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Current Events - Speaker Season

Speaker season for 2026/2027

Our talks are held at our usual venue of St Marks Church Hall, Lincoln Road, PE1 2SN commencing 07.30pm, to which NON-MEMBERS are welcome to attend, but please be aware we rely entirely on subscriptions and voluntary contributions to cover our expenses. We therefore request a donation of at least £5.00 per head is made for each non-member attendance, or this is waived if you join while at the meeting. Details of our subscription rates are on our Join Us page. Photographs from our 2026 summer visits (follow link) can be found further down the page.

Further information on the talks will be posted once available.

12 October 2026 7.30pm - Reimagining John Clare Cottage

with Keira Harvey, Chief Operating Officer, John Clare Cottage

Keira Harvey serves as the Chief Operating Officer of John Clare Cottage. Under her leadership the site has secured Historic England funding for conservation surveys, hosted community events such as International Women’s Day celebrations, and continues to promote Clare’s enduring message of access to nature and rural heritage.

John Clare Cottage in Helpston is the Grade II* listed thatched birthplace of the “peasant poet” John Clare (1793–1864). Born here to a farm-labouring family, Clare spent his formative years observing the surrounding fields, hedgerows and wildlife that later inspired his pioneering nature poetry and early environmental voice. The John Clare Trust restored the cottage and opened it as a museum with period rooms, gardens and a visitor centre.

9 November 2026 7.30pm - Peterborough's Street Art murals

with Nathan Murdoch and Tony Nero, Street Arts Hire collective

Nathan Murdoch is a prominent Peterborough street artist and founder of Street Arts Hire Ltd (often called the Street Arts Hire collective). He collaborates regularly with fellow local artist Tony Nero, along with others such as Stuart Payne. Nathan recently appeared on BBC1’s Dragons Den.

Together they create large-scale public murals that blend spray paint with finer brushwork, transforming blank walls into vibrant, historically inspired artworks. Notable pieces include the detailed 1908 Cowgate street scene, a Priestgate mural based on Wilfrid René Wood’s watercolours, a Bronze Age scene at Flag Fen, and works promoting unity and civic pride. Their projects, frequently commissioned by Peterborough Positive, celebrate local history, brighten the city centre, and foster community connection through accessible, high-skill street art.

14 December 2026 7.30pm - Are we nearly there yet? a journey celebrating Scotland's milestones

with Bruce Keith, surveyor, environmentalist and occasional author

Bruce Keith is a retired chartered surveyor and chartered environmentalist. He began his career on Scottish estates and with the Department of Agriculture in Edinburgh, later serving as Chief Surveyor at English Nature (Natural England) in Peterborough from 1996. He retired as Head of Property at SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy).

Since retiring, Bruce has written three books blending Scottish history, geography, landscape and heritage conservation. His second book, Are We Nearly There Yet?, explores themes of journeys, measurement and history—inspired by childhood road-trip memories of counting mile markers. He also authored Bridgescapes and Scotland Beneath the Surface. A Fellow of RICS and past president of CIWEM, he remains active in professional education.

11 January 2027 7.30pm - Cuts Hurt. Libraries Heal: a community's story to save Woodston Library

with Jennie Storey, Friends of Woodston Library

The Friends of Woodston Library is a community group formed in 2024 to save the historic Woodston Library in Peterborough from closure. Located on Orchard Street, the library opened in 1951 and faced threats when Peterborough City Council listed it among assets for potential sale.

Jennie Storey, the group’s chair, has led the campaign. Under her leadership, the Friends secured extended opening hours (now seven days a week via self-service), organised successful book appeals that raised over 1,000 titles, and hosted events including Knit and Natter groups, children’s activities and the library’s 75th anniversary celebrations. Their efforts helped remove the library from the disposal list for at least three years, strengthening community ties and literacy support.

8 February 2027 7.30pm - Subject and speaker to be advised

Our published speaker, John Vigar, has had to withdraw for health reasons. A replacement speaker will be notified shortly.

8 March 2027 time to be advised - Villages by the Sea: How the coast has shaped the country

with Ben Robinson, archaeologist and broadcaster

To be held at ARU Peterborough - booking required
Dr Ben Robinson is an archaeologist, broadcaster and author working currently for Historic England as Principal Adviser on Heritage at Risk.

After an early spell as Peterborough City Council’s archaeologist, Ben appeared on Channel 4’s Time Team and presented the BBC Four series The Flying Archaeologist, using microlight flights and aerial photography to reveal hidden landscapes around Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall and the Norfolk Broads. He co-presented Britain’s Most Historic Towns with Alice Roberts, Secrets from the Sky with Bettany Hughes, and fronts the popular BBC series Villages by the Sea.

Ben is also the author of England’s Villages: An Extraordinary Journey Through Time, combining archaeological insight with accessible storytelling about Britain’s historic places.

