Monthly Meetings Programme 2019-2020
Meetings are 2.30pm - 4.30 pm at Bridges, Drybridge House, Wonastow Road, Monmouth
2019
September 17 AGM then Antarctica – The Human Side Rachel Morgan MBE
With a B.Sc. Hons in cartography and geography, Rachel started out as custodian of the priceless photograph collection at the Royal Geographical Society and then worked for an environmental policy think-tank at the University of Oxford. The acceptance of women wintering in the mid 1990s meant that Rachel achieved her lifelong dream of working in the Antarctic; as the first female wintering field guide at Rothera Research Station with the British Antarctic Survey. She has been immersed in Antarctic matters ever since, first establishing the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust as one of the major forces in Antarctic heritage, and more recently working as a naturalist and lecturer on expedition ships. She sits on the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee, and is a member of the Antarctic Club. She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s honours for services to Antarctic conservation and heritage. Rachel has lived in Monmouthshire for the last 20 years with her husband, daughter and son.
October 15 CSI Monmouth David Scaysbrook
David has worked as a forensic scientist for 45 years - for Scotland Yard, the Home Office and more recently as a freelance consultant. He has specialised in the fields of biology & fire investigation. He will talk about some of his past cases & reveals some of the techniques & processes used by forensic scientists to bring the guilty to justice and help exonerate the innocent.
November 19 Protect the Planet: Myths and Facts Averil Macdonald
The risks to the planet pf pollution, plastics and fossil fuels are well reported. But exactly what could and should anyone of us do to protect the planet? There are many myths and misunderstandings mixed up with the good advice offered by the campaigning groups. I will explain some of the unintended consequences of the suggested actions, clarify what really can make a difference and try to answer any questions you have.
December 17 Members’ Christmas Party with live seasonal music
2020
January 21 The Rolls Family Roger James
The talk will focus on three areas. Firstly, the history of the Rolls family with particular reference to Charles Rolls, the co-founder of the Rolls-Royce company. This part of the talk includes a very rare piece of film from 1910 showing early aviators flying in an air display. Charles Rolls features in it. Secondly, the links between the Rolls family and their local church, Llangattock-vibn-avel, This shows the considerable investment in the church made by the family in the Victorian period. It is also where many of the family members are buried. Finally, the history of the family's country estate, The Hendre, just to the north of Monmouth, from its early days in the 1820's to the present.
February 18 Origin of Place Names Anthony Poulton-Smith
Anthony is the author of some fifty books on the origin of place names with some five thousand names in each. The first part of the talk will be given over to showing how names developed over time, how they became fixed, and which peoples and languages have contributed. The talk will then be opened up to questions to allow the audience members to discover the answer to why that place name which has always intrigued exists.
March 17 Defibrillator training Dr Tom Pitts-Tucker
Tom is secretary of a small local charity, called the Village Life Community Project, which has set up five community defibrillators (AEDs) in Llangattock Vibon Avel and has trained over 250 people how to use them. Tom is himself a retired GP and now a Welsh Ambulance CPR/AED trainer. He will explain a bit about the project but the main focus is on explaining how to help someone who has collapsed and may have a cardiac arrest. This leads into how to do CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use a defibrillator, with practical demonstrations. Short film clips help illustrate the techniques and most importantly everyone who wants to will be able to have a go at practising CPR on a mannikin for themselves.
April 21 Fun quiz - not an academic test - a chance to socialise and have fun
May 19 Members’ hobbies – Show and Have-a-go!
June 16 Garden Design Peter Dowle
July 21 Summer Meeting and entertainment
August 18 Topic not yet confirmed
September 15 AGM then talk from a guest speaker
October 20 Topic not yet confirmed
2019
September 17 AGM then Antarctica – The Human Side Rachel Morgan MBE
With a B.Sc. Hons in cartography and geography, Rachel started out as custodian of the priceless photograph collection at the Royal Geographical Society and then worked for an environmental policy think-tank at the University of Oxford. The acceptance of women wintering in the mid 1990s meant that Rachel achieved her lifelong dream of working in the Antarctic; as the first female wintering field guide at Rothera Research Station with the British Antarctic Survey. She has been immersed in Antarctic matters ever since, first establishing the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust as one of the major forces in Antarctic heritage, and more recently working as a naturalist and lecturer on expedition ships. She sits on the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee, and is a member of the Antarctic Club. She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s honours for services to Antarctic conservation and heritage. Rachel has lived in Monmouthshire for the last 20 years with her husband, daughter and son.
October 15 CSI Monmouth David Scaysbrook
David has worked as a forensic scientist for 45 years - for Scotland Yard, the Home Office and more recently as a freelance consultant. He has specialised in the fields of biology & fire investigation. He will talk about some of his past cases & reveals some of the techniques & processes used by forensic scientists to bring the guilty to justice and help exonerate the innocent.
November 19 Protect the Planet: Myths and Facts Averil Macdonald
The risks to the planet pf pollution, plastics and fossil fuels are well reported. But exactly what could and should anyone of us do to protect the planet? There are many myths and misunderstandings mixed up with the good advice offered by the campaigning groups. I will explain some of the unintended consequences of the suggested actions, clarify what really can make a difference and try to answer any questions you have.
December 17 Members’ Christmas Party with live seasonal music
2020
January 21 The Rolls Family Roger James
The talk will focus on three areas. Firstly, the history of the Rolls family with particular reference to Charles Rolls, the co-founder of the Rolls-Royce company. This part of the talk includes a very rare piece of film from 1910 showing early aviators flying in an air display. Charles Rolls features in it. Secondly, the links between the Rolls family and their local church, Llangattock-vibn-avel, This shows the considerable investment in the church made by the family in the Victorian period. It is also where many of the family members are buried. Finally, the history of the family's country estate, The Hendre, just to the north of Monmouth, from its early days in the 1820's to the present.
February 18 Origin of Place Names Anthony Poulton-Smith
Anthony is the author of some fifty books on the origin of place names with some five thousand names in each. The first part of the talk will be given over to showing how names developed over time, how they became fixed, and which peoples and languages have contributed. The talk will then be opened up to questions to allow the audience members to discover the answer to why that place name which has always intrigued exists.
March 17 Defibrillator training Dr Tom Pitts-Tucker
Tom is secretary of a small local charity, called the Village Life Community Project, which has set up five community defibrillators (AEDs) in Llangattock Vibon Avel and has trained over 250 people how to use them. Tom is himself a retired GP and now a Welsh Ambulance CPR/AED trainer. He will explain a bit about the project but the main focus is on explaining how to help someone who has collapsed and may have a cardiac arrest. This leads into how to do CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use a defibrillator, with practical demonstrations. Short film clips help illustrate the techniques and most importantly everyone who wants to will be able to have a go at practising CPR on a mannikin for themselves.
April 21 Fun quiz - not an academic test - a chance to socialise and have fun
May 19 Members’ hobbies – Show and Have-a-go!
June 16 Garden Design Peter Dowle
July 21 Summer Meeting and entertainment
August 18 Topic not yet confirmed
September 15 AGM then talk from a guest speaker
October 20 Topic not yet confirmed