December Lecture - Monday 1 December 2025
The Story of Raby Castle in Twenty Treasures - Julie Biddlecombe-Brown
We are pleased to welcome Julie Biddlecombe-Brown, curator at Raby Castle, for an evening uncovering the fascinating stories behind some of the castle’s most intriguing treasures. A trained archaeologist and experienced curator, Julie joined Raby in 2019 and has been at the heart of its recent transformation. Her talk promises insight, charm and a few unexpected discoveries along the way. With nearly 1,000 years of history and over 20,000 objects in its collection Raby is full of surprises. Julie has chosen just 20 key objects - from fine art and
porcelain to everyday objects - to bring the castle’s rich past to life.
The Story of Raby Castle in Twenty Treasures - Julie Biddlecombe-Brown
We are pleased to welcome Julie Biddlecombe-Brown, curator at Raby Castle, for an evening uncovering the fascinating stories behind some of the castle’s most intriguing treasures. A trained archaeologist and experienced curator, Julie joined Raby in 2019 and has been at the heart of its recent transformation. Her talk promises insight, charm and a few unexpected discoveries along the way. With nearly 1,000 years of history and over 20,000 objects in its collection Raby is full of surprises. Julie has chosen just 20 key objects - from fine art and
porcelain to everyday objects - to bring the castle’s rich past to life.
January Lecture - Monday 12 January 2026
Waterways of Russia - Sue Ablett
This talk takes the audience on a leisurely cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg, taking in many of the historic sites along the way. Sue contrasts Russia in 2011 with visits she made in 1969 and 1972, the second of these just before she started work for GCHQ as a Russian linguist. There is an interesting sting in the tail of this fascinating talk. Sue is a passionate traveller and an experienced and enthusiastic
speaker who takes her audience on a voyage of discovery. There seem to be very few countries she hasn’t explored, choosing one from her extensive list was quite difficult.
Waterways of Russia - Sue Ablett
This talk takes the audience on a leisurely cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg, taking in many of the historic sites along the way. Sue contrasts Russia in 2011 with visits she made in 1969 and 1972, the second of these just before she started work for GCHQ as a Russian linguist. There is an interesting sting in the tail of this fascinating talk. Sue is a passionate traveller and an experienced and enthusiastic
speaker who takes her audience on a voyage of discovery. There seem to be very few countries she hasn’t explored, choosing one from her extensive list was quite difficult.
February Lecture - Monday 9 February 2026
A Golden Age: Ad Gefrain - Dr Christopher Ferguson
Chris is the project head for Ad Gefrin - developing England’s newest and northernmost distillery and visitor experience. He is an Oxford scholar with a PhD in the archaeology of early medieval Northumbria. He has held senior roles with York Museums Trust and Auckland
Castle Trust as well as working for the Oxford Museums Service and the Ashmolean Museum. Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whiskey Distillery is based in Wooler and brings to life the Golden Age of the seventh century Northumbrian royal court. They have recently won the title of “The Best New Tourism Business of the Year” at the Visit England Awards for Excellence. The Anglo-Saxon court was discovered five miles away at Yeavering in the 1950s and is considered to be one of the 20th century’s most significant archaeological finds. We will hear what Ad Gefrin has to offer as well as learning about its whisky distillery - home to the first Northumbrian Single Malt Whisky.
A Golden Age: Ad Gefrain - Dr Christopher Ferguson
Chris is the project head for Ad Gefrin - developing England’s newest and northernmost distillery and visitor experience. He is an Oxford scholar with a PhD in the archaeology of early medieval Northumbria. He has held senior roles with York Museums Trust and Auckland
Castle Trust as well as working for the Oxford Museums Service and the Ashmolean Museum. Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whiskey Distillery is based in Wooler and brings to life the Golden Age of the seventh century Northumbrian royal court. They have recently won the title of “The Best New Tourism Business of the Year” at the Visit England Awards for Excellence. The Anglo-Saxon court was discovered five miles away at Yeavering in the 1950s and is considered to be one of the 20th century’s most significant archaeological finds. We will hear what Ad Gefrin has to offer as well as learning about its whisky distillery - home to the first Northumbrian Single Malt Whisky.
March Lecture - Monday 9 March 2026
Britain Had Talent: West End to Broadway - Neil Hurst
This is a talk about Neil’s life growing up in show business and looking back at British entertainment from music hall to variety theatre, to large scale musical theatre to light entertainment television. Neil Hurst began his career as a song and dance act touring the country in variety shows supporting legends such as Bruce Forsyth, Bob Monkhouse, Jimmy Tarbuck, Ken Dodd and Cannon and Ball. He has many theatre credits including “Hairspray” and “The Full Monty” national tours. He is also an award-winning pantomime performer. You may have seen him on television too in “Michael McIntyre’s Big Show” working alongside Michael to set up the Unexpected Star of the Show.
Drama roles include: All Creatures Great and Small; Coronation Street and Fresh Meat to name a few. He has certainly had a diverse
career which I’m sure will provide an entertaining and informative evening.
Britain Had Talent: West End to Broadway - Neil Hurst
This is a talk about Neil’s life growing up in show business and looking back at British entertainment from music hall to variety theatre, to large scale musical theatre to light entertainment television. Neil Hurst began his career as a song and dance act touring the country in variety shows supporting legends such as Bruce Forsyth, Bob Monkhouse, Jimmy Tarbuck, Ken Dodd and Cannon and Ball. He has many theatre credits including “Hairspray” and “The Full Monty” national tours. He is also an award-winning pantomime performer. You may have seen him on television too in “Michael McIntyre’s Big Show” working alongside Michael to set up the Unexpected Star of the Show.
Drama roles include: All Creatures Great and Small; Coronation Street and Fresh Meat to name a few. He has certainly had a diverse
career which I’m sure will provide an entertaining and informative evening.
April Lecture - Monday 30 March 2026
(AGM at 6.45pm, Lecture at 7.30pm)
Green Chemicals: Manufacturing of the Future - Philip W Dyer
Phil is a professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Durham University and currently leads its Chemistry for Sustainability group. He also sits on the steering committee of the UK Catalysis Hub. Chemicals impact all aspects of our modern daily lives and every sector of the economy
- approximately 96% of all manufactured goods rely on some form of industrial chemical process. Ensuring a clean “green” chemical industry is at the heart of the Net Zero challenges and opportunities. This talk will consider a range of questions, including the types
and availability of non-fossil raw materials which can act as a source of carbon required for primary chemical building blocks.
(AGM at 6.45pm, Lecture at 7.30pm)
Green Chemicals: Manufacturing of the Future - Philip W Dyer
Phil is a professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Durham University and currently leads its Chemistry for Sustainability group. He also sits on the steering committee of the UK Catalysis Hub. Chemicals impact all aspects of our modern daily lives and every sector of the economy
- approximately 96% of all manufactured goods rely on some form of industrial chemical process. Ensuring a clean “green” chemical industry is at the heart of the Net Zero challenges and opportunities. This talk will consider a range of questions, including the types
and availability of non-fossil raw materials which can act as a source of carbon required for primary chemical building blocks.