Home

Latest News

  • From September 2021 we resumed face-to-face events and meetings, having taken the precaution of changing our venue, so that we could ensure continued social distancing and improved ventilation at our meetings. Our meetings and events now take place in the Institute, The Green, East Adderbury

  • The programme of talks planned for 2023 is as follows:

    Our Programme began on Monday, January 16th, with a presentation about 80 Years of Flying History at RAF Brize Norton. The remainder of the programme is given below. All meetings are in the Institute, at 7.15 for 7.30.

    February 20th  :Oxfordshire and the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39 Liz Woolley
    Liz, an Oxford resident with an MSc in English Local History, will make a welcome return to tell the story of how the people of Oxfordshire responded to the Spanish Civil War, whether as fighters, doctors or nurses or through fundraising or by welcoming refugees from the conflict

    March 20th :  Banbury Photographers Barry Davis
    This talk by our Chairman will illustrate the range of work by local photographers, from the hobbyist to those making a successful living. It will also show the development of the carte de visite through to the early postcard.

    April 17th    AGM + On Two Wheels: the history of the bicycle Bill King

    Bill will return to give us a broad, non – technical outline of the development of the bicycle and cycling, showing how this played a major role in the emancipation of women and was the forerunner of the motor cycle and motor car.

    May 15th :   Oxfordshire and the Great Exhibition Carol Anderson

    This talk will introduce the Crystal Palace and the exhibition it housed in 1851, with a particular focus on Oxfordshire. Many exhibits will come as no surprise, but our speaker, who is head of the museums service, will uncover many unexpected contributions as well.

    June 19th : Living the Lexicon: James Murray and the Oxford English Dictionary Simon Wenham
    The Oxford English Dictionary is one of the most famous books of all time, but compiling it was a Herculean task. This talk describes the trials and tribulations of the tireless lexicographer, James Murray, in bringing it to completion

    July 17th : The Friends’ [Quakers’] Ambulance Unit Sue Smith
    The pacifist Friends (Quaker) Ambulance Unit worked in many European countries during and after the First and Second World Wars. Sue Smith, a Quaker, will trace its history and development from despised outsider to trusted expert on humanitarian relief. 

    September 18th : Canal People Martin Buckland
    Martin, a volunteer with the Great Western Society at Didcot Railway Centre, will describe the very many groups that can be described as canal people, from ancient Egyptian canal builders, through the civil engineers and navvies of the Industrial Revolution to those involved the restoration movement of today         

    October 16th :   The Stonefield Embroidery Carol Anderson. This talk replaces the planned talk  by Katherine Bradley on “Creative Women in Oxfordshire” which will now be given on May 20th 2024.The Stonesfield Embroidery is a large piece of needlework that currently hangs in the Roman gallery at the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock. It depicts the Bacchus mosaic discovered in 1712 at Stonesfield on the edge of the Blenheim estate. One of the first Roman mosaics to be  discovered in England its uncovering caused a sensation.The talk explores both the discovery of the mosaic and its likely final fate, but also unravels the story of the making of the Embroidery.

     

    November 20th : Visitors to Adderbury Phil Mansell
    This talk by our Secretary will introduce some of the many fascinating and unusual personalities who have visited Adderbury over the years, ranging from writers to rectors, politicians to poets.

    December 18th : Christmas Entertainment
    Details to be announced later    

     

  • The Association’s meetings normally take place on the third Monday of each month, with the exception of April and August, at 7.15 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. New members are always very welcome. The annual individual subscription will be £18 for individuals and £34 for couples from 2023 and the subscription year begins in January. Visitors are very welcome at every meeting (cost £5).
  • There are still copies available of the Association’s latest publication, In It Together, by Barry Davis. This is a detailed and informative study of how the village has coped with warfare throughout the centuries, giving equal importance to those who went off to fight and those who took important supporting roles at home. An absorbing gift for anyone with an interest in the history of Adderbury. Copies can be obtained either from Adderbury Library at a reduced cost of £10 (proceeds to Friends of the Library) or from the Association (see Contact Us above). Price £15, plus £3 postage and packing if applicable.