12 April 2027 7.30pm - History of Perkins

with Wayne Davye, Perkins Heritage Team

The Perkins Heritage Team, formed in 2000, preserves the company’s history through a collection of significant historic engines, plus photo, film, and paper archives. Active member Wayne Davey has presented on the firm’s products, applications, and evolution, helping promote its legacy to enthusiasts and the public.

Perkins Engines was founded in 1932 in Peterborough, UK, by Frank Perkins and Charles Chapman. They pioneered high-speed diesel engines for vehicles, starting with the Vixen, later setting world diesel speed records and expanding into agriculture, trucks, and industry. Acquired by Massey Ferguson in 1959 and later by Caterpillar, the company has produced over 22 million engines.

10 May 2027 7.30pm - Dusting off the Archives: Peterborough Archaeological Archive Enhancement Project (PAAEP)

with Jay Cumberworth, Archaeological Archive Manager, Peterborough Museum

Jay Cumberworth is Archaeology Project Officer at Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery, where he manages the archaeological archive. A mature student who graduated in archaeology in 2019, he began his heritage career in 2014 with a seasonal role at Flag Fen Archaeology Park, later gaining experience in museum operations, schools, and collections.

Jay leads the Peterborough Archaeological Archive Enhancement Project (supported by Historic England and The Headley Trust), consolidating finds from local excavations, digitising records, and applying best practices to secure legacy materials for research. An Associate of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (ACIfA), he has given public talks on the archives’ challenges and future.

Completed talks 2026/2027

14 September 2026 7.30pm - Peterborough Lido: 90 Years Old

with Monica Ilett and Clare Marshall, Friends of Peterborough Lido

Monica Ilett and Clare Marshall are key figures in the Friends of Peterborough Lido, a voluntary community group formed in 2017 to support and promote the Grade II-listed Art Deco outdoor pool.

Monica researches and writes the Lido’s history, delivers talks (including a 90-year slideshow), and helps maintain the group’s website and records.

Clare, a founding member and former chair (later vice-chair), is a lifelong swimmer who campaigns publicly, organises events such as solstice swims, volunteers on site, and speaks for the group in media coverage of reopening campaigns and anniversary celebrations.

Together with fellow members, Monica and Clare help preserve the 1936 pool as a cherished community “oasis”.

Summer visits for 2026

City Centre Heritage & Blue Plaques Walk of Peterborough City Centre - completed

Toby Wood kindly offered to lead a walking tour around the City Centre picking up on features that Derek Brown and he have put together for a series of four new walks leaflets in Peterborough. These are available from the Museum Tourist Information desk.

Meet at the Guildhall for £1.50pm

Rockingham Castle - completed

We will meet at the ticket office at 1.50pm. There are no private tours available that day so Members are free to tour the castle at their own pace with guides in each room to explain the history of the people and building. We will then meet in the cafe at 3.30pm for afternoon tea which will be laid out on reserved tables for us by cafe staff.

The cost for entry plus the tea which includes a cream tea and cake is £26.60 per person

Spaces now limited - for date details and how to book join the Society

Whittlesey Town, Museum and Parish Church tour - completed

We will meet at Whittlesey Museum at 1.50pm ready for a 2.00pm start.
The Museum is being opened especially for us.
After some time in the museum we will then follow part of the Heritage Walk through the town to St. Mary's Church where the Church warden will provide us with a guided tour and then afternoon refreshments in the church. After tea I will invite anyone who wants to accompany me to explore a bit more of the Heritage Walk.

The cost of the tour plus refreshments is £15 per person and this includes donations towards the upkeep of the Museum and St. Mary's Church

This is now fully booked.

Completed summer visits

City Centre Heritage & Blue Plaques Walk of Peterborough City Centre

Rockingham Castle

We had a successful visit to Rockingham Castle, rounding off with a really excellent cream tea of clotted cream with jam on freshly baked scone, and with portion of freshly prepared Victoria or lemon sponge cake, really generous portions and beautifully cooked. We thank the organisers for arranging the visit and for finishing our visit in such fine style, and we were blessed with excellent weather.

To maintain the privacy of the owners of the Castle, photography within the castle was not permitted, which we fully understand.

The first six pictures were kindly provided for use on the Society website by our member David Dixon and remain his property. The rest of the photos were taken by myself, the webmaster.

Whittlesey Museum and St Mary's Church

Sadly I (the webmaster) was not able to go so unable to take photos. However Society member David Jost kindly supplied me the following photos to use on the Society website and they remain his property.

Previous speakers

Follow the link for our previous speakers and their subjects from previous years.

Photos from summer visits from previous years

Follow the link for photos from our summer visits from previous years.

Committee Meetings

Committee meetings are normally arranged on the first Monday of each month throughout the year, except January and May which are on the second Monday.

Summaries of the society's talks and accounts of its visits appear in our Annual Report. The contents of our most recent Annual Reports are listed here, some of which can be downloaded. To obtain a copy please write or email our Secretary.

page last changed 27 August 2026