Programme of Talks

The Eton Wick History Group held regularly meeting since 1992. 

Eton Wick and the surrounding area has a rich history. The first written record of village was in 1217, there were people living on what is now the South Field 5,000 years ago.

Programme of talks for 2024:

The programme is subject to change.
10th April - 4 Bridges and a Ferry with Josh Lovell

29th May - A Stroll in the Park with Peter Holman 

31st July - The Miracle of Bletchley Park with Gillian Cane 

30th October - Maidenhead and the Movies with Richard Poe 

Programme of talks for 2023: 

11th January 'Secrets of the Box': with Mr. Tony Weston

22nd February 'Rock Steady — 'The Gibraltar Story': with Major (Retd.) Paul Whittle TD

12th April 'The Great Water Conduit of Windsor Castle — a wonder of 16th Century engineering': with Dr. David Lewis

24th May 'Brownsea — A Secret Island': with Mr. Tony Weston

12th July Speaker invited — 'More than Biscuits, Beer and Bulb - Reading's other industries': with Jo Alexander-Jones

13th September 'History of Colnbrook as a Major Town’: with Julian Hunt

25th October Speaker invited — 'Heathrow - A Smooth Operation': with Alan Clare

13th December 'Eton Wick's William Simmonds - sculptor, puppeteer and engineer 

presented by Teresa Stanton

and The Mystery Picture presented by Caryl Cullum


The 2022 programme of talks: 

The programme is subject to change.


12th January

'A History of Herschel Park, Slough' 
with Elias Kupfermann

23rd February

'The History of Natural History at Eton College' 
with George Fussey

13th April

'Frogmore House in Windsor Great Park' 
with Joshua Lovell

25th May

The Early Medieval Monastery in Cookham
with Professor Gabor Thomas 

13th July

A Woman of Wax
with Tony Weston 


14th September 
 
No meeting due to death Queen Elizabeth II
on 8th September 2022.


26 October

‘Nancy Astor and The Cliveden Set’  
with Mr Nigel Smales

14th December 

'The Fight over Cookham Commons'
with Mr Keith Parry


The 2021 programme of talks:

8th September   


‘Thomas Lawrence and the Waterloo Chamber’  

with Mr Josh Lovell

27th October 

‘Willie and Ettie: The Souls of Taplow Court’  

with Mr Nigel Smales

8th December 

‘A Window on Windsor's Medieval Past’  

with Dr David Lewis


The 2020 programme of talks:

22nd January      


‘Windsor Castle during the English Civil War’  

with Mr Elias Kupfermann

26th February     


‘Finding the Few: (pilots missing in action)’

with Mr Andy Saunders

8th April      
Cancelled due the Covid-19 Lockdown

‘The Fights over Cookham Commons (1799-1852)’  

with Mr Keith Parry

27th May
     Cancelled due the Covid-19 Lockdown

‘Willie and Ettie: The Souls of Taplow Court’  

with Mr Nigel Smales

8th July
       Cancelled due the Covid-19 Lockdown               

‘The History of Natural History at Eton College’  

with Mr George Fussey

9th September
     Cancelled due the Covid-19 Pandemic 

‘A Window on Windsor’s Medieval Past: the town’s property deeds’  

with Dr. David Lewis

28th October      
Cancelled due the Covid-19 Pandemic 

‘The Cock Pit, Eton: an archaeological exploration’  

with Mr Tom Wilson

9th December    
Cancelled due the Covid-19 Pandemic 

‘A Woman of Wax: the life of Mme Tussaud, from Versailles to England’  

with Mr Tony Weston

The 2019 programme of talks:


23rd January    

‘A Phoenix from the Flames: The Fire and Restoration of Windsor Castle’
with Mr Josh Lovell

27th February 

‘St. Laurence Church’, Slough 
with Mr Allan James 

10th April        

‘An Eton Wick History Miscellany’
with Mr Elias Kupfermann

22nd May         

‘The Rise and Fall of Skindles’
with Mr Nigel Smales

10th July         

‘Failed to Return: Amy Johnson and Leslie Howard’
with Mr Tony Eaton

11th September 

‘Flora and Fauna of the Jubilee River’ 
with Mr Bill Stacey

30th October    

‘Eton Town - Now and Then’
with Jill and Peter Tarrant.

11th December 

‘The Early Days of Fire Fighting in Bray, Eton and Eton Wick’ 
with Mr Geoff Hayes

The 2018 programme of talks:

17th January        

‘Rogues and Vagabonds, Prisons and Punishments in 19th Century Windsor’ 
with Dr. Brigitte Mitchell

28th February     

‘Sir Sydney Camm CBE, FRAeS. and The Hurricane’ 
with Malcolm Lock

18th April              

‘The History of Baylis House Slough’ 
with Elias Kupfermann

30th May              

Event postponed

18th July                

Frank Bond's Walk around Eton Wick
with Gill Tarrant, Paul Hodgson and Peter Tarrant.

