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Kent History FederationList of Lecturers

Published October 2018Updated July 2019

Please note: with the dissolution of the Kent History Federation on 3 June 2019, this list is offered freely and with the caveat that the ex-Officers of the Federation take absolutely no

responsibility for the accuracy of the contents.

Kent History FederationList of Lecturers

Please note the Federation published the Panel of Lecturers in good faith but would remind members that the list should not be taken as a recommendation of the speakers named.

Where fees or expenses are not stated societies will need to negotiate with the speaker at the time of booking.

We are pleased to welcome the following new speakers on to the list We regret that the following people are no longer able to give talksMrs Alison Hicks (see Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd)Dr Simon ElliottDr Tim MasonDr Marc MorrisAndrew RobertshawMary SmithColin VarrallCressida WilliamsVince Williams

Denise Baldwin & Katherine HardingAnthea BryantRobert CanisAnne CarterDouglas ChapmanMaureen ClaytonSusan CurranBrian DoorneBrian Fagg

Derrick FulfordJames M GibsonMartin LloydRoger McKennaRosemary PiddockJim M PrestonPaul RasonJohn RayGeorgia ReedDiana Rimel

We were unable to get replies from the following speakers so have removed them from the list:George ConyneMartin CrowtherIrina FridmanGerry Harris

Dr Rebekah HiggittKev ReynoldsPeter Warr

Copyright of Kent History Federation

Copyright of Kent History Federation. No reproduction without prior permission 2

No reproduction without prior permissionLecturer

Address Telephone E:/websiteEquipment Required, Availability, Fees, & Transport Subject

Dr Frank W G AndrewsClover Rise14 Stone Cross LeesSandwichKent CT13 OBZTel: 01304 613476E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Reading desk, access to 13 amp socket, plus extension lead, screenFee: £35Expenses: 25p per mileArea: East Kent generallyPreferred times: Evenings or could be afternoons with plenty of notice

The Railway War in Kent (Rivalry of SER and LCDR) The effects of Railways on East Kent – ‘The Last Revolution’ The story of Sandwich Richborough Castle Scandal in Sandwich: the 1880 election bribery case Father of Nobody’d Children – the life & work of Dr Barnardo The Story of the East Kent Light Railway Canterbury Cathedral (in preparation)

Mr Keith Baker13 Mansel DriveRochesterKent ME1 3HXTel: 01634 847579

Fees: Travel expenses(non-driver)Area: within 15 – 20 miles of Rochester

The History of the Mathematical School, Rochester, 1709 to date

Dr Ian C BeavisTunbridge Wells MuseumCivic CentreMount PleasantTunbridge WellsTN1 1JNTel: 01892 554171E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Can bring own laptop and projector but happy to bring memory stick and use venue’s equipment if available. Requires screen and stand.Fee: No set fee, but groups may wish to make a donation to the Museum’s purchase fund.Travel expenses only if public transport is used. Does not drive will need collecting from Tunbridge Wells or from nearest railway station.Available: Anytime

The Story of Tunbridge Wells Town & Country Happily Blended (Georgian Tunbridge Wells) Decimus Burton (Architect) & the Renaissance of Tunbridge

Wells Victorian Tunbridge Wells Early tourists in the High Weald The Life & Times of Sir David Salomons (inventor & motoring

pioneer) The Historic Parks of Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons (History & Natural

History) Charles Tattershall Dodd, Artist of Tunbridge Wells The Camden portraits – the family & the pictures Honour to Science and Art (Henry Peach Robinson and the

photographic tradition in Tunbridge Wells) Tunbridge Wells Museum and its Collections Tunbridge Ware (Tunbridge Wells’ traditional souvenir wood

mosaic) The Natural History of the High Weald Butterflies of Tunbridge Wells and District Bees & their conservation


mailto:[email protected]


LecturerAddress Telephone E:/website

Equipment Required, Availability, Fees, & Transport Subject

Dr Paul Bennett, CAT Director of ArchaeologySee Canterbury Archaeological Trust below

Church archaeology and Canterbury Cathedral Canterbury’s Archaeology Medieval Kent Libyan Archaeology And other topics

Amy BlakewaySchool of HistoryRutherford CollegeUniversity of KentCT2 7NXTel: 01227-823710E: [email protected]://www.kent.ac.uk/history/staff/index.html

Equipment required: projector and screen if possibleFee &/or expenses: travel expensesArea/Distance prepared to travel: I don’t have a car – somewhere accessible by public transport from Canterbury (especially in terms of being able to get home!)Preferred times: evenings

My main research is sixteenth-century Scotland, and relationships between Scotland, England, and France. I’m also interested in propaganda news in the sixteenth century British Isles.

Stuart Bligh36 Lovelace GreenElthamLondon SE9 1LFTel: 07949377526E: [email protected]

Equipment Required: Screen and projector – have own laptop or memory stickAvailability: Evenings not weekendsPreferred Times: 7pm – 10pmFees £50Expenses: £10 for anywhere over 25 miles from ElthamArea (will travel to) Kent & SE London

Maritime Kent – illustrated talk about Kent’s rich maritime history. A general history covering notable maritime figures, events and stories which can include the Dover Bronze Age Boat, the Cinque Ports, Chatham Dockyard, the Spanish Armada, the Pellew brothers, the Anglo Dutch Wars and Kent’s Trafalgar connections.

Lt Col Dick Bolton4 Mill HamletWickhambreauxCanterburyKent CT3 1RFTel/Fax: 01227 720997E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Power socketFee on requestExpenses Mileage, home to venue and return at 35p per mile or rail fareAvailability: daytime – Kent; evenings – East Kent onlyGuided tours on foot and/or by coach can be arranged for many of the topics

The history of Kent told through apples, ale, art & architecture The Arts and Crafts of William Morris and his Circle Sir Edward BurneJones, artist and admirer of beauty! Sir Edwin Lutyens, the Architect with a twinkle in his eye Mrs Eleanor’s secret Coade Stone Kent, Brick by Brick! The South East, Brick by Brick! England, Brick by Brick! The Stained Glass of Canterbury Cathedral The Stained Glass of Kent A Likeness of Paradise – stained glass, the sublime art Romney Marsh and its Churches The Battle of Bossenden Wood, the sad story of a Kentish

uprising. Our Ports of Stranded Pride the Cinque Ports of Kent and




https://www.kent.ac.uk/history/staff/index.html




Sussex Canterbury Cathedral – Church and Treasure House The current restoration of Canterbury Cathedral A year in the life of a Blue Badge Guide Wickhambreaux – Oasts and Archangels Windows ,walls & weather vanes- a study of architecture from

Sandwich to Canterbury.Russell Bowes409 Sidcup RoadMottinghamLondon, SE9 4EUT: 0208 857 9089E: [email protected] W: www.capabilitybowes.com

Equipment required: projector STAND, screen and 2 socket extension cableFee: negotiableExpenses: travelling costs by public transportArea: will go anywhere accessible by public transportAvailability: day or evening, any time of year

Garden history talks – for full list see website

Sheila BoydMaitlands FarmLenhamMaidstoneKent ME17 2ESTel: 01795 886458E: [email protected]

Equipment required:No fee, but a donation to Demelza House Children’s Hospice (2013), and travel expenses between £10-£40 dependant on mileage

Nelson – Hero and Man King William IV and Mrs Dora Jordan Queen Victoria’s Dreadful Uncles The life and loves of King Edward VII To marry an English Lord (about the American heiresses c. 1860-

1900 who married English aristocrats) Georgian Times Sir William Hamilton – the cuckolded husbandI try to bring 2 or 3 laughs into the talks – although the talks are based on letters and diaries of the times.

Colin Breed52 Poyntell RoadStaplehurstKentTN12 0SATel: 01580 892612E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Power socket only (Supplies own equipment for slides)Fee: £50Expenses: £5 – £10 depending on distanceArea: Kent, East Sussex, and South London.Availability: anytime

Royal Visits to Kent and More Royal Visits to Kent Two talks with slides by a retired Detective Chief Inspector,

providing an amusing and informative look behind the scenes at the planning, security, and protection of all the main royals, including Princess Diana, on their visits during the 1990s

The Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster of 1987. The story of the cross channel ferry Herald of Free Enterprize. How and why it capsized, the subsequent police investigation and the Old Bailey manslaughter trial (no unpleasant slides)

Mr and Mrs John Brook1 Barrack Cottages

Equipment required: Own equipmentFee: £50

Illustrated talk on Countryside and Natural History Illustrated talk on Dragonflies




http://www.capabilitybowes.com/




BroomfieldMaidstoneKent ME17 1PUTel: 01622 862227

Expenses: £5 (under 20 miles) £10 (20 – 40 miles)£15 (40 – 50 miles)Area: Approx. 50 miles radius Leeds, MaidstonePreferred time: Evenings preferred

Illustrated talk on Wildlife through the year

Colin Brown315 Station RoadRainhamGillinghamME8 7PUTel: 07751 521080E: [email protected]

Equipment required: 1 to speak but 2 or 3 more large tables for display if possibleFee: £65Expenses: Travel if over 20 milesAvailability: Not SundaysArea: approx. 40 miles radiusPreferred times: most

Ordnance Survey Ancient and Modern: A history of Ordnance Survey – how it came about, and a litle about my work today with large-scale OS products

Christoph Bull, BA HONS, MCLIP, ALA1 Miller RoadChalkKentDA12 4TPTel: 01474 320156E: [email protected]: www.christophbull.co.uk

Equipment required: screen and table/stand to be provided by the venue – but can bring my own.Fee: £65Expenses: 45p per mile if outside GraveshamAll talks are illustratedArea: anywhere, but mileage chargedPreferred times: Any time – days and evenings. Emergency service offered if a speaker cannot attend (subject to my existing bookings)

Chalk Parish- Marshes, midges and medicine Amazing Swanscombe: puritans, politics & pollution Shorne Parish – saints, sinners & scenery. Northfleet's Secret History The forgotten parish Denton, near Gravesend. Folklore of Chalk Parish: things that go bump in the parish Neumünster – Gravesham's twin town in Germany: historical

twins A Kentishman in Transylvania (about Romania, vampires and

how Transylvania left Hungary and joined Romania) "The good, the bad & the ugly":The amusing story of Kentish

public libraries Gravesend: Gateway to the Thames Dirty Dartford… Dickens in Kent Gravesham Round & About – a virtual historical tour. Gravesend Library’s unknown story – up close & personal Our Thames from Dartford to Grain Some Real Kentish Ghost stories (not illustrated) Pocahontas – the non-Disney story The Kaiser’s War?? – a different perspective on the First World

War Cobham Parish – A Kentish Gem. Stone near Dartford – the tale of the incredible shrinking parish.


http://www.christophbull.co.uk/




Greenhithe to Grayhithe and back again (a talk about Greenhithe’s history)

Zmazing Swanscombe, Greenhithe and Neumünster – Kent and Germany during World War One

Grim Gravesend –an illustrated talk about the sad, mad and bad of the town- tales of poverty disease and crime.

Kent 1580-1650: the age of Pocahontas as it affected Kent Town twinning – Gravesham’s international relations Northfleet-but not as we know it (Pictures from before

redevelopment) Swanscombe’s “War” of independence-how it changed from a

village to a town. “The only one that got away” – the story of a German POW

escape from Kent in 1915 and the amazing adventure which took him from China via America to Gravesend.

Some Gravesham Characters – Famous and forgotten people who have shaped the borough’s story (illustrated talk)

Dartford Rural Rides – Discover the Darent Valley's delightful villages.

Dartford Rural Rides-West Kingsdown to Southfleet Who’s who in Hoo – the Hoo Peninsula and its communities Myths & Legends of Gravesham & DartfordShort talk (last no longer than 30 minutes): What Makes Northfleet tick? Scotland & Gravesham: Haggis & Shrimps Africa and World War One Robert Pocock- historian, naturalist & printer of Gravesend and

DartfordIn preparation: (2018) Dartford-the day before yesterday (changing townscape of

Kent’s Gateway) Gravesend – the day before yesterday (changing Face of the

town since 1900)Mike Bundock, MA, MBHI91 Selsea AvenueHerne BayKent

Equipment required: screen (or blank wall)Fee: £50Expenses: 25p per mileArea: Kent

The Craft of the Clockmaker Commemorative Clock Towers Public Timekeeping in Kent Life in Victorian Herne Bay




CT6 8SETel: 01227 362105E: [email protected]

Availability: Any with sufficient notice Floral clocks Trackway to Motorway – a history of some Kent roads The Rise of the North Kent Seaside Resorts

Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd92a Broad StreetCanterburyKent, CT1 2LU01227 462062E: [email protected]

Equipment required: data projector (if possible we can supply our own) screenFees NegotiableExpenses Mileage at 60p per mile from CanterburyAvailability negotiable depending on staff memberPreferred Times as aboveArea (will travel to) Kent

In addition to the below we can field lecturers covering almost any aspect of Kentish history and archaeology. Dr Paul Bennett – CAT Director of Archaeology (Church

archaeology and Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury’s Archaeology, Medieval Kent, Libyan Archaeology and other topics)

Peter Clark – CAT Deputy Director of Archaeology (The Dover Bronze Age Boat)

Dr John Hammond (Prehistoric Kent, death and burial in the Bronze Age, the Barrow landscapes of Kent, Kent henges and prehistoric monuments) Now retired, but may still give a lecture.

Dr Jake Weekes (Roman archaeology, Roman cemeteries in Kent)

Dr Andrew Richardson (Anglo-Saxon Kent, small finds and metal-detecting, Heritage Crime)

Dr Richard Helm (Field archaeology in Kent, various topics – also the Iron Age archaeology of East Africa)

Andrew Linklater (Church archaeology) James Holman (Medieval New Romney, field archaeology in

Kent, Thanet Earth excavations) Keith Parfitt (Dover’s Archaeology, The Ringlemere Cup,

Buckland Anglo Saxon Cemetery, Field Archaeology in Kent) Mrs Alison Hicks for the archaeology of Canterbury Whitefriars,

St Augustine’s Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral precincts and the recent Slatters excavation.

Dennis Chambers9 Northleigh CloseLooseMaidstoneKent ME15 9RPTel: 01622 746622E: [email protected]

Equipment required: NoneFee: £35Expenses: travelling (to be discussed)Area: All of KentPreferred times: any. Will consider bookings at short noticeTalks last 45 to 60 minutes including time for questions. A longer talk can be arranged.

GHOSTS – Fact or Fiction: Are ghosts just a figment of the imagination or do they really exist? To some they are as much a part of everyday life as the food they eat and the clothes they wear. This talk considers the case for the reality of ghosts and the arguments against their existence.

SOME KENT GHOSTS – Their Haunts & Stories: The county of Kent is at the top of the league of ‘most haunted’ and can, some say, boast having the “most haunted village in England”. Most



http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/





cases have been cited in the many books written on the subject but there are stories to be told which are rarely, if ever, aired outside the speaker’s talks.

SOME SUPERNATURAL INCIDENTS – reported to or by the police: When strange things happen the police are likely to be the first to be approached to sort matters out and it is not too unusual for them to have puzzling experiences themselves. They are professional observers and therefore tend to get a true grasp of the facts.

PLUCKLEY – England’s Most Haunted Village?: According to the 1989 edition of the ‘Guinness Book of Records’, the village is indeed so. In the 1998 edition it even stated Pluckley held the record for the UK – Are there worthy challengers for this title and, if so, who wins? Information about the village’s spectral inhabitants, their haunts and histories and consideration of the opposition.

HYPNOSIS – The Simple Truths: Exposing many of the myths and mysteries surrounding Hypnosis to reveal what a useful tool it can be. Explaining the advantages and presenting some of the downsides.

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING: Rarely is it recognised the harm we do to ourselves by allowing negative thoughts to take control of our lives. Many of the resulting problems can be effectively dealt with by switching negative thinking to positive… provided we know how to.

ABOUT THE ABOVE LISTED TALKSAlbeit the subject matter of each of these talks is regarded seriously by the speaker he tries to ensure that his presentations are kept light-hearted. The intention is to both inform and entertain without, in any way, offending members of his audience. He sincerely believes in the reality of his chosen subjects but, at the same time, recognises the fact that not all those he speaks to will share his outlook, and he has no wish to persuade anyone to change their personal views.

Peter Clark – CAT Deputy Director of ArchaeologySee Canterbury Archaeological Trust above

The Dover Bronze Age Boat




Colin C Coe21 Tudor GroveRainhamKentME8 9AFTel: 01634 361240Mobile: 07522 481871.E: [email protected]

Equipment required: No equipment requiredFee: provided on requestPreferred times: Weekdays: daytime orevening

Digital Audio Visual ShowsSubject list provided on request

Imogen Corrigan8 Claremont RoadFolkestoneKent, CT20 1DQTel: 01303 240026 or 01303 245727Mobile: 07753 169583E: [email protected] : www.medieval-lecture.com

Equipment Required: can bring own projector, stand, and screen if requested.Fee: on requestExpenses: depends how far away the society isArea: anywherePreferred time: any

Joan of Arc Ravenna seen through her mosaics The Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo The Venerable Bede and the Age in which he lived The First Prize: why did so many invaders and settlers want

England? The Second or Third Coming? Early Christianity in Britain The Vikings Viking Art & Legend The Rus: the Vikings who founded Russia Charlemagne The Signs of the Times: Signs and Symbols in Medieval Art and

Buildings The Green Man in English Churches The Topsy-Turvy World of Misericords ‘The Dregs of the People Remain’ : the Black Death and its

Aftermath The Hazards of the Journey: Pilgrimage and Travel in the Middle

Ages The Politeness of Princes: the Reality of Medieval Etiquette and

Manners A Child’s Life in the Middle Ages The Bayeux Tapestry Illuminated Manuscripts: A general introduction to the Anglo-

