Our scheduled speakers, from the September meeting through to March 2027, are as follows:

Jonathan Holt – Somerset Follies Wednesday, 16^th September 

Jonathan will take us on a fascinating tour of Somerset, revealing the stories behind the region’s many architectural follies. Moving from the breathtaking to the bizarre, the talk will take a fascinating look at follies throughout our county, including the area around Bath, the most densely “follied” City in the land. 

Kate Lynch – Somerset Crafts Wednesday, 21^st October 

Kate is an artist and teacher who lives on the Somerset Levels. Her collection of paintings documenting the willow growers and basket makers on the Levels has toured nationally, winning awards from Southwest Arts and Wessex Water. The resulting book was entitled Willow: Paintings and Drawings with Somerset Voices. Her talk will offer an understanding of the history of this traditional craft.

David Heath – Pictures out of Darkness Wednesday, 18^th November

David was born in Westbury-sub-Mendip and was a Member of Parliament for the Somerton and Frome Constituency from 1997 to 2015. He served as Minister of State for Agriculture and Food in the coalition government. His talk is about the life of Alice Seely Harris, who resided in Frome from the age of 12 until she was 27. These formative years helped shape her into a major human rights campaigner, with her photography used to highlight the atrocities taking place in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

December Break

Bryn Hawkins - Somerset from Boy to Man, Wednesday 20^th January 2027

Bryn will share the story of his family’s life in the Somerset coal mines and his own experiences working for 17 years for the National Coal Board until the mines closed. His grandfather was involved in the Dunkerton strike of 1908–09 and was shot in the legs during a march. His father and uncles also worked in the mines, and the family lived very close to Camerton Pit. They all wore the “guss and crook”, pulling “putts” of coal from the coal face to load into wagons that went to the pit bottom and then up the shaft. The talk will also outline the move to mechanisation in the 1960s and the problems that arose due to geological difficulties.

Brian Wright - West Country Witchcraft, Wednesday 17^th February

Brian’s talk will explore the distinctive traditions of West Country witchcraft, with its deep roots in folk magic. This tradition weaves together local plant lore, spirits of the land, and the practices of cunning folk. Rather than broomsticks, its early practitioners relied on charms, the evil eye, and herbal remedies. This rural magic still flourishes in the Southwest of England today, with Somerset renowned for the healing springs of Glastonbury.

Helen Frisby – Traditions of Death and Burial, Wednesday 17^th March

Helen’s talk draws on two decades of research with a scholarly yet sympathetic perspective on funeral customs - past, present and future. She will focus on the traditions in Somerset, thereby providing material for reflection about how we deal with this inevitable fact of life. Helen has a PhD in the history and folklore of death, dying and funerals, and is the author of the Shire Library book Traditions of Death and Burial. She has also appeared on the History Channel with Johnny Vaughan, the BBC and Australian National Radio.