19th September  

‘The Changing Face of Farming’ 
with Malcolm Kinross 

31st October       

'The Story of the Poppy Appeal’ 
with Mr and Mrs Geoff Hayes  

12th December  

'The Curious Disappearance of Major Glenn Miller'
with Tony Eaton.         

The 2017 talks were:

18th January        

‘Eton Wick’s Vanishing Farms’ 
with Mr Peter Tarrant

22nd February     

‘1960’s Memories of Eton Wick in Home Movies’ 
with Mr John Coke

12th April              

‘Eton Wick – The French Connection’ 
with Mr Keith French

24th May               

‘A History of St. John the Baptist Church’ 
with Mr Frank Bond

19th July                

‘Exploration of a Royal Landscape’ 
The archaeology of the Little Park of Windsor Castle revealed.
with Elias Kupfermann
                    
 20th September 

‘A History of the Apple’ 
with Mr John Nash

25th October       

St. George’s Chapel’ 
with the Chapter Clerk, Miss Charlotte Manley  LVO, OBE

13th December   

‘140th Anniversary of the sale that made Eton Wick’ 
with Mr Frank Bond


The 2016 talks were:


13th January 2016


Village Trading Before the Superstores

Speaker Mr Frank Bond

24th February 2016


Business As Usual: Advertising During the Great War

Speaker Mrs Brigitte Mitchell

13th April 2016


Mars - An Employee's Reflections

Speaker Mr Geoff Low

25th May 2016 


The Great War in Postcards and Trench Artefacts

Speaker Mr Martin Davey

13th July 2016


The Slough & Windsor Railway and the Gooch Legacy

Speaker Mr John Coke

14th September 2016


Eton Wick — Then and Now

Speaker  Mr Steven Denham

26th October 2016


The Reeve's Tale

Speaker  Mr Hugh Granger

14th December 2016


Characters and Benefactors of Eton Wick

Speaker  Mr Frank Bond


The 2015 talks were:

January 14, 2015

‘A Family’s History and Farming’
with Keith French/Peter Tarrant

February 25, 2015

‘The Royal Warrant Holders’ Association’
with Douglas Hill

April 15, 2015

‘Copper, Love & Stars’ (the story of Ray Lodge)
with Keith Parry

May 27, 2015

‘The Changing Face of Local Birdlife’
with Bill Stacey

July 8, 2015

‘Recall 60 Years On (film of the 2005 event) and Eton Wick in WWII’– 
a tribute to the late John Denham with Frank Bond

September 9, 2015

‘The Thames Waterway and Bridges’
with Gil Jones

October 28, 2015

‘St. George’s Chapel – Stall Plates’
with Colonel David Axson

December 9, 2015

‘History on Wheels in Films and Television’
with Mark Oliver



Talks programme for 2014

15 January 2014

Eton Wick and Old Boveney

19 February 2014

‘Berkshire Folk Tales’ 
with Mr David England       

9th April 2014

Listed buildings in Dorney and old postcards of the local area

21 May 2014

Eton Wick's Youth Activities

9th July 2014

The Klondike and Common Road

10 September 2014

Commons and Lammas Lands

29 October 2014

Memorials: to commemorate the outbreak of WWI on its 100°' Anniversary

10th December 2014

A Festive Local Quiz

Talks programme for 2013

9th January 2013

Vehicles in Films
Speaker: Tony Oliver

20th February 2013

‘The Local History Detective’ 
with Mr Nigel Crompton

10th April 2013

The sore wind of Windsor a word on place names
Speaker: Josh Lovell

22nd May 2013

What's happened to all of our steamers?
Speaker: Bill Stacey

10th July 2013

Collecting local memorabilia
Speaker: Mrs Beryl Hedges

11th September 2013

Mother flew Spitfires: The amazing story of the Air Transport Auxiliary
Speaker: Ed Grant 

23rd October 2013

The History of Maidenhead's Hospitals 
Speaker: Mrs Iris Brown

11th December 2013

Victorian millionaires and their riverside mansions
Speaker: Keith Parry 




Talks programme for 2012

11 January 2012

‘Mail along the Old Bath Road (Leading to the Royal Mail and modern Postal Service.)’ 
with Mr Tony King

