Tea, Coffee and Chocolate: how the British first fell in love with caffeine

Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Speaker: Melanie King Tea, coffee and chocolate play an important part in the modern British diet. Yet all three caused anxiety and debate when they arrived in London in the 1650s. Melanie explains why Europeans were at first so terrified of these drinks and describes some of ways they were consumed in the 18th century. […]

Morris’ Motopolis: the motor works and the transformation of Oxford

Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Simon describes the importance of the Morris Motor Works founded by William Morris (Lord Nuffield) and the massive impact on the city of Oxford during the interwar period as his business became the largest British car producer at that time. Simon is a member of the part-time tutor panel of Oxford University’s Continuing Education Department, where […]

Memories of the Vale: a lost way of life before the railways came to the countryside

Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Speaker: Julie Ann Godson Julie draws on two 19th century books she has edited to describe the lost ways of country life in the Vale of the White Horse before the Great Western Railway thundered into this quiet corner of England. One book is by a curate from Stanford-in-Vale, the other by Thomas Hughes, author […]

The History of our Footpaths

Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Speaker: Bob Evans Almost all of us walk or have used footpaths. Their current state and status reflects their usage in the past and the changing values we have set upon them. Bob examines the when, how and why of our rights of way, with special reference to the Abingdon area. Bob lives in Sunningwell […]

Oral History Group presentation on ‘Radley during Covid’

Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Early in 2022 the Group started recording a series of interviews to capture memories about the effect of the Covid pandemic on people in Radley as a record for future generations. This talk presents the common themes uncovered and the insights gained from these recordings. Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting […]