Meetings & Activities
Between September and May each year we arrange eight talks given by visiting experts and our own members sharing the outcome of their research. The programme combines talks specific to Tickhill’s past with those ranging over the wider South Yorkshire area.
The talks are held in the Methodist Schoolroom (entrance behind the Methodist Church, Northgate). They start at 7.30pm and finish by 9pm. But please note exceptions below.
Entrance fee: £3 non-members.
Our next meeting:-
5th December “A Tudor Christmas” Step back in time to hear about Christmas in the time of the Tudors, a 12 day festival of revelry and pageants. Discover the feasts, festivals and customs of the Tudor Royal Court and how these form the early origins of our Christmas traditions today.. Speaker Janet Ridler, an established and well-known professional historian, writer and tour guide,
NOTE: This meeting takes place on Friday afternoon, starting at 2.00 p.m.
Programme for 2025/2026
2025
18th September “The Swinging Sixties” Speaker Michael Gildersleeve talks about growing up in the 1960’s, drawing on his own memories plus notable pop groups and events of each year. Nostalgia doesn’t get much better than this!
16th October “Worksop, Witches and a Place in American History” Richard Barnard (1568-1641) was a prominent Puritan minister and writer born in Epworth. He is noted for his involvement in the early Puritan movement and his writings that influenced religious thought during a tumultuous period in English history. Lots of local interest tonight from Gainsborough and Worksop. Speaker Adrian Gray, a historian with many published works.
20th November “The Three Surrenders – the Stuttering End to WW2” Eighty years ago, the end of WW2 came with a confusing number of different surrenders. This presentation describes the sequence of different surrender ceremonies that finally led to the end of WW2. It begins with the ‘sports-jacket surrender’ in Italy in March 1945 before moving to the Lueneburg Heath, Reims and then Berlin in May 1945.Speaker Malcolm Brooke has had a life long interest in military history and experience working with MOD schools.
The meetings above start Thursday evenings at 7.30 p.m in the Methodist Schoolroom.
5th December “A Tudor Christmas” Step back in time to hear about Christmas in the time of the Tudors, a 12 day festival of revelry and pageants. Discover the feasts, festivals and customs of the Tudor Royal Court and how these form the early origins of our Christmas traditions today.. Speaker Janet Ridler, an established and well-known professional historian, writer and tour guide,
NOTE: This meeting takes place on Friday afternoon, starting at 2.00 p.m.
2026
15th January “The Mayflower Connection” This talk focuses on a group of postcards sent in the UK and America in the early 1900’s that help share the story of the Mayflower. Speaker Helen Baggott, writer and researcher.
Zoom Meeting in the evening.
19th February “Giving Sheffield the Edge – the History of the Company of Cutlers” In 1624 Parliament gave The Company legal rights to manage the cutlery trades in Sheffield and Hallamshire. We will hear of its ups and downs and the part The Company still plays in Sheffield manufacturing today. Speaker Joan Unwin, archivist at The Company.
19th March “Concealed Objects and Written Charms: Protection in the Medieval Period” Have you had a run of bad luck? Do you suffer from unexplained pains? Is your husband being led astray? What can you do? Who can help? A Cunning Woman, of course! Speaker Elaine Perkins, dressed in medieval costume, will provide the answers.
16th April John Hartley: “The 19th century Yorkshire Dialect Writer”. He wrote a great deal of prose and poetry dealing with the poverty of the district. Including a number of books featuring the character "Sammywell Grimes", who numerous adventures and suffers unfortunate mishaps. Speaker Rodney Dimbleby from the Yorkshire Dialect Society.
The meetings above take place on Thursday evenings at 7.30 p.m. in the Methodist Schoolroom.
20th May Henry VIII – Good King Hal. Most of us know something about King Henry VIII, but our Speaker, Michael Farley, actor, broadcaster and raconteur, dressed in full costume, is sure to enlighten you further. He has performed on air, in films and at venues ranging from notable castles to many schools where he has brought the syllabus to life as we are sure he will for TDLHS.
Please note this meeting will take place on a Wednesday, starting at
