Our single-session talks, at All Saints Church Hall, are on Friday afternoons (14:30-15:30) followed by refreshments (tea/coffee/biscuits) and an opportunity to socialise. There is no charge for SUES members. Non-members considering joining the Society are welcome to attend one talk free of charge, as a ‘taster’.
Talk 1: This Spectred Isle: Eerie Fiction and the English Countryside – Isaac Hart
Friday 27th September 2024
From the antiquarian hauntings of the Cambridge scholar Monty James to the cosmic horrors of television pioneer Nigel Kneale, the English ghost story has evolved over the last two centuries into its own distinct category of fantastic fiction. In this talk, Isaac Hart discusses the roots of the ghost story in the English countryside, how they differ in form and implication from their American cousins, and the history of eerie fiction from the Victorian era to the modern day. This will include a discussion of several notable examples of the form, including James’ story Canon Alberic’s Scrapbook, folk horror films Witchfinder General and A Field in England, and more recent works such as Inside No. 9. Prepare to discover why all our monsters come up from under the earth …
Isaac Hart is an author, podcaster and museum professional who currently works in education. He holds a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester and an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Manchester. He has worked for the Atkinson Museum in Southport and Manchester Central Library. He has written several original ghost stories in the antiquarian style, he writes and performs the Ghost in the Museum podcast (on Spotify and all good podcasting platforms) and has worked on several short films. He currently lives with his partner in Southport.
Talk 2: Colour from December to June: Growing Bulbs in Pots and Borders – Marguerite Hughes
Friday 18th October 2024
This will be a gardening talk/demonstration with lots of tips, practical advice and illustrations on choosing and planting spring bulbs for long term interest.
Marguerite Hughs is an experienced horticulturist, teacher, lecturer and garden designer. She is based in central Lancashire where she runs a series of weekly gardening classes covering design & planning, propagation, pruning, problem-solving and matching plants to a garden site to optimise its potential. Her practical talks and demonstrations are illustrated with plants and materials from her 1 acre garden.
Talk 3: ‘Personal Socialism’: Growing Up in Communist Hungary – Julia Posta
Friday 22nd November 2024
Have you ever heard the terms “goulash communism” or “the happiest barrack”? Do you know what a Trabant, a Túrórudi or a “wooden dog” is? This talk, about life in Hungary behind the Iron Curtain, includes a historical overview (the 1949 elections, the Rákosi regime, the 1956 revolution, the Kádár regime and democratic change), work, transport, consumption, fashion, education, culture (the 3 Ts) and holidays.
Julia Posta grew up in Hungary during socialism and the regime change. Now resident in the UK, she has undertaken voluntary work at The Atkinson since 2023. She says: “Although I am not a historian, I have always been interested in history, and in my work I have often found myself in situations where I had to explain historical events and understand others. Being in England, I received many questions about what life was like behind the Iron Curtain, and in response to these questions this lecture was born.”
Talk 4: A few of my favourite things: a personal selection of treasures from Lancashire Archives – Alan Crosby
Friday 31st January 2025
Alan will look at about a dozen documents (medieval to 19th century) and explain what they are and why he thinks they are of special importance or value. (Please note that this replaces the previously-advertised talk by Joseph Reed on the archives at Stoneyhurst.)
Dr Alan Crosby is one of North-West England’s leading local historians and a longstanding friend of SUES. He has written numerous books and articles and is a popular lecturer and continuing education tutor. His SUES talk on Education in Victorian Lancashire last summer was very well received.
Talk 5: The Real Story of the Sydney Opera House – Eric Woodcock
Friday 28th February 2025
The Sydney Opera House remains a highly controversial project. The question of who really created what we see today remains fiercely debated half a century after it was finished. Its story is above all about the interplay between three main characters – a visionary but inexperienced Danish architect, a renowned pioneer in structural engineering from Britain, and a young and ambitious Australian architect whose involvement with the project would make or break his career. This talk examines the history of the troubled design and construction of the Opera House and considers the impact it had on these three figures.
Eric Woodcock lives in Southport and began his working life at Leyland Vehicles. He has also worked in the aerospace, education, information technology and public sectors in various managerial and advisory roles. More recently, he has designed and run project management courses at various universities across the country. For six years, Eric’s daughter and her family lived in Sydney, Australia, which gave him lots of opportunities to learn about and explore Sydney Opera House.
Talk 6: A Tale of Three Temples: The Rediscovery of Classical Greece – Julia Clayton
Friday 28th March 2025
This talk explores the extraordinary achievements and legacy of John Foster Junior of Liverpool, particularly his contribution to the history of Classical architecture. In 1810 Foster, then a young architect, embarked on a ‘Grand Tour’ of the Ottoman Empire; it was six years before he returned home. The discoveries that Foster and his travelling companions made at the Temple of Aphaia on the island of Aegina, and at the Temple of Apollo at Bassae, revolutionised our understanding of Greek art and architecture – and started a bidding war among the museums of western Europe, anxious to get their hands on these amazing sculptures. Foster’s legacy was not confined to his archaeological discoveries, as he used his knowledge of Greek architecture to transform the appearance of his home city, creating many of the most significant buildings of 19th century Liverpool. As for the third temple … you’ll have to come to the lecture to find out!
Julia Clayton was Head of Classics at King George V College, Southport, from 1996 to 2019. In 2019, she completed an MA in Creative Writing at Edge Hill University and has subsequently had several short stories published, mostly on themes relating to art and architecture. In May 2024 she completed a PhD at Edge Hill on Invented Artworks in Fiction, including Classical reception in fictional artworks. Julia’s blog on the afterlife of Greek art, including a piece on Southport Monument, can be found at https://classicalclayton.blogspot.com.
Talk 7: Liverpool’s Art Scene at the Start of the 20th Century – Niall Hodson
Friday 25th April 2025
Details to follow.