Wick Hall: the story of a house and a family
Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, OxfordshireSpeaker: Richard Dudding Richard’s talk draws on his research for his new book about Wick Hall and the Dockar Drysdale family, which at one time owned almost all the land and cottages in Radley. More about the book and how to buy a copy Richard is the archivist for both Wick Hall and for the […]
Everyday life and accidental death in 16th century Oxfordshire and Berkshire
Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, OxfordshireSpeaker: Steven Gunn In his talk, Steven looks at everyday life in these two counties in Tudor times using examples of fatal accidents people had at home, work and play. Steven Gunn is a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and Professor of Early Modern History at Oxford University. His talk draws on findings from an […]
‘Always Ready, Always Willing’: Fires and firefighting in the city of Oxford from 879 to 1974
Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, OxfordshireSpeaker: John Lowe John tells the story of how major fires and efforts to tackle them over more than ten centuries affected Oxford, including the tragic fire that led to the formation of the Oxford Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1870. John Lowe served as a firefighter in the Oxford City and Oxfordshire brigades for more […]
My Polish father’s experiences in WW2 from Gulag to Normandy and Scotland
Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, OxfordshireSpeaker: Hubert Zawadzki Hubert’s parents came to Britain with the Polish Armed Forces during WW2. Hubert describes his father’s time in a forced labour camp, his service with the Polish Army during the Battle of Normandy in 1944 and his return to Scotland where Hubert was born. Dr Zawadzki, a former history teacher at Abingdon […]
Tracks to trenches
Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, OxfordshireSpeaker: Mike Hurst Mike describes the range of railway activities in southern England and France during WW1, including the transport and care of the wounded back to Blighty with examples from south Oxfordshire and west Berkshire. Mike is a committed railway enthusiast and volunteer for local heritage railways. Visitors are very welcome to attend our […]