Saxon and Medieval Manuscripts and the life of the people who made them

The Lindisfarne Gospels


http://www.medieval-lecture.com/





The Benedictional of St Aethelwold (an illuminated manuscript) The Luttrell Psalter (an illuminated manuscript of the C14th) The Book of Kells The men behind the pen: the life of the scribe in the middle

ages The Cathars Windows into Heaven: Icons Here be dragons… medieval monsters Glad Tidings: the Story of the Annunciation The Goose is getting Fat: the history of Christmas traditions Whose God is it anyway? Islamic art and architecture ‘Put that light out’: The 93rd (Searchlight) Regiment Powers behind the Thrones: the women of the first millennium The Siren Sea (medieval sailors, navigators, shipwrecks and the

occasional monster). Stone on Stone: the men who built the cathedrals Sharpening the Arches: how Romanesque Architecture became

Gothic Henry the Navigator and his World How to Live in Renaissance Italy Jan van Eyck Antonello da Messina, a Sicilian Renaissance artist Fra Filippo Lippi El Greco Albrecht Durer Michael Sittow: Tallinn’s hidden talent (a great Estonian

Renaissance artist) Medieval Brittany

Martin Crowther, MA, Dip Museum/Gallery Studies35 Lancaster RoadCanterburyKent, CT1 3QETel: Mobile 07434 588 297 Home 01227 478 317E: [email protected]

Equipment required: I can supply digital projector, portable screen, and extension lead if required.Fee: £75Expenses: Petrol at 40p per mileArea: All of Kent, including outer LondonAvailability: Daytime, evenings and weekendsPreferred times: Weekdays daytime and evenings

Chaucer’s Medieval Pilgrims: A colourful, ‘warts and all’ account based on the latest historical evidence.

A Sense of History multi-sensory workshop: See, touch, taste, hear, and smell history from the Stone Age to the Computer Age in this fun, multi-sensory workshop using real and replica artefacts.

A History of Toys and Games: Discover historic toys and games – from ones found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb to those of your childhood, including several examples from Kent. A fun,





interactive talk with real and replica toys to investigate. An Illustrated history of Canterbury: Explore the colourful

history of Canterbury through images, artefacts and the stories of its people.

Rupert Bear, Bagpuss, and Friends: Discover the story of Rupert Bear who celebrates his 100th birthday in 2020 and his Canterbury connections. Plus Bagpuss, the Clangers, and other Smallfilms creations of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin.

Ancient Egypt Unwrapped: From mummies to the sacred scarab beetle – investigate fascinating stories behind Egyptian artefacts, including those in Kent collections.

Mystery Artefacts Quiz: Enjoy a quiz night with a difference. With mystery artefacts to touch, historic smells, sounds and music, and recipes to taste – all inspired by Kentish, British, and World history.

Behind the Scenes at the Museum: From cataloguing ships plans at the National Maritime Museum to Learning Manager at the Beaney, Martin has enjoyed a colourful career in heritage. Find out what really happens behind the scenes … from transporting skeletons by car to looking after Bagpuss!

An illustrated history of Christmas: With lots of seasonal references to Kent!

Cabinets of Curiosity: Discover the history of cabinets of curiosity from the 16th century Kunstkammer of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II to Sir Hans Sloane’s Museum and Tradescant’s Ark. Find out about Canon John Bargrave’s cabinets at Canterbury Cathedral and some strange items from around the globe that were included in Canterbury’s first museum in 1825.

James Anthony Dickinson8 Sussex PlaceWest EndHerstmonceuxHailshamEast Sussex BN27 4NJTel: 01323 831579E: [email protected]

Equipment required: My wife assists with the technical aspects of each presentation. We bring all our own equipment other than a screen so that is all we need unless you have a suitable blank wall.Fee £50Travel: mileage at 33p per mile. But I hope that this should in no case really prove an issue since I am prepared to limit my fee in any one case to no more

For additional details of the talks please see the website William the Conqueror, a justified invader? T the Norman

conquest of 1066. Henry III and the battle of Lewes. The reign of Henry III, a little

known English king even though he was on the throne for the fourth longest period of time in our history.

Henry II and the empire of the devil. This talk tells the story of possibly England’s greatest ever medieval king a man who ruled





https://jamesdickinson1921.wixsite.com/historytalks than £75 to take account of all travelling time & expenses.Area: Sussex and KentPreferred times: mornings, afternoons & evenings

not just over England and its vassal lands, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, but also over the mighty Angevin empire covering about two thirds of present day France.

Edward I and the beginnings of modern Britain. The story of Edward’s effort to bring about a united Britain based on the old Arthurian legend.

King John and Magna Carta. This presentation tells the story of ‘bad King John’ whom I will try to show lived up to his evil reputation in every way

Edward II and the She Devil: Intrigue and betrayal. An unashamed medieval rocky horror story dealing with Edward one of the most incompetent kings in our history, his feisty and much abused French Queen Isabella the Fair and his infatuations with two male royal favourites.

King Edward III and the first part of the Hundred Years’ War. A colourful tale of one of our greatest medieval kings and the great war with France that started to assert Edward’s claim to the French throne.

New for 2018 King Richard II and the Peasants’ Revolt. A reign which began

with much promise with the 14 year old boy king defying the peasant rebels at Blackheath.

Henry VI and the Wars of the Roses Part I. Deals with the reign of the infant king Henry VI and his powerful regents both in England and in France.

Edward IV and the Wars of the Roses Part II. Tells the story of the first Yorkist king and how he rose to prominence leading the House of York to victory at Towton in 1461.

Henry V and the second part of the Hundred Years’ War. The renewal of hostilities with France leading to the boy’s own victory at Agincourt in 1415.

Richard III, Henry VII and the Wars of the Roses Part III. The story of the controversial second Yorkist king Richard III, how he came to power and was then defeated by the first Tudor king Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth.

Dr Geoff Doel38 London Road

Equipment required: table to set up plus long double-headed extension lead; screen or white wall.

Talks Illustrated with Folksongs & Slides A Kent Christmas


https://jamesdickinson1921.wixsite.com/historytalks



St DunstansCanterburyCT2 8LNTel: 01227 785882E: [email protected] Geoff Doel is a Sessional Lecturer for the University of Canterbury Christ Church, an Associate Lecturer for the University of Kent, a member of Kent Archaeological Society & co-author of 14 books on traditional culture.

(Has own laptop and digital projector)Fee – £70 plus travel (negotiable for small societies)Travel: via car (train on winter evenings)Area: KentPreferred times: most mornings, afternoons, or evenings – dependent upon university lecturing daytime commitments.Duration (usually about an hour/hour and a quarter, but flexible on demand).

Geoff has a PhD on Thomas Hardy, lectures for Universities of Kent & Canterbury Christ Church, and belongs to Kent Archaeological Society, and is an Honorary Life Member of the Marlowe Society & The Thomas Hardy Society. He is co-author with his wife Fran of 14 books, including A Kent Christmas, The Hop Bin, Folklore of Kent, The Green Man in Britain, In Quest of King Arthur & Robin Hood –Outlaw or Greenwood Myth and has made several TV appearances, including Time Team.

Kent Spring & Summer Seasonal Customs Hopping Down in Kent Outsiders – Outlaws, Poachers, Smugglers & Highwaymen Kent Folk Song & Singers Davy Jones’s Locker (lore & songs of the sea) Robin Hood Wassailing, Wife Sales & Witchcraft –Kent Folklore & FestivalsTalks with Slides Legendary & Ghostly Kent The Green Man Dickens & Kent The Darker Side of Dickens Kent Writers Jane Austen & the Regency Thomas Hardy & Tradition The Bloomsbury Group Medieval Life through Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales Kit Marlowe of Canterbury–Playwright & Spy Conrad & Kent Crusades & Templars In Quest of King Arthur Anglo Saxon Kent The Hooden Horse & Kent Mummers Plays Conan Doyle & Sherlock Holmes

Geoff Doel & John MorganDr Geoff Doel,38 London Road,Canterbury, CT2 8LNE: [email protected]: 01227 785882

Duration (usually about an hour/hour and a quarter, but flexible on demand).Usual Fee – £100 plus travel

Geoff has a literary PhD, lectures for Universities of Kent & Canterbury Christ Church, belongs to Kent Archaeological Society, is co-author of 14 books on traditional culture, & has made several TV appearances, including ‘Time Team’.

John is a Cambridge graduate and former Head of Department in Literature, a well-known singer and musician of traditional songs and former sheep

Illustrated Talks for Kent Societies on traditional culture, featuring songs, tunes, slides and readings Legendary & Ghostly Kent A Kent Christmas The Hop Bin Kent Spring & Summer Seasonal Customs & Songs All the Year Round -Kent Seasonal Customs & Songs Outsiders – Outlaws, Poachers, Smugglers & Highwaymen Kent Folk Song, Singers & Collectors English Folk Song, Singers & Collectors The Farming Year





farmer.Simon ElliottArnageLower roadEast FarleighKent, ME15 0JW.Tel: 01622 729 275 or 07711 387 084E: simon.elliott@sentinelcommunications,.co.uk@SimonElliott20

Equipment required: lap top, projector and screen as I usually just bring my PP deck along on a memory stickFee: on applicationExpensesArea: KentPreferred times:

Any theme associated with the below, happy to do bespoke talks. If you search my name on Amazon you can see the five books I already have published.

