Milford on Sea.
Members are warmly invited from 10:00 AM to mingle over coffee. Our engaging talk begins at 10:45 AM and concludes by 12:15 PM.
Following the discussion, enjoy a leisurely lunch from 12:30 to 2.00 PM.
Arrive early to relax with friends and enjoy a drink from the bar outside our meeting space.
Please purchase your beverages prior to the meeting to facilitate the staff's preparation for dining.
The dress code for the event is smart casual. We look forward to welcoming you.
Speaker Introduction
“I grew up in Kenya and served in the Royal Air Force, who also taught me to dive. A Malta posting introduced me to many historical aircraft and shipwrecks. On leaving the service I completed a commercial diving course, returned to Mombasa and was involved in salvage operations on the Kenya coast. In 1976 I published my first book on East African railway history and in 1977 became a commercial diver in the Arabian Gulf based in Bahrain and later established a marine salvage company.
In 1982 I was appointed MD of a Kenya diving company in Mombasa responsible for operations in East Africa and later returned to Bahrain and established a new diving company with contracts throughout the Gulf and East Africa. As part of my interest in military history I was involved in the restoration of British forces graves in Bahrain, and the recovery at sea of a propeller from a crashed Air France airliner as a memorial to those killed and was honoured by the French government.
In the 1990s I published a number of books on the military and transport history of East Africa and an acclaimed study of the German cruiser ‘Königsberg’ sunk in East Africa in 1915. Later writing articles for a variety of aviation, medal and railway journals. In recent years I co-organised steam train safaris in East Africa and led World War 1 Kenya battlefield tours. Now resident in the UK, writing and research continues, together with presenting talks on a variety of subjects.