On 13 April Kate Slemek, Managing Director of St George’s Hospital gave an excellent short talk, followed by a longer Q&A session to the Society. This was a most reassuring presentation of interest to those of us fortunate enough to be treated at this hospital. A recording of the talk can be seen here:
Category: Meeting Report
Talk on Madagascar by John Gimlette
Following the AGM, travel writer and local resident John Gimlette gave the Society a fascinating talk on his travels in the extraordinarly large and diverse island of Madgascar. These are chronicled in his latest book ‘The Gardens of Mars, Madagacar an Island Story’.
As well as visiting every corner of the island, he journeys deep into its past in order to better understand how Madagascar became what it is today. Along the way, he meets politicians, sorcerers, gem prospectors, militiamen, rioters, lepers and the descendants of seventeenth-century pirates.
To see the presentation:
The Wandle Piscators
On Thursday 9 February David O’Hanlon, Chairman of the Wandle Piscators, gave a fascinating talk on the work of this recently reinvigorated Society whose prime function is to better the Wandle for anglers. However they are to be applauded for their work to improve biodiversity for everyone and their emerging interaction with young people in areas of deprivation in Merton and Sutton. To view the talk, see below:
The Piscators latest news see https://piscators.empty-spaces.net/
Independent Bookshops
On 12th January around 70 members and friends attended a fascinating session when Libby Spurrier expertly interviewed Venetia Vyvyan, owner of the Barnes Bookshop, and Tom Rowley who has recently opened the Backstory book shop in Balham High Road. It was a fascinating insight into the trials, tribulations and pleasure of owning an indepenent bookshop in the current climate. A recording of the session is available here:
Pubs of Wandsworth
On 10 November Phil Evison, a local historian, gave an interesting talk to the Society on the present and past pubs of Wandsorth and the historic links with the Ram Brewery. To view the talk please follow the link