Monthly Meetings Information - Previous Meetings

Monday 7th September: ADELE PARKS: “WRITING NOVELS AND ALL THINGS LITERARY”

What is it like to be a writer?

Adele Parks MBE is a prolific best selling British Author known for contemporary women’s fiction. Born in Teeside, she studied English at Leicester University, followed by time in Italy and Africa. 
She worked in Advertising until her debut novel “Playing Away” launched her successful writing career in 2000 leading to over 25 novels, International Best Sellers translated into many languages and an MBE for services to literature in 2022. She has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Teeside University.
Adele will talk about what it takes to have a 25 year career as a novelist. She  will answer perennial questions such as “Where do the ideas come from?”   Do writers read their reviews?”  “What comes first character or plot?”  “Do you take notes when your friends tell you their troubles?”
Her notable works include “Lies Lies Lies” “Just my Luck” “Spare Brides” and “The Image of you” with some of her books adapted into films.
Adele is an Ambassador for the National Literary Trust. She is a strong advocate for Literacy working with charities like the Reading Agency and has served as a judge for the Costa Book Awards. She lives in Guildford with her family.

You may remember Tony Harris who entertained us all in May 2025 with his performance as Henry V111. Yeah, Verily he returneth as William Shakespeare.
Tony is known for his engaging presentations. He is a Professional Comedian, Raconteur and Actor who specialises in Historical  Talks with a Historical Twist. He is a Historic Re-enactor of Prominent Historical Characters. He dresses and becomes the person in question re-enacting the events.
He learnt his Tudor trade at the feet of Major Historical Experts and has been bringing his unique blend of history and comedy to the speaker circuit for the last 6 years. His aim is to trick people into learning  by making them laugh, but every point he makes is historically accurate.
This will be fun.

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.

“APOLLO 11 - THE WAY TO THE MOON” (One giant step for a man...)

Andy first became interested in the “Space Race” when he was a child. His parents woke him up at 2.56am British Summer Time on Monday July 21st 1969 to watch Neil Armstrong step onto the lunar surface. From an early age Andy has always been interested in science and manned flight.
For Andy, watching the final minutes of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module descent, never fails to lose its drama. He believes that it is one of the greatest shared undertakings of human endeavour in history.

His talk will begin with how the world held its collective breath as 38 year old American, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface with the words “One giant step for a man, One giant leap for mankind.”
This talk describes the path the USA took to the Moon, the pinnacle of which was Apollo 11 “Moon-Shot”. The rest as they say is “History”.

Monday 13th April:

Our featured speaker for the event will be Dr. Midge Gillies hailing from Cambridge University. 
4th September: Tricia Thompson who will be giving a fascinating talk about Conkers and Skipping Ropes – Childhood in the 40s, 50s and 60s. 
3rd July: The wonderful Festival Players brings you Shakespeare’s delightful romantic comedy TWELFTH NIGHT.
5th June: Speaker - Pauline Martindale who tells us of her personal experience as a long serving prison officer in her talk entitled Behind Closed Doors. Prepare to be amazed and entertained.
15th May: (Later in the month due to 2 Bank Holidays) The AGM will be followed by fabulous entertainment provided by the H&D Intermediate Guitar Group
3rd April: Captain William Wells returns to give us a fascinating talk on The Bermuda Triangle.Captain William Wells returns to give us a fascinating talk on The Bermuda Triangle.
6th March: Monthly Meeting Social and Quiz. 
You will not need to make up a team - just come along and join a table.
Monday 6th February - Speaker: Kate Harwood who will be giving a fascinating talk on The Historic Landscape of Panshanger.
Very interesting talk about Panshanger, with some super illustrations. If only there had been more time for Q&As.
Monday 9th January 2023: Speaker: Keith Baldwin ‘When Policemen and Doctors start to look young’.
Very amusing start to the new year, with a little bit of Shakespeare and Pam Ayres thrown in.