Directory of Previous Talks

The words, ‘The Silk Road’ somehow conjured up images in my mind of Marco Polo’s travels to Cathay, travelling across the Himalayas on elephants. Nothing could be further from the truth as Doctor George Clark explained.  He is an expert on the subject and has travelled part of the route, going from West to East, … Read more

Once again Stumperlowe Probus proved the variety of experiences among our own membership with two talks and an amusing monologue. Michael Clarke, grandson of Sir Geoffrey Clarke who rose the great heights in the Indian Post Office as Postmaster General, recounted some of his own work experiences. In his youth he worked at the Army … Read more

Snuff  (Nicotania Rustica and Tabacum) is tobacco leaves, dried and crushed to a powder, then graded. Many varieties and flavours are manufactured, depending on the plant, the additives, the moisture content, and the coarseness. Dr. Brennan took us back 18000 years to when tobacco was known to have been smoked first. It has been used … Read more

Following his very interesting talk on tea, James returned to tell us about coffee. You may have wondered how it came to be that the pip of a cherry was cleaned of its pulp and outer coating or parchment, then roasted and ground down to be covered in very hot water to make the drink … Read more

Pat started his talk in the Stone Age after the ice cap had receded.  He identified four relevant aspects that were: mining, agriculture, the first permanent settlements and metal working.  He surprised many with his illustration of Grimes Graves in Norfolk and the size of the bell pit mining in these prehistoric times. With knowledge … Read more

John Snow was an eminent physician who is considered the father of modern epidemiology and one of the founder members of the Epidemiological Society of London. He was born on the 15th March 1813 to William and Frances Snow in North Street, York. William Snow was a labourer working in a coal yard adjacent to … Read more