Roman Britain Roman Kent Roman military Roman navy

Patsy Erskine-Hill, MAVenture House61 High StreetCharingKent TN27 0LSTel. 01233 714071E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Can supply laptop and/or memory stick, but require a screen and data projector. Fee £60 + travel (actual cost)Preferred time: anyArea: SE EnglandAll talks are illustrated with PowerPoint and last approx. 50 minutes.

Peter The Great and the Making Of Modern Russia (S) Serf Painters and their Masters in Imperial Russia Pleasure Palaces And Patriarchs: The Golden Age of the Russian

Country House Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and the Elizabethan Baroque The Fire Takes Hold: Printing and Bookselling in Early

Renaissance Venice The Making Of Venice: From Swamp to Serenissima (S) Dante's Divine Comedy: Otherworld Images from his Poem (S) The Georgians: Polite and Not So Polite Society in 18th Century

England (S) The Life and Loves of Catherine The Great, Collector and

Stateswoman The British at the Court of the Tsars: Spies, Merchants and

Adventurers Jacopo, Gentile and Giovanni: The Amazing Bellini Family and

the Birth of the Venetian Renaissance (S) The Venetian School and the Birth Of the Italian Renaissance The Vikings: from the Northlands to Byzantium Convents and Courtesans: Women’s Lives in Pre-Modern Venice Velazquez, King of Painters and Painter of Kings Gustavus Adolphus, Military Genius and Polymath Benvenuto Cellini, Amazing Goldsmith and Bad Boy of the Italian

RenaissancePeter EwartGipsy Court CottageShatterlingCanterbury

Equipment required: Have all necessary equipment (digital projector etc).Fee: Details on request (depends on distance and time of day)

Our Family at War: two colourful centuries of military service in the families of the speaker & his wife

Family History for Beginners Researching the History of a House and its occupants



mailto:simon.elliott@sentinelcommunications,.co.uk



Kent CT3 IJLTel: 01227 720835E: [email protected]

Expenses: Included in feePreferred times: all times considered

Most talks are illustrated – further details describing all talks & my speaking service are available on request.

Nor the years Condemn – some War Memorials of Kent and East Sussex

The Swing Riots: Violent Rural Dissent in 1830 Interesting East Kent Churches Victorian and Edwardian school days Steady the Buffs – The story of the East Kent Regiment Smuggling in Kent Rye – the Story of an Ancient Town Some Mother’s Son – a Family Album’s Poignant Story Life in the Victorian Workhouse Gone for a Soldier The British Tommy in Victorian Times through

the verse of Rudyard Kipling Bridging two Worlds: from Zululand to Kent and back Tales of a Genealogist

M A (Tony) FarnhamChairman EmeritusSociety for Sailing BargeResearch4 White Rock CourtWhite Rock PlaceMaidstone, Kent ME16 8HXTel/Fax: 01622 753566E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Large screen required iflarge hailFee: £75Expenses: noneArea: KentPreferred times: Anytime

London’s River Through the Eyes of the Artists The Sailing Barge in its Heyday (Medway and SE Ports) Romance of London’s River (Southend to Sonning) East Coast Sailing Barges Finding a Family (Personal account/Adoption)

Alex FerrisBaker Bridge CottagePluckley RoadSmarden, Kent TN27 8NJTel: 01233 770353E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Screen, table, extension leadArea: normally mid-KentFee: £65Expenses: travelAvailability: Afternoons & evenings (I am available at short and long notice for talks across Kent)

The Plague Doctor of Kent: Based on the story of the 17th C. doctor Matthew Hartnup, the talk covers his life, the origins and types of plague and the development of medicinal science.

The Slave Preacher of Kent: The amazing story of runaway slave, John Sella Martin, who came to Kent during the American Civil War to persuade the British people to support the Northern States in the fight against slavery. Themes are slavery, democracy, economics and morality.

1917: Bombs on Kent – The story of the first massed WWI bomber raid against London in 1917 and how the towns and villages of Kent came to suffer so badly in consequence.

Law and Order in a Kentish Village: A look at 1500 years of crime and punishment in Smarden. Theme is justice over the centuries in relation to specific types of crime and changing








social values. Churchill, Rockefeller and the Man from Maidstone: The roles

played by Power, Politics and Patriotism in the years leading up to World War 1... with a Kentish twist!

Four Plane Crashes in Smarden 1929-1940: The story of the planes and the pilots. Including one chap who crashed twice in the same week!

Wendy Fraser BA (HONS) MA ADV CERT ED, ECDL CTPWhite Walnut Cottage57 Kingsdown RoadSt Margaret’s at Cliffe,Kent CT15 6AZTel: 01304 853805E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Talks delivered with laptop computer and data projector provided by me. Screen required plus power supply.Fee: £50Expenses: travel if over 15 miles from St Margatet’sArea: East KentFormer Blue Badge Guide in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, conducting walking tours of town and Abbey ruins, and tour manager in Italy

Lived in Italy for many years whilst working as a tour manager and can prepare a general talk or specific area (Rome, Florence, Venice, Siena, etc.). St Margarets Bay (tied in with her book) A walk round St Margarets (ties in with a visit to St Margarets) Hist Society Archiving A Brief History of the Granville Hotel, St Margaret’s Bay Medieval Bury St Edmunds Secrets Beneath Siena FlorenceIs also happy to research and prepare a talk/lecture on any suitable subject!

Ms J Fraser-HayGinger CottageOld BrickyardRye, East Sussex TN31 7EETel: 01797 225793Mob: 07866 640089E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Requires screenFee: £55Expenses: 28p per mileArea: within 25 miles of RyePreferred times: Afternoons or evenings

Winchelsea, mediaeval port Rye, before and after the fire of 1377 Hastings, fishermen and mediaeval war General Maritime subjects in Kent & Sussex.

Mr Brian Freeland32 Westdown HouseHartington PlaceEastbourne BN21 3BNTel: 01323 727525Mob: 07752 616634E: [email protected]: www.brianfreeland.co.uk

Equipment required: * screen requiredFees: £75 inclusive up to 70 miles from Eastbourne. (Thanet is pushing it a bit).Area covered: Penzance to Margate: only occasionally north of the M4.Availability: Check. Booking up to 15 months in advance.

Clarkson Rose and Twinkle: 45 years of seaside entertainment. George Bernard Shaw: playing the clown Women of the Raj Sussex Lives – from John Freeland to Rudyard Kipling *A trip down the River Charente. * Richelieu: The Cardinal and His 'City'

K J Fryer10 Coronation Road

Equipment required: Kodak Carousel Projector and screen required

History of Sheppey (General or specific aspects) Kentish Villages through their Signs


http://www.brianfreeland.co.uk/





SheernessKentME12 2QNTel: 07791 414219E: [email protected]

Fee: Donation to Minster Gatehouse Museum appreciatedExpenses: Travel costsArea: All partsPreferred times: Most possible

Various talks on History of Fruit Development and Growing in Kent

Additionally, out of Kent subjects are available, with or without slides, covering many European countries and cities. Talks with historical slant on Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe/Zambia, Namibia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. Also general interest talks on Trindad, Singapore, and USA – ‘New York to Norfolk’

James M Gibson27 Pine GroveMaidstoneKent ME14 2AJTel: 01622 673050E: [email protected]

Lectern, table for displaying books, prints and postcards requiredFee £50Area: KentPreferred times: Evenings

The History of Rochester Bridge Plays and Players in Medieval and Early Modern Kent Cobham College – Medieval Chantry to Modern Almshouses

Melanie Gibson-Barton, BSc (Hons)1 High KnockeDymchurchRomney MarshKent TN29 0QDTel: 01303 870969Mob: 07900 637171E: [email protected]

Equipment Required: I bring all my own equipment including a microphone and speaker so everyone can hearFees: £80 inclusive of travelArea: Kent, E Sussex, S E LondonAvailability: AnytimePreferred time: Anytime

Wandering in Flanders Fields Wandering on The Somme The Life and Times of Edith Cavell Bruges – it’s more than just chocolate Uncovering the Treasures of Bruges Ten – and more – Famous Belgians Eva Braun- Victim or Contriver? Parks and Gardens of Flanders And So To Ted – the history of teddies and other bears The Belgian Royal Family – murder, mystery and mayhem Curious Flanders – off the beaten track The History of Morris Dancing Third Reich sites today for the curious traveler Three women. one man – glamour, wealth and heartbreak To End All Wars? – 1918 a commentary on the drawing to a

close of the First World War Ostend – it's more than just fish and sandcastles Elizabeth Barton – the Maid of Kent

Peter HartleyFlat 11,The New College of CobhamCobhambury RoadCobhamGravesend

Equipment required: No equipment requiredFee: £40Expenses: Petrol £5/10Area and preferred times: All subject to mutual agreement and a mapAvailable at short notice

‘A Royal Interlude: Service in the Royal Household and the traditions of Royal Maundy (45/50 minutes)

‘Princes and Palaces’: Progress round the Royal homes from the time of Queen Victoria to today (45/50 minutes)

Jubilation: Royal Jubilees, past and present (45/50 minutes) Diamond Queens: Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II (45/50


http://www.toonstelling.com/





Kent DAI2 3BGTel: 01474 814488

minutes)

Dr Richard HelmSee Canterbury Archaeological Trust above

Field archaeology in Kent, various topics The Iron Age archaeology of East Africa

