2026
Wednesday 25th March Michael Pruchnie gave a talk entitled ‘The Circle of Life – from Russia to Cardiff’ looking at the wider Pruchnie family roots across the Russian Empire (from early 1800’s) to Cardiff and return to Russia, including his Trans Siberian experience and returning during the outbreak of the Ukraine war.
Wednesday 11th March Mike Bailey gave a talk which he has called “The Son of the Dragon”, story of Vlad III, ruler of Wallachia during the mid fifteenth century. It covered his upbringing as a hostage of the Ottoman Empire, and his rise to power, considering his effectiveness as a warlord and reputation for cruelty. Vlad was a ruler pulled in two directions by Christian Hungary and the Muslim Ottoman Empire. The modern cultural influences regarding Dracula were also addressed.
Wednesday 25th February Michael Dark looked at the life and times of Oskar Schindler, the German industrialist, humanitarian, credited with saving the lives of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust.
Wednesday 11th February Martyn Swain gave a talk about “The Plantations of Ireland” explaining how the attempts in the16th and 17th centuries using confiscated lands to colonise Catholic Munster and Ulster with mainly Scottish Protestants led to Irish Rebellion and ‘The Troubles’.
Wednesday 28th January Guest speaker Adrian Holcombe, a member of the Military History Group, gave a talk about ‘Auschwitz, Understanding the Holocaust’, following his visit to Auschwitz last year. The meeting took place the day after Holocaust Memorial Day.
Wednesday 14th January Peter Donovan talked about the legend of Sitting Bull,the greatest Native North American from his teenage life to destroy ing Custer at Little Big Horn.
2025
Wednesday 26th November Philip Stewart’s talk entitled ‘1066 and All That’ looked at the the various claimants for the sucession of the English Crown following the death of Edward the Confessor leading up to the Battle of Hastings, including consideration of the accuracy of the recent television series ‘King and Conqueror’ and the build up to the battle that changed the future of England and the rest of Britain for ever.
Wednesday 12th November David Payne gave a talk on the history of the Royal Christmas Day Broadcasts. David traced the evolution of the early live ‘wireless’ broadcasts through to the first ‘live’ black and white televised broadcasts, the later recorded colour transmissions, and the year they were filmed in 3D. David also recalled his own involvement in facilitating one of the Queen’s recordings with some little known facts about how it was achieved under strict secrecy.
Wednesday 22nd October Sarah Boyce gave a talk about China’s First Emperor and his Terracotta Warriors, referred to as the 8th Wonder of the World, lost to history for two millennia until its rediscovery in 1974. Excavation has continued since then and his ongoing
Wednesday 8th October Geoffrey Hosking gave a talk on USSR in World War II. Geoffrey gave a brief description of the course of the war; then reflected on the Soviet power structure and how it marshalled resources; the morale of Soviet fighting men; the effect of the war on the Soviet economy and culture; and subsequent commemoration of the war.
Wednesday 24th April Ian Doyle gave a talk about La Reconquista de Buenos Aires, a public painting on display in Buenos Aires depicting the surrender of Major General William Carr Beresford to Jacques de Liniers, a French Captain in the service of the King of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. Ian explained the relevance of the painting to Anglo-Argentine relations and the historical significance of the scene depicted in the painting.
Wednesday 10th April Philip told the story of the courtier and poet Sir Thomas Overbury who died in September 1613, a prisoner in the Tower of London. Why was he there, how did he die and why did he die? This is a fascinating story of political intrigue, sexual relationships and a grisly murder.
Wedesday 27th March Mike gave a talk on the Battle of Flodden. This looked at what is a long forgotten but massively important battle in our history. It looked at Catherine of Aragon’s role as regent and left to deal with an opportunist French-encouraged Scottish invasion whilst Henry VIII was campaigning in France.
Wednesday 13th March Peter gave a talk on the history of train robberies in the U.S.A and beyond in the late 1800s and early 1900s, focussing on Jesse and Frank James, followed by the true facts of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.