Meetings will start at 7.30 apart from the February meeting which is preceded by the AGM at 7.15. The current year will run from February to November 2025 concluding with a performance from Chanter’s Jigge
Speakers 2025
| 19th February | Richard Matthew | AGM at 7.15 followed by The History of Norwich Guildhall |
| 19th March | Alison Dow | The remarkable life of Thomas Fowell Buxton |
| 16th April | Helen Murray | Newhaven Court: A story of love, tragedy, heroism and intrigue |
| 17th September | Anne May | The bombing of Norwich Cathedral |
| 15th October (not 16th as advertised elsewhere) | Carole Rawcliffe | The Norwich Fire of 1508 |
| 19th November | Chanter’s Jigge | A jolly wassail |
19th February 2025: Richard Matthew: The History of Norwich Guildhall
The Guildhall housed Norwich City Council for over 500 years until 1938 and was at the centre of Norwich civic life although its undercroft is over 700 years old.
Richard Matthew has been a volunteer guide at the Guildhall for some years and has given many talks about it.
19th March 2025; Alison Dow: The Remarkable life of Thomas Fowell Buxton
When William Wilberforce retired after the abolition of the slave trade, Thomas Fowell Buxton led the fight against slavery in Parliament despite ferocious opposition. He was an important social reformer and deserves to be better known.
Dr Alison Dow was formerly a GP in Mile Cross, Norwich. She was born and brought up in Northern Rhodesia – now Zambia, where the country where David Livingstone died, and is still revered because of his strong anti-slavery stance. She is determined that Buxton should receive his proper place in our history.
16th April 2025: Helen Murray: Newhaven Court: A story of love, tragedy, heroism and intrigue.
Built in 1884 as the grand summer home for the well-connected Locker-Lampson family, Newhaven Court in Cromer played host to such eminent figures as Sir Winston Churchill, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Sir Ernest Shackleton, illustrator Kate Greenaway and French superstar Suzanne Lenglen.
Helen Murray has written the story of Newhaven Court and its colourful inhabitants from the decadent years of the late nineteenth century and the elegant Edwardian era, through the tragedy of the First World War to the roaring twenties, the uncertain post-war age and the Second World War.
17th September: Anne May: The Cathedral, The Close and the Norwich Blitz
We are pleased to welcome back Ann May. She is a guide at Norwich Cathedral and frequently gives talks on the Cathedral and related topics. Norwich was one of the mediaeval cities heavily bombed in April – June 1942. The raids were ordered by Hitler in retaliation for an RAF raid on the mediaeval city of Lubeck in March and the spire of Norwich cathedral was a notable landmark.
15th October: Carole Rawcliffe: The Norwich fire of 1508
Prof. Carole Rawcliffe is a pre-eminent mediaeval historian and we are very fortunate that she has agreed to talk to us. She is better known for her work on The Great Hospital but she has recently been researching the fire of 1508. The fire ripped through the heart of Norwich and is considered probably the worst disaster in early modern England after the Great Fire of London in 1666. It is one of the most neglected events in Norwich’s history.
(Please note that the October meeting has been advertised incorrectly elsewhere with a date of 16th October. )
19th November: Chanters’ Jigge: A merry wassail
We are pleased to welcome back also Chanters’ Jigge, with their festive celebration of carols, folk tunes and seasonal music from across the centuries, played and sung with ancient, traditional and modern instruments. Their music evokes past centuries and it will be an informative but lively and fun evening in preparation for Christmas.
Visits 2025
| Thursday 19th June | A guided tour of Caistor St Edmund Roman town. The tour will begin at 6.30pm and last approx. 1½ hours. N.B. the ground is rough and there are no paths – and no seats. There is a steep climb up a grassy bank and a steep flight of steps. Cost: £7 per head |
| Wednesday 16th July | Thurne Mill. This is an afternoon visit by car. Meet at the Mill 2.30 for a tour. From there it is a 5 minute drive to the Wind Energy Museum where we shall be shown around the museum and have tea and biscuits. Cost: £8 per head |
Lifts can be arranged if necessary.
Booking forms for the two visits will be available at the meeting on April 16th.
We had hoped to be able to organise a group visit to Norwich Castle Keep but we shall have to wait until it has opened.
2026 Speakers/Visits to be added soon…………..