The De Havilland Aircraft Company - Alistair Hodgson

Currently volunteer curator of the Bunker Museum Hatfield and formerly the first Curator of the De Havilland Museum, Alistair will look at the company’s history, its many technical achievements and how its years at Hatfield are still commemorated for the benefit of the local community.

THE GRAHAME NEALE MEMORIAL LECTURE preceded by the AGM at 7.30 pm

Waterways Wonders - Richard Thomas

Richard will take us through some of the engineering marvels around the Waterways Systems, visiting Foxton Inclined Plane, Pontcysyllte Aquaduct, Harecastle Tunnel, Anderton Lift, and many others. He has 50 years’ involvement with Inland Waterways, travelling on them and researching their history.

A History of British Rail Engineering Ltd (BREL) - Richard Marks

A return visit from Richard, historian and WEA tutor on industry, railways and military history. He will take us through the dazzling story of BREL from its humble beginnings in 1970 until its sale in 1992 during the privatisation of British Railways. This was a new era taking in designs of iconic new trains and much more.

Dodgy Military Equipment! - David Nicholson

Drawing on his career that started in the military and his love of history, David will give us an entertaining look at some of the dangerous, daft and downright bonkers military designs including a tank with thirty foot high wheels to a nuclear bomb kept warm by chickens.

This meeting will include our usual cornucopia of seasonal nibbles.

2025

The Evolution of Electronic Displays - John Harrison

We take for granted how complex information can be displayed on a wide range of products and this talk describes how electronic display evolved during the latter part of the 20th century.It is illustrated with photos from the speaker’s time working at Ferranti and his career partly spent as a Chartered Engineer.

The Underground at War - David Burnell

With a life-long interest and enthusiasm David has spoken widely and tutored at the City Lit. He will tell us how the Underground prepared for war and became a vital economic instrument in the pursuit of war. We also look at Underground shelters during the Blitz and how the trains were kept running by staff and management.

Sentinels of the Sea - Mark Lewis

An introduction to “Pharology” (the study of Lighthouses) and other navigational aids from the “the Pharos of Alexandria” through their history of construction, operation and illumination. Mark, a former University lecturer with a passion for lighthouses as well as a long standing member of the Association of Lighthouse Keepers.