Meetings Programme

Meetings Programme 2024-25

Welcome to our meetings page. Our year runs from September through till June.

Our meetings are normally held every third Thursday in the month in the Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1NS, at 7.45pm.

Visitors are welcome at our meetings - suggested donation £4.

Future Lectures

Thursday 19th December 2024

Andrew Hamilton - "Meet at Dawn Unarmed - The WW1 Christmas Truce of 1914"

Now considered a leading expert on the Christmas Truce, Andrew’s talk is based on Captain Robert Hamilton’s diary account of his experiences with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment during the first five months of the Great War - he was a good friend of Bernard Montgomery and the famous cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather, so humour plays an important part in the talk. Andrew covers the events leading up to the Christmas Truce and the reasons it took place. His detailed description of the iconic event is based on over 25 contemporary accounts which paint an evocative picture of what happened and help to answer the eternal (and infernal) question: ‘Was an international football match played in No Man’s Land between English and German soldiers?’

Andrew HamiltonC

Andrew Hamilton’s interest in the Great War was inspired by the discovery of his grandfather’s diary, which chronicled famously his involvement in the Christmas Truce of 1914.

Thursday 16th January 2025

Graham Twemlow – “Recording Britain: Celebrating the Country’s Natural Beauty & Architectural Heritage”

Thursday 20th February 2025

DigVentures Team - "The Archaeological Excavations at Wittenham Clumps”

Thursday 20th March 2025

Hubert Zawadzki – “My Polish Father's Experiences in WW2"

Thursday 17th April 2025

David Griffiths – “The Archaeology of East Oxford"

Thursday 15th May 2025 (Lambrick Lecture)

The annual Lambrick Lecture is kindly supported by George and Camilla Lambrick, in memory of Georges's mother, Gabrielle Lambrick. Gabrielle was a highly-respected local historian of Abingdon, and in 1968 she also helped to found what is now AAAHS.

Ed Caswell - "The Portable Antiquities Service with Especial Reference to Local Finds"

Thursday 19th June 2025

Open Evening with Presentations by Members

Past Lectures

Thursday 19th September 2024

The Society's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be followed by "The Road to Peace is Paved with Headstones - An introduction to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission" given by Dick Richards.

As we commemorate the many anniversaries of The Great War and The Second World War there has been much focus on remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This talk highlights the role played by those far-sighted men and women who established an organisation, now known as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, so that remembrance of their sacrifice will endure in perpetuity. We will look at the architectural and physical characteristics of the cemeteries and memorials as well as the underlying principles that govern their design. In addition, we will have an introduction to the Commission’s presence in Oxfordshire and the Abingdon area.
Dick Richards in the last 8 years has become a Volunteer with the Commission and as an approved CWGC Speaker delivers talks to local community groups: history societies, schools and youth groups. Also, Dick is a guide at his local CWGC cemetery at Botley in Oxford. He is delighted to spread the story of this extraordinary organisation.

The images show Botley Cemetery and Dick Richards

Thursday 17th October 2024

Peter Taylor (Author and Conservationist)

"Conservation and Rewilding - Recreating Ancient Landscapes?"

Peter Taylor will talk about his work on conservation and rewilding, with especial reference to whether ancient landscapes from various epochs through history can and should be recreated. He will outline the limitations of conventional conservation thinking and why he believes it is failing.

Peter holds Oxford degrees in Natural Sciences and Social Anthropology, He worked closely with the National Trust and the Forestry Commission in North Wales and the Lake District, as well as with other organisations. He wrote 'Beyond Conservation' in 2005 on behalf of the British Association of Nature Conservationists.

Longhorns (left)

Lynx (right)

Thursday 21st November 2024

Dr. Jane Harrison -

"A Place Apart: Recent Excavations at the Deserted Medieval Manor and Village of Besselsleigh"

Besselsleigh Manor and village site was occupied from at least the Anglo-Saxon period to the nineteenth century. Today the site is hidden below peaceful parkland but excavations revealed a colourful and varied history of conflict, good living and pioneering women's education.

Dr Jane Harrison is a fieldwork archaeologist and Early Medieval and Viking specialist. She has published, talked and presented widely on her excavations and research; all Jane's excavations have a strong focus on local involvement and training.