Welcome to a new year of Grange Lecture Society. In October we will start our 117th year. Our new Ten Talks programme for 2025-2026 has a range of different subject areas and, we feel, a good appeal to a wide audience of all ages. We gather at 7pm for a 7.15pm prompt start. We are holding our membership fee at £46 again for the season (with entry on the night for one-off Talks at £10).

We have recruited a magician, a geologist, an ichthyologist (fish expert), a geographer, and an historian of the far east who will talk on Japanese gardens. Other speakers will tell of women’s WWII railway work, another will sing and tell us the story of Christmas traditions, one will explain the history of walking and another will describe the inspiring social achievements created by choir singing. We also have the local road history and the tale of how the Ordnance Survey named things in Cumbria 160 years ago.

Once again we will offer two free talks this year. The free open introductory and informal gathering is on Tuesday 19 August at 7pm for 7.15pm given by our own Professor Philip Helliwell. All You Wanted to Know About Arthritis. It is accompanied by drinks and nibbles allowing the audience time to meet the committee, sign up (card machine or cash/cheques) and meet old friends. On Tuesday 23 September there will be an additional FREE TALK in association with Grange Natural History Society by Stephen Trotter. Our main Ten Talks will begin on Tuesday 14 October. All this, at the Victoria Hall.

Our membership is around 150. Our fee remains £46. At £4.60 per talk, that’s less than a glass of wine for highly informative entertainment. Perhaps you have a friend or new neighbour you can encourage to come along, (perhaps to the FREE TALK), or treat someone to membership for their birthday? If each one of us introduced a friend we would boost our numbers and help protect our Society for all the community to enjoy.

We would welcome more new members to our committee. We are particularly keen to recruit a secretary for our meetings – just minutes to take at about four meetings a year and a few light admin duties. And the other key role is that of membership secretary, a job with a requirement for spreadsheet skills and a short flurry of work in September and early October and then extremely light duties for the rest of the season.We rely on volunteers to give us fresh ideas to keep the society relevant. Please seek any of us out for a chat. My phone number is 07973 122 017. I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Kind regards,
Peter Ratcliffe