Chester Society of Natural Science Literature and Art
Chester Lecture Society programme for 2023/24
All talks start at 7:30 PM and will last about an hour. (The AGM starts at 7:00 PM.) Refreshments are available. They are held in the Lecture Theatre, Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2DD (See map) Tel: 01244 972 197
Members admitted free on presentation of Membership card.
Non-members £5.00 each
Students £2.00 each
Children U12 free
October 5th 2023
David Cummings, a member and well known local historian, naturalist and photographer will show his excellent portrayal of the Welsh Countryside Throughout the Seasons
October 19th 2023 Sue Clark
Sue Clark will recount the incredible story of Soldier from the Sky In November 1944 her husband’s father was killed when his Halifax bomber was shot down over Germany. Sue’s talk describes the determined research, amazing coincidences and some extraordinary good luck which enabled the reconstruction of the aircraft’s story and the fate of it’s crew.
November 2nd 2023
The Story of the Manchester Ship Canal This fascinating story deals with the reasons for the Canal, the amazing feat of it’s construction, the years of successful operation and the reason for it’s ultimate closure and subsequent renaissance as a tourist attraction. (Speakers details to follow.)
November 16th 2023
Eva Taylor tells the story of when she was going through her Dutch Mother’s effects after she died and discovering , unknown to her, that her Mother had suffered at the hands of the Nazis in Holland during WW11. She was imprisoned in several prisons and was incarcerated in some of the worst concentration ‘Death Camps’ of the Nazis until she was finally liberated by the US army in May 1945.
January 11th 2024 Jim Holmes
During the recent Lockdown Jim decided to embark on a project that entailed Following the River Dee on foot from its source up in the heart of Snowdonia to its estuary alongside the Wirral Peninsula in Cheshire. This is a tale about a river we think we know so well and yet we know little or nothing about the many events that occur in the towns and villages that it flows through.
January 25th 2024
Professor Rob Smith is a Senior lecturer and Head of the Dept. of Livestock Health and Welfare at the Leahurst Veterinary Centre of Liverpool University. The campus is based in the rural Cheshire countryside at Leahurst on the Wirral. He will outline the work that his department does and will give an overall view of other work done at Leahurst.
February 8th 2024
Tony Bostock is a well known Cheshire historian and lecturer who will tell us about Mary Fitton who was born and grew up at Gawsworth Hall in Cheshire. She was a Maid of Honour to Elizabeth 1st and soon became one of the Queen’s favourites. She spent a lot of her time at Court and as she was attractive and popular she had a number of affairs, one of which may have been with William Shakespear. Was she the ‘Dark Lady’ of his sonnets ? Tony will enlarge on her interesting life for us.
February22nd 2024 Keith Holmes
This is the second part of Keith’s presentations about bridges and deals with some of the bridges in Europe that have fascinated him and of course have photogenic appeal. His travels include France and the French connection includes the sights along the banks of the River Seine in Paris and in southern France, including the engineering genius of the Millau Viaduct. There are tales to be told about the bridges in Amsterdam, Lisbon, Seville, Rome and Venice with a few surprises along the way. Keith blends history and engineering with the beauty and delight of the bridges and their surroundings. His presentation is called Bridges – Travels in Europe
March 7th Members Evening
Starts at 7.00 pm. The AGM is at 7.00 pm and should be over by 7.20 pm The evening is intended as a social gathering of Members and friends with an opportunity to hear other Member’s presentations of their experiences. Refreshments are available.