News

We look forward to an exciting programme of lectures in the 2018-9 season of the West Surrey Branch of the Historical Association. Before discussing the content of the lectures, there are two very important points that I request that you read carefully. The first is that the venue for the lectures in the remainder of calendar 2018 will be the ...
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The 2017-8 season has attracted good audience numbers of members and guests. School numbers have fluctuated but we continue to attract students and staff from a wide number of schools. The greater fragmentation of the syllabus has probably had an impact but thank goodness there is now more to A level history than Hitler and the Holocaust. The one disappointment ...
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Dear Members and Friends, The 2016-7 season drew large attendances and the standard of the speakers was very good. Again school numbers were lower than in recent years. Any teacher members who can help us in understanding the needs of 6th formers, please get in touch with myself, Graham Searle or any committee member. We are pleased that Valerie Haye ...
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The popular perception by the general public of the relationship between England and France, has always been hostile, but in reality, the history of the relationship between the two countries, is a mixture of negatives and positives. The reality is that both countries need each other, despite repeatley refusing to acknowledge the fact.   The rivalry between the two countries has ...
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After an absence of ten years, Professor Carl Bridge, of Kings College, London, returned to Guildford, to talk to the West Surrey branch on ‘From the Far Ends of the Earth: The British Empire and the Great War’ In 1904, the British government ordered an inquiry, into the possibility of Britain becoming involved in a major world war. In the ...
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It was with great anticipation, that we welcomed back Dr Robert Saunders of Queen Mary, University of London, after an absence of two years, to talk to us on the vote that took place in 1975, on whether the United Kingdom should join the Common Market. On what proved to be a most interesting talk, so soon after the Brexit ...
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Dear Members and Friends, The 2016-7 season has drawn very large audience numbers of members and guests. We were approaching the limit of available seating on some occasions.  School attendances have fluctuated greatly as to whether the topic is on the curriculum of local schools.  Supporting the teaching of history in schools is the raison d’etre of the Historical Association.  ...
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Dear Members, The Spring programme commences on January 19th when Professor Lawrence Goldman addresses us on Reconstruction after the American Civil War 1865-77.  This topic has proved popular with schools and prior to our meeting, Professor Goldman is addressing some 100 pupils at a local school.  Engagement with schools and kindling an interest in history is central to the mission ...
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Dear Members, Our Spring programme promises much.  On January 20th Professor Dan Stone will speak on the aftermath of the liberation of the Holocaust camps, followed on February 10th by Professor Nigel Saul considering the importance of Magna Carta from its origins until today. On March 17th Dr. Grant Tapsell is addressing the rich pictorial output of the Restoration period ...
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Dear Members, The 2013-4 programme attracted good audiences - on one occasion 120 attendees.  The two excursions - Christ's Hospital and Wallingford were both fascinating.  I was amazed at the central role Wallingford has played in English history.  Our thanks go to Professor Nigel Saul for organizing such an excellent day.  In future there will be a dedicated mobile number ...
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Dear Members, The four lectures in the first half of our 2013-4 programme have all been very well attended and provided stimulating evenings. The next speaker on January 14 is Dr. Yasmin Khan.  Her book The Great Partition-the making of India and Pakistan, published in 2008, was critically acclaimed.  Her recent researches have focused on the British in India during ...
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Dear Members, The ‘new’ committee has survived its first year in office with back up from the old hands, especially Graham and Jane.  We hope that the 2012-3 programme was stimulating.  We were pleased that the meetings were so well attended.  Enclosed with this newsletter is our 2013-4 programme.  All lectures will take place at St. Nicholas’s Hall and will ...
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