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.
Friday 31 January, 2025
My Trip to The End of the World
John Butterworth MBE
John was a journalist for 44 years, 28 years as an editor.
His illustrated talk with tell us of journeys he has made to Antarctica, Argentina and the Falklands. His illustrated talk will show the landscape of these remote places together with their wildlife, history and remote locations.
Friday 28 February, 2025
The National Trust’s Blossom Project
Katy Wade
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Birmingham was once described as 'a town ringed by blossom' thanks to the lush orchards and gardens encircling it. Today, there are still signs of the city’s botanical past for those who look. Hear how the National Trust is working with residents, schools and community groups to create a new ring of blossom around the city as part of the Trust’s commitment to plant 20 million trees across Britain, 4 million of these blossoming trees.
Friday 28 March, 2025
A Glass and a Half
David and Pam Humphries
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A look at the village of Bournville and the Cadbury chocolate-making family who created it. This is set against the background of numerous other chocolate manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic and gives us a brief history of chocolate.
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Friday 26 September, 2025
Shakespeare and Me
Jennifer Stone
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Jennifer Stone may be familiar to some of our members. In the gardens of Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, she performed short extracts from his plays. Wearing one of the costumes she wore for these performances, she will tell us amusing anecdotes about encounters with visitors from across the world,
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Friday 31 October, 2025
The Real Home Guard
Ray Sturdy
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In looking at the reasons for forming the Home Guard and what it did during WWII, this talk will reveal a few of its secrets. Also, we’ll learn about the creation, in the 1960’s, of the TV series ‘Dad’s Army’, still popular with viewers when reshown today.
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Friday 28 November, 2025
Journey through the Western Isles
Nick Martin
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Members will remember Nick’s previous visits when he showed us lovely images of the Forest of Dean and Wales. Today, we can expect more spectacular photography when he gives an illustrated talk on the Western Isles of Scotland, their landscape, wildlife and history.
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