Guest Speakers & Events: 2026

6th Jan – Social & Quiz

20th Jan – Prof. Joyce Hill – Travels in Tibet

Tibet has a unique culture and a strikingly distinctive location in the Himalayas. Seized by China in the 1950’s, it has suffered from repression, but does what it can to preserve its distinctiveness. Joyce will set Tibet in its geographical and historical context, and give us a flavour of what it is like today.

3rd February – Christina Croft – Murderesses in Victorian Britain

Christina returns with another talk about her favourite period in history, to reveal many murder cases, where the perpetrators were women.

17th February – Peter Spedding – George Corson: Leeds Architect

George Corson had a major influence on the great architecture that shaped Leeds. Peter’s talk introduces us to the man and his legacy, including the Grand Theatre Leeds, and many well-known buildings in Headingley.

3rd March – Steve Ward – The History of the Circus

The circus is deeply rooted within our culture, but how did it all begin? Steve looks at the fascinating and colourful development of the circus, from ancient times to current trends, with all the highs and lows, triumphs and disasters.

17th March – Chris Freeman – What Have Volcanoes Ever Done For Us?

From the very birth of our world, volcanoes have played a major role in shaping not just the landscape, but life forms as well. Chris looks at the historical events caused by volcanoes, and how they changed the world into what we know today.

31st March – Peter Slater – Do I Know Who I Am?

Recently, Peter presented a talk full of stories from his long career as a Sports Reporter. Now I have invited him back to present this talk, in which he details the search for his birth family.

14th April – David Wadkin, MBE – Idioms and why they are important

Hopefully, David will not be under the weather or beat about the bush, but will spill the beans on what an idiom is, without pulling the wool over our eyes! This talk could be the best thing since sliced bread!