Talk: The English Country House: Bedrooms, Banquets and Balls  by John Vigar John Vigar MA,FSA Scot FRSA. John has been a professional historian and speaker for over 40 years, visiting diverse groups across the UK and beyond. For much of that time he also taught at the University of Kent as well as for the […]

Talk: The Kilsby Tunnel Murder Mystery  by Paul Waddoups Kilsby Tunnel, in Northamptonshire, part of the London to Birmingham Railway took 1,250 navvies to build and many lost their lives when the tunnel collapsed during the build in 1830-32.  However these were not the only loss......

  The speaker is Paul Martin Remfrey.  The title of his talk is - What are Castles? Paul has been researching medieval history, genealogy and architecture for over 30 years. He shares his passion for Castles and who lives in them in this talk.

Talk: Heroes & Ghosts – how shame and scandal affect genealogical research Michael H Hallett is the grandson of Wing Commander Harold Blackburn MC AFC, a pioneering aviator before World War I and war hero. He is a generational trauma specialist who is fascinated by how trauma obscures the genealogical record while that same record […]

Talk:Coventry's Experience of the Civil Wars in the 17th Century.   by Stewart Ferguson Stewart Fergusson read history at Cambridge and then spent six years teaching and researching early modern history at McMaster University in Ontario, Cambridge and Oxford University. In 1977 he moved to Coventry to set up and manage local housing associations but continued […]

AGM and: Talk: The Power of 3: The Story of Thomas Fowler. 1777-1843 by Pamela Vass ‘Wooden Computer Invented in North Devon.' A startling headline for a local paper. It continued, ‘It is fascinating … to know that one of the original pioneers of the computer was a self taught bookseller and printer … who was […]

Talk: A WW1 Nurse  by Chris Hewis Chris is telling the story of Jean Bemrose MM SRN, a nurse on the front line during the First World War. Jean was awarded the Military Medal for her gallantry and devotion to duty during a major air raid on Etaples Hospital. This is a unique insight into […]

Christmas Social Please note that this meeting will be held on Monday 1st December. Talk: The Life and Legacy of John Gulson: City Father by Susan Lomas. Sue is telling us of John Gulson's impact on Victorian Coventry. It is a brief look at the many aspects of Victorian Life that John Gulson took an […]

Talk: The real Wolf Hall story Speaker: Ian Porter PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE! Our speaker Ian Porter starts his talk on the Real Wolf Hall with an overview of Henry's life.  We go on to consider why he behaved so badly in his later years, putting forward a medical explanation. Ian gives a […]

Talk: Adding Social History Speaker: Dr Penny Walters Social history views history from what could be termed the ‘bottom up,’ not ‘top down.’ Looking through the lens of the past will enhance your understanding of how people lived, worked and played in their daily lives. Penny’s talk will help you insert your ancestor or relative […]

Talk: The Silk Route Speaker: Roger Butler This colourfull talk tells the story of a journey following the ancient Silk Route through Central Asia with an extraordinary range of landscapes and cultures. Travelling by bus, truck and train the journey passes through the Himalayan chain and crosses Tibet to the fabled city of Lhasa. Wild […]

Talk: Tithe Maps and Documents Speaker: Anne Langley Anne is both a member of Coventry Family History Society and also Stretton on Dunsmore Family History Society. We have had the pleasure of her talks and her knowledge a few times in the past, and this talk should be just as interesting as the previous. There […]