BAALHS EVENTS PAGE

Wednesday 14th October 2009.
Mike Knight : ‘Milestones and Turnpike Roads’.

Mike is a founder member of The Milestone Society, formed in May 2001. It has only 2 members in Bedfordshire, a county accredited with the dubious reputation of the least number of surviving milestones in Great Britain and the Empire! He has developed enthusiasm as finder, restorer and an archivist, whenever the opportunity arises. His background is in varied adult education and he lives in Riseley.

Wednesday 11th November 2009.
Nick Wilde : 'Bedford Rocks - A history of the changes in popular music in Bedford in the 1950s and 1960s.'

Nick will describe how rock and roll slowly changed the popular music scene in Bedford in the fifties and sixties. Illustrated with musical excerpts from Atwell to the Beatles. Nick is a retired librarian having worked at Bedford Central Library for many years until the early 'nineties. He enjoys a wide range of music including classical, jazz and, of course, rock n' roll.

Wednesday 9th December 2009.
David Fletcher: 'Antiques Roadshow'.

Our own version of the ever popular BBC 1 show. David Fletcher is an experienced independent Fine Art and Chattels valuer and auctioneer. He started his professional career in Hertfordshire and for eleven years worked with Phillips (now Bonhams), the London based firm of international fine art auctioneers. He specialises in valuations for Insurance, Probate and Matrimonial purposes, and is retained as a consultant by three local and international firms of fine art auctioneers for whom he works as a valuer, cataloguer and in business development. He is a member of The Chattels Division of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and his firm complies with the standards imposed on its members. He is also a lecturer on antiques and broadcasts regularly on BBC Three Counties Radio. He is a member of BBC TV's Flog It team and is well known for his amusing talks on antiques and his 'Behind the Ropes' visits to country houses. Please bring your portable antiques, curios & collectibles for David to identify and value. No more than one item per couple; no jewellery, stamps or coins please. Wine & seasonal refreshments will be served during the interval.

Wednesday 6th January 2010.
John Tusting : ‘History of the Harrold Leather Company’.

John was the owner of the Company, started by his family. He will be speaking about it's history, and his life-long involvement in the leather industry.

Wednesday 10th February 2010.
Alan Cox : 'Historic Church Monuments'.

A welcome return for this erudite speaker. He spoke at our March 2008 meeting on "Historic Church Furnishings and Fittings".

Wednesday 10th March 2010.
David Fowler : 'The Wreck of the Loch Ard'.

An historical and geographical tour regarding the 1878 wreck of an emmigrants sailing ship on the approaches to Melbourne with only two survivors and several Bedford connections.

Wednesday 7th April 2010.
Alan Woodward : 'Aspects of Little Staughton's History'.

Alan is a local historian (and photographer) who has researched many of the villages of north Bedfordshire. His talk will concentrate on three Little Staughton families: the Wautons of Cretinsbury, Col Peter Augustus Lautour of Staughton Park and the Wade-Gerys of Bushmead Priory.