Talks
Talks are held on the last Friday afternoon of the month in January, February, March, September, October and November at the Methodist Church Hall, Station Approach, Solihull starting at 2.00pm.
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Admission is £4.00 for Solihull Centre Members and £5.50 for visitors or guests of members including tea or coffee in the interval.
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Parking is limited at the hall, but three hours free parking is available at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre - a valid ticket must be displayed.
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Here's what's on offer this spring.
Friday 30 January, 2026
Winterbourne House and Garden
Henrietta Lockhart
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Now restored to its Edwardian Arts & Crafts splendour, Winterbourne House in Edgbaston was built in 1904 for the Nettlefolds, a Birmingham family with links to industry, politics, social reform and the arts. It is set in seven acres of beautiful botanic gardens. Drawing on archival sources, this talk will bring its 120-year history to life.
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Friday 27 February, 2026
“You can’t Abdicate and Eat It”
Mary Bodfish
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So said the Duchess of Windsor, the former Wallis Simpson, for whom King Edward VIII gave up his throne to marry. This talk explores the background to this middle-aged couple, how their love affair caused a unique constitutional crisis in our history, and what resulted from it.
Friday 27 March, 2026
Charlie Chaplin’s favourite Clown
Andrew French
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Norman Wisdom was an actor, comedian, musician and singer best known for his series of comedy films, produced in the 1950’s and 1060’s, in which he portrayed the endearingly inept character, Norman Pitkin. As with Andrew’s previous talks on Billy Butlin and Eric Morecambe, this promises to be an entertaining afternoon.
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