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PROGRAMME 2025
Thursday 20th February 2025
Was Shakespeare really de Vere?
Presented by Amanda Hinds
“Shakespeare was a nom-de-plume — get over it.”
So said the late and sorely lamented Alexander Waugh in The Spectator on 2nd November 2013.
(Subtltle: Why Alexander believed, and so do I, that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, used the pseudonym for his sonnets, narrative poems and plays).​
Commencing at 2:30pm - doors open 2:00pm Members £4:00 Non-members £5:00 on the door
Thursday 27th March 2025
Sex, Scandal and the Royal Court
(Some 'saucy' stories 1660-1830)
Presented by Sarah Slater
And Spring Lunch
Sarah Slater is a tour guide at Hampton Court Palace, a guide lecturer and a public speaker.
LUNCH arrangements:
Spacing out our social events, we are going to continue to have a SPRING LUNCH in lieu of an autumn one. Having already experienced her excellent fare, we shall once more use the services of Nicola Leonard, from whom we shall order two choices of main dish and two desserts, and a vegetarian option, which you will be asked to select later after you have booked. Water will be provided on the tables, but please bring your own drink and glasses (wine is allowed) to accompany the meal.
The cost is £16.50 Members and £18.50 non-members (inclusive of the normal entrance fee of £4.00/£5.00) Please use the Booking Form below. Doors open 12.30pm for 1.00pm lunch. Pre-booking for this event is essential.
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This event is now FULL BOOKED. If you would like to join a short waiting list please complete the booking form below and we will advise you accordingly of any places that become available
* A Google account is required to complete the online Booking Form. CLICK HERE to see the benefits of having a Google Account and how to register - there are no cost implications.
Thursday 22th July 2025
A proposed horse-drawn outing on the Kennet & Avon Canal on Thursday 22nd July
All members - please complete the questionnaire form below.
There are just few easy questions that we would like your opinions about before we start taking bookings.
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CANCELLED
The event
Our journey would start at the Newbury end of the canal at Kintbury. We would travel in a traditional narrow boat, powered not by a motor but drawn by a more traditional engine: a horse. We will glide down the waterway, enjoying the bucolic canal-side scenery at walking pace, as experienced by the bargees of old. The boat has great facilities including a loo, open air viewing points and covered seating to allow for less clement weather. Access is easy, but unfortunately, not possible for wheelchairs.
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The cost
The economics of such an all day unusual outing are such that, including the hiring of the coach and the provision of a cream tea, the cost per person would be £67.50. We tried out the proposal on a 'focus group' that applauded the idea of the trip, but at that stage it had not been costed. As we shall need 35 members to sign up, we are taking the unusual step of pre-announcing the event on the website and asking members to indicate their opinions before we start taking bookings.
Following the survey the committee have decided to cancel this proposed visit as we could not achieve the minimum numbers required