MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monthly Meetings are normally held on the first Monday of each month (except Bank Holidays). Details of the monthly events are listed under Upcoming Monthly Meetings.
Monthly Meetings will be held at:
BEAM (previously Hertford Theatre) (The Wash, Hertford SG14 1PS)
Directions and venue information can be found under Venue Information.
2026
Next meeting:
Garry Richardson joined the BBC on the 9th September 1974 and is now one of its longest serving broadcasters. He started as an office junior (he was the tea boy) and worked his way up through local radio before moving to national radio and TV in 1980.
For the past 50 years Garry has had one of the most high profile jobs in broadcasting appearing every week on Radio 4’s prestigious Today Programme.
He joined the Radio 4 Today programme in 1981 and for over 40 years became one of the country’s most familiar voices. During that time he has interviewed some of the world’s most famous people, includong President Nelson Mandela, (who gave him a friendly punch during their interview) Muhammad Ali, and President Bill Clinton.
Garry worked alongside Hollywood icon Richard Burton on the BBC’s coverage of the royal wedding in 1981. He has a wonderful story about what Burton said to him during the programme’s rehearsals.
His fund of hilarious anecdotes have proved to be hugely popular as he takes his audiences behind the scenes at the BBC.
He reveals how he came to share jokes with Morecambe and Wise, and explains why actor Arthur Lowe, Captain Mainwaring gave him a “telling off” before a recording of Dad’s Army.
Garry went to Kosovo during the war and his army helicopter came under missile attack. He described the moment as terrifying. It’s another incredible anecdote like the time he climbed a 650 foot chimney stack on a live radio programme without a safety harness. The audio recording, and photos are amazing.
Garry has appeared in an incredible range of entertainment programmes. They include one on the history of big band music which saw him sing with a close friend of Frank Sinatra. In 2025 he made a documentary to mark the 60th anniversary of the iconic film the Sound of Music and one about Sir Ken Dodd for his 90th birthday.
He devised a touring theatre show and performed alongside Sir Richard Stilgoe, Joanna Lumley and Alistair McGowan.
This will be an amusing and entertaining afternoon in the company of a well-known voice, for whom it will be a pleasure to see the accompanying face.
LISTEN HERE