Chris Broome provides an introduction to the fascinating world of heraldry and how it can be used to further family history research.

Pip Wright will tell of how, on the orders of Henry VIII, every single abbey and priory in England was dissolved or forcibly closed, and also of other previous royal actions to suppress religious houses.  N.B THIS IS A CHANGE TO THE PUBLISHED PROGRAMME

Cathy Shelborne tells of Admiral Lord Nelson who was High Steward of Ipswich and several of the women in his life who had close links with Suffolk, along with other surprising connections. This lecture will be followed at 9:15 by a short Annual General Meeting.

Stephen Poulter recreates vanished architectural gems using surviving period prints and the reports from travellers who visited the towns and villages during the past 400 years either for personal curiosity or in the process of compiling guidebooks for the increasing number of tourists who had leisure time along with cheaper and faster methods of transport… Read More »Suffolk’s Lost Architecture

Angela Bell will tell how the first cryptic crossword was developed in the US and how it crossed the Atlantic in the 1930s. The talk will introduce key figures who developed clue writing into a fine art last century, and how crosswords featured in films, novels and the theatre, including the key role they played… Read More »The Fascinating History of Cryptic Crosswords

Richard Symes will give an illustrated talk about the extraordinary tales of people and events from the 18th century to today and how the heath has changed. From the days of smuggling to Coastguards then on to the dramatic events during WW1 and WW2, the Heath was certainly not always the quiet and peaceful place… Read More »Turbulence to Tranquility, the History of Dunwich Heath 

Gill Blanchard recounts the impact of Huguenots on British culture, life, arts, and politics, including their story of religious persecution, politics, endurance, assimilation, and integration.

Fiona Rose examines how William Morris’ design philosophy influenced, and was influenced by, his homes including Woodford Hall, Red House, Kelmscott Manor and Kelmscott House.

Mark Trevitt tells of the commercial vessels that were working off the Suffolk coast and how they related to the coastal region of Suffolk.

Pip Wright recounts the story of George Wombell and his travelling menagerie that entertained the public for more than fifty years.  But at what cost?

Elizabeth Talbot is a Director of TW Gaze in Diss and is a qualified Auctioneer and Valuer, with an auctions-based career spanning more than 40 years. Her presentation talks about her work and experiences, and charts the changes she has witnessed within the auction world. With a sprinkling of anecdotes and the addition of Q… Read More »Lots to Talk About: the Life and Times of a Female Auctioneer

Barry Searle’stalk starts with the nearby  constructions of Orford Castle, the Martello towers and the geography of this unusual site. The talk moves on to the initial government purchase of Orford Ness in 1914 to create an airfield used to support WW1 aerial warfare developments. The inter-war period saw the development of radio beacons and… Read More »The Military History of Orford Ness