Sevenoaks Branch Meetings

Talk – The Titanic: What happened after she sunk – Ian Porter

Doors open 7.15pm, meeting and talk start 8.00pm and will finish by 9.30pm.

The story of probably the most well known painting of Otford High Street, featuring the Forge  in Victorian times.

Once owned by the Royal Family and painted by Otto Weber a favourite of Queen Victoria.

No booking, just turn up.

Free parking in the evenings at the adjacent large car park.

The Society is a registered charity and membership fees and donations are an important part of our income. The Talk is free to members but guests and visitors are asked to make a donation towards hall hire and speaker's fee. There will be a donations box at the venue.

Doors open 7.15pm, meeting and talk start 8.00pm.

IMPORTANT NOTICE RE VENUE: This meeting is being held at the Bat and Ball Community Centre, Crampton's Road, off Otford Road, Sevenoaks TN14 5DN  (It wasn't possible to hire our usual venue for tonight's talk).

Starting with a look at what a folly actually is (and what it isn't), The Art of the Folly looks at weird, wonderful and (generally) unexplained garden buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Many have entertaining stories behind their creation - find out how to out-do the Bishop of Salisbury, what happens when you put an advert in the paper for a hermit and how to produce a 50 foot pineapple.

Russell is a freelance garden historian and has been giving talks on the subject since 2000; and in 2003 he was awarded the University of London Diploma in Garden History.

The Society is a registered charity and membership fees and donations are an important part of our income. The Talk is free to members but guests and visitors are asked to make a donation towards hall hire and speaker's fee. There will be a donations box at the venue.

No booking, just turn up.

Free parking in the evenings at the adjacent large car park.

Doors open 7.15pm, meeting and talk start 8pm.

Gilly's talk tells the story of the brave Norwegian sailors in their fishing boats who kept links open between occupied Norway and Britain during WWII, taking agents in with supplies for the resistance and escaping refugees out.

Not only did they have to face sub-Arctic storms in the North Sea but also the might of the Nazi war machine searching for them. 

This fascinating talk details the deeds of incredibly courageous and patriotic men.   The seas between Norway and Scotland are the stormiest in the world. No other series of journeys in such bad weather, in such small boats and in darkness to an unlit coast had been undertaken.

The impact of the operation resulted in 400 tons of arms and explosives being delivered, 450 refugees rescued and many agents being delivered and recovered.

Gilly's talk is a moving account of what affectionately became known as ‘The Shetland Bus’; helping Norway to bring back its peace and pride. 

There were many acts of outstanding courage and incredible bravery performed during the Shetland Bus operation.   To commemorate this, a wreath laying ceremony is held annually on 17th May in Shetland.  Norway still send Christmas trees to London and Edinburgh in gratitude for our assistance.

There is a large car park adjacent to the hall which is free in the evenings.