Swansea Branch Programme 2023-24

Branch Contact: Liz McSloy, Secretary historyliz1565@yahoo.com

Venue: National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

All talks take place on the third Saturday of each month (unless otherwise stated) and start at 11am

Associate membership: £10 per year, Concessionary (part time workers, retired, unwaged) and Student membership: £5 per year, Family (household) membership: £15 per year.

All talks are free to attend.

Branch website www.haswansea.org.uk

 

 

Saturday 19^th August 2023

Myth and Identity in regional states in Greek Antiquity

Dr Thomas Alexander Husøy-Ciaccia, Heritage Officer at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre in Cardiff Bay.

Dr Husøy-Ciaccia will discuss a selection of myths and how they fit into the local historical consciousness of the region's population, showing the interconnection between myth and identity in regional federal states in Greek Antiquity.

 

Saturday 16^th September 2023

Remembering the Reformation

Professor Alexandra Walsham, National President, Historical Association.

We are delighted to welcome Professor Alexandra Walsham to the Branch who will be talking about how the Reformation ruptured memory and shifted perceptions of the medieval past and how it in turn is remembered.

 

Saturday 21^st October 2023

Blue Plaques of Swansea

Gary Gregor, Outreach Speaker for the Branch

Gary Gregor shall be leading an imaginary walk around Swansea, saying a little about the recipients of the blue plaques.

 

Saturday 18^th November 2023

Politics and the Past: statues and monuments in Modern Europe

Dr Simon John, Swansea University

This talk will place current debates in a historical perspective, by examining how monuments invoking figures and events from history have been used in Europe in the last two centuries to serve a variety of political, national and cultural aims. It will examine particular statues created over this time in a number of nations, with a particular focus on Germany, France, Belgium and Wales.

 

Saturday 9^th December 2023

Christmas Tales and Traditions

Debra John, Honorary Branch Fellow

A gathering in the drawing room of a Victorian lady who muses on the origins and tales surrounding our Christmas customs.  Hear about her family's preparations for the festive season while finding out about the folklore behind the robin, the holly and ivy, the fir tree and much more.

 

Saturday 20^th January 2024

Elizabeth Andrews: Working Class Warrior

Non Thomas, Branch Outreach Speaker

This talk will discuss how, through her political affiliations and guided by her Christian principles, Elizabeth Andrews dedicated herself to improving the lives and living conditions of women in coalfield communities and beyond, emphasising the importance of education and political influence as instruments of change, and she truly is an unsung, undervalued hero of Welsh social history.

 

Saturday 17^th February 2024

Marie Antoinette, a much maligned Queen?

Richard Lewis, Branch Outreach Speaker and Course Tutor

This talk will look at the turbulent life and times of Toinette,’ the little one’.

 

Saturday 16^th March 2024

The Neath and Tenant Canals Restoration Project

Mike Jones, Neath and Tenant Canals Trust

In this talk Mike Jones will take us on journeys along the canals from Glynneath to Giant`s Grave in Briton Ferry and from the King`s Dock to Aberdulais.