Illustrated Talks in Chobham

IMPORTANT NOTICE Our venue is the Pavilion in the Recreation Ground in Station Road, Chobham, on the THIRD Wednesday in the month.

The new season of social meetings starts on Wednesday 15th October at our regular venue at the Parish Pavilion, Station Road, Chobham at 8pm. These meetings will continue on the third Wednesday of each month until April 2009. Coffee/Tea and biscuits will be available during the interval.   Winter Season 2008/2009   Our meeting hall in Chobham. As last season, PLEASE NOTE that the day is still the THIRD Wednesday in the month, at 8pm. There is sufficient, and safe, parking alongside the hall.     All meetings are free. Please come along and support these social evenings where we like to see new faces. Everyone is welcome so bring along your friends as well. Here are the dates and details of the current season -

A short history of the talks, compiled by Peter Coxhead ---- The Group was formed in the mid-1970s in those enterprising early muddy days of restoration. A small band of enthusiastic characters used to sit on the floor of members' houses planning programmes that would keep the momentum going. The first actual public meetings when interesting speakers whetted our appetites for what we should aim for, took place in the long-since-demolished Centre Halls in Woking. Our compere was Mike Grist. We then moved to the old Christ Church Hall (now Barclays Bank) and for a time Peter Coxhead presented the evenings. Then followed a period at the Methodist Church Hall and surely all who came there will remember the 'ex-sergeant-major' caretaker! Our next venue was St Johns Memorial Hall. Ginny Millard took over from Peter during this period. For the last few years, our meeting place has been at the Westgate Centre again in the heart of Woking. Arthur Dungate was now our 'master of ceremonies' and all who came will remember the wonderful variety of interesting speakers. Now, subject to receiving approval of a lottery bid, Woking Galleries will almost certainly be building a state-of-the-art 21st century Museum and Art Centre on the site of the old Westgate building. Finding a hall suitable for both availability and price is not easy. However Peter Coxhead has come to an arrangement with Chobham Parish Council to rent its Pavilion in the Recreation Ground in Station Road, Chobham. The hall is large enough for our meetings, there is sufficient car parking space and a kitchen is available for those very important 'half time' breaks.

---- 2008 ---- OCTOBER - Wednesday 15th October 2008 Dr. Roger Squires - ‘The Panama Canal’ Roger Squires, the Deputy Chairman of the Inland Waterways Association and Chairman of the London Branch, will be returning to talk about the history, construction and the latest development plans, as well as a journey through the canal. Roger went through the canal on a cruise liner so has first hand experience and knowledge of the famous waterway. NOVEMBER - Wednesday  19th November 2008 Graham Mackenzie - ‘The Steamship Shieldhall’ Graham Mackenzie is the Managing Director of Solent Steam Packet (Services) Limited, the trading company that operates the Shieldhall, the UK’s largest operational preserved passenger/cargo heritage steamship which is based at the Eastern Docks in Southampton. He will talk on the history, preservation and operation of the ship which is used for public cruises in the Solent and beyond during the summer. DECEMBER - Wednesday 17th December 2008 George Fleming - ‘The Royal Military Canal - Folly or Fieldcraft’ George Fleming makes a welcome return visit to talk about the Royal Military Canal in Romney Marsh in Kent. Since it was constructed it has had a bad press and has been described variously as a failure or a white elephant. George Fleming disagrees strongly.........                     ---- 2009 ---- JANUARY - Wednesday 21st January 2009 Runnalls Davis - ‘The River Severn from Stourport to the Sea’ One of our popular speakers, Runnalls Davis will be returning to talk about a journey along the River Severn which, from its upper limit of navigation at Stourport. flows gently (usually) for seventy miles through wooded valleys, passing the historic cities and towns of Worcester, Tewkesbury and Gloucester, to the port of Sharpness. His presentation will include the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. FEBRUARY - Wednesday 18th February 2009 Robin Higgs - ' Of Puffers, Ferries and Islands- A Scottish Tale'   From the Crinan Canal to Jura and beyond by the last coal fired steam 'Clyde Puffer', and by coach, car and ferry to the Hebrides. Robin, our former Chairman, will be returning to regale us with his illustrated story of his holiday on 'VIC 32', a historic 65 year old Clyde trading vessel restored to its former glory to enable steam and shipping enthusiasts to have a holiday with a difference.    N.B. Colin Ward's presentation for this night has had to be cancelled.    MARCH - Wednesday 18th March 2009 Richard Thomas - ‘The Highland Canals’ Another of our popular speakers, Richard Thomas will be returning to talk about the Highland Canals. The presentation comprises a passage along the Crinan and Caledonian Canals in Scotland. The Crinan is the 9 mile short-cut across Argyll and the Caledonian is the 60 mile journey through the Great Glen linking the North Sea with the Atlantic and including Loch Ness. Both canals are surrounded by stunning scenery.   APRIL - Wednesday 15th.April 2009   T.B.A Note: If you have any ideas for interesting future talks, the Talks Organiser will be pleased to hear from you! Please contact: David Millett (01252 617364) or Peter Coxhead (01932 344564). - [or, e-mail webmaster, as below]                BACK

Last updated: October 2008