Graham's interest and knowledge of all matters nuclear developed from his career and his senior role at Hitachi which is a huge Japanese Company with strong nuclear energy involvement. Therefore he is well able to explain to us the science behind nuclear weapons and the means of their delivery.

Keith is a member of our Seniors Club and has developed a reputation for speaking successfully at his Rotary Club. He will enlighten us on the history of The Shakers.

In breif the Shakers were a religious sect in England and the United States, formally known as the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, who are known for their communal living, celibacy, pacifism, and ecstatic worship practices. The movement was founded in 1747 by the Wardley Society and later led by Ann Lee, who moved the group to America in 1774. Their utopian communities were based on principles of racial and gender equality, and they developed a unique culture recognized for its craftsmanship, particularly its furniture.

Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr once wrote ‘Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose’ [the more it changes, the more it is the same thing] and this is quoted about as often as people say ‘the only constant is change’.

 In my lecture I will explore the subject of Change and present some wry observations as to why we accept that ‘change happens’ and at the same time ‘nothing changes’ and why we spend a lot of our spare headspace trying to work out how to change things and in particular, those closest to us. In the meantime we, of course, don’t really need to change and usually just end up behaving like our parents.

Will Forster is the first Liberal Democrat MP for Woking – the town where he was born and raised. An experienced local councillor since 2009 and former Mayor, Will became Deputy Leader of Woking Borough Council where he has played a role in tackling the financial crisis left by the previous administration. Will has been busy since he arrived in Westminster and was appointed to the Liberal Democrats' front bench in 2025 to be their spokesperson for Asylum and Immigration.  

The story of this new charity which aims to deal with the major problems of young people with serious mental health issues. Two of the Trustees of this young Charity will outline the history of the Charity and set out its plans and programmes to protect young people from the awful results of mental health issues.

Winner of "Best in World Cookbook" by the Gourmand World Cookbook Society for 2017, Jenny is a regular speaker to a broad variety of groups looking for an interesting and unique talk on her British Raj family. She has given over 500 talks across the world, on cruise ships as well as prestigious locations such as the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata built to commemorate Queen Victoria as Empress of India to hundreds of WI, U3a and Family History groups.

In 1936 the Air Ministry requisitioned it and started work on converting a motley collection of small fields and a farmhouse into an airfield with the addition of two hangars, a control tower, offices and parachute tower. Once operational, the airfield was utilised in the war years for both aircraft repair and the training of more than 6,000 pilots. Chris has been involved with the airport for many years first when he worked for Alan Mann Group until 2008 when he became a director of Fairoaks Operations Limited which holds the CAA operating licence.

I am a linguist in both senses of the word: I write and speak on the English language and linguistics, and I also speak three foreign languages. I am the author of ten published books on these topics, and am the editor of the Puzzler Crossword Solver’s Dictionary. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists. I have given many talks over the last ten years to organisations including the Women’s Institute, Probus, U3A, the Society of Authors and the Royal Over-Seas League. I have also been interviewed on radio about topics as diverse as texting, new words in the dictionary, and clichés.

Mark Lewis is a freelance artist, designer silversmith and retired university lecturer. He also has a life long passion for lighthouses which he has developed into a fascinating talk which has been widely recommended.

Lunch Menu

Norfolk Roast Turkey with stuffing, pigs in blankets, roasted potatoes and vegetables.

Traditional Christmas pudding with Brandy sauce.

Coffee & Mints

Richard's career with the Metropolitan Police was capped by a very interesting appointment as a Royal Protection Officer to HM Queen Elizabeth and HRH Prince Philip which included travel to over 160 countries with her Majesty. 

Lunch Menu

Venison Sausages with creamed potatoes, Hispi cabbage with a red wine and port gravy.

Winter fruit compote poached in mulled wine with clotted cream.

Coffee & Mints

“Paradise Lost"? Seconded to the Seychelles!” It describes a year I spent on secondment to the Seychelles to draft legislation there, but things didn’t quite go to plan and I was hastily withdrawn by the British government following a little local difficulty! At times, I wondered if I was in the plot of a Graham Greene novel.

