Meetings Programme 2024-25
Welcome to our meetings page. Our year runs from September through till June.
Our meetings are normally held every third Thursday in the month in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS, at 7.45pm.
Visitors are welcome at our meetings - suggested donation £4.
Thursday 17th October 2024
Peter Taylor (Author and Conservationist)
"Conservation and Rewilding - Recreating Ancient Landscapes?"
Peter Taylor will talk about his work on conservation and rewilding, with especial reference to whether ancient landscapes from various epochs through history can and should be recreated. He will outline the limitations of conventional conservation thinking and why he believes it is failing.
Peter holds Oxford degrees in Natural Sciences and Social Anthropology, He worked closely with the National Trust and the Forestry Commission in North Wales and the Lake District, as well as with other organisations. He wrote 'Beyond Conservation' in 2005 on behalf of the British Association of Nature Conservationists.
Longhorns (left)
Lynx (right)
Thursday 21st November 2024
Jane Harrison - "The Archaeological Excavations at Besselsleigh"
Thursday 19th December 2024
Andrew Hamilton - "The WW1 Christmas Truce of 1914"
Thursday 16th January 2025
Graham Twemlow – “Recording Britain: Celebrating the Country’s Natural Beauty & Architectural Heritage”
Thursday 20th February 2025
DigVentures Team - "The Archaeological Excavations at Wittenham Clumps”
Thursday 20th March 2025
Hubert Zawadzki – “My Polish Father's Experiences in WW2"
Thursday 17th April 2025
David Griffiths – “The Archaeology of East Oxford"
Thursday 15th May 2025 (Lambrick Lecture)
The annual Lambrick Lecture is kindly supported by George and Camilla Lambrick, in memory of Georges's mother, Gabrielle Lambrick. Gabrielle was a highly-respected local historian of Abingdon, and in 1968 she also helped to found what is now AAAHS.
Ed Caswell - "The Portable Antiquities Service with Especial Reference to Local Finds"
Thursday 19th June 2025
Open Evening with Presentations by Members
Past Lectures
Thursday 19th September 2024
The Society's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be followed by "The Road to Peace is Paved with Headstones - An introduction to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission" given by Dick Richards.
As we commemorate the many anniversaries of The Great War and The Second World War there has been much focus on remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This talk highlights the role played by those far-sighted men and women who established an organisation, now known as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, so that remembrance of their sacrifice will endure in perpetuity. We will look at the architectural and physical characteristics of the cemeteries and memorials as well as the underlying principles that govern their design. In addition, we will have an introduction to the Commission’s presence in Oxfordshire and the Abingdon area.
Dick Richards in the last 8 years has become a Volunteer with the Commission and as an approved CWGC Speaker delivers talks to local community groups: history societies, schools and youth groups. Also, Dick is a guide at his local CWGC cemetery at Botley in Oxford. He is delighted to spread the story of this extraordinary organisation.
The images show Botley Cemetery and Dick Richards
