Autumn Talks 2010

The Embroideries of Belinda Montagu: A Retrospective of her work

by Belinda Lady Montagu

This lecture is about the New Forest Embroidery and also other work Belinda Lady Montagu has undertaken. It is hoped to screen some of the film made in 1979 to celebrate the 900th centenary, showing Belinda Lady Montagu and the making of the embroidery, as well as photographs of the Domus Embroideries at Beaulieu.  The talk will cover how these embroideries were created.

The Special Operations Executive at Beaulieu

by John Smith, former BBC Radio broadcaster.

During World War II members of the European Resistance trained at secret locations in Beaulieu.  British officers of the Special Operations Executive trained these secret agents in sabotage and subversion before dropping them back into occupied Europe.  The talk reveals the vital role Beaulieu played in defeating Nazism, pays tribute to the trainers, the men and women agents and describes their training and dangerous missions.

Left: Kim Philby, an SOE instructor at Beaulieu during WWII

Scenes from a Hampshire Childhood - Growing up in the Hampshire Countryside in the 1940s and 1950s

by Gerald Ponting

Brought up on a small farm near Fordingbridge, Gerald is fortunate to have many contemporary photographs of haymaking and other rural activities.  This presentation, mostly in atmospheric sepia, is evocative of country life in the 1940s and 1950s and has already proved popular with many audiences.

Based on his book of the same title.

The Women's Land Army: A Portrait

by Dr Gill Clarke MBE, University of Southampton

This illustrated talk will trace the genesis of the WLA in the First World War through to its re-formation in the Second World War.  Extensive use will be made of paintings by distinguished and lesser known artists to portray the life and work of the WLA.  Theirs is something of a forgotten history.  Yet the work these women did on the land, often in terrible conditions, was vital to the success of the war effort.  This talk tells their story and in doing so pays tribute to their heroic work.

The Lyndhurst Arts Scene, 1850-1930

Talk and guided walk by Georgina Babey

A look at the writers, artists and composers who were drawn to Lyndhurst in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Charles Burrard, Lord Leighton, Hamilton Aide, Mary Braddon, Frederick Golden Short, Catherine Gore and Ellen 'Dolores' Dickson.

The tour of Lyndhurst on the Saturday will take in some of the areas and buildings associated with them.

Left: Arthur Batt, artist, 1846-1911