Talks, Presentations, Walks, Visits and Other Events for 2025
All talks take place in Church House on Bathwell Lane unless otherwise stated, starting at 7.30pm and last for approximately an hour. We ask for a suggested donation of £2 per member & £5 per non-member. Guided tours are free but donations are always welcome!
2025
Monday 20th October: An Audience with Mary Clothier and Ernie Davis. It would be rude to mention the ages of this formidable duo! Suffice to say, they both have long lifetimes of stories to share, and even though the idea is for them to be encouraged to talk about their memories in a type of chat-show format, we imagine that once they get going, there will no need for prompts! Come for what will no doubt be fascinating walk down long-memory lane with these two Milborne Port characters…
Monday 17th November: Stories and anecdotes from the Parish Registers, a Drapery & Grocery Day Book 1890, Church School records and records from the WW2 warden.
No talk in December.
2026
Monday 19th January: Charlotte Carty presents: ‘In my Grandfather’s Footsteps’
This is a repeat of the highly moving and engaging talk that Charlotte gave on 10th May 2025 as part of our VE Day Commemorations. It was so good that we are offering it again to those who missed it or for those who would like to hear it again!
The talk will cover the exploits of Lt Col Brown, the grandfather of a current Milborne Port resident, during his days fighting in the Far East in World War Two. As we commemorate VE Day, we should remember that, for the men and women serving in the Far East, their war was far from over. The talk will provide a brief overview of the fighting in India and Burma and also recount the adventures of the family of Lt Col Brown last year as they re-created the Assam Regiment’s 77 mile, 39-hour, non-stop march in the Naga Hills of N E India where the regiment helped to halt the Japanese advance into India.
When You Go Home
Tell Them of Us and Say
For Your Tomorrow
We Gave Our Today’
The Kohima epitaph.
Monday 16th February: Alastair Braidwood – Dorchester born-and-bred folk singer Alastair performs traditional and modern folk songs from Dorsetshire and further afield, pared back to the simple unaccompanied voice. There shall be some rousing choruses, so make sure to bring your own voice to help along!
Monday 17th March: Tythe Barns – Joe Rogers.
Monday 20th April: Elizabeth Lammas & Dr Caroline Rutter present: Mary Caroline Tyler, née Southcombe, a true daughter of Milborne Port who certainly did her bit to help bring the war to an end, mentioned in Debrett’s for her achievements. Though not in uniform as her siblings were, she ‘led a group of uniformed Wrens in Hut 7’ at Bletchley Park, but of course could not tell anyone that for 50 years! Her husband, Mr FL Tyler, was a veteran of the D-Day landings. A fascinating and full life.
May: At the early stages of planning… Milborne Port Then & Now as part of a Welcome to the Village event at the Village Hall
Monday 20th June: Raleigh, the Digbys & Sherborne Castle with Bill McDermott
Monday 17th July: At the early stages of planning… An ‘on location’ talk at Charlton Horethorne’s Church of St Peter & St Paul.
Chapel Museum
Every Summer we open the Museum every Sunday afternoon 2.30 pm-4.00 pm from the end of May to the end of August. However, if you would like to arrange a private visit at any other time, please contact Lesley Wray: lesmik71@gmail.com.
Can you help? Do you have a few hours to spare one Sunday afternoon (2.30-4.00 pm) next Summer? The museum will be open to the public with a member of the Committee on duty but it would great to have another history-minded person to keep us company. If you are willing, please let us know by contacting Lesley Wray: lesmik71@gmail.com.
If you have a specific interest you would like us to investigate we would love to hear from you so please do get in touch with us at mphhgroup@gmail.com
Please join our Facebook group so that we can keep you updated regarding all of our activities.