Mark is a Professor of the History of Medicine at Oxford University and Co-Director of the Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities. He will be starting this as a new project and will be able to shed some light on a little known aspect of these almost forgotten but very important turning points of the […]
The talk will cover the history and some highlights of the college’s art collection, which includes pictures, tapestries, sculpture, silver, and ceramics, the ways in which it reflects the changing nature of the college community over the past 450 years, and its place in the life of the college now. The collection is scattered throughout the […]
Rosemary will give a talk on the history of botanical illustration and her long career in the university, starting in 1965. During this time she has travelled widely. Her work principally involves producing detailed line drawings to support monographic works, floras, scientific papers, D.Phil theses and some teaching. At present she is preparing 150 comprehensive plates […]
The perception of many is that Rotary is a lunch club for old men. Yes, you can find that style of club if you look hard, but increasingly Rotary is changing into a service organisation working for the good of the world. For example, the Rotary Club of Maidenhead Bridge, meet with their toddler children […]
The Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Mrs Marjorie Glasgow, represents The Monarch at official functions in Oxfordshire and has a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and 37 Deputy Lieutenants, all of whom support the Lord Lieutenant in the performance of her public duties. We are very privileged to have The Vice Lord- Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Mr Brian Buchan DL, coming […]
The Abingdon Ladies’ Choir has been in existence under the auspices of the Abingdon Music Centre for many years. The first meeting was in The Old Gaol before moving to the Abbey Baptist Church and more recently, after the challenge and social joy of Zoom sessions during the pandemic, meeting in the Church and then […]
Tea, coffee and chocolate play an important part in the modern British diet. Most people may not know that tea originated in China, coffee was allegedly discovered by a goat herder in Yemen, and chocolate plantations were cultivated in 400 BC by the Olmecs in South America. but did you know that these exotic beverages […]
RNLI lifeboat crews protect hundreds of communities around the UK and Ireland through their 24-hour search and rescue service. The 238 lifeboat stations of the RNLI create a ring of safety around the coasts of the UK and Ireland. Some have been housing lifeboats for decades, others are specially built to tackle the unique geography […]
What could possibly go wrong at a royal wedding? – well quite a lot actually. This talk explores 1,000 years of royal marriages, revealing the reluctant brides and bridegrooms, the disastrous unions, the scandals and the delightful attendants. Lots of pictures and lots of anecdotes and amusing stories. Catherine has published several books on family […]
This will be a talk exploring simple ways in which we can make our gardens sustainable and welcoming to wildlife, as well as being lovely places to enjoy and engage with nature. Charlotte is the Learning Manager at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre, and has over 10 years experience delivering environmental education in the outdoors […]
The Buscot and Coleshill Estate was largely taken on for the great Coleshill House, built in the 1650s it struck a new model in design, layout and craftsmanship that was to influence the English country houses for centuries. Sadly the house burned down during its restoration and before it was legally gifted to the National […]
With a wealth of innovations such as Christmas trees, cards and crackers, the Victorians shaped our festivities today. This entertaining talk describes how Santa Claus arrived, with his reindeer sleigh, the plight of the poor and the influence of Dickens, as well as exploring bygone customs such as Goose Clubs and the ‘Christmassing’ of London […]