Mrs Alison HicksSee Canterbury Archaeological Trust above

Archaeology of Canterbury Whitefriars, St Augustine’s Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral precincts and the recent Slatters excavation

Jeremy S Hodgkinson MA, FSA3 Saxon RoadWorthCrawleySussex RH10 7SATel: 01293 886278E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Digital projector (can be supplied if none available); screen; extension lead (min. 2 sockets); table or stand for projector & laptop; table for books, samples etc.Fee: £50 per hourExpenses: 20p per mile (or fare)Area: Sussex, Kent, and Surrey; further afield by arrangementAvailability: Weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings; weekend conferences by arrangement

The iron industry in the Weald [from the Iron Age to the early 19th century]

The early iron industry in the Weald [from the Iron Age to the end of the Middle Ages]

The post-Medieval iron industry in the Weald [from Tudor times to the early 19th century]

Cast-iron Firebacks Gunfounding in the Weald The work of the Wealden Iron Research Group Heraldry on British Iron Firebacks Pictures in Iron – Pictorial Designs on British Firebacks Wealden Iron and Church Monuments

Other talks within the above subjects can be given by arrangement

James HolmanSee Canterbury Archaeological Trust above

Medieval New Romney Field archaeology in Kent Thanet Earth excavations





Steve Hookins.www.stevehookins.co.uk078471 39780

Legacy Historical Services Ltd providing cut price battlefield tours to Belgium & France

Equipment: I can supply my own computer, projector, & screenFee: £55 per talk + expenses (petrol depending upon distance).Area: KentPreferred times: evening talks (can do afternoons but obviously have to take leave to do these.)Length of talks: 30 – 40 Minutes & I am comfortable taking questions afterwards

Woolwich Women at War – Looking at the role of the WWI munitions workers & how women’s roles & attitudes have changed

Waterloo: A look at the famous battle of 1815 & Steve’s conclusions as to why Napoleon lost.

To Wilhelm, with love: A talk about the battle of the Somme, complimented by a traveling museum of WW1 memorabilia & artefacts

Bits that don’t fit: From termites to Spanish Flu. All the quirky bits of history that Steve can’t fit into any of his other talks.

Doing Our Bit. This talk looks at the roles of some of the Civil Defence volunteers unsung heroes from the Upper Thames Patrol to the Workers at the MG works in Abbingdon. The talk is presented in character with Steve performing as "Mr Foreman" of the Emergency Road Repair Service. It is complimented with a small display of WW2 badges, medals & ephemera.

Malcolm HortonDownsview,Pett Lane,CharingTN27 0DCM: 07958 762222E: [email protected]

Equipment Required: can bring own laptop and memory stick, but will require screen and projectorFee: £40Expenses: travel at 25p per mileArea: KentPreferred time: any time

Sir Charles Igglesden – Biography – ‘Sauntering through Kent’ Cuthbert Ottaway England’s First Football Captain from Dover

Geoff Hutchinson1 Mill CottageCackle StreetBredeEast Sussex TN3 I 6EATel: 01424 882192Mobile: 07941 013411E: [email protected]

Equipment required: a screen (can supply own stand)Fee: £100Expenses: 20p per mileArea: Almost anywherePreferred Times: AnytimeSome talks are delivered wholly or partially in costume so somewhere to change.All presentations approx. 45 minutes

John (Mad Jack) Fuller the life of the eccentric Georgian squire Pitt the Younger and the Martello Towers Rudyard Kipling – His Life and Verse History in Comic Verse 1066 to Internet Grey Owl – The Hastings Indian the remarkable story of Archie

Belaney, born in Hastings and who found fame in Canada in the 1930s

Battle Abbey its history to the present day Bodiam Castle – its history to the present day Baird – the pioneer of television Love Poems What is Christmas? An exploration of Christmas folklore

Dr Ann KneifHilton

Equipment required: supplies own equipment for a PowerPoint presentation

Leeds Castle: Described by Lord Conway as the loveliest castle in the world, learn something about the castle and its past owners




http://www.stevehookins.co.uk/



Norwood Lane MeophamKent DA13 0YET: 01474 812171E: [email protected]: www.kneif.info/Ann/

Availability: Any timeFees : Negotiable but usually £70 to £75 inclusive of travel in north/central Kent, otherwise negotiableArea (will travel to): North Kent, Medway and beyond

Women Wartime Workers in the Munitions Industry: Directed to work during the Second World War, many young women were sent to the munitions factories

The Bevin Boys: Directed to the mines during the Second World War, find out what fate awaited the young men who were sent down the pits

Lola Montez, a 19th Century Adventuress: A feisty courtesan and actress, who in her short life caused many scandals.

The Italian Influence on the Gardens of Kent: Since the renaissance the Italian influence on gardens has been enormous. A look at some of Kent’s gardens.

The Hall Houses of Southfleet: There are nine hall houses in Southfleet, dating from the 14th until the 16th century. Find out about the original layout and how they have been modified over the years.

The History of the Kentish Seaside Resorts until the First World War: The development of the seaside resorts, the means of travel, accommodation, bathing and beach occupations as well as other entertainment available to the visitor.

The Women’s Land Army: A look at the life of those working in the Women’s Land Army in WWII: the jobs they were expected to do and their own thoughts on their work and recreation

Capt. Brian Laverick-Smith, BA Hovercraft pilotMalt House Cottage,Mongeham Foad,Great Mongeham, Deal, Kent CT14 9LPTel 01304 372920Mobile 07710 561075E: [email protected]

Equipment required: NoneFee £50Expenses 25p per mileArea: AnywherePreferred times: any time between Oct -March incl.

Talks illustrated with stills and video clips

“Thirty years of Bovver on the Hover” A rather tongue in cheek description of my life in Hovercraft set mainly against the background of the SRN4 ‘s history in Dover from its start in 1968 til its demise in 2000, the people I have met and the experiences and incidences that have occurred with an endeavour to err away from the serious to the more lighter side of things. (1 hour)

“ The History and Development of Hovercraft” How the principle of Air cushion vehicles were developed. Christopher Cockerell’s experiments and how they progressed to the present day through the many forms of craft involved. (Time and content varied to suit audience.)

“Mountain Mentality” Personal experiences of climbing ,starting with one particular mountain [The Matterhorn] and explaining why it holds such a prominent part in my memory, and how it



http://www.kneif.info/Ann/




lead to a challenge to climb high on all seven continents. Incorporating the psychology in the approach to climbing with its inherent dangers when mixed with the challenges of altitude. (1 Hour)

Allan Ledger45 Shipton RoadAscott under WychwoodOX7 6AGTel: 01993 832720E: [email protected]

Equipment required: screen, projector and laptop, extension lead for PowerPoint presentationFee: £75Expenses: petrolAvailability: Afternoons preferable

The Revd Edward Nares and Lady Charlotte Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough’s daughter, and their love affair and life at Biddenden 1797-1802.

Living in Turkey and aspects of modern day Turkey Recollections of a boy chorister of St George’s Chapel, Windsor,

of Her Majesty’s Coronation, the RAF Memorial at Runnymede dedicated by Her Majesty in 1953, and Sir Winston Churchill’s Garter Service in 1954.

Publication: A Moment in Time, the Cotswold lives of John and Tom Keble. Oxford college in memory of John.Published 2017, Umbria Press of London, foreword by Canon Martin Poll, HM domestic chaplain at Windsor Castle. Cover by Cotswold artist Jo Trotter.

Rod LeGear MIFA7 Dove CloseKingsnorthAshfordKent TN23 3NUTel: 01233 501191E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Talks are PowerPoint presentations.Will bring own projector and laptop but will need a table for these, a screen, and extension lead.Fee: £50Expenses: Usually NoneArea: KentPreferred times: Anytime

Underground Kent History from the Air The Story of Chislehurst caves Chalk Mining in Kent The Deneholes of S E England The Work of the Kent Underground Research Group Underground Thanet

Doug Lindsay36 Leslie CrescentSt MichaelsTenterden TN30 6BXTel: 01580 765356Mobile: 07774 720861E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Screen, projector and stand required but can be supplied if necessaryFee: Donation Kent & East Sussex Railway, Colonel Stephens Railway MuseumExpenses: Basic fuelArea: Kent, East Sussex LondonPreferred times: Evening meetings, daytimes sometimes possible

The Kent & East Sussex Railway – Then and Now – A look at the history and development of railways in the Weald of Kent, including why it was built, along with a look at other projected lines in the area, it’s heyday up till closure in 1954 and it’s development as a tourist attraction since preservation since 1961.

Colonel Stephens, The Father of Light Railways – A look at the fourteen railways that Col. Stephens built, ran or superintended throughout the country, four of which were local lines to Kent and Sussex.

