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Monday 9th December 2024 at 1:45 p.m. for a 2:15 p.m. start
The History of Rayleigh Windmill and the Day They Replaced the Sails
Presented by: Mike Fogg (Adult education centre)
Rayleigh Windmill is the tallest windmill in Essex, with a history dating back to 1809. Mike’s presentation starts by showing how a windmill works, before moving on to cover the history of Rayleigh Windmill and some of the goings on over the years! The presentation moves on to show images from the 16th of April 2018, when the sails were “put back”after restoration. Then there are images of how the Windmill is used today and finally, the story of the Millers sack.
Friday 13th December 2024 at 6:45 p.m. for a 7:15 p.m. start
Christmas Party 2024
(Mount Avenue Banqueting Suite, Hutton)
Registration is required for this event
Join us for our annual Christmas Dinner at the Mount Avenue Banqueting Suite in Hutton. The cost is £37 per member which includes three courses and coffee & mints with entertainment from Dan Sharp.
Wednesday 18th December 2024
Barbican Concert: Classical meets jazz with some Christmas favourites
London Symphony Orchestra plays Classical meets jazz with some Christmas favourites – plus a riotous ride with Kapustin, Gershwin’s most swinging tunes, and Bernstein at his exuberant best.
Monday 27th January 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Miss Willmott's Ghosts
Presented by: Sandra Lawrence (Adult education centre)
Over the past eight years Sandra Lawrence has spent her waking life sometimes literally digging out new information about the life and gardens of Ellen Ann Willmott, including documents, objects and over 10,000 photographs. Her biography Miss Willmott's Ghosts was published in 2022 but the work is by no means over. This talk will cover Willmott's life, gardens, and the story so far.
Monday 10th February 2025
"Handbagged"
"Handbagged" at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch on February 10th 2025.
Monday 24th February 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
RAF 'Special Duties' Service and SOE
Presented by: Andy Strange (Adult education centre)
RAF 'Special Duties' Service and SOE (Special Operations Executive) - the part they played in Allied support of The Resistance organisations during WW2
Saturday 8th March 2025
Sonning Mill Dinner Theatre: "It Runs In The Family"
Matinee performance preceded by a two course lunch with tea/coffee on March 8th 2025
Monday 24th March 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Canal History and Heritage
Presented by: Roger Butler (Adult education centre)
A colourful introduction to the history and heritage of our 2000 mile canal network, with remarkable engineering, architecture and landscapes. The talk looks at locks, bridges, cottages, warehouses, aqueducts, tunnels and, of course, a few boats too
Monday 28th April 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Boom & Bust in Medieval Lavenham
Presented by: Jane Gosling (Adult education centre)
The beautiful timber-framed buildings for which Lavenham is so famous are the legacy of a thriving industry in cloth production, unrivalled anywhere in the Country. It's cloth merchants made Lavenham one of the wealthiest towns in Tudor England. This talk by Jane Gosling, former Manager of the National Trust’s Guildhall, explores their rise to fame, the houses they left behind, and the inevitable crash that followed.
Monday 19th May 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Musicals and Singalong
Presented by: Debbie Spice (Adult education centre)
Today's presenter is Debbie Spice, an an extremely versatile performer whose extensive training and experience means she can access many styles of singing including Musical Theatre, Operetta and Popular music. Debbie is currently an active performer for professional opera company ‘Figaro and Friends’
Monday 23rd June 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
The Greatest of our Post-War Leaders'
Presented by: Andrew Baker (Adult education centre)
Vivid and amusing portraits can help us see how different post war prime ministers have played the role. What are the characteristics of a great leader and what kind of rank order emerges?
Monday 28th July 2025 at 12:00 a.m. for a 2:15 p.m. start
History of Purfleet and Purfleet Royal Gunpowder Magazines.
Presented by: Paul Hounsell (Adult education centre)
A history of the Royal Gunpowder Magazines and Purfleet-onThames, together with an assortment of artefacts on how we use to live.
Monday 22nd September 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Faber & Faber: Ninety Years of Excellence in Cover Design
Presented by: Toby Faber (Adult education centre)
Toby Faber is the grandson of the founder of Faber & Faber, one of London’s most important literary publishing houses. This talk traces its history through its illustrations, covers and designs and looks at some of its most famous artists.
Monday 27th October 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Brixton - From Riots to Recovery
Presented by: Angela Morgan (Adult education centre)
Brixton - From Riots to Recovery
10th April 1981 is an important date in Black British history. Brixton in South London became the scene of unrest that exposed the realities of the prejudice and discrimination that the Caribbean community had tolerated. The impact of the 'Uprising' still resonates today. But, despite its difficult often challenging past, Brixton is a place of change, opportunities, and celebration.
Our speaker Angela Morgan will take you on an informative and entertaining virtual tour of Brixton with glimpses of its past, the present and potentially the future of this famous residential and shopping area.
Monday 24th November 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Thomas Becket
Presented by: Imogen Corrigan (Adult education centre)
This talk charts Becket’s rise from being a reluctant scholar who loved sports to being one of the most powerful men in the land. It follows his disputes with Henry II culminating in his shocking end and it tries to find the man behind the robes of office he loved so much. It is a story of great drama, but a human one, nonetheless.
Monday 26th January 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
The sculpture heritage of Harlow
Presented by: Peter Aylmer (Adult education centre)
Harlow is rightly known as 'Sculpture Town', thanks to a growing collection of around 100 public works of art on continual display in its streets and public places. But how did this come about? Peter will trace how the new town's master planner, the renowned architect Frederick Gibberd, saw public art as integral to his conception of the town, and how that legacy has been developed since. He will also look at how the very plan of Harlow is itself something of a work of art, based on Gibberd's close understanding of the Essex landscape.
Monday 23rd February 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
Secrets, Scandal and Salacious Gossip of the Royal Court, 1660 to 1830
Presented by: Sarah Slater (Adult education centre)
Sarah will talk about all the naughty bits of history that we probably didn’t learn about at school! She will reveal some royal scandals and secrets including a look at the role of royal mistresses. We all enjoyed Sarah’s previous talk on kirtles and corsets and this one sounds as though it will be equally entertaining.
Monday 23rd March 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
Inn Signia
Presented by: John Ericson (Adult education centre)
The art work and stories behind peculiar pub names.Have you ever wondered why we have so many pubs called 'The Red Lion' or 'The Crown'? Have you ever heard of 'The Bucket of Blood' or 'The Cow and Snuffers'? Come along and John will enlighten us.
Monday 27th April 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
Hitchcock: the Hollywood Years
Presented by: Gary Lewis (Adult education centre)
In March 1939, Alfred Hitchcock left England for the lure of Hollywood. Over the next 36 years, he would direct 36 movies, Find about the documentary he made with Sidney Bernstein during World War II as well as the Oscar nominations he received. Do you recall The Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV series which spanned 10 years and starred many unknown up and coming actors? After all this finally became Sir Alfred Hitchcock, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, in January 1980.
Monday 18th May 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
The House of Romanov
Presented by: Siobhan Clarke
During 1917 violent revolutions tore Russia apart and set in place a communist regime. The murder of the Imperial family at Ekaterinburg in 1918 shook the world and still inspires a terrible fascination today. The beauty and innocence of the Romanov children would become emblems of a world that vanished forever.
Monday 23rd November 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
History in the Landscape
Presented by: Julian Whybra (Adult education centre)
How does history shape our landscape? Essex is particularly fortunate in this respect in that its settlement patterns can be traced back to the fifth century and its place names reveal the hidden origins and nature of the landscape around us. We will also discover what remains of our East Saxon origins today.