I have been giving talks for many years and have visited many different types of groups and societies. Local History Groups, Family History Societies, WI’s, Probus, U3A, to name but a few, as well as small intimate meetings and lunchtime clubs. You will see from the list which follows I give quite a variety of talks on many topics, many within the family and social history frame. I am also happy to do talks via Zoom.
I do not use power-point as I am more of a story-teller, rather than a speaker who incorporates the use of pictures as part of a talk. However for some of my talks I do have albums containing illustrations which can be viewed after a talk. This also gives an opportunity for me to meet people individually and discuss aspects of the talk. I have also found that some of my illustrations, being old documents, do not lend themselves to being enlarged and displayed on a screen, so are better viewed in an album.
My fees are negotiable as to what a group normally pay for their speakers. I find it much easier that way as all groups are so different in their sizes and available funds.
Of course I can’t guarantee I would be available at short notice, as I may have other bookings or other commitments, but I have very often been able to accommodate a group who have had a cancellation, so it’s always worth contacting me.
LIST OF TALKS
FAMILY HISTORY – Talk 1) MAKING A START. Aimed at people not familiar with family history but who may take an interest after my talk. Or, those who are interested but don’t know where to start.
Talk 2) MORE THAN JUST A LIST OF NAMES AND DATES. Aimed at those who have already started their family history, and would like to put flesh on the bones of their ancestors.
NB. Both talks can be condensed as one talk for a mixed audience.
Talk 3) FASCINATING FAMILY HISTORY. Anecdotes and stories of interesting discoveries found during the speaker’s own research.
Talk 4) A FAMILY HISTORY BOOK. How to write your family history for the future generations.
STORIES GRANDDAD TOLD – Based on his memories of the people and places around the small village he grew up in prior to WW1. They can be told to anyone with an interest in that period and the country way of life at that time.
MY FATHER, POW – Not a heroic story of escape, but the story of the day-to-day life of a private captured on his way to Dunkirk.
LOCAL MURDERS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY – A collection of true stories researched and taken from local newspapers of the times. Those as local to the venue as possible will be highlighted.
ROGUES, VILLAINS & THIEVES – A collection of stories of bank robbers, train robbers and poachers etc. from the 19th century to compliment the above talk – for those who think murder may be a bit too gruesome. Those as local to the venue as possible will be highlighted.
BIRMINGHAM, ITS HISTORY & ITS PEOPLE – Extracts and descriptions from various books and newspapers written between the 1700’s and the 1900’s.
WORCESTERSHIRE, FROM ROMANS TO VICTORIANS - a condensed history of Worcestershire to compliment my book - The Little History of Worcestershire
LAVINIA, PRINCESS OR FAKE? - The story of Lavinia Ryves who tried to prove in the 1860’s, through documents in her possession, that she was the granddaughter of the Duke of Cumberland, brother of George III, and therefore entitled to a title and an inheritance.
DIARY OF WILLIAM LEA – William Lea was vicar at St Peter’s Droitwich from 1848-1882. His diary gives detailed accounts of local, national and international events, so of interest to anyone who likes hearing of history as it happened and the views of one individual.
WW1 NARRATIVES – Two different talks, both which use extracts taken from ‘The War Illustrated’ published at the time.
Talk 1) WW1 Stories from the Front
Talk 2) Dear Mother, A WW1 Tragedy. Letters between a mother and son in 1918. A warning needs to be given as the latter part of this talk is quite a sad account.
READ ALL ABOUT IT – Newspaper pieces from the late 1700’s to the early 1900’s.
DR WILMORE’S REVENGE – A Victorian short story taken from a local newspaper of the 1880’s. But is it true or false?
NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES –
Talk 1) FAMILY STORIES. Using old newspapers and archival documents the history of the families at Hanbury Hall, Coughton Court and Charlecote Park are told. These are three separate talks.
Another single talk combines the stories of Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House.
Families from Calke Abbey, Kedleston Hall, Hardwick Hall, Wightwick Manor, Moseley Old Hall, Upton House and the Birmingham Back-to-Backs to be added soon. So WATCH THIS SPACE!!!
Talk 2) A WEEKEND AWAY. Descriptions of properties around the country worth a visit.
FACT STRANGER THAN FICTION – Aimed at writers this talk shows how pieces can be taken from archive newspapers and turned into historic fiction. How descriptive reports can help authentically set a scene for the period. This talk can be shortened to include a workshop.
