Highlights of Presentation …..

My presentation will begin with a short introduction to the causes of the American Civil War, the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States and the firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbour, South Carolina on 12 April 1861, that began a Civil War that would last for 4 years and claim the lives of over 600,000 people. They say that all roads lead to Gettysburg and I will describe how two great armies – The Army of the Potomac commanded by George G Meade and the Army of Northern Virginia commanded by Robert E Lee came to converge on Gettysburg and fight for the first 3 days in July 1863 described as the greatest land battle on the North American continent inflicting by the end of the third day over 50,000 casualties, the bloodiest battle in the Civil War. I will focus on key moments of the battle using many of my own photographs to illustrate the enormity and size of the battlefield culminating in the largest artillery bombardment of the war on the afternoon of 3rd July and the famous “Pickett’s Charge” effectively ending the Battle of Gettysburg. I will explore the effect and aftermath of the battle on the civilian population of the small town of Gettysburg and conclude with Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery and the long road to conclude the war at the Appomattox Court House 2 years later. Throughout the presentation I will illustrate many of the over 1,000 monuments and markers that commemorate the battle and soldiers that fought there to represent “one of the largest collections of outdoor sculpture in the world”.

Speaker’s background and interests…..

I have always had an enduring passion for archaeology, history and military history and was first inspired to study the American Civil War by the groundbreaking 1990 Ken Burn series The Civil War. This introduced me to what has become a great attraction and fascination and a place I have visited numerous times the Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania. I have visited many other American Civil War battlefields and museums, including Manassas, Harpers Ferry, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Appomattox Court House, but there is something special that draws you to Gettysburg. Regarded as a turning point in the American Civil War I was first inspired to visit Gettysburg by the 1993 epic war film Gettysburg adapted from the 1974 historical novel The Killer Angels. I am a member of the Friends of Gettysburg and Gettysburg History (Adams County Historical Society). My main career has been with the London Ambulance Service. I volunteer for English Heritage at Eltham Palace. I hold the position of Hon Vice Chairman and Hon Treasurer for The Eltham Society and Hon Membership Secretary for The T E Lawrence Society. I am the author of Eltham in the Images of London series published in 2004. Topics of other talks I present include, Eltham Palace, Martello Towers, Hadrian’s Wall, Blue Plaques of London and Anne Mowbray – Child Bride of one of the Princes in the Tower.

Updated: 20261028

Highlights of Presentation …..

Ever wondered what the world might be if William the Conqueror had been killed at the Battle of Hastings, not Harold? Or Henry VIII hadn’t split from the Catholic Church? Or the American Civil War had gone the wrong way, with the South winning? It goes, without saying, that there is there is a vast amount of literature based on the Germans winning WWII.

And what would life be different if some key inventions had been suppressed? The printing press, petrol engine, electric power?

Such ideas are central to a set of novels, called alternative histories. They are fun reads, and  will make you think, not only about the quirks of history, but about your own life. The train you missed, the accident you avoided. The job you didn’t get. How you came to get hitched. 

There is another set of novels, that won’t make you smile. Best described as alternative futures, rather than alternative histories. Intended to warn  against present policies and how we must change. This type goes back a long way. Starting with the infamous “Battle of Dorking” and German Invasion of the late Victorian era.  

Perhaps the most important is George Orwell’s “1984”, a vision of a superstate. Where…..  "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever”

Alternative history has long been an interest of the speaker, and he will focus on just a few novels and short stories that have interested him. Hopefully, the talk will inspire the audience to bring up other crossroads of history and what could, or should, have happened. Hobby horses will be there to be ridden!

Fred has given talks to SLAS, on technical subjects, but offered this one on “Alternative History”, which stems from his reading of novels of this type.

Fred graduated as a metallurgist from Battersea College in 1966. Soon joining the research side British Gas. Another accident of history. There he was involved in a long term R&D programme to ensure that when North Sea Gas ran out, British Gas would have the capability to make gas from coal and heavy oil. Thatcherism and The Miners Strike ended that.

In 1987 Fred promoted the idea of incorporating miniature Stirling engines into household gas boilers. Intended to supply not only the central heating of a house, but its electricity needs too. The full privatisation of British Gas, and deliberate break up of the company, killed the idea.

The final phase of his career was at the EU’s Institute of Energy, in the Netherlands, where he was responsible for the initial design of a plant to produce hydrogen and generate electricity, using coal as a fuel.

Given a different political and industrial leadership, these three major programmes would have led to a more secure future for Britain and the rest of Europe. Decisions, by strong minded individuals, have led to the wreck of some of our greatest industries and world wide chaos. Somewhere, Fred thinks, there must be an alternative history which turns out better!

