2022-23 Winter Programme

Martin Robins, who was employed in the Dowty Group Finance Office in the 1970s, has written a booklet entitled Dowty Days Remembered. As well as his own memories of working for the company, he delves deep into the ways of Sir George and his successor, Sir Robert Hunt. Adrian Buckmaster will talk specifically about Dowty Meco (known locally in Worcester as “The Meco”) which was sold as part of the Dowty Group Mining Division to a management buyout led by him in 1989.

The late great Philip Barker was one of the true founders of modern British archaeology, a real “dirt archaeologist”, and not afraid to break new ground with his controversial interpretations of excavated evidence acquired in often difficult circumstances. Work at Kings School, the site of Worcester Castle, has given an unparalleled opportunity to confirm some of his theories and expand on Barker’s seminal 1960s publication “The Origins of Worcester”

Max’s talk follows the story of Worcestershire’s own famous car company from its genesis in a Herefordshire parsonage through the pioneering years of early motor sport to its current status as a purveyor of automotive nostalgia. With many illustrations he will trace the role of four generations of the Morgan family and the fluctuating fortunes of the small Malvern factory.

Linda is researching Worcester’s cinemas and she’ll be telling us all about the many fascinating secrets she’s uncovered about ‘going to the pictures’ in our lovely city. Plus, she’s really keen to hear from you, too! Do you have memories of going to the cinema in Worcester? Or perhaps you or someone you know worked there? There’ll be an opportunity to share your reminisces.

This well illustrated talk will present a fascinating history of the markers we drive past without noticing.

Local railway enthusiast Glen Beadon has, with his co-author Roger Darsley, recently published the full and previously undocumented history of the railways of this Caribbean island, both common carrier and industrial. Glen’s connection to Trinidad is closely related to Britain’s late Empire and the influence it once had in shaping the world we know today. Britain invented the steam locomotive, a key technology that would eventually find its way to every corner of the globe, including Trinidad. The railways were to play a significant part in the early development of the island but today, like the Empire, trains in Trinidad exist only in the annals of history.

The society currently has a number of proposed projects that our members can get involved with. Our digital manager Adam will provide a short introduction to each proposal followed by a brief look at “The world’s oldest industrial heritage in the UK”.

As we have had the pleasure of hearing Chris speak before, we know we are in for an informative and interesting talk. This new presentation is sure to be of great interest to members. If the RGS unavailable on this date the talk will be held on Zoom.

Join Robert Cole of the Letter Box Study Group for picture-led talk about the surprising variety of British-design roadside post boxes. Join a discussion about the historical, social, and practical aspects of the UK’s 115,500 red-breasted beauties.