Tuesday April 9th 2024

Maiwand: The Battle and the Great Game
Mike Cooper
The Maiwand Lion in Forbury Gardens, Reading commemorates a battle fought in Afghanistan in 1880. The lion is posed snarling defiance to the north – towards Russia.

Mike Cooper’s talk looks at the Battle of Maiwand against the background of Anglo-Russian rivalry in Asia – The Great Game – and the history of the lion itself

Tuesday May 14th 2024

Polehampton School - Twyford’s new library
Andrew Cardy and James Fort
The Polehampton Charity is 300 years old. Edward Polehampton left his significant wealth to the village of Twyford, a real rags to riches story. The old Boys' School there was built with money from the Trust. One of the most significant historical buildings in Twyford it is now being converted to house Twyford’s new library

June 2024

Wargrave Village Festival
June 16th - Historic Wargrave Walk - from Mill Green starting at 2:30pm
June 25th - An Evening with Simon Williams - in the Woodclyffe Hall 7:30pm for 8:00pm
Details for both events will be found in the Village Festival programme and tickets will be available on Festival ticket sales day - April 20th

Wednesday July 10th 2024

Local History Visit - Pendon Museum and Dorchester Abbey

Details of our visit will be provided separately

Tuesday September 10th 2024

Cliveden: power politics and scandal
Peter Hague
Peter will tell us about the history of this famous property. He will outline the background to some of its owners and occupants, including the rich and powerful Astor family and dish the scandal of the Profumo Affair

Tuesday October 8th 2024

Memories of Wargrave
Maureen Prince
Maureen was born and grew up in the parish of Wargrave, attending the village school and her father, Alf Beckford was the village barber. Both were active with various village organisations – Alf as a parish councillor, Maureen being village librarian. One of the history society’s longest serving members, she will share with us memories of Wargrave people and events

Tuesday November 12th 2024

Hall Place to Berkshire College of Agriculture
Janet Robertson and Simon Polley
A manor has existed on the BCA site since circa 1100. Diving into the archives, Janet and Simon will share what they know of the family that lived there for almost 200 years, show us some of their archival photographs and tell us how the site’s rich agricultural history continues today