Welcome to another exciting year of Grange Lecture Society. We are enjoying our 118th year. Our Ten Talks programme for 2026-2027 is now available to view on our programme page.

After our successful ‘taster night’ at Victoria Hall, for our subsequent event on Tuesday 22 September we invited Professor Paul Salveson to talk on the Community Rail Story – A Very British Revolution. Paul talked about the 78 community rail partnerships and some 1300 station volunteer groups around the country. Paul heads up the Kents Bank Station Railway Library and has been integral to the success of Community Rail.

Coming up in October the first of our Ten Talks features the latest on genes and DNA when Kate Orvis talks to us on 13 October. Then on 27 October Peter Jones tells us the latest news on restoring nature on Skiddaw Forest; an exciting Cumbria Wildlife project. Then on 10 November, Norman Harris takes us across the USA by Harley-Davidson. Strap yourself in!

Richard and Philip have brought together a programme which will appeal to a wide cross section of the Grange community and are already planning 2027-28 talks. We have allocated auditorium seats as requested and will issue membership tickets at the first talk. Pick up a leaflet and come and join us (leaflets at Daisy Roots bookshop). We always try to have a good mix and this year serendipitous speaker availability has gifted us with a range of subjects from nature conservation to 1960s fashion and from motor cycling across America to the regency dandy John Margesson.

Diligence from our treasurer Steve Skelton has increased the financial reserves to comply with the Charities Commission.  Thus, we hold our membership fee at £46 or £10 on the night for another 12 months.

As ever we support our lovely Victoria Hall. Our goal is that membership will come back to pre-covid levels, so do come along and bring friends with you. Grange societies need new blood and people with ideas and energy. So, if you have some spare time please join us as an extra pair of hands. Looking forward to another new and interesting year for Grange Lecture Society!

Kind Regards

Peter Ratcliffe