Eastbourne Ashridge Circle|Founded 1947

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Programme of Talks

Meetings

Meetings for the 2023-24 season will be held on specified Mondays between September and March at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne BN21 4JR. Lectures will start at 7.30 pm and are programmed normally to last for between 60 and 75 minutes.

Admission to meetings is subject to the presentation of a member’s non-transferable Membership Booklet. Members, therefore, need to bring their booklets with them when attending a lecture and show them to stewards at points of entry to the auditorium.

Guests

Subject to venue capacity each member has the privilege of bringing one guest on payment of £7.00 per meeting.  Guest admission cards can be purchased by members on entry to the Welcome Building on presentation of their membership booklet.

The programme of talks for the 2023-24 season with dates, subject, presenter and a brief synopsis is set out below. Please click on each speaker below to find out more.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2024

The 2024 AGM for all members will be held at 7.00pm on Friday 7th June 2024 at the All Saints Church Hall, 21a Grange Road, Eastbourne BN21 4HE.

This Season's Talks

Lecture Date: September 18, 2023

REMINISCENCES FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

Speaker: HENRY BLOFELD, OBE

An entertaining retrospective romp through the high-profile life of one of Britain’s best loved cricket commentators and raconteurs.

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Lecture Date: October 2, 2022

STAMFORD RAFFLES: SCHOLAR AND STATESMAN OF JAVA AND SINGAPORE

Speaker: DENISE HEYWOOD - Illustrated

Scrutiny of a towering figure of British colonial administration who discovered priceless art treasures in the East and founded modern Singapore.

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Lecture Date: October 23, 2023

THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS 1962

Speaker: SIR MAX HASTINGS - Illustrated

An analysis, 60 years on, of arguably the greatest crisis faced by the West during the Cold War by a distinguished journalist and military historian.

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Lecture Date: November 6, 2023

ANIMALS BEHAVING BADLY

Speaker: Dr MICHAEL LEACH - Illustrated

The zoologist and wildlife author presents a comic overview of misbehaving species from drunken apes and psychotic magpies to prancing zebras and greedy owls.

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Lecture Date: November 20, 2023

THE NEW AGE OF GREAT POWER RIVALRY

Speaker: TIM MARSHALL - Illustrated

The ex-Sky News Foreign Editor takes a serious look at future great power rivalry in an increasingly uncertain global political melting-pot.

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Lecture Date: December 11, 2023

THE HISTORY OF PANTOMIME

Speaker: PETE ALLEN - Illustrated

Entertainment-world historian Pete Allen runs his eye over one of the most bizarre, yet enduring, genres of the theatrical art. Expect the full gamut of corny gags.

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Lecture Date: January 15, 2024

PAUL CÉZANNE

Speaker: JANE BINGHAM - Illustrated

The author of a new book on perhaps the most influential and innovative artist of the 19th century presents an expert view on his life, paintings and legacy.

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Lecture Date: February 5, 2024

THE ART OF THE CARTOONIST

Speaker: HARRY VENNING - Illustrated

A rare insight into a singular art form by an accomplished exponent who reveals tricks of the trade with practical demonstrations on stage.

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Lecture Date: February 19, 2024

THE BRITISH SEASIDE HOLIDAY

Speaker: JACKIE MARSH-HOBBS - Illustrated

A Brighton social historian presents a picture of how the British love of seaside holidays has evolved in 200 years: grand hotels, lidos, end-of-the-pier, etc.

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Lecture Date: March 4, 2024

THE PERILS AND PLEASURES OF A BLUE-BADGE TOURIST GUIDE

Speaker: AMANDA BRYETT - Illustrated

A nostalgic look back at both the challenges and the fun of being a UK tour guide, not least dealing with the many daft questions of enthusiastic foreigners.

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Lecture Date: March 11, 2024

WOMEN IN 17TH CENTURY ENGLAND

Speaker: MELINDA STONE - Illustrated

A wide-ranging and closely-researched account of the often downtrodden daily lives of British women 300 years ago and their place in a male-oriented world.

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Lecture Date: March 25, 2024

ALICE HAWKINS – SUFFRAGETTE

Speaker: PETER BARRATT with RUTH POWNALL - illustrated

Through family records and memorabilia the great-grandson of a leading suffragette shines a light on her fearless crusade to get the vote for women.

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