      
22 February 2012

‘Have you ever heard of Datchet Bridge?’ 
with Mr Josh Lovell

11 April 2012

'Skindles Hotel' (Home to many scandals)
Speaker: Miss Kathryn Jackson

23 May 2012

'Vanished Windsor' (With an invitation for a future tour of Taplow Court)
Speaker: Mr Elias Kupfermann FRGS

11 July 2012

'Things We Can't Do Without'
Speakers: Members of the History Group Committee

12 September 2012

'Old Windsor'
Speaker: Mr Keith Moore (to be confirmed)

24 October 2012

'Victoria Crosses Awarded to 37 Old Etonians' (A talk prepared by Mr Frank Bond)
Speaker: Mr John Reid

12 December 2012

'Royal Christmases' (which have not always been at Sandringham)
Speaker: Miss Frances Dimond (former Curator of Royal Photographs)


Talks programme for 2011

12 January 2011

St Mary Magdalen (Boveney Church) linked with the Olympics?!
Speaker: Rev Janet Binns

23 February 2011

Three Local Lads: Frank Bond on Boveney; Peter Tarrant on Tarrants at Eton Wick; and John Reid on Old Wheatbutts (Was this postponed from September 2011?)

13 April 2011

Brooklands (the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation) into the Second Century.
Speakers: Tim Morris and David Norfolk from the Brooklands Museum.

25 May 2011

A Victorian Childhood.
Speaker to be agreed

13 July 2011

Local Locks and Birdlife.
Speaker: Bill Stacey

14 September 2011

Victoria Crosses awarded to 37 Old Etonians — tales of gallantry.
Speaker: Frank Bond

26 October 2011

Clewer — the oldest village in the area — a condensed history.
Speaker: John Denham

14 December 2011

Provisional title of the talk 'Eton College Chapel — fascinating facts'
Speaker: Mrs Penny Hatfield JP


Talks programmes for 2010:

January 13th 2010

Berkshire Beyond the Obvious Lesser known sites and events of historic interest. (A 'sunny' show for a winter's evening.)
The speaker is Mr Trevor Ottlewski.

February 24th 2010

The Royal Windsor Tapestry Manufactory and Stained Glass. The establishment, success and sudden downfall of the tapestry works in Old Windsor and the associated stained glass works on the other side of the road.
The speaker is Mrs Hester Davenport

April 1st 2010 

Thorn Island (Dornei) Pilgrims and Recusants.
Speaker Mr Robbie Gibbs

May 19th 2010

The History of Aviation in Berkshire.
Speaker Ms Jean Fostekew of the Museum of Aviation

July 14th 2010

Secrets of the Box.
Speaker Mr Tony Weston

September 8th 2010

Three local lads.
Frank Bond on Boveney
John Reid on Old Wheatbutts 
and Peter Tarrant on Tarrants at Eton Wick

October 20th 2010

Berkshire Beyond the Obvious' (Lesser known sites and events of historic interest - a 'sunny' show to warm an Autumn evening)
Speaker Mr Trevor Ottlewski

December 8th 2010

How Pagan is Christmas?
Speaker Mr Leslie Grout


2009

January 14th 2009

The Windsorian Motor  Coach  Company
(Established by  Reginald Try of Windsor)
Speaker  Mrs Valerie Batt-Rawden

February 25th 2009

The Windsorian Motor  Coach  Company
(Established by  Reginald Try of Windsor)
Speaker Mrs Valerie Batt-Rawden

April 8th 2009

A Walk on the Wild Side
Speaker Brian Clews

May 20th 2009

Barnes Wallis’s Remarkable Career
(Creator of the R80 and R100, Wellington Bombers, Bouncing and Tall Boy bombs and Nuclear Submarines)
Speaker Hugh Granger

July 8th 2009.

The Centenary of King Edward VII Hospital  Windsor
Speaker Mrs Sally Kemp

September 9th 2009

A Victorian Bobby’s Notebook
Speaker Mrs Christine Weightman
   
October 21st 2009

The Royal Berkshire Regiment and Victoria Crosses
Speaker Dr. Roger Jago

December 8th 2009
         
Christmas Customs
Speaker Mrs Valerie Batt-Rawden


2008

January 9th 2008.
          
Social Evening  
Special guests Vivienne and David Gibson: Boveney Lock Keeper
          
February 20th 2008

History on wheels -  The Museum
Speaker Return of  Tony Oliver
   
April 9th 2008.

The Penn family  & Stoke Park
Speaker Mr Lionel Rigby

May 21st 2008.

Dorney Court -  Crusaders, Courtiers & Courtesan                             
Speaker Mr  Robbie Gibbs

July 9th 2008.

The military Knights of Windsor    
Speaker Major Richard Moore

August 20th 2008.

