Tudor talks by Jenny Peet

1. NO KNICKERS – A light hearted look at Tudor life Not as naughty as it sounds! Jenny contrasts the lives of the wealthy Tudor people with the lives of the poor. She looks at living conditions, childbirth, clothes, personal hygiene, illnesses and cures. It is a talk that surprises, delights and amuses.

2. FROM FIELD TO FEAST Tudor food is a fascinating subject and far more varied than people might imagine. From sowing and planting to cooking and eating Jenny talks about recipes, magnificent banquets, table manners and the courtly behaviour of the rich, whilst not forgetting that most of the population was poor. What did they eat and, more importantly, how did they survive the long winter days?

3. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN TUDOR ENGLAND WITHOUT THE GRISLY BITS We can easily imagine the horror of being hanged, drawn and quartered so this talk looks at the 'lighter' side of the Tudor underworld. The lives of the card cheats, the coney catchers, the cutpurses, the charm sellers, and other ingenious criminals. Their punishments are explained without recourse to the tales of the dungeons, so no-one needs to fear a disturbed night’s sleep.

 4. THE MURDERER, THE MAGICIAN AND THE PIRATE Tudor portraits are colourful, interesting and delightful to look at – but what about the stories behind the faces? What kind of lives did they lead, who were their friends and enemies and how did they meet their maker? Those listening will never again be able to look at portraits in the same way as they recall these stories caught in a painted moment of time.

5. A VOYAGE TO AMERICA - COURAGEOUS OR CRAZY? The brave and foolhardy Pilgrim Fathers’ story begins in 1606. Find out why they left the security of this country to live in an unknown world. Learn the tales of those crammed aboard the Mayflower, the horrors of the journey, how they coped when they landed, their adjustment to a new land and how they traded with the local Indians. This story reminds us of the simple but challenging beginnings of the United States of America.

Dickens talks by David Peet

David worked at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand, London for a number of years. This quiet "legal" backwater, which includes the four Inns of Court with their wonderful gardens, still has many properties and locations where Charles Dickens either lived, or worked or which he used as settings in his novels. David offers four illustrated talks about various aspects of Dickens' life which reveal much about his complicated character. Novelist, social reformer, family man, actor, comic genius and secret lover - there's more to Dickens than was generally known by his adoring fans around the Victorian world.

TALK 1 - DICKENS AND THE LAW

An illustrated tour around the "legal" area of London, including the Royal Courts, Grays Inn, Lincolns Inn and Middle and Inner Temples with their lovely gardens and churches. The slides show the properties in which Dickens lived and worked and the many locations he used in his novels, with relevant short quotations. A lighthearted and lively look at this facinating area of London and the interesting things that still go on there 150 years after Dickens' death.

TALK 2 - DICKENS AND WOMEN

After his death Dickens' daughter Kate said "my father never really understood women". This not-too-serious talk looks at the factors which shaped Dickens' relationships with women including his mother, sister, youthful girl friends, wife, daughters and his secret lover and we see photos and portraits of them all.

TALK 3 - DICKENS AND CHRISTMAS

Dickens has been described as the inventor of the modern Christmas. Whilst "A Christmas Carol", with the unforgettable Scrooge and Tiny Tim, is his best known Christmas work he wrote many other stories and articles on the subject. This talk looks at the reasons for his keen interest in celebrating Christmas and the new year and includes readings of both well and lesser known extracts. Its an ideal talk for the weeks before Christmas, perhaps with sherry and mince pies.

TALK 4 - DICKENS AND SOCIAL REFORM

During his time as a Parliamentary reporter Dickens became aware of the many areas of Victorian life in which there was a need for urgent improvement. Education and health care was beyond the reach of the poor, many of whom, including young children, were forced to work long hours down coal mines and in other unsafe places. Dickens used his novels and the newspapers he edited to help speed changes and improvements in the law affecting employment, education, prisons, the treatment of "fallen women" and much more. An interesting talk emphasising how much we owe to Dickens and his like-minded friends.