Updated 20261028

Highlights of Presentation …..

Bob Sinfield spent 25 years scripting every star on the box, from Bob Monkhouse and Jasper Carrott to Tracey Ullman and Rory Bremner.

Now he tells all about the life of a jobbing jokesmith and the celebs he tried to ‘gag.’

Bob Sinfield is an actor, author, presenter and freelance waster. He has appeared at theatre festivals from Edinburgh to Brighton and written scripts for some of the best comedy performers of the last four decades.

In his spare time, he enjoys name-dropping.

Updated 20261028

David is a qualified City of London guide and a genuine East Ender.

He has produced three books: The Dark Side of East London (Pen & Sword 2016) and two sets of short stories, Death and the City and Behind the Curtains.

His interest in literary London is shown in his repertoire of tours, as well as in papers he has written, particularly for the Literary London Society.

The presentation recreates one of David’s literary guided tours, going from Limehouse to Shadwell. Featuring site-specific readings, it evokes monstrous characters created by novelist Peter Ackroyd which he locates in London’s East End. In the process, this exploration sheds light on Ackroyd’s perception of London itself.

Updated: 20260822

Today we take water for granted. Turn a tap and the stuff gushes out. But for centuries London struggled to supply its citizens with reliable, clean drinking water. Nick Higham tells the story of London’s water from the Tudor era to the 20th century. It’s a tale of remarkable technological, scientific and organisational breakthroughs, but also one of greed and complacency, high finance and low politics. London’s 19th century water companies operated a cartel which worked in their interests, not their customers’. The water they supplied was overpriced, deficient in quantity and frequently filthy – described by one scientist as “diluted sewage”. It took the best part of a century of campaigning to bring the water companies to heel.

Nick Higham is a former BBC correspondent whose history of London’s water supply, The Mercenary River, is published in paperback by Headline. His most recent book is Mavericks: Empire, Oil, Revolution and the Forgotten Battle of World War One, published by Bloomsbury.

Updated 20261028

Updated 20261028

Updated 20261028

I have lived in Sidcup for over 50 years and am married with two sons and one grandson.

My work history is all in the field of communications - covering a variety of areas. These including maintenance, design, procurement, project management and project delivery. I have a BSc in systems and technology.

I have though for a long time had an interest in history - specifically the history of London.

Using my knowledge, over the past 12 years I have devised a number of walks around different areas in London - which I have then taken various groups of friends on - not for commercial gain! Each walk lasting somewhere between 3 and 5 hours - depending on ‘hydration’ breaks.

As well as London’s history, my other main interests are in music, photography and researching mine and my wife’s family histories.

For my talk I have chosen to concentrate on one street - rather than a complete area of London. That street being the Charing Cross Road

I’m sure many of the audience will have walked along it - but do they really know it? The aim is to bring it alive for them. The talk will be in two sections.

The first section will be an overview of the area’s history and the need for, and the development of, a new road through it.

The second section will take the form of a ‘walk’ along it, supported by photographs of the past and today. The ‘walk’ will include the history of some of its many Theatres, Bookshops, Cinemas, Music Venues and Stations - plus some of the people associated with them.

Updated: 20260822

AGM & MAPSL followed by: 'The Restoration of a Floatplane and its Display in Rochester Cathedral'

The presentation will start with a brief hClick here to return to Admin pageistory of the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society and its aims. It will continue with a description of its most complex project to date – the twelve-year restoration to museum standard of a Short Scion floatplane, which was displayed in Rochester Cathedral during August 2025 as the centrepiece of the Floatplane Festival.

The talk is non-technical and suitable for all ages.

Speaker’s background and interests…..

After leaving school, Robin studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Bristol, graduating in 1969. Later that year, he joined Elliott Brothers at Rochester, remaining for 41 years and witnessing the Marconi and GEC eras and finally BAE SYSTEMS. He worked on a variety of projects, mainly advanced safety-critical flight control systems. He led teams involved with all aspects of hardware and system specification, design and test covering integrated circuit development through to aircraft integration and safety assessment. He also supported several UK and European multi-company advanced technology programmes.

Robin joined the Medway Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society when it was re-founded in 1975. He was elected to its committee in 1994 and became its secretary in 1996, a position that he has held ever since. He served on the RAeS Branches Committee for fifteen years and also on its Diversity and Inclusion Committee for three years. Following voluntary severance from BAE Systems in 2010, Robin joined MAPSL, being elected to the Board in 2014 and becoming Company Secretary in 2016. He is the Project Leader for the restoration of the Short Scion floatplane and also serves as the Data Protection Manager, Website Manager and the Editor of the internal Newsletter.

Updated 20261028/2