Andrew Linklater Church archaeology







See Canterbury Archaeological Trust aboveWilf Lower9 WoodcutPenenden HeathMaidstoneKent ME14 2EQTel: 01622 675076Mobile 07801 552866E: [email protected]@btinternet.com

Equipment Required: Small tableSupplies own laptop, projector, screen (if not available at venue), sound equipment (principally for video and film clips – also with microphone if required and not available at the venue). Can also provide an HTMI or VGA feed to TV monitor screen(s)All equipment is PAT safety certified and speaker holds relevant Public Liability InsuranceFee: £70Expenses: Inclusive within 20 miles of Maidstone. For venues outside this area there is an excess mileage charge individually calculated on AA ‘Routefinder’ distances at 45p per mileAvailability: Weekdays (including Saturdays) morning, afternoon, or eveningArea: No limit

Lost Empires – the Last Days of Music Hall and Variety * From pubs to palaces, music hall was the only source of popular entertainment but radio, and then television proved too much and it died, although variety struggled on and the traditions survive. A light-hearted look at the theatres and the performers from Marie Lloyd to Max Miller, Gracie fields to Ken Dodd, and the very British ‘French Revues’ of the fifties. All from an unusual and unique perspective.

Behind The Scenes Of Television’s Golden Years * Comedy with Morecambe and Wise and the Two Ronnies, sitcoms such as Till Death Do Us Part and the Good Life, dramas like the Forsyte Saga, Cathy Come Home and Pennies from Heaven, not forgetting music from Top of the Pops to the Last night of the Proms. How these and other well-remembered programmes were made and the ‘characters’ involved was often astounding and hilarious. Never has ‘you wouldn’t believe it’ been more appropriate!

Life upon the Wicked Stage * Starring on television, or acclaimed at the National Theatre might seem ‘glamorous’ but reality can be very different. How the famous (and not so famous!) became entertainers, and their life behind the make-up is revealed in this fascinating and light-hearted insight into a world where happiness despair sit uneasily side by side

Don’t Sneeze at the Microphone * A century ago, popular entertainment meant a night out at the music hall, but then came radio and later, television, and popular entertainment changed forever. For some it was the road to fortune, for others a disaster. A light-hearted romp through entertainment’s journey from stage to television that will bring back many fond memories

Under Billowing Sails – the Romance and Reality of Tallships For over 5,000 years, sailing ships carried people and cargoes, culminating in the ‘clippers’ racing across the world’s oceans. But steam power heralded their demise and by the fifties they had all but disappeared. But some survived and have led a revival of the magnificent vessels that embraces their rich






heritage. The development of these tough ships and crews, and the creation of modern day replicas are described, together with their astounding contribution to the English language.

Broadly Speaking For many, a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads has been their first and sometimes, only link with Britain’s maritime traditions. But few are aware of the background to those holidays – how they began and the people who created them. This light-hearted talk reveals all you probably never wanted to know about boating hoidays – the inside story of the boat holiday business and the customers – and what each think about the other!

Medway Tales – from the Dividing River Ordinary people doing extraordinary things! With a long maritime heritage it’s not surprising the Medway has witnessed some remarkable achievements, such as salvaging a 100-year-old yacht that was the centre of a Royal scandal, a barge that led to the creation of Britain’s largest cargo fleet. And unique people, Coastguards who operate 20 miles inland, and an octogenarian diver, plus many more…. (This talk is based on Wilf’s book ‘Medway Tales’ – signed copies available at reduced price)

* indicates talk includes film and video clipsTalks are about 50/55 minutes duration with opportunity for questions.

Dr Ben MarshSchool of HistoryRutherford CollegeUniversity of Kent, CT2 7NXTel: 01227 823710E: [email protected]: https://www.kent.ac.uk/history/staff/index.html

Equipment required: projector and screen if possibleFee &/or expenses: travel expensesArea/Distance prepared to travel: KentPreferred times: evenings (please liaise by E:)

Colonial American history, American slavery, The American Revolution, The history of silk, Others by arrangement

Dr Tim Mason42 South StreetTitchfieldFAREHAM,PO14 4DJ, HantsTel: 01329 844 426

Equipment required: screenFee: £50Area/Distance prepared to travel: Anywhere in Kent

Louis Pasteur and the Rabies Virus: At the heart of this lecture is the story of Pasteur from his childhood days when rabid wolves attacked villagers where he lived to his death as a great hero of French science. The story of rabies though goes back many centuries and we have records of some gruesome but effective treatment for bites from rabid animals. Pasteur was


https://www.kent.ac.uk/history/staff/index.html




E: [email protected] and Pestilence – Past and Present Lecturer (retired) University of Portsmouth

the first to come up with a less traumatic response to the disease, but was it effective? Today rabies has not gone away, but where is it? This lecture tells the story of the retreat of the virus to the east of the European continent and then the dramatic wave of rabid animals which swept back across the continent in the second half of the twentieth century. We’ve driven it back, but the disease certainly hasn’t gone away!

Edward Jenner and the Smallpox Virus: “The smallpox has gone out of late, perhaps it may be followed by the great”, so wrote Byron in the early 19th century. The great pox, syphilis, has sadly not followed the disappearance of smallpox, but smallpox has been virtually eliminated. This lecture follows the history of the disease from earliest records in the times of the Pharaoh Ramses V to its eradication in the twentieth century. The story takes in the life and times of Edward Jenner, the star of the story, who developed the first vaccine and who envisaged the demise of the disease more than 150 years before it actually occurred. But it hasn’t gone completely.

The Plague: 2,000BC to 2,000AD Plague! The very word is inclined to strike fear into the heart, but what is it, where did it come from and is it still about? This talk covers the history of plague from the Bronze Age, through the mass deaths of medieval times to the atrocities of its use in germ warfare in the twentieth century. The story encompasses everything from the science and history through to morality.

The Polio Story: From the mid 18th century to the mid 20th century Poliomyelitis went from a “rare disease not noted by medical writers” to one which struck fear into the hearts of the parents of most children. Within the next 50 years it came into the sights of those anticipating making the disease the second only after smallpox to be eliminated from the world. Quite a transition and the telling of the story of that transition gives insight into any number of interesting concepts in the transmission and control of infectious diseases.

Dr Marc Morris51 Broadfield RoadFolkestone

Equipment required: Screen and projector. Can provide own laptop if neededFee: Negotiable depending on distance and time of

Castles King John Edward I




Kent CT20 2JS0776 206 1564E: [email protected]

dayExpenses: train fare or petrolArea/Distance prepared to travel: Anywhere in KentPreferred times: any time

The Norman Conquest

Mrs Pat Mortlock6 Keswick CloseTonbridgeKent TN9 1LPTel: 01732 358786E: [email protected]

No equipment required but would appreciate a screen or plain wallFee: DonationsIghtham Mote talks to Ightham Mote Appeal Fund (in line with National Trust guidelines); Prevention and Cure talk to the League of Friends of Tonbridge Cottage Hospital; and for all other talks either the Weald Hospice or Tonbridge Cottage HospitalExpenses: Petrol onlyArea: Most of KentPreferred time: daytime: No dark night driving

A Country House Christmas Prevention and Cure – health and hospital provision 1870 – to

Circa 1939 Elizabeth 1: Queen or Goddess? Ightham Mote: History and Conservation Intrigue, Ambition and Respectability – the owners of Ightham

Mote 1470s to 1640 Henry VIII: Scholar, Husband and Monarch Tonbridge Castle: History and Conservation: from the Conquest

to the Present Day The 1851 Census: portrait of a Market Town Tonbridge: The Growth of a Market Town All talks last some 45 – 50 minutes A Country Christmas The King’s Supporters: Ladies of the early Tudor court

Mrs Toni Mount, MA40 Kitchener AvenueGravesendKent DAI2 5HZTel: 01474 355676E: [email protected]

Can provide all my own equipment however if a screen/laptop/data projector were available this would be excellentFee: £90Expenses: 25p per milePreferred times: Available most evenings, weekends and day times, but day-times I use public transport so may need collecting from a nearby station if convenient.I can deliver talks and presentations from a 20 minute chat to a full day school, but normally a talk will be approx. 1 hour, including time for questions.I can advise and assist in setting up and organising larger events; providing extra characters and recommending additional speakers etc.

The Medieval Housewife (my speciality and the subject of my book)

The Medieval Christmas The Mysteries of Medieval Medicine The Apothecary's Garden Medieval London Richard III a Man of Controversy Restoration London/Medway 17th Century Men of Science They Dared to be Doctors! – the first women doctors of the 19th

century Murder most Foul – Victorian Crime and Policing Mrs Beeton’s Summer Picnics Charles Darwin Ration-Book BritainI give fewer talks. I'm now just about a full time author of both factual books for Amberley and Pen & Sword, as well as writing whodunit medieval and Victorian novels as a member of the Crime


http://www.tonimount.co.uk/





Writers Association. I shall be running a workshop at the forthcoming Hastings Literary Festival. Author talks are available, if interested.

