Welcome to another exciting year of Grange Lecture Society. We are enjoying our 117th year. Our 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 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 history of local roads and the tale of how the Ordnance Survey named places in Cumbria 160 years ago.

We enjoyed two free talks now at the start of the season. The first was given by our own Professor Philip Helliwell. All You Wanted to Know About Arthritis and was accompanied by drinks and nibbles. This was followed by a talk by Stephen Trotter, in association with the excellent Grange Natural History Society. Our Ten Talks programme then commenced on Tuesday 14 October.

Since then we have enjoyed learning about the value of fish to our global industries, and explored the old turnpike roads around and across the Morecambe Bay Sands. Our magician was unable to attend due to illness, but we wove a little magic ourselves by finding a last minute speaker who provided an excellent talk about the Mutiny on the Bounty. It was a tale well told, about how not to look after your fleet and sailors. We have learnt about how the first Lake District Ordnance Survey in the 1850s influenced our place names.

We are looking forward to a return of actor and performer Richard Kay to give us Christmas Carols, Crooners and Customs. Don’t miss this on Tuesday 9 December.

We also wish all our members, past, present and future a scrooge free and very Merry Christmas.

Our fee remains £46 (otherwise £10 per talk at the door). At £4.60 per talk, that’s less than a glass of wine for highly informative entertainment. Why not ask friends or a new neighbour to come along, or treat someone to membership for their birthday? Introducing friends helps boost our numbers and so protects our Society for all the community to enjoy.

If you would like to get involved, we welcome anyone who can pitch in. The society has remained relevant for over 117 years through volunteers inputting fresh ideas. It’s important for Grange and Victoria Hall that we keep it up. 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