MEETINGS
MEETINGS
Meetings take place in Barming Village Hall, Heath Road, Barming ME16 9JU, starting at 7.45pm and are usually held on the 2nd Monday of the month.
Programme Subject to Change
PROGRAMME 2025 to 2026
Monday 8th September
'Don,t Sneeze at the Microphone' by Wilf Lower
Entertainment stories from the music hall to television
Monday 13th October
'History of British Textiles' by Sue Pritchard
We will hear about how Britain was often the centre of textile innovation and how the industrial revolution, religious persecution, the Empire , trade and World Wars all played their part. Plus what of the future?
Monday 10th November
'80 Years of Desert Island Discs' by Delia Taylor
Hear some of the strange things which have been requested and the most popular music chosen for the programme
Monday 8th December
'Christmas Social'
Monday 12th January 2026
'The Real Exit' by Clive Nuttman
We will hear about the origins of the chalk grasslands in Kent and how the British Isles separated from mainland Europe (the 'First Brexit)
Monday 9th February
'The Islands of the Medway' by Adam Taylor
Adam tells us about the life of those living on these islands. Also how the twin forts of Hoo and Darnet were built and we hear about a pub on the island and the infamous Deadman's Island
Monday 9th March
'Brilliant British Humour' by Dr James Taylor
The art of the Picture Postcard 1840-1950
Monday 20th April
A.G.M followed by:
'Underground Kent' by Rod LeGear
A talk on man made underground structures including chalk mines for agriculture, lime burning and brick making. Also ragstone and sand mines,air raid shelters and nuclear bunkers.
PROGRAMMES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS
2021-2022
Monday 13th September
'Bits that Don't Fit' by Steve Hookins
Monday 11th October
'A Royal Interlude: Service in the Royal Household & the traditions of Royal Maundy' by Peter Hartley
Monday 8th November
'Mrs Beeton's Victorian Christmas' by Toni Mount
Monday 13th December
Christmas Social & entertainment
Monday 11th January
'A History of Aviation in Kent' by Guy Bartlett
Monday 14th February
'Her Barming Heritage WW1 & WW2 & Oakwood Hospital' by Julie Mclean
Monday 14th March
'30 Years o Bother on the Hover' by Brian Laverick Smith
Monday 11th April
'History of Papermaking in Kent' by Dr Jean Stirk
Monday 9th May Note this is a Zoom Meeting
'Georgian Ladies in the polite and not so polite society' by Patsy Erskine-Hall
2022 -2023
Monday 12th September
'History of Aviation in Kent' by Guy Bartlett
Monday 10th October
'Ancient & Modern: A History of Ordnance Survey' by Colin Brown
Monday 14th November
'A Kent Christmas' by Mick Lynn
Monday 12th December
Christmas Party
Monday 23rd January
'Put the Lights Out' by Imogen Corrigan
Monday 13th February
'Golden Days of Variety' by Dean Caston
This covers the heyday of variety in the 30-40 & 50's. and is telling us about the entertainers who travelled the country performing in different theatres each week.
Monday 13th March
'Medieval Castle & Cathedral City of Rochester' by Ian Dickinson
Monday 24th April
'A Day in Court' by Mary Winder
Mary will tell us some experiences when she was a J.P.
2023-2024
Monday 11th September
'The Fabulous 50s' by Delia Taylor
This is a fun look at how we lived during the Fabulous 50s including Fashion, Television Films & Music with the birth of Rock & Roll
Monday 9th October
'The History of Policing in Kent' by Pam Mills
The first fifty years
Monday 13th November
'Ration Book Britain' by Toni Mount
We will be taken back to the time when ration books were an essential part of everyday life
Monday 11th December
Christmas Social
Monday 22nd January 2024
'Medieval & Historic Graffiti' by Wayne Perkins
We will hear about Historic Graffiti in the Medieval Buildings of the Barming area
Monday 12th February
'Ragstone to Riches' by Dr. Simon Elliot
How Roman Britain was built with ragstone quarried in the Medway valley
Monday 11th March
'From Princess to Queen' by Melanie Gibson-Barton
Her Majesty from childhood o Coronation 2nd June 1953
Monday 22nd April
'Family at War' by Peter Rudd
We will hear about family members and their exploits in WW1 & WW2
2024 to 2025
Monday 9th September
'History of Kent in Less than 100 Objects' by Martin Crowther
Monday 14th October
'The Fabulous 50's' by Delia Taylor
This is a fun look at how we lived during the Fabulous 50s including Fashion, Television Films & Music with the birth of Rock & Roll
Monday 11th November
'Kent in the 19th Century' by Bob Ogley
Monday 13th January
'Christmas Social' (Members Only)
Monday 13th January 2025
'History of Mote Park' by Simon Ginnaw
Monday 10th February
'Passports, Assassins, Traitors and Spies' by Martin LLoyd
Monday 10th March
'The Rochester Bridge Trust' by Alison Cable
Monday 14th April
A.G.M. followed by
'The Life and Times of Edith Cavell' by Melanie Barton Gibson
Note, this meeting starts at 7.30PM