Bob OgleyFrog-lets PublicationsBrasted ChartWesterhamKent TNI6 1LYTel: 01959 562972Fax: 01959 565365E: [email protected] www.frogletspublications.co.uk

Equipment required: Small table requiredFee: £55 including travel expensesArea: Kent, and border counties of Surrey, Sussex and Essex.Preferred times: Afternoon or evening depending on likely size of audience

The Wind of Change Weather in Kent Biggin on the Bump (Biggin Hill Aerodrome) Doodlebugs and Rockets The Spirit of Invicta Kent 1800 to 1899 My Life as a Newspaper Reporter

Keith ParfittSee Canterbury Archaeological Trust above

Dover’s Archaeology The Ringlemere Cup Buckland Anglo Saxon Cemetery Field Archaeology in Kent

Professor E (Ted) A Parker75 Whitstable RoadCanterburyKent CT2 8EATel: 01227 760619 E: [email protected]

Equipment required: PowerPoint projector, computer and screenFee: £60 plus travel expenses as incurred, negotiable for small societiesArea: KentPreferred time: Anytime by arrangement

Antique Clocks – A History of English Clockmaking

Brig. (Ret) B A H Parritt CBELittle ChilmingtonChilmington Green RoadGreat ChartAshfordKent TN23 3DNTel: 01233 621845E: [email protected]

Equipment required: laptop with USB connection, data projector, screen.Fee £55Expenses: car mileageArea: Kent or 60 miles from Ashford, KentPreferred time: anytime

The forgotten War You must be Joking 2013 is the 60th anniversary of cease fire in Korea The Korean War – A Personal Experience

Dr Juliette PattinsonSchool of HistoryRutherford CollegeUniversity of KentCT2 7NXTel: 01227 824533E: [email protected]

Equipment required: projector and screen if possibleFee &/or expenses: negotiable

100+ years of the FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) Occupation of France: resistance, collaboration and liberation SOE (Male and Female British Secret agents in Occupied France

in the Second World War) Women and War (WW2 especially – Britain, but also France and

Germany) Home Front (The Blitz, Propaganda, women, civilian men,





http://www.frogletspublications.co.uk/




W: https://www.kent.ac.uk/history/staff/profiles/pattinson.html

evacuation) Men in Reserved Occupations in Britain in the Second World

War

Richard Pitcairn-Knowles46 Greenhill RoadOtfordSevenoaksKent TN14 5RSTel: 01959 523154E: [email protected]

Equipment required: As this is a slide lecture, it is best if society provides equipment as they know their venue but I am happy to bring projector, stand and small screenFee: £30Expenses: 25p per mileAvailability: Any timeAreas: Anywhere

Andrew Pitcairn-Knowles (1871-1956) – his life and work Photojournalist active 1895 – 1912

Anthony Poulton-Smith31 JuniperAmingtonTamworthStaffordshire B77 4NDTel: 07562 653565E: [email protected]

Equipment required: noneFee: £85 including expenses (negotiation possible)Availability: September to end of AprilPreferred times: Any

Origins of place names Origins of pub names Ancient trackways Origins of street names Not the normal paranormal When nature calls

Hubert Pragnell MA Ph.D12 Meadow RoadCanterburyKent CT2 8EUTel: 01227 452298E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Laptop with USB and projector and screen but very happy with blank wall. I arrive with memory stick all set to goFee: £60 plus travel, or by negotiation.Area: Kent, East Sussex and south east London.Preferred time: any.

British Cathedral and Church Architecture The development of the English Country House Industrial Architecture The buildings of Sir Christopher Wren St Paul’s Cathedral Westminster Abbey Royal buildings in London The Gothick Revival Destruction and Reconstruction: The City of London before and

after the Blitz The rise of suburbia The romance of the Railway Station Gothic Cathedrals in France and Germany The Florentine Renaissance Baroque Architecture in Rome Dutch Painting in the 17th Century Johannes Vermeer of Delft



http://www.poultonsmith.co.uk/



https://www.kent.ac.uk/history/staff/profiles/pattinson.html

https://www.kent.ac.uk/history/staff/profiles/pattinson.html



Venice through the eyes of Caneletto British 18th Century Society Portraiture The British Watercolour School The paintings of Constable and Turner The depiction of London in paintings and drawings From Wooden Wall to Dreadnought The Royal Navy 1800 to

1945Prof. Stephen PrickettMA, PhD, FAHA, FEAVenture House61 The High StreetCharingKent TN27 0LSTel: 01233 714071E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Requires Laptop with USB + projector & Screen.Fee: £60Expenses: Actual car travelPreferred Area: Anywhere in S.E. EnglandPreferred times: Any

The Making of the King James Bible. Biblical Illustration from Rembrandt to Tiepolo. Victorian Fantasy Writers and Illustrators. Children’s Book Illustration in the Early Twentieth Century. Antique Maps and Marginal Illustrations. Riot, Robbery, and Bloody Murder: Shakespeare and Marlowe in

Kent. Picturing Jerusalem: Fiction, Fantasy and Fanaticism.

Laura Probert28 Salisbury AvenueRamsgateKent CT11 7LHTel: 01843 599229E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Will bring slides on a memory stick so will need compatible laptop or I-pad, projector etc.Fee £30Expenses – train fare plus taxi to venue from station if requiredArea: anywhere in East Kent I can get to by train from RamsgatePreferred time: afternoons, evenings possible nearer Thanet if I can get home!

Edwardian Thanet Dame Janet Stancomb-Wills, Ramsgate’s generous benefactor Temperance in Kent Women’s suffrage in East Kent Life in Ramsgate in 1914 and how it changed when WW1

started in August 1914. Ramsgate and Conflans Sainte Honorine – twin towns with a

proud heritage. What can happen when you start to research names on a local

war memorialDr John W A Reuther33 Prospect WayBrabourne LeesKent TN25 6RLTel: 01303 812544E: [email protected]

Equipment required: screen occasionallyFee: £75Expenses: £20 if over 15 miles from AshfordArea: Kent and part SussexAvailability: most timesPreferred times: most times

Origin and History of Nursery Rhymes Bugs, Plagues and Pestilence: the history of infectious diseases

and epidemics. (This covers the rise of the great historic epidemics where they came from, and how they were controlled)

London City Livery. There are 108 Livery Companies associated with the City, many dating back to the middle ages. The talk describes what they were and their current involvement in the life of the City of London.

The Deaths and Funerals of the Tudors and Stuarts The Deaths and Funerals of the Hanovers The Rediscovery of Roman London. A brief talk on various







archaeological digs in the City of London The Battle of Waterloo. What really happened The Enigma that was Lord Kitchener A Very Victorian Hero: Lord Roberts Death of Lord Nelson, his funeral and the bits in between Medicine in the Napoleonic War

Dr Andrew RichardsonSee Canterbury Archaeological Trust above

Anglo-Saxon Kent Small finds and metal-detecting Heritage Crime

Miss Gillian Rickard BA Dip Loc HistE: [email protected]: www.kentgen.com

Equipment required: Slide Projector, carousel, stand and screen required, lectern and lightappreciated also table for displaysFee: £65Expenses: petrol or train fareArea: East, Mid and South KentPreferred time: EveningsAll talks last 45 minutes – 1 hour. Longer talks or half day seminars can be arranged

Using Poor Law Settlement Records to trace Family History Emigration from Kent in the 19th Century Lives of Vagrants, Gypsies and Travellers in Kent Records of Vagrant, Gypsies, Travellers and Strangers in Kent Beginning your Family History Poor Law Records Goods and Chattels – probate inventories

Andrew RobertshawBay Leaf Cottage9 Ashford RoadSheldwichFavershamKent ME13 0DLTel: 07768 065054E: [email protected]: www.andyrobertshaw.com

Equipment required: uses a laptop & PowerPoint with screenFee: £150Expenses: fuelArea: Kent, Sussex, Surrey, EssexPreferred times: anyAvailability: most times

Just a selection of talks that can be adapted or supplemented for a wide of audiences. Andy is happy to prepare talks ‘to order’ if given a little time.

Filming ‘War Horse’ the movie – Andy was historical advisor for the film and appears on screen

Bombs, Bullets, and Bayonets: the Weapons of Trench Warfare – Illustrated with all the ‘inert’ weapons in question *

Digging the Trenches: thje archaeology of the Western Front – based on 27 archaeological projects, which feature in the television series ‘Finding the Fallen’ and ‘Trench Detectives’ *

The Platoon: the life of Joseph Johns Steward on the Western Front, 1916-19 – Based on an unpublished memoir and is a guide to researching a Great War ancestor *

The Great War in Colour: the real experience of Trench Warfare Ghosts on the Somme: Filmong and photographyt of the battle

June-July 1916 – as featured on the ITV documentary ‘The Somme the real story’ for which Andy was lead consultant *

WAACs and FANYS: The experience of women on the war front in the Great War


http://www.andyrobertshaw.com/


http://www.kentgen.com/




Mud, Blood, and Bandages: The RAMC in the Great War Feeding Tommy: Rations and Cooking on the Western Front * Not just a White War: The Great War and the Empire Unexpected Victory, 1918 and the 100 Days* All link to one of Andy’s books

Mrs Bronwen M SadlerRushden House51 Station RoadHeadcornKent TN27 9SBTel: 01622 892175E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Requires screen, can supply PowerPoint projector if one not availableFee: £60Area: KentPreferred times: Any

India before the Raj – from Indus Civilisation circa 2800bc Mohenjo Daro and Harappa taking in Chola and Maurya Dynasty Kings through the Delhi Sultanate (Tamurlaine) then on to the Emperors and closes with Shah Jehan circa 1649ad. Fully illustrated.

