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All our talks begin promptly at 2.30pm except where shown. After the talk we hold a raffle and we serve tea, coffee and biscuits. We'll usually finish by 4.00pm. We make a small charge to cover our costs. This is £3.00 for members and £4.00 for non-members. We can take contactless payments, so that you have more small change to buy your raffle tickets. There is no need to book for our talks - just turn up (and feel free to bring your friends).
The talks usually take place at one of two venues:
We sometimes leave some past talks on this page to give an idea of the range of topics that we cover. | ||
| Date & Venue | Details | |
Thursday 16 January Wareham |
From Cows to Carats - Amy Brenan takes us on her journey from being an agricultural auctioneer to an established jeweller, now at Heirlooms in Wareham. Her story is a very interesting, unusual and amusing one. She will bring various examples of jewellery from different centuries and countries, and containing stones and metals that illustrate their value. She will brighten up a January day with tales and sparkles, what could be better? This isn’t a valuation day, but if you have an interesting (not necessarily valuable) item of jewellery, bring it along, and if there’s time, Amy will tell us all about it. |
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Tuesday 18 February Swanage |
World War II in Studland - Pam White is known to many of us for her long service working with the National Trust in Purbeck. Now retired, her new talk is about Studland which is loved today for its sandy beaches and as part of a National Nature Reserve. In WWII however, it became one of the most important Battle Training areas for thousands of troops, many destined for D-Day. Pam has taken a fresh look at the Bankes Archive and Canadian & British War Diaries revealing hitherto unknown stories from that time. |
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Thursday 20 March Wareham
This replaces the previously advertised
talk by author |
Edward Thomas and English Words - Local polymath Richard Wirdnam’s talk is lively and informative. Drawing on his wide knowledge of poems and poetic devices he explains why Edward Thomas is so much more than just a ‘War Poet’. Richard is an expert on both Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy and has edited publications for schools and societies about various aspects of literature study. Richard is also a musician playing accordion in bands, duos and for solo events. |
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Tuesday 22 April Swanage |
AGM After the formal business, Gen Crisford of the National Trust will provide an update on the beavers at Little Sea and plans for the Purbeck Beaver Project. |
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Thursday 18 September Wareham |
Painting Desert Towns - Shekhawati’s Murals - Well known Dorset author Ilay Cooper will be speaking about his time working with the Indian National Trust to document wall paintings. This reveals just how diverse the wall paintings are. Ilay is an authority on the subject and has written a book about his adventures working on them which he will bring to the Talk for those very early Christmas presents! |
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Tuesday 21 October Swanage |
The Purbeck Mining Museum - We have all heard of the Swanage Railway, of which Peter Sills is Chairman, but how many of us know much about the Mining Museum that houses some fascinating facts about and artefacts of Purbeck’s industrial past? It will be wonderful to learn more from Peter who is a ‘mine’ of information. | |
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Thursday 20 November Wareham |
Life in the Dorset Workhouses This may seem like a depressing title but Luke Moulham’s talk – based on his extensive research – is full of extraordinary people and the workhouses they worked and lived in - from the architects and builders, the trustees and those in charge of the inmates to the old, orphaned, destitute, the deserving poor and the idle – who entered their doors in desperation. |
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