Spring 2025 Season: Bygone Days Talks
Bygone Days talks celebrate both local and national history. These talks are often held at The Somer Centre in Midsomer Norton but please check the details carefully for each talk below.
The Poyntings – The History of a Remarkable Local Family by Clem Maidment
Tuesday March 4th. At the Somer Centre at 7.30pm. Admission £5
This is the fascinating story of the Poynting Family, who for well over two hundred years, had links with Clapton, Midsomer Norton, Chilcompton, Ston Easton and Foxcote. Originally from illiterate farm workers, the family, over the generations produced, a remarkable range of individuals who included a clergyman who built a church, a school and wrote a novel; a pioneering farmer in the Mid West of the United States; a daughter who married a cousin of a Prime Minister and another who was a notable scientist and gave his name to craters on the moon and Mars and important laws in physics.
Our speaker this month is Clem Maidment who has been a Museum volunteer for many years including time as Chairman and is a member of our Bygone Days Talks Team. He has extensively researched the Poynting Family having become intrigued by the story of their achievements. Clem says, “I feel privileged to have known Julian Poynting, a family member, who turned up one day at Clapton to view ‘where his ancestors came from’ and with whom I corresponded for nearly 30 years”.
Lost Local Pubs – The Rise and Fall of Local Pubs. By Graeme King
Tuesday April 1st. At the Somer Centre at 7.30pm. Admission £5
Graeme King will give an illustrated talk charting the success and sad demise of local pubs from over 120 establishments 100 years ago, to less than 40 now. Audience participation will be encouraged during the evening to recount memories of some of your favourite (and least favourite) watering holes. During the presentation there will also be a lighthearted quiz about pubs and the brewing industry in general with a prize of beer for the winner!!
All these illustrated presentations will take place at the Somer Centre in Midsomer Norton at 7:30pm until 8:30pm followed by questions and a raffle until 8:45pm. Entry is £5 cash or card on the door, no booking required. Doors open at 7pm. Raising funds for Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum charity no. 1151573
Keep in Touch
There are several ways to keep in touch with the Museum talks programme.
You can sign up for the Museum Newsletter, which is distributed by email. It includes details of Events, Talks, Exhibitions, Children’s activities and other snippets of News. Please use the button below:
You can access our Newsletter archive by clicking HERE
You can also ask to be on the reminder email list for the Bygone Days Talks by sending an email request to bygonedays@radstockmuseum.co.uk
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