2023-2024
ALL WILL BE MOST WELCOME AT OUR PHYSICAL MEETINGS. However, a small charge (currently £2) per meeting is made for non-members.
Meetings are held on Zoom from December to February, which only members can attend. Any visits we arrange are also member only events. All other meetings are held in the Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square at 7 pm for a 7.30 pm start (rear of the Central Library in Kings Road).
| DATE | PROGRAMME |
| 2023 13 Dec | HUNTLEY AND PALMERS – Joe Doak (via ZOOM) Joe has recently completed a PhD on Huntley and Palmers |
| 2024 17 Jan | THE HISTORY OF QUAKERS IN READING – Matthew Callow (via ZOOM) Matthew is co-chair of the Quaker History Group. This talk will focus on the Quaker community in Reading, significant players, connections, locations and Meeting Houses. |
| 21 Feb | EARLY CLOSING DAY: AIR RAIDS ON READING IN WW2 – Mike Cooper (via ZOOM) Mike is a former Reading librarian who has authored several books on Reading. |
| 20 Mar | ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING followed by READING CIVIC SOCIETY – Richard Bennett Richard is chair of reading Civic Society and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant in 2018. |
| 17 April | THE HISTORY OF WOODLEY – Ann Smith Ann worked for 20 years in Reading Central Library and has recently edited and published a book on The History of Woodley written by members of the local U3A. |
| 15 May | THE BLACK ARTS IN READING: THE STORY OF OUR LOCAL PRINTING INDUSTRY – Paul Joyce Paul spent his working life in the print industry and is an author, speaker and contributor of railway history for Back Track magazine. |
| 19 June | WALK – THE DANES IN READING walk with John Nixon (members only) |
| 17 July | VISIT – COOKHAM – JOHN LEWIS HERITAGE CENTRE & STANLEY SPENCER MUSEUM (members only) |
| 18 Sept | CROSSING THE THAMES – David Cliffe David is the former Local Studies Manager for Reading Borough and is our Society Chairman. |
| 16 Oct | READING WW1 HOSPITALS – Lionel Williams Lionel is secretary of the Berkshire Medical Museum. |
| 20 Nov | Presidential Address: ANOTHER LOOK AT PROSPERITY AND PIETY IN LATE MEDIEVAL READING c1450-1550 – Joan Dils A portrait of a town with an expanding commercial cloth industry, assertive urban politicians, and churches with devout worshippers. With a longstanding interest in Reading, Joan is currently the President of the Society. |
| 18 Dec | MORE THAN BISCUITS, BEER AND BULBS – Jo Alexander-Jones (via ZOOM) Jo is a member of Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group and on the committee of the History of Reading Society. |
Details of our meetings can also be found on Facebook and other social media.