The Biggleswade History Society meets monthly at the Trinity Methodist Church, Shortmead Street Biggleswade. Usually 7:30pm for 8:00. on the first Monday of the month. Speakers provide a variety of talks and presentations. During the summer months there are guided visits to places of interest, usually for members only.
Meetings are free of charge for members. Visitors are welcome to attend most meetings, unless designated ‘Members Only’, for a charge of £3.00 per meeting.
Historical programmes have been shown so that prospective members can see the breadth of material that we cover.
2020 Programme
6 January | "The Old Printing Trade" - a talk by Ted Martin |
3 February | Member's Evening |
2 March | "Bedfordshire Churches - Part 11" - an illustrated talk by David Longman |
6 April | Annual General Meeting - members only plus "My Life in Uniform" - a talk by Bernard Newman |
4 May | "Path to Honour: An Investiture" an illustrated talk by Michael O'Brien |
1 June | tba |
6 July | tba |
3 August | tba |
7 September | "Chicksands Priory - a talk by Damien O'Dell |
5 October | "A History of Methodism" - a talk by Dalwyn Attwell |
2 November | "Life in the Workhouse" a talk by Rosemary Williams |
7 December | Christmas Gathering |
2019 Programme
7 January | "Coming Home - The Bedfordshire Regiment returns from the Great War" - a talk by Steve Fuller, an authority on the Bedfordshire Regiment in WWI |
4 February | "Wind and Watermills" - a talk by Robin Webb |
4 March | "The Life and Times of Lady Sandra Highsted" - a talk by Sandy Highsted |
1 April | Members only Annual General Meeting and two short talks by members: “A Snapshot of Canon John Dominey by his daughter Mary and “Biggleswade’s Jubilee and Coronation Celebrations” by Judith Reed. |
13 May | "All Along the Prom" - Kiss Me Quick hats, saucy postcards and more from popular speaker, Mark Andrew Pardoe |
3 June | Members only evening visit to St Andrew's Church, Biggleswade |
1 July | Members only visit to Ashwell Village at 6:30 pm. £3.50 per person. |
5 August | Members only visit to the British Schools Museum, Hitchin. Meeting at 6:00 pm for 6:30 pm start. £8.50 per person including refreshments. |
2 September | "A Ticket to Ride" - a talk by Judith and Chris Rouse of the Wyvern Railway Society |
7 October | "The Nursery Rhyme Detective" - Vic Botterill talks about the origins and secrets of nursery rhymes |
4 November | "My Life in Uniform" - a talk by Bernard Newman |
2 December ? | Christmas Party - date and venue to be arranged |
2018 Programme
8 January | "Divorce in Two Parts" - a talk by Jennifer Topham |
5 February | "Hatch, Match and Dispatch" - a talk by Sandy Highsted |
5 March | "The Inns and Outs of Pub Names" - a talk by Mark Pardoe |
9 April | Members only Annual General Meeting |
14 May | "Billy Lincoln's Films of Biggleswade presented by Edward & Hilary Street |
4 June | Members only evening guided visit to to Foster Hill Road Cemetery, Bedford |
2 July | Members only visit to St Leonard's Church and Ongley Mausoleum, Old Warden. |
6 August | Members only evening visit to the site of Bedford Castle at 6:30 pm for 7:00 pm start |
3 September | "Warden Abbey - The Lost Plot" - a talk by Margaret Roberts |
7/8 September EVENT | Heritage Open Days - End of WWI Project 2-Day Exhibition, Trinity Methodist Church |
16 September EVENT | Heritage Open Day - Guided walks in Town Centre |
1 October | "Members' Miscellany" - a series of members' short talks on various subjects |
5 November | "Churches in Bedfordshire" - a talk by David Longman |
3 December | Member's Christmas Party at Shortmead House Stables |