My Life and Times as Great Britain's Athletics Coach
4th December 2023 - 7:30 pm
Hazelmere, Winsford Cheshire
Title of Talk: The Life and Times of Great Britain’s Premier Athletics Coach
By Malcom Arnold OBE
Born in Davenham and an old Verdinian, Malcolm Arnold trained athletes from all around the world over a career that spanned almost 60 years until he retired in 2016. He trained three Olympic champions, from Uganda, Canada and Great Britain. His athletes held world records in the 60m hurdles, the 110m hurdles, the 200m hurdles and the 400m hurdles. Malcom’s career began as a physical education teacher, before heading to Uganda to become the Head Coach of the Athletics Federation. He led John Akii-Bua to African history when John became Africa’s first Olympic champion at Munich 1972. Malcolm then headed British Athletics, and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen in 2012 for services to athletics.
Sponsor: Foodcraft
All Welcome: £3 at the door for visitors
Read moreThe History of Walking Sticks
5th February 2024 - 7:30 pm
Hazelmere, Winsford Cheshire
Title of Talk: The History of the Humble Walking Stick
By Geoff Williams
When most people think about the humble walking stick, they tend to think of those requiring some help with their mobility. However, a walking stick is a lot more than just a walking stick, sticks of all kinds have been used throughout history and sometimes for unexpected purposes.
Geoff will explore the use of walking sticks as a fashion accessory, right up to the modern day, the history of the walking stick is a fascinating glimpse into the changing face of humanity.
Sponsor: The Old Star
All Welcome: £3 at the door for visitors
Read moreGo West Young Man
4th March 2024 - 7:30 pm
Hazelmere, Winsford Cheshire
Title of Talk: Go West Young Man
By David Shaw
Our very own David Shaw makes a welcome return with a most unusual and fascinating story of how mid-Cheshire and the Caribbean are strangely linked to a Cheshire farming family, a newspaper advertisement, slavery, a cotton plantation and an strange inheritance
Sponsor: Cliff Dickenson & Son
All Welcome: £3 at the door for visitors
Read moreThe Great Miss Lydia Becker
1st April 2024 - 7:30 pm
Hazelmere, Winsford Cheshire
Title of Talk: Lydia Becker and her pioneering role in the Suffrage Movement
By Joanna Williams
Joanna tells the forgotten story of a suffragist, scientist and trailblazer; the feisty and single-minded Lydia Becker (1827 – 1890). Lydia was a leader in the early British Suffrage movement, as well as an accomplished scientist who had regular correspondence with Charles Darwin. She established Manchester as a centre for the suffrage movement and, with Richard Pankhurst, arranged for the first woman to vote in a British election.
A fourteen year old Emmeline Pankhurst was taken by her mother to a women’s suffrage meeting in Manchester. She recalled in her 1914 autobiography that she heard ‘the great Miss Lydia Becker’ speak and as a result she came out ‘a conscious and confirmed suffragist’!
Sponsor: Fowles Funeral Services
All Welcome: £3 at the door for visitors
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