India before and including the British Raj up to Independence in 1947. Starts with Aurangzeb son of Shah Jehan and continues through the Moguls and with the start of the British East India Company, Clive and Plassey 1757, the Indian Mutiny, through to Independence.

Battle of Trafalgar – thoroughly researched and quite bloody! Fully illustrated. Lasts about one hour.

The Great Flood of 31 January/1 February 1953 (this lasts approximately one hour and deals with the entire flood disaster of which the lecturer is a survivor) . Fully illustrated.

Gramp’s War – giving the causes of the Great War in historical detail and goes on to cite some of the worst battles including the Second Ypres where, Gramp, my maternal grandfather was gassed and seriously wounded but lived to be 103! It also touches on the aftermath of the ‘war to end all wars’ and how it led inexorably to WWII.

The In-Between Years – the Lost Peace: A sequel to Gramp’s War and tells the story of the 21 years between the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918 to the beginning of the Second World War on 3 September 1939. More lighthearted and looks at the fashions, music, dances and crazes of those years as well as the books and plays written during that time. I shall keep the political situation to a minimum but there will be mention of it. Apart from Mussolini seizing power in Italy in 1922 and Hitler and his Nazis being voted into power in 1932 and his becoming Chancellor in 1933 there will be mention of





the Spanish Civil War and Japan’s invasion of China but there will also be the fear of Soviet Russia displayed by the aristocracy throughout Europe including Britain which led to a policy of appeasement where Germany was concerned.

How Britain Led The World In the Abolition of Slavery – William Wilberforce. This will be quite detailed and shows how William Wilberforce and a group consisting of philanthropists and others worked through Parliament to outlaw slavery. It will take in how Britain bought slaves to work in the sugar plantations in the West Indies and how they were treated both on the slave ships and on the plantations. There is a modern fallacy that slavery ended with the American Civil War 1861/65 – it was abolished by Britain nearly 60 years earlier

Mary Smith, MA6 The LandwayBearstedMaidstoneKent ME14 4BD01622 7360370793 171 8532E: [email protected]

Equipment required: A screen or large blank walllFee: on requestExpenses: noneArea: anywhere in KentPreferred times: anyAvailability: any time

A Schoolgirl’s War – an illustrated talk on school life in Kent during WWII, using recently discovered contemporary paintings

Christopher Sparey-Green, BA MIFA3 BrettinghurstAvon SquareOld Kent RoadLondon SE1 5EXTel : 0207 237 0435 (Home)E: [email protected]

Equipment required: PowerPoint projector and screen.Fee £60Expenses: return rail fareArea: Kent and LondonPreferred times: most timesAvailability: any time

The following are properly subject areas rather than actual titles which can be adjusted to meet particular requirements.Mostly: Late Iron age, Roman, Early post-Roman Kiln to Kitchen – pottery production, food supply & diet in

Roman period Roman Canterbuty in context – theatres, defences, original

topography of city Origins of Christianity – archaeology of Religion in Roman

Britain to time of Augustine From Constantine to Augustine Caesar’s Campaign in Britain & Gaul – with special reference to

Kent & SE Britain Bigbury Camp, Canterbury – in context of transition from Iron

Age to Roman period in Kent Roman Costal defences of Britain – ports and forts




And more general topica of archaeology of South Britain, Roman Empire, its ecomony & military sites

Dr Jean StirkShode HouseTrycewell LaneIghthamKent TN15 9HNTel: 01732 884316E: [email protected]

Equipment required: if available data projector & screen (or can borrow)Fee: £50 – £60 unless very small groupExpenses: petrol cost only for longer distancesArea: Kent, East Surrey,Preferred times: Day or eveningAvailability: general

Was your Ancestor a Paper Maker? Similar to History of Papermaking, but with more emphasis on the paper makers

History of Papermaking in Kent (can be any county) Creep, Pull & Push/Workers on the Move. What causede

peopleto move about the country, how they moved, patterns of movement, etc.

Invitation to a Manorial Court. Approx 35 mins explanation of how the manorial court functioned and why. Plus 20 mins playlet of a manorial court session (audience participation – very popular)

Invitation to a Vestry Meeting (same basis as Manorial Court includes 20 minutes role playing vestry meeting – also popular)

Seeking that Elusive Ancestor through his Work: examples of a range of records relating to occupations, training, employers, licensing, trade unions, local history, etc.

Ancestors in the Local Community. Finding family members through ancestors’ local activities – e.g. bell ringing, parish officer, catching vermin, workhouse, lay preacher

Researching the History of a House. How to start, local histories, rate books, maps & plans, etc.




Frank Turner Glendale HouseMarling CrossGravesendKent DA12 5UETel: 01474 321534Mobile: 07484 647471E: [email protected] [email protected]

Equipment required: Table on which to stand modelsFee: £70 (up to 15 mile radius of Gravesend)Expenses: additional travel expenses if over 15 miles from GravesendArea: AnyPreferred time: Anytime

The Maunsell Sea Forts of the Thames Estuary The Sealand Story The Radio Pirates The Secret Wartime Proposals of Guy Maunsell Gravesend Industry during WW2 Cooling Secret Radio Station The Wreck of the U S Richard Montgomery Chatham built Submarines German U-Boat construction and operations The Dam Buster Bomb trials at Reculver Reinforces Concrete Dry Docks at Gravesend during WW2 The Normandy Bombardment Tower Gravesend Airport The Story of Essex Aero Limited Lady Stardust II VI and V2 Rockets during WW2 German Aircraft during WW2 Reinforced Concrete Bunkers The history of the W T Henley Telegraph Co during WW2

Colin Varrall133 Church PathDealKent, CT14 9UDMobile: 07545 586887E: [email protected]

Equipment required: I am able to provide a projector, stand and screen for presentations and talksFee: Donations are accepted as payment for talks/presentationsExpenses: noneArea: anywhere in KentPreferred time: weekdays or weekends depending on my work schedule. Mornings, afternoons and evenings are acceptable.

Heritage of the Kent Coalfield Heritage of Tilmanstone Colliery and Elvington mining

community Claykickers and mining during the Great War 1914 – 1918 Heritage of Walmer, North Deal, and Kingsdown lifeboat

stations Heritage of the East Kent Railway







Ms Nicola Waddington19 Albert RoadCanterburyKent, CT1 1UJTel: 01227 470749Mobile: 07906 845872E: [email protected]

Equipment required: Screen or a blank wall for projector, access to a power socket. Can provide own projector and laptop.Fee: £60Expenses 45p per mile once over 20 miles from CanterburyArea: KentAvailability: Wednesday to FridayPreferred times: Evenings

Using Archives for local history research.(this lecture is delivered by a qualified archivist and describes historical records that are useful for local history research. The talk is illustrated with examples of documents and provides advice on how to use archive records and where to find them.

A half day masterclass in using archives for local history research – could be developed on request. Fee negotiable.

Dr Jake WeekesSee Canterbury Archaeological Trust above

Roman archaeology Roman cemeteries in Kent

Mrs Cressida Williams, MA, RMARACanterbury Cathedral ArchivesThe Precincts,Canterbury CT 1 2EHTel: 01227-865330E: Cressida.williams@canterbury-cathedral.orgwww.canterbury-cathedral.org

Equipment Required: laptop, data-projector and screen (can bring own if required)Fees: Please enquireExpenses: Covered in feeArea: (will travel to) KentAvailability: anytimePreferred Times daytime or evening

The collections of the Cathedral Archives and Library (with focus if required on location of talk)

Illuminated manuscripts The importance of our written heritage Other topics by prior arrangement

Vince Williams34 Cheriton Court Road FolkestoneKent, CT20 3JPEmail: [email protected]: 07740699202

Equipment required:Fee: £50 plus travellingExpenses: see aboveArea: Shepway and East Kent area.

All the talks can be adjusted to accommodate timings but unedited run to about 1 hour each

Cheriton – A Brief History (An overview of the history of the village of Cheriton, near Folkestone)

Another Look at Cheriton (A further talk on the village of Cheriton near Folkestone)

St Martin's Church, Cheriton – An Illustrated History ( The history of the oldest church in Folkestone)

Fictional Folkestone (An illustrated talk on the writers that have written about Folkestone and the films made in the town)

So You Think You Know Folkestone? (A fun interactive talk / quiz about Folkestone's quirkier history)

Folkestone's Churches (A series of 3 talks on all of Folkestone's historic churches throughout the years)

The Life & Times Of Dr Syn (An Illustrated talk on all the books, films, TV and other media based on Russell Thorndike's fictional smuggler)

The History of Santa Claus and other Christmas traditions Shorncliffe Camp – An Illustrated History The Pleasure Gardens Theatre, Folkestone – From Exhibition

Hall to Police Station



http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/





Andrew Wood33 ManorfieldAshfordKent TN23 5YWTel: 01233 668427Email: [email protected]

Equipment required: Has own equipment, but projector screen would be useful if societies have their own.Fee: NoneExpenses: £20 – £40 depending on travelling distanceArea: Canterbury, Ashford, Maidstone, Medway

Old Kent Windmills: a look at some fine old mills that have long since disappeared from the Kentish landscape, plus a few preserved mills.Presentation canbe tailored to local areas of Kent



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