Events

Graham Perry, Chair of the Friends of Weymouth Museum, will present a history of the town’s long struggle to establish a permanent museum which first started in 1858.  The talk will include lots of photos from the museum’s archives including pictures from the museum in the old Melcombe Regis Boys School and some glimpses of […]

During the First World War, an estimated 60,000 volunteers served with the British Red Cross Society throughout Britain, providing much-needed support in caring for sick and wounded servicemen returning from the Front. This talk explores the pivotal role played by Voluntary Aid Detachments in Dorset during the Great War and how their remarkable contributions were […]

Lifeboats and Lighthouses Helen Baggott will take us on a postcard illustrated tour around the coast exploring stories of heroism.  The talk looks at some of the coastal landmarks that reveal stories written by our ancestors. As well as sharing the stories of who sent and received some of the cards, this talk will also […]

This talk, presented by Stuart McLeod, will look at the life of Sir Samuel Mico (1608 – 1666) a rich London merchant who was born in Melcombe Regis. Mico lived and traded through the Civil War and the Plague which were some of most perilous times in our national history.  He owned the original George […]

Ellis was a fascinating early 19th century Weymouth character.  A surgeon/ apothecary – something like a modern G.P., he followed an active professional life treating what today might be called the middle-class patients who could afford to pay for his services.  However, his interests were much broader; as well as following his father in his […]

Join writer Sarah Acton in-conversation with former Portland Quarrymen, Trevor Mccolm and Rab Stone.  They will be remembering working life in the Portland quarries pre-mechanisation, traditions of the Portland stone industry and its people.  There will also be photos and Q&A. Trevor and Rab are Portlanders and remember life shaped by quarrying days, tight-knit local […]

Postcards emerged as communication and instant history at the start of the 20th century.  A century or so later they represent moments frozen in time, and so are widely collected.  Living in the small village of Eype, Paul Atterbury became aware that over 200 postcards had been produced featuring different views of that village, and […]

Tim Laycock explores the written and oral heritage of folksong, country dance music and gallery music in south Dorset communities.  Readings from William Barnes, Thomas Hardy and the Rev Galpin, and music from the Hardy, Rose and Luckham manuscripts played on concertina, melodeon, flute and cello. Tim Laycock has spent most of his working life […]

Geoff will introduce his audience to a wide selection of Portland characters and hidden places starting with those long-eared creatures whose name must never be spoken and their connection to Wallace and Gromit.  Geoff will swiftly move on to the extraordinary life of Marie Stopes, the Family Planning pioneer, who lived in the Upper Lighthouse […]

This talk is presented by Ken Francis who has been a volunteer for Weymouth Lifeboat for almost 30 years.  After 17 years as a crew member, for 10 years he was Press Officer and he now gives talks about Weymouth Lifeboat and the RNLI. The talk will cover the operation of the Weymouth lifeboat the […]