Gregor is a Member and a retired Parliamentary Draftsman
 

Lunch Menu

Buffet with rare sirloin beef, honey baked ham, cold poached salmon, potatoes and a selection of salads.

Wild forest berries with crushed merigue chantilly cream and raspberry coulis. 

Coffee & Mints

We all love "The Great Escape" film but is it true. David will uncover what was true and what is pure Hollywood and indeed what happened to the main players in the real world based on a man hunt after the war by RAF investigators.

Lunch Menu

Chicken smoked bacon and leek pie with seasonal vegetables and new potatotoes.

Bread and butter pudding with vanilla custard.

Coffee & Mints

Sally Gardiner has been a lecturer for the U3A locally on the subject of Genealogy and will explain her methodology and her research into a particular family.

LUNCH MENU: Buffet with a selection of barbequed meats with salads.

Rich chocolate torte with salted caramel sauce.

Coffee or tea with chocolates

Apart from Phil's big part in the local Men's Sheds Association charity, Phil has been a JP for many years and will recount the highs and lows of that activity. 

LUNCH MENU: Chicken Forrestier with baby onions, wild mushrooms, and bacon with seasonal vegetables.

Bakewell Tart with vanilla custard.

Coffee or tea with chocolates.

Paul's career in the civil service started modestly but after further studies he joined the Diplomatic Service leading to many prestigious appointments in Washington, Japan, Singapore and Australia. He became Ambassodor to Japan in 2017. This must be a man worth hearing.

LUNCH MENU: Buffet of rare sirloin Beef, honey baked ham, cold poached Salmon, selection of salads and hot new potatoes.

Wild forest berries with crushed meringue, chantilly cream and raspberry coulis.

Coffee or tea and chocolate.

Pete after a career in theatre management now directs the R.C.Sherriff Trust which supports many theatre groups and other artistic endeavours. He will tell usabout how Sherriff developed from a shy insurance salesman to the author of one of the greatest British plays 'To Journey's End' and became one of the highest paid screenwriters in Hollywood.

LUNCH MENU: Cumberland fish pie with sauteed green vegetables.

Raspberry crème brulee with shortbread.

Coffee or tea with chocolates

Helen has a PhD and has spent 25 years working as a geologist in the energy sector. She does regular public speaking since her timeas a research student and has maintained close contacts with academia publishing and editing papers. She will provide us with the history of our democratic right to protest ranging from the poll tax protests of the 1300s to the Suffragette protests for female voting rights and the recent protests by 'Extinction Rebellion' and 'Just Stop Oil'. Are these rights under threat?  

Lunch Menu: Lamb Balti curry with basmati rice and Naan bread.

Profiteroles filled with chantilly cream andchocolate sauce.

Coffee or tea and chocolates.

Alan is an excellent speaker and his knowledge of tennis and its history is huge. He was Steward of the Wimbledon Championship for 40 years. He has been rated highly by other clubs he has entertained.

Lunch Menu: Lemon and herb-crusted Salmon with provencale vegetables and dauphinoise potatoes.

Raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake.

Coffee or tea and chocolates.

After a career with National westminster Bank, Alan learnt to drive a train and became the oldest newly qualified train driver in the country. Alan tells his story.

Lunch Menu  

Oven roasted Pork chop with mashed potatoes and roasted carrots.

Sticky Toffee Pudding with caramel custard.

Coffee or tea and chocolate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is an option to have a cheese platter as an alternative to dessert, please apply to the Membership Secretary

NB:  UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, ALL MAIN COURSES ARE SERVED WITH A SELECT

Margaret is a professional concert harpist who has performed in most London venues and in many other places. She has a wide and varied repertoire and has delighted the Club in the past.

Lunch Menu

Slow cooked Beef brisket chilli with mixed beans, jalapenos and yellow peppers with braised rice.

Lemon pannacotta tart with fresh raspberries.

Coffee & Mints

There is an option to have a cheese platter as an alternative to dessert, please apply to the Membership Secretary

NB:  UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, ALL MAIN COURSES ARE SERVED WITH A SELECTION OF SEASONAL VEGETABLES