February 2026: Talk by Michael Murphy - James Joyce and Ulysses

Michael Murphy delighted us with a true “Old Irish” raconteur’s insight into the life of James Joyce and his best-known work – Ulysses, which stills ranks among the top English language novels.

Despite his father’s rather feckless and dissolute lifestyle, Joyce graduated from University College Dublin in 1902 and married Nora Barnacle in 1904. He then rather turned his back on Ireland and moved to Trieste where he wrote Ulysses, a study of characters and the detailed geography of Dublin which had been the backdrop to his upbringing.

Joyce was also a very talented singer and we were introduced to the music of his contemporary Count John Francis McCormack.

We were treated to a critical insight into this influential industrial entrepreneur and social reformer.  Born in Newtown, Wales to modest parents he was largely self-taught and by the 1790’s was well known in Manchester for his business skills and progressive moral views.  In 1799 he formed a partnership to purchase the New Lanark mills from his father-in-law.  With their remote location the mills became the subject of a Utopian socialistic experiment.  Conditions in the factories were better than normal and workers enjoyed good housing and free education for their children who were not allowed to work in the mills.  Food and essentials were available from the company truck shop at prices marginally above the wholesale rate which has been linked to the formation of the co-operative movement.  

While the educational system was admired throughout Europe and Owen was a campaigner for improvement in working conditions, the regime was paternalistic and operated within strict moral guidelines.  In short, providing workers accepted a controlled lifestyle, the community supported them but breaches of the code effectively led to destitution.

October 2025: Duncan Mackay, Warden - Wildlife Trust’s Lower Wood (Weston Colville)

Lower Wood is comprised of 9 hectares of ancient woodland where flora and fauna can survive. Duncan explained which species particularly thrive and some of the challenges they have overcome. The greatest problem in recent years has been Ash dieback disease which is present and will change the canopy. There are early indications that seeds from resistant trees may produce resistant seedlings. Combined with the careful introduction of other species there is every reason to be hopeful. The woods are open to all.

_{With thanks to David Warner for these two images}

March 2025: Talk by Mary Dickon - Did King Alfred burn the cakes?

Another delightful talk from a regular contributor to our General History Group to round off the year. We were shown how the myth grew up around the actual events of Alfred's reign. What the sources of the period had to say on the story, or more importantly why they might choose to be silent on the subject of Kingly culinary ineptitude! Mary has promised to return to her more usual historical period next year to cover the centenary of the General Strike.

^{The first envelope contains a birthday card sent on Maggie’s behalf to her father and this is shown above. The card still contains a small sheaf of grass which was quite common in the 19th century.}

A collection of envelopes bought at a local stamp fair were found to contain a series of letters. These letters were written by a young girl (Maggie) to her father in the period 1870 to 1878. The letters provide a wonderful insight into Victorian life as seen through the eyes of a young girl.

Some research into the family revealed that Maggie came into this world in very tragic circumstances. Maggie’s mother, who was only 21, died following the birth. Thus Maggie was brought up by her father, her mother’s parents and her mother’s sister. In these circumstances it is quite understandable that Maggie had a very strong bond with her father and that comes out very clearly in the letters.

The letters were sent to her father while Maggie was away from home on holiday and while her father was recuperating from illness. They talk about instances in everyday life while on holiday and at school.