2026  Events & Speakers

26th March - Philip Elliott - Speaker Secretary - Fullfilling a boyhood dream - Philip presented an exellent talk on his recent flight in a 1944 , two seater Spitfire including footage of the flight from inside the cockpit and history of the aircraft ML407, aka 'The Grace Spitfire'.
12th March - Emma Turner - Warwickshire Police -Operation Resolve Emma spoke about the Warwickshire Police Initiative 'Operation Resolve' which focuses on areas of Stratford Town Centre were Anti Social Behaviour is a particular problem. She also offered advice on home security  and bought with her a number of leaflets and free security equipment.
26th February - Peter Ashburton - Flog It - The World of Antiques Peter gave us a talk about his 40 year career in the Antiques Business and bought along with him some interesting individual items including a brochure from his sales room detailing the sale of an Italian Divers Watch from WW II which sold for £45,000!
12th February - David Bardell & Mike Byrne - Shot at Dawn  The story behind the 346 soldiers who were executed during the First World War. There were individual stories and explanations of how they were ultimately pardoned over 90 years after their deaths.

29th January - Carl Whitmore - Jack the Ripper Carl spoke to us about Jack the Ripper and even those of you who knew something of these tragic events learned something more about the victims and possible perpetrators. 

15th January - Alan Rogers - A Policeman's Lot Alan gave us some insights into his 33 year career as a Police Officer in South Warwickshire Traffic team. In the 50 minutes or so we allowed him he was only able to give us a small taste of his experiences but was still able to tell us about his potential career as a goal keeper for Wolverhampton Wanderers where he was assessed  alongside Gordon Banks and Lev Yashin before deciding to pursue a ‘safer’ career as a Police Officer!

2025
26th December - No Meeting
11th December - CHRISTMAS LUNCH - Many thanks to Ian Thorpe for arranging this very enjoyable event for 45 members and wives - see a photo of this event in the 'Gallery' webpage
27th November - Alan Deeley - The Fascinating World of Bees & Beekeeping
13th November - David Morse - 1816 The year with no summer
30th October - Sarah Fraser - Shakespeare Hospice
23rd October - 4th Club Walk of 2025 - DUE TO STORM BENJAMIN IT WAS DECIDED TO CANCEL THIS WALK  
16th October - Dr Gillian White - Mary Queen of Scots (several members' wives joined us for  this extraordinary story)
7th October - CLUB COMMITTEE MEETING
4th October - Visit to the Vulcan Bomber at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield - John Slinn 
2nd October - Howard Robinson - King John & Magna Carta
18th September - SUMMER LUNCH at The Bell at Alderminster - 16 members and wives enjoyed a quality event with great company, lovely food and service. A big thanks to Ian Thorpe for organising a memorable afternoon.
4th September - Sarah Hann - Commonwealth War Graves
28th August - 3rd Club Walk of 2025 - 7 members, partners and a guest were treated to the walk arranged by John Keayes from the silk milling small town of Blockley towards the A44 Oxford to Worcester road and back through Norcombe Woods, The group then enjoyed a lunch at the delightful Blockley Cafe where Ian & Maddie Thorpe joined us - a small but quality group!  
21st August - Alistair Price - Stalag Luft 111 & life as a prisoner
7th August - Tony Bray - Eben Emael
31st July - Afternoon Tea at the Stratford Sports Club - 21 members and partners enjoyed this event
24th July - Martin Gower - NHS
10th July - John Mayell - Gloucester Railways
3rd July - 2nd Club Walk of 2025 - Stratford Greenway walk - on a very hot day 18 members and partners enjoyed a convivial hike organised by Hamish Knox along a section of this disused railway between Long Marston and Stratford. We were joined for lunch at the Masons Arms by 2 more members.
26th June -Hamish Knox - Optimising the Military Support Fleet
12th June - Patrick Fitzgerald - The Hercules Turbo Prop 
29th May - Ian McClean - Stratford Food Bank
15th May - CLUB COMMITTEE MEETING & John Reid - Ripping Yarns & Wizard Wheezes
1st May - Maria Mealey - Guide Dogs
24th April - First Club walk of 2025 was at Bidford on Avon - 7 members & partners took part in a lovely walk alongside the River Avon then through Cleeve Prior & Marlcliff, organised by John Keayes & were afterwards joined by Maurice Humphries at the Bridge Restaurant Bidford village for a very convivial & relaxed lunch - if you were not there , you missed a very nice get together.
17th April - PRESIDENT'S LUNCH - over 40 members and guests enjoyed a very hospitable lunch at the Stratford Spots Club under George Reah's invitation - an excellent event thank you George.
10th April - Trip to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry - a dozen of us enjoyed the culture and a lunch afterwards, thanks to John Slinn's organisation
3rd April - David Morgan - Railways in the Avon Valleys
20th March - 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 
 & Philip Elliott - William Walker the man who saved Winchester Cathedral
6th March - Sally Ferrers - Aircraft in WW1
25th February - CLUB COMMITTEE MEETING
20th February - Mike Bottomley - Edith Cavell 
6th February - Becki Coombe - Warwickshire Hearts - First Responders
23rd January - David Morse - St Paul's Cathedral & how the Watch helped save it during WW2
9th January - Sadly this meeting had to be cancelled due to flooding at the Stratford Sports Club

