Chester Society of Natural Science Literature and Art
Chester Lecture Society programme for 2023/24
All talks start at 7:30 PM and will last about an hour. (The AGM starts at 7:00 PM.) Refreshments are available. They are held in the Lecture Theatre, Grosvenor Museum, Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2DD (See map) Tel: 01244 972 197
Members admitted free on presentation of Membership card.
Non-members £5.00 each
Students £2.00 each
Children U12 free
October 10th 2024
David Cummings, will talk about the amazing life of Gertrude Wright, a story of love on Luneberg Heath with Montgomery’s bodyguard and his journey from El Alemein to Berlin After a full and adventurous life together separated by death in 1977 Gertrude treks t the Himalayas, meets the Dalai Lama and founds a school for Tibetan children in N.India which now has strong links to Christleton where she died last year at almost age 100. A very kind and courageous lady.
October 24th 2024
Peter Cocker, our member who is also a member of the Thomas Brassey Society will discuss the humble beginnings of the World’s Greatest Railway Builder, Thomas Brassey, and the larger than life size bronze statue that the Society are planning to be erected in his honour at the entrance to Chester railway station.
Nov 7th 2024
Members of the Daniel Adamson society will recount the restoration of one of our last steam driven tug vessels, built in 1903 and affectionately known as Danny. She was rescued from the breaker’s yard as a vandalised wreck by a team of enthusiasts. A £3.8 million grant from the National Lottery Fund in 2015 meant that with the help of the many volunteers she would sail again under her own steam. She is now part of the National Historic Fleet.
Nov 21st 2024
Mike Parker, a distinguished author, will talk about his book All The wild Border, a light hearted exploration of the areas between Wales and England known as The Marches from the perspective of a naturalised Welshman.
Jan 9th 2025
Peter Elson, describes The Battle of the Atlantic which was centred on Liverpool and was the only battle which Winston Churchill was afraid of losing as it was our life line to North America for food and materials.
Jan 23rd 2025
Brian Vowles. A mysterious set of circumstances developed when Brian and partner bought a tumble-down manor house on the Staffordshire moorlands for restoration. They discovered a long-forgotten Pre-Raphaelite artist, a marriage that involved nobility and prominent politicians of the day. The intriguing story moves to Lahore in India, Canada, America via Buffalo Bill to Peru and back to Staffordshire and Biddulph Old Hall, but there is still much more for Brian to tell.
Feb 6th 2025
We welcomed Andrew Lownd back for another of his wonderful full dress historical dramas. This time he re-enacts the formation and action in The Soho Foundry where Matthew Bouton and James Watt, with the enthusiasm of their sons, built the first purpose-built factory in the world to manufacture steam engines which powered the industrial revolution.
Feb 20th 2025
Leslie Green of the Daniel Adamson Restoration Society will focus on the canals in the NW and their restoration with the help of many volunteers. Many of the previously redundant canals are being restored and are now used by pleasure craft in our burgeoning leisure industry.
March 6th 2025
The Chester Lecture Society Members Evening open to everyone.