The Thames from Oxford to Windsor
-Shaping Lives over the Centuries-        
Speaker Mr Peter Holman

October 8th 2008.

The Royal Berkshire Regiment and Victoria Crosses
Speaker Dr. Roger Jago

November 19th 2008.
           
Victorian shopping and Christmas Customs

Speaker Mr. T. King


2007

January 24th 2007.

Wildlife on the Jubilee River                                                      
Speaker  Mr Brian Clews
                  
March 14th 2007.

The Penn  Family and Stoke Park
Speaker  Mr Lionel Rigby 

April 18th 2007.

Margaret Oliphant - Writer & Woman
Speaker Mrs Hester Davenport

May 30th 2007.

Charles Knight  
Philanthropist & Professional Publisher                             
Speaker Mrs Valerie Gray

July 11th 2007.

An evening with Tony Oliver
Garden Shed to Eton Wick History on Wheels
Speaker Tony Oliver

August 29th 2007. 

A Barnardo Childhood
Speaker   Mr D. Sloan

October 10th 2007.

Eton’s Big Store
Speaker Tony Cullum

November 21st 2007.
          
Remembrance
Speaker Frank Bond

2006

January 11th 2006.

‘History of Ditton Park, Datchet, in Pictures’. 
Speaker Janet Kennish
  
February 22nd 2006.

‘The Provosts of Eton’
Speaker  Sir Eric Anderson K.T.

April 12th 2006.

‘The Penn Family and Stoke Park’
Speaker Lionel Rigby

May 17th 2006.

‘The Forgotten Industries of  Cookham’
Speaker Brian Boulter   

June 21st 2006.

‘Decades of Discipline — the Workhouses of Windsor, Wallingford and Wokingham’
Speaker Margaret Houlbrooke

July 26th 2006.

‘Listed Buildings, Churches, Shops, Theatres, Hospitals, Pillar boxes, Restaurants & Bridges’
Speaker Peter Virgo
   
September 13th 2006.

‘Old Photographs’
Speaker Jean Debney

October 25th 2006.

‘History of White Waltham Airfield‘
Speaker Richard Poad

December 13th 2006.

Christmas Social


Programme of talks for 2005

January 12th 2005

‘Friends of Friendless Churches’ (with special reference to Boveney)
Speaker Mr Matthew Saunders. MBE; MA; FSA

February 16th 2005

Then and Now
Speaker Frank Bond

March 30th 2005

History of the Windsor Chair
Speaker Mr Stuart King

May 11th 2005

Schooling for the Poorest Children in 19th century Windsor
Speaker Dr. Brigitte Mitchell

June 22nd 2005

Burnham Beeches during World War II
Speaker Dr. Helen Read
  
July 27th 2005

‘Flying High’- A Pilot’s View (aerial photographs, local. UK, Europe and further afield
Speaker Mr Richard Poad

September 14th 2005

The Parish Fire Engine and its place in history. (with special reference to Eton and Bray)
Speaker Mr Geoff Hayes

October 19th 2005

‘Boom Town’ — Maidenhead in the Coaching era 
Speaker Mr Brian Boulter

November 30th 2005

Xmas Social Evening  


Programme of Talks for 2004

January 14th 2004

Medieval Windsor
Speaker Dr. Judith Hunter

February 25th 2004

Bray  -  Yesterday and Today
Speaker Richard Russell  C.V.O

March  31st 2004

Dolly Mops and Magdalens (the problems with prostitution in 19th century Windsor)
Speaker Dr. Bridgitte Mitchell 
        
May 12th 2004

Watermills on the Thames from South Oxford to South of Windsor

June 23rd 2004

Francis Frith  - the man and the Company Victorian pioneer photographer)
Speaker  Mr David Edney

July 28th 2004

Name, Fame and The End Game of Eton
Speaker Mr Tony Cullum   

September 29th 2004

‘Victorian Millionaires’ Houses along the River Thames
Speaker Mr  Brian Boulter 
    
November 10th 2004

Eminent Etonians
Speaker Mrs Penny Hatfield


Programme of Talks for 2003

15 January 2003
     
‘Village Sayings’ 
with Mr Hugh Granger

19 February 2003     

‘Development of Windsor Garrison to the end of the 19th Century’ 
with Dr. Bridgitte Mitchell

26 March 2003         ‘

Thames Valley Buses’ 
with Mr Paul Lacey

14 May 2003             

‘Sir William Herschel’ 
with Commander A. E. Fanning M.B.E.,D.S.C.

