Wednesday 8th January.
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Paul Henry.
​From Fleece to Pleats.
Paul is a demonstrator and trainer at The Weald and Downland Living Museum. He will introduce us to the world of kilt making and tartan.
Wednesday 12th February.
Sarah Slater.
Kirtles, Corsets and Curtains.
Sarah is a tour guide at Hampton Court Palace, a guide lecturer and a public speaker. She will talk about her journey into costuming and the levels of authenticity involved with making period costumes to wear as a tour guide. She will tell us how the 'perfect' silhouette has changed over time and how women have striven to attain it using foundation garments.
Wednesday 12th March.
The Rev’d Dr. Nicholas Henderson.
England’s Legendary History.
The Giant of Cerne Abbas, King Arthur, Beowulf, St George, Robin Hood, Hereward the Wake and Lady Godiva. Nicholas has lectured widely on international and historical issues and has a particular interest in making history relevant.
Wednesday 9th April.
Paul Hudson.
The Kings of Swing.
Paul is a professional vocalist with experience of many years singing and performing live. He was formerly one of the main singers with “Rocky Sharpe and the Replays” whose top twenty hits include “Ramalama Ding Dong” and “Shout Shout”.
Wednesday 14th May.
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Air Ambulance Charity KSS.
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The Resolution Meeting followed by a talk from the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS). 'Our helicopters are flying emergency rooms. Whether it’s on the road, beach, or park. And we get there, fast. We bring specialised doctors, paramedics and treatment to those who need it most.'
Wednesday 11th June.
Jason Sandy.
Mudlarks: Treasures from the Thames.
You won't believe what mudlarks have found in the River Thames! For over 2,000 years, millions of objects have been dropped in its waters and lie submerged in the thick, dense mud. Jason, a debonair architect turned developer is one of a new, elite band of mudlarks.
Wednesday 9th July.
Susan Purcell.
The Ups and Downs of Crosswords.
Doing crosswords is a popular pastime, but there is a lot more to crosswords than you might think. Crosswords aren’t only about fun and killing time – the intelligence services have frequently shown an interest in crosswords, and so have revolutionary and subversive groups. Susan teaches a variety of interactive crossword workshops.
Wednesday 13th August.
Margaret Watson.
Life on a Harp String.
Margaret is a professional concert harpist and an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society. She will perform a light-hearted, informal and very varied programme of music, interspersed with stories and information about the harp.
Wednesday 10th September.
Hayley Scott.
A day in the life of a Metropolitan Police crime scene investigator.
Hayley is a former Crime Scene Examiner with over 14 years of experience working with the Metropolitan Police. She will tell us all about the life of a CSI and what actually happens behind the crime scene tape.
Wednesday 8th October.
Tracey Norbury.
Make an Autumn Wreath.
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Tracey is a former Chair of the Claygate Floral Club. She will demonstrate, encourage and help us to make our own autumnal wreath.​​
Wednesday 12th November.
The Annual Meeting.
More info coming soon!
Wednesday 10th December.
The Christmas Party.
Please join us for some festive fun!
2026 Speaker Programme.
Wednesday 14th January.
Games Night!
Join us for a night of games, laughter and friendly competition.
Wednesday 11th February.
The Therapy Garden. Sally Wooding.
The Therapy Garden is a beautiful and peaceful two-acre site at the heart of the picturesque village of Normandy. The relationship between green spaces and human health and wellbeing is widely acknowledged and in recent years, there have been increasing calls for ‘social and therapeutic horticulture’ to be prescribed by health professionals.
Wednesday 11th March.
Lady Gertrude Denman. Joanna Foat.
Joanna will introduce us to the extraordinary life of Lady Denman, the founding chairman of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes and director of the Women’s Land Army during WW2. Lady Denman devoted her life to the rights and roles of women in society.
Wednesday 8th April.
Easter Traditions. Meryl White.
Learn about pagan rites and Christian traditions from around the world which herald the coming of spring and Easter. Discover how modern interpretations of food across many cultures have their roots in the past. From Anglo Saxon times across Egypt to Ancient Greece, there’s so much more than Hot Cross Buns, Simnel Cake and Easter eggs.
Wednesday 13th May.
More information coming soon.
Wednesday 10th June.
Uncle Jim’s Tin. Jody Cooksley.
Join award-winning author, Jody Cooksley, on a journey through the creative writing process as she talks about the inspiration, research and craft behind her second novel, How to Keep Well in Wartime.
Wednesday 8th July.
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Britishness. Christopher Hutchinson.
A Look at Some British Traditions, how they started and how they have changed.
Wednesday 12th August.
FourEffect.
FourEffect are a barbershop a cappella quartet. Join Lisa, Anita, Deb and Liz for a fabulously, fun singalong.​
Wednesday 9th September.
The Power of Style. Alison Hoyland.
The secret language of clothes - start your personal journey to look and feel your best. “My ethos is to inspire and enthuse each individual to 'sing their song' through their appearance, enabling them to be confident and happy with what their clothing says about them as unique individuals.”
Wednesday 14th October.
Working with the ghosts of Hampton Court Palace. Sarah Slater.
Sarah will give us a glimpse of what it is like to wander the galleries late at night on her own in the dark, she will lead us on an exploration of the history, stories and sightings of some of the ghosts of Hampton Court Palace that have been reported over the last few hundred years.
Wednesday 11th November.
More information coming soon!
Wednesday 9th December.
The Christmas Party.
You are invited to a Christmas celebration! Please join us for an evening of festive fun.