I have added five new talks for 2019.
These are: Four Tins, Along the canal towpath, Dunkirk, Lancashire men on the Death Railway and Hitler’s Atlantic Wall.
Popular talks such as A Mother’s tears (about the First World War) and Lakeland Lines (about railways in the Lake District) are retained.
My talk Nowt but a Lad, introduced in 2017, has gone down well with a wide cross section of groups.
You can see my full list of talks and download my new brochure by going to the Talks page.
I am accepting bookings for 2019 but please note that I have limited availability in March, June and September.
Details can be found on my Talks page.
I have added four new talks for 2018. Ready for the 100th anniversary of the WW1 Armistice I have introduced “The road to the Armistice”. Continuing with the military and social history theme, I have introduced “What did you do in the War, Daddy?” with stories from WW1, WW2, the Korean War, the Falklands and Afghanistan. For rail enthusiasts, I have introduced “Railways around Chorley” and also on the local history I feature two lancashire villages of Brindle and Hoghton (near Chorley) in a new talk “Two Lancashire villages – then and now”.
Popular talks such as “A Mother’s tears” (about the First World War) and “Lakeland Lines” (about railways in the Lake District) are retained. My talk “Nowt but a Lad”, introduced in 2017, has gone down well with a wide cross section of groups.
You can see my full list of talks and download my new brochure by going to the Talks page.
I am accepting bookings for 2018 and 2019 but please note that I will not be available at all in either September; I also have limited availability in May 2018 and am not available in June 2019.
Since 2004 I have organised and led 13 trips to various battlefields in France and Belgium.
I have decided to make my tip in September 2018 my last.
It will be visit all the major WW1 battlefield sites and memorials on The Western France in France and Belgium, including the French sites at Verdun.
To register your interest, please e-mail me accordingly.
I have a number of First World War talks relating to the Chorley Pals and the 1916 Battle of the Somme.
Talks open to members of the public include:
Monday 13th June – ‘The Chorley Pals’ at Chorley Library, 7.00pm
Monday 27th June – ‘The Battle of the Somme’ at Blackburn Library, 2.00pm
Friday 1st July – ‘Bolton men on the Somme, 1st July 1916’ at Bolton Library & Museum, 1.00pm
All forty-five places on my trip to the Somme battlefield in early September this year have been taken.
I don’t have any plans for a trip in 2017 but am looking at a ‘Remembrance Trail’ trip to visit all the major WW1 battlefields and main memorials, including the Somme, Ypres and Verdun, in September 2018.
I have been working with Trustees of the Chorley Pals Memorial and Chorley Council on a series of events in the town during late June and early July, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Pals at the Battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916; more news soon.
Please note that I won’t be available for talks in September 2017 due to other commitments.
I already have bookings for February, April and November.
I am presenting my talk ‘Along the line through Brindle and Hoghton’ at Hoghton Village Hall, Blackburn Old Road, Hoghton, near Preston PR5 0SG on Sunday 12th July commencing at 2.30 pm.
Admission is just £2.50.
The talk looks at the history of a section of the Blackburn to Preston railway that runs through both villages, with many never seen before black & white photographs of the line over the years.
