The Princess and the Saw – Simon Barley – 4th March 2019

                                         Our speaker this week, Simon Barley, is a former GP and Medical School lecturer.  Since retirement, he has developed a keen interest in the Economic History of Sheffield and has been much involved with the development of Kelham Island Museum and especially its collection of hand tools. He was to gain a … Read more

When Britain (Sheffield) Ruled the Waves (or at least Afternoon Tea) – Nick Duggan – 1st July 2019

When is cutlery not cutlery? When it’s a fork or a spoon. Nick Duggan was impressed that the majority of his audience knew that only something that cuts can be defined as cutlery. But then we are a Sheffield-based club, after all, and our membership includes three former Masters Cutler. Even my Oxford English Reference … Read more

THE ANGLO ZULU WAR – GEORGE CLARK – 17TH JUNE 2019

This morning’s talk was presented by George Clark a retired anaesthetist and covered the Anglo Zulu conflict of 1879. The war has been described as an ill-conceived, incompetently executed and fruitless campaign. 20,000 British troops faced 40,000 Zulus, more than 10,000 Zulus were killed and 2,000 British troops died. Not the British Empire’s finest hour. … Read more