Local History Speakers Topics M-Z
Contact details for Local History Speakers
Some talks are obviously focused on the local history of an specific area, but where it is not clear please check with the individual speaker.
Birmingham Archives and Heritage Services are not able to accept responsibility for the quality of the talks delivered by the speakers included on our list. We are not in a position to vet each speaker, but appreciate your comments, which will be taken into consideration. archives.heritage@birmingham.gov.uk
METAL DETECTING
Light-hearted stories and anecdotes of my experiences from years of metal detecting. Bob Burton
THE MIDLANDS
The old Midlands days in a reminiscence manner. Philip Solomon
Question and Answer Evening (Using Black Country dialect). Philip Solomon
Ancient Shropshire lead mines and the lives of the miners. Barbara Waller
Daisy, Countess of Warwick - An enigma. Barbara Waller
Witley Court, Worcestershire and its romantic story. Barbara Waller
Kinver tunnels. Kenn Godfrey
Wanderings in Warwickshire. B Ellerslie
From the Knights to the Dames - history of Temple Balsall. B Ellerslie
Midland connections with the Gunpowder Plot. B Ellerslie
Dowsing the Rollrights. Dr. Colin Harris
MUSIC
Jazz and dance. John Gibbins
Band Era in Birmingham. John Gibbins
Talks with music. Current subjects include: Birmingham, Northfield, Bournville, Kings Norton and The History of Broadcasting. John D Smith
Sounds Unlikely - Music in Birmingham from 1392 to 1800. Margaret Handford
Sounds Familiar - Famous music and famous musicians heard in 19th century Birmingham. Margaret Handford
Regaining the Heights - Music in Birmingham in the 20th century. Margaret Handford
ORAL HISTORY
Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary People: Introduction to Oral History. Helen Lloyd
PARKS AND GARDENS
Vauxhall Gardens. Val Preece
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens Past and Present. L A Salt
PERSONALITIES
Benefactors of Birmingham. Chris Upton
Personalities of Birmingham. Patrick Baird
Life with the (Kynoch) Lions. P Burkill
Springheeled Jack: the Creation of a Victorian Bogeyman. Chris Upton
Portrait of Lady Luxborough and her family. Audrey Duggan
Smalbroke Family of Birmingham. Miss M. Fogg
The Feud between the Smalbroke and Colmore Families. M Fogg
Graham Barton Ash (1889-1980). Mike Miles
POVERTY
Workhouses. Chris Upton
Living Back To Back - audio recordings of memories. Helen Lloyd
RAILWAYS
Traction Engines/Miniature Railways. Hugh Sykes
8mm Cine-Railways. Hugh Sykes
ROADS
We'll Ring You: Birmingham and its Roads. Chris Upton
SPORT
The History of Horse Racing in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Chris Pitt
SUBURBS
St. Mary's Churchyard, Handsworth. P Burkill
Talks with music. Current subjects include: Birmingham, Northfield, Bournville and Kings Norton. John D Smith
A Stechford childhood between the wars. K Downing
Stechford and Hodge Hill: A Short walk. K Downing
Small Heath: Then and Now. Val Combe and Edna Somen
Photographic histories of Acocks Green, Hall Green and Yardley. Michael Byrne
Yardley Village and Blakesley Hall. Michael Byrne
History of Yardley Wood. Michael Byrne
River, Canal and Flood in Kings Norton. Michael Byrne
Pennies, Paper, Powder and Water: A History of Lifford. Michael Byrne
SUPERNATURAL
Hauntings and ghosts in the Midlands. Philip Solomon
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Pearl workers of Birmingham. Val Preece
Life with the (Kynoch) Lions. P Burkill
Engine Building at Boulton & Watt's Soho Works. Laurence Ince
Experiences of working in a Birmingham engineering factory during World War Two and the 1980s. Raymond Pegg
A Short History of the early Iron Trade in Birmingham (16th & 17th Centuries). M Fogg
WAR
Too Young to Fight - Sutton School Volunteers in World War Two. Barbara Waller
A Visit to Station X where Brits broke the German's Enigma Code. Barbara Waller
WATER
Water to Birmingham - the Elan Valley. Kenn Godfrey
Water in towns. Michael Byrne
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY AND OTHER SUBJECTS
The work of the charity SPANA (Society for the Protection of Working Animals Abroad)
Reminisce projects on 1940s Britain. P B Hayes
Memories of the 40s,50s and 60s. Alan Thornton
A Day in the Life of a Seaside Hotelier 70s and 80s. Alan Thornton
The Mystery of Fauld - The biggest explosion in British history. Barbara Waller
The changing face of Bournemouth. Barbara Waller
Fascinating finds in English country churches. Barbara Waller
Hard Times - Diary of a Norfolk school master of the 1880's. Barbara Waller
On Location - The making of a film. Barbara Waller
Writing for Life. Barbara Waller
Hidden Gems down the A34. Barbara Waller
Reminiscences of east Galway in the 1930s PB Hayes
Mystery Surrounding Oradour Sur Glane (Massacre of a French village, June 1944) P B Hayes
Seeing is Believing (History of Spectacles) H. M. Scharf
Plants in History and Legend. L A Salt
Medieval Food. Chris Upton
Local History Speakers Topics A-L
Contact Details for Local History Speakers
Birmingham Archives and Heritage Service