The Winter Talks are held on  Wednesday evenings from October to April at The Crossing, Newcastle Street, Worksop, S80 2AT

In the Summer Months the Association organise a visit each month from May to September.

Meetings are open to non-members .

Summer Visits 25

Wednesday 21st May          Thackray Medical Museum, Leeds, and Nostell (NT) (change)

Tuesday 10th June              Richard III Centre and Cathedral, Leicester

Thursday 10th July              Easton Walled Garden and Belton House (National Trust), Grantham

Wednesday 20th August    Nunnington Hall (NT) and Stillingfleet Lodge Garden & Nursery, near York

Thursday 25th September  Lyme Park (NT), Stockport

Winter Talks 25 / 26

2025

Wednesday 15th October       History of Anaesthesia by Alan  Kershaw

Alan retired from the NHS in 2017, having worked in Anaesthetics since 1985, and spent time with a variety of international charities in Africa. Anaesthesia is seen by the general public (and surgeons) as something of a "Dark Art" and this talk will bring us from those murky beginnings to our present understanding.

Wednesday 19th November   Temples of Sanitation by Mike Higginbottom

London’s growth in the nineteenth century created a public-health crisis: its increasing population drawing water and emptying its drainage into the River Thames caused epidemics which only diminished after a controversial campaign to provide a supply of clean water and a system of main drainage. The Metropolitan Board of Works’ engineer, Joseph Bazalgette, improved the physical appearance and quality of life in London more than any other individual in his generation. In the process of engineering the healthy sanitary condition which later generations take for granted, the politicians, managers and designers of the nation’s water-supply and sewerage systems left a wealth of high-quality buildings, gigantic engineering works and attractive landscapes across the country.

Most surprising of these structures are the monumental and elaborately decorated pumping stations, some of which survived the age of steam to be preserved in working order or adapted to fresh uses. The lecture illustrates, among others, the two major London sewage pumping stations, Abbey Mills (1864) and Crossness (1865), two preserved waterworks, Kew Bridge (1838 onwards) and Kempton Park (1927-9) and the unusually elaborate installation at Papplewick, Nottinghamshire (1882-6).

Wednesday 10th December   Crown Jewels by Keith Hanson RVM

Why is it that  collection of 23,578 Diamonds, Ruby's Emeralds and many Semi Precious stones are such a part of the fabric of the nation and the envy of the world? Discover the answer at this presentation by Keith Hanson RVM, a former Chief Exhibitor at the Tower of London.

2026

Wednesday 21st January       Dangerous Women of Nottinghamshire - by Adrian Grey

This talk looks at some of the women of Nottinghamshire who have had a significant impact in challenging the man’s world that they were forced to live in. The selection includes a mix of social and spiritual revolutionaries who had an impact way beyond the county boundary.  From women preachers to a libertine lifestyle – all sorts of variety will be uncovered!”    Trace the ancestry of the British monarchy from King Alfred the Great to Queen Elizabeth II. Learn how King Alfred’s seed has passed down the generations to the modern royal family Follow its sometimes tortuous route as it travels outside England, passing through Flanders, Normandy, Scotland and Germany You will encounter many kings and queens in this talk, but you will not always follow the crown as it passes peacefully, or violently, from one head to another.  The talk will lead you around familiar periods of history like the Wars of the Roses and the Tudor and Stuart dynasties They are incidental to this story, for they were times when seed and crown parted company for whole centuries, before coming together again

Wednesday 18th February     The Seed of Kings – the Bloodline by Mike Ogden  

Trace the ancestry of the British monarchy from King Alfred the Great to Queen Elizabeth II. Learn how King Alfred’s seed has passed down the generations to the modern royal family

Follow its sometimes tortuous route as it travels outside England, passing through Flanders, Normandy, Scotland and Germany You will encounter many kings and queens in this talk, but you will not always follow the crown as it passes peacefully, or violently, from one head to another.  

The talk will lead you around familiar periods of history like the Wars of the Roses and the Tudor and Stuart dynasties They are incidental to this story, for they were times when seed and crown parted company for whole centuries, before coming together again.  

Wednesday 18th March          Walled Garden at Clumber by  Maggy Watkin  

The grand 18th Century 4 acre Clumber Park walled garden has a magic all of its own. It has 15’ brick walls which provides a micro climate within it and an herbaceous border full of colour and vibrancy all year round. Here is the longest glasshouse in Britain and the Dukes of Newcastle would take their special guests for afternoon tea in the Palm House providing exotic out of season fruit for them. The garden celebrates both heritage and creativity.

Wednesday 15th April            AGM 7.20 pm & Tricks of Light & Colour by Bob Massey  

The story of optical illusions that fool the eye and brain.  How will we interpret the images?  Will all give the same answer, and if not why not?  

Money raised goes to National Trust Projects