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Presentations for the remainder of 2023
June 28th
COVENTRY IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR by DAVID FRY
Although Coventry was a rapidly growing city before the war, it was the war effort that turbocharged its growth. There was an influx of women workers in the munitions factories that gave a special character to the town. The factories themselves changed almost overnight from making domestic products to churning out aeroplanes, military vehicles, tanks and not least of all, munitions by the ton. Much of the activity was captured on postcards to send to family and friends, some of which have survived to help illustrate this talk
August 23rd
MERRY ENGLAND’S FOLKLORE CALENDER by RICHARD CHURCHLEY
In this talk Richard takes the audience through the year from January to December discussing folk customs and performing excerpts from mummer’s plays and songs and tunes from around the country but with a particular emphasis on the west midlands.
October 25th
POWDER TREASON by GUARDEROBE
In 2023 it will be 418 years since the discovery of the great ’Powder Treason’ and it is still Guy Fawkes’ name that is primarily linked with this historic event which had aimed to blow King James1 and Parliament to smithereens. Guy was only one of a band of fourteen Catholic plotters lead by the charismatic Robert Catesby. But, how did the persecution of Catholics by the state lead this band to this desperate act and why did they believe it was aided by God?
November 29th
STORIES FROM THE AUCTION ROOM by STEVEN BRUCE
This is an entertaining hour’s talk about the business with many humorous tales and anecdotes about the characters involved, whom to trust and why – and who and what to avoid. I examine the costs of buying and selling at auction, how to choose the best auction house - and how to get the best bargains at auction. I also relate some of the humorous experiences I’ve had during my 50 years as an auctioneer and valuer working across the UK.
I illustrate this talk with items that I have sold or am going to sell and provide an insight to what is selling currently – e.g. silver, coins, pictures etc.
This meeting is a Christmas Social Evening and visitors are invited to join members in enjoying some festive cheer.
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