25 June 2003       

‘From Hunters and Gatherers to Televised Rowing’ 
with Mr Frank Bond

30 July 2003                

‘Henry VI and Eton College’ 
with Mrs Penny Hatfield

10 September 2003

‘Eton Memories’ 
with Mr N. J. T. Jaques

22 October 2003

‘Medieval Windsor’ 
with Dr. Judith Hunter

26 November 2003

‘Christmas Social Evening’

2002

The programme for 2002 is currently missing. If anyone has a copy of the published programme for this year we would be delighted to be able to add the information about these missing events.

2001

November  27   

Social Evening A  Review of Past Achievements

October 16        

Industry’s Influence on Slough.                     
Speaker John Denham
  
September  11   

The History of Inn Signs                             
Speaker Dr. Judith Hunter

July 10              

Eton College Collections                                  
Speaker Miss P. Hatfield

May 29              

All at Sea                                                          
Speaker T. Cullum

April 17             

Ted’s Country Talks                                        
Speaker Ted Cox

March 13           

Eton and the River Thames                              
Speaker Frank Bond
  
January 23          

The Victorian Expansion of Datchet                
Speaker  Janet Kennish


2000

January 5

Millennium Social Evening
Quiz , Punch and refreshments

February 16

A Century of Local Change
Speaker  In House

March 29

Dorney Wildlife
Speaker Peter Tyler

May 10

Illustrated Pageantry of Windsor
Speaker Polly Reagan

June 23

Exhibition of  Village History Photographic and memorabilia  Members Invitation Only (social buffet)

June 24th and June 25th  Saturday & Sunday  2 to 6pm Public Exhibition days

September 13

The Jubilee River - Maidenhead/Windsor/Eton Flood  Alleviation Scheme 
Speaker Colin Martin

October 25

Old Photographs - What can these tell us?.
Speaker Jean Tyler

November 29

Victorian Windsor  with Slides
Speaker ………. Leslie Grout    (1981 Mastermind Winner)

Talks, topics and dates prior to 2000 

republished here from the Photographic History of Eton Wick and Eton


10.11.99 Celebration to Mark the 150th Anniversary of the Slough to Windsor Railway

29.09.99 The Fire and Restoration of Windsor Castle

14.07.99 Past Manufactures and Craftsmen of Eton

26.05.99 The Changing Face of Eton as viewed through the Mark Bell Slides

14.04.99 The History Of Burnham Beeches

13.01.99 Eton College Through the Archives - Speaker Mrs. Penny Hatfield, Eton College Archivist

09.12.98 Group Members Exhibition

26.10.98 Archaeology of the Flood Relief Channel — The Thames Water Archaeological Unit

16.09.98 Decline of Local Farms and Horticulture

08.07.98 Local Fetes, Carnivals and Concerts

27.05.98 Village Shopkeepers — Past and Present

15.04.98 History of Local Bridges - Speaker John Denham

04.03.98 Press Gangs

21.01.98 History of Salters Steamers

10.12.97 The Old Christopher Inn

29.10.97 Old Photographs of Eton and Eton Wick

10.09.97 Eton College Rowing Lake — Talk by Oxford Archaeological Unit

July 97 Visit to Eton College Rowing Lake Oxford Archaeological Unit Dig

25.06.97 100 years ago. 1897 — Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee

12.03.97 The Changing Face of Eton

22.01.97 Festive Evening Quiz

13.01.96 Eton College through the Archives

27.11.96 Talk by Members — Various Subjects

23.10.96 Slough—Windsor Railway - Speaker John Coke

04.09.96 History of Local Council

22.05.96 History of the Thames Middle Reaches

17.04.96 Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Cliveden

08.03.96 History of Dorney Court and the Village

24.01.96 Festive Evening, Local Picture Quiz

03.12.95 History of Inns Taverns and Alehouses

08.11.95 History of Boveney Church and Village

27.09.95 History of British Legion Poppy Appeal

28.06.95 Characters and Benefactors

17.05.95 V.E. Day 1945

22.02.95 Eton College Rowing Trench

11.01.95 Pubs and Punch - Speaker Frank Bond

07.12.94 Storms, Floods and Frost

14.09.94 Archaeology — The Earl of Cornwall

01.06.94 After Herberts Store — Cullums Garage, Eton - Speaker Tony Cullum

13.04.94 Family Tree

23.02.94 Eton Wick in WWII

12.01.94 Herberts Supply Store, Eton 

10.11.93 The Commons and Lammas Lands - Speaker Frank Bond

29.09.93 Boveney New Town and West of Bell Lane Southside Walk No. 2

26.06.93 Life in 1893

14.04.93 A Walk Round the Village — No.1

12.01.93 Farming

03.11.92 Eton Wick — Now and Then

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