2024 Events & Speakers
26th December - there was no meeting
12th December - CHRISTMAS LUNCH - to round off the year President George Reah invited members and wives to this very enjoyable celebration at the Stratford Sports Club.
28th November - Marilyn Payne -Save the Children
14th November - Paul Churchett - Creating a Retail security business during Covid
7th November - VISIT to Warwick, St Mary's Church - John Slinn arranged this excellent trip for 15 members and  friends to this historic building with our guide Andrew Brough, then a nice lunch at the Globe Inn - see the Gallery webpage
31st October - David Morse - Home Guard WW2
17th October - Peter Petrie - Building a Mediaeval Cathedral
3rd October - Ginny Davis - What lies beneath the surface - Work of Barristers & Judges
19th September - SUMMER LUNCH at the King's Head, Aston - 40 members & partners enjoyed a delightful lunch that had been organised by President George Reah - see the Gallery webpage
5th September - Jeff Berliner - Behind the News
29th August - WALK at Mickleton, Kiftsgate & Hidcote - 12 members & partners took part in a lovely  walk & were afterwards joined by Graham, Jane and John at the King's Arms in Mickleton village for lunch - see details & some photos on the 'Gallery' webpage
22nd August - Mark 691 - Samaritans
8th August - Martin Williams - Warwickshire & Solihull Blood Bikes
25th July - Sally Ferrers - Hans Holbein the Younger: Artist to the Tudor Court
11th July - Howard Robinson - Woodbine Willie
4th July - SUMMER TEA at the Stratford Sports Club
27th June - Sheila Robinson - Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire
13th June - Rob Hemming - If you knew Peggy Sue: A cautionary tale for Petrol Heads
30th May - John Hancock - The Rise and Fall of the English Country House
23rd May - CLUB VISIT TO THE BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM, GAYDON - 18 members and some partners enjoyed this event that was arranged by John Slinn - see a few photos taken on the 'Gallery' webpage 
16th May - John Crew - Frank Worsley: Man out of Time
2nd May - PRESIDENT’S LUNCH (No speaker)
18th April - John Keayes  - Bermuda - Quo Fata Ferunt 
4th April - Peter Petrie - Sir Francis Galton the Originator of Behavioural Genetics
21st March - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - see 2 photos on the 'Gallery' webpage - this was followed by     Lim Ho - Why Me? Given the Royal Maundy Money
7th March - Richard Churchley - Folklore and Folk Songs of the West Midlands
22nd February - Alistair Price - What did you do in the War, Dad?
8th February - Fraser Pithie  - Bringing Shakespeare to the Shakespeare Line
25th January - Professor Colin Terrell - Over 65 & how to Keep your Brain Working
11th January - Mike Bottomley - Rudyard Kipling -The life of the writer of Britain’s favourite poem 

 2023 Speakers & Events
13th December CHRISTMAS LUNCH at The View
30th November - David Morgan - Discovering the Age of Steam
16th November - Chris Edwards - Royal National Lifeboat Institute
2nd November - Graham Sutherland - Grave Tales & Memorial Curiosities
19th October - Vanessa Morgan - Rogues & Villains
5th October - Roger Ide - Einstein's Life & Theories
21st September AUTUMN LUNCH at the Stratford Sports Club
7th September - Richard Osler - Experiences from Ascension Island
24th August - Philip Seccombe - Warwickshire Police Commissioner role
10th August - Bob Booth - The Sweet Life in Bournville
27th July - Philippa Arnold - Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
13th July - Steve Bruce - Tales from the Auction Room
29th June - Tony Butler - The SOE - Churchill's Secret Army
15th June - Bill Farnsworth - The Savoy Hotel
1st June - Doug Eyre - Fun with Caricatures
18th May - Richard Lamb - Stratford Butterfly Farm
4th May - Mike Aggleton - Radio & TV Hoaxes
20th April - PRESIDENTS LUNCH at The View
6th April - Len Mullenger - How we lost the American Colonies
23rd March - AGM & Diane Patterson - Women Vicars
9th March - MEETING CANCELLED due to snow
23rd February - Grenville Burrows - Japan Bullet Train
9th February - Pam Sutton - Troop Aid - Support for Injured Troops
26th January - David Thoms - Robin Hood
12th January - Philip Bowen - Britain in the 1950s