All the winter talks take place at the Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne at 14:30. The cost will be £4.00 for members of the BVYNT Association. Visitors are welcome and the charge will be £6.00.
Saturday 14 October 2023
Dorset People and Places | Brian Bates
In this talk we will take a look at some the lesser known people and places around the county. A grand house in North Dorset that lasted just a few years before it was blown to bits. Why was a cross placed beside a Dorset roadside, and flowers mysteriously place by it each year? Hear about the vicar who became a pirate in the West Indies and fought duels, and the woman who became a successful entrepreneur in the eighteenth century. Then there was the conscientious objector who was granted the freedom of Liverpool for work he did during the Second World War.
Wednesday 18 October 2022
Autumn Lunch | The Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil
Saturday 11 November 2023
Ferries of the South West | Brian Margetson
In November 2022 Brian gave us a most interesting talk on “Crossing the Severn” covering ferries, ships, a rail tunnel, two new road bridges and a long gone rail bridge. We now move to the south coast of the South West with a talk on ferries to islands and other countries, and local ferries.
Brian’s career was spent designing buildings and other structures. He is an experienced speaker, having been President of Bristol Speakers Club. His talk last year was well received by members present. This year’s is a follow up looking at the other side of the peninsula.
Saturday 9 December 2023
Famous Langportians | Janet Seaton
This talk brings together some of the surprisingly large number of notable people who were born in, or associated with, the small town of Langport. Some, like Walter Bagehot, Vincent Stuckey, the Kelways, and the influential folk-singer, Emma Overd, were part of Langport all their lives. Others, like Digby Denham, left Langport to find fame and fortune around the world, and left their marks in fields as varied as music and dentistry. Many visited briefly, Oliver Cromwell, US President Woodrow Wilson, IK Brunel and Mother Teresa to name a few.
Janet and Barry are noted historians of the Langport area and very experienced speakers. Of course, they live in Langport!
Thursday 14 December 2023
Visit to Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market | CANCELLED
Following our successful Xmas event to Winchester last year, it is proposed that this year we visit Exeter.
The Exeter Christmas Market is a major event in Devon’s festive calendar, attracting about 600,000 visitors. Hosted and managed by the cathedral since 2017, it continues to grow. This year, Exeter’s historic Cathedral Green will host more than 100 twinkling festive chalets. Situated in the heart of Exeter, the market has a strong focus on supporting local traders and brings together a wide range of Devon-made gifts, decorations, food and drink.
Saturday 13 January 2024
West Country Carnivals | John Dando
Whether it is the smaller Carnivals in Dorset, Wiltshire or East Somerset, or the huge spectacles at Bridgwater, Glastonbury and 5 other Somerset towns – have you wondered how these huge pieces of major art are conceived and built?
Here John Dando tells the story of our very special West Country Carnivals. John has over 45 years in the carnival game, as a performer, official and as a broadcaster for the BBC. He is a very keen advocate of all carnivals.
Saturday 10 February 2024
The Wonderful World of Glass | Francis Burroughes
To the East of Bristol towards Bath, and to the North of the River Avon near Hanham there was a varied historic industrial area, including the Bristol Coalfield, engineering workshops, and interesting businesses including the Bristol Blue Glass factory. Many West Country people have a piece of Bristol Blue Glass and items of Bristol pottery.
He will be talking on the long history of glass-making, as well as the glass industry in Bristol, including Bristol Blue Glass, and he will bring a collection of valuable and historic pieces for you to see, showing the development of glass over the last three millennia.
Saturday 9 March 2024
The life of Sir Richard Colt Hoare | Hannah Severn, House & Collections Manager at Stourhead
This talk is preceded by theAGM.
In 1785, Sir Richard Colt Hoare (2nd Baronet) inherited Stourhead from his grandfather Henry Hoare II, on the condition that he left the family banking business and cared for the estate.
Colt Hoare made further alterations to the house, which included adding two wings to accommodate the Picture Gallery and the Library. He also commissioned Thomas Chippendale the Younger to make furniture for the house, including the Library. (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wiltshire/stourhead/history-of-stourhead-house)
Blackmore Vale and Yeovil National Trust Association 