Our next evening meeting from 7.30pm on Friday, 20th March 2026 involves Richard Moon presenting a talk entitled Seizing the Skies – the Story of the R101.
The R101 was one of a pair of British rigid airships completed in 1929. When built, it was the world’s largest flying craft at 223 m in length, later enlarged to 237 m. After trial flights and subsequent modifications to increase its lifting capacity the R101 tragically crashed in France during its maiden overseas voyage on 5 October 1930, killing 48 of the 54 people on board.
Our meetings take place in Colmworth Village Hall, Church Road, Colmworth MK44 2JX. Visitors are very welcomed for a donation of £4 (but our annual membership is only £12.50).
Any questions should be directed towards our secretary, Simon Beverly on secretary@colmworthhistory.org.uk.
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Our talk on 17th November 2023 was presented by Barry Tomlinson:
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, made the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft on 17 December 1903. This illustrated talk will outline the innovations they made to achieve this feat and will summarise some earlier attempts, in England and Germany, to achieve manned flight. Demonstration flights by the Wright Brothers in Europe in 1908 stimulated further progress in France and England. The achievements of Bedford’s own aviation pioneer, Claude Grahame-White, will also be described.
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Life in Tudor Times – 19th May 2023
We were very glad to welcome back Martin Sirot Smith as Lawrence Washington, the Lord of the Manor of Sulgrave and Stuchbury, the great-great-grandfather of US President George Washington. Martin, I mean Lawrance, gave an animated and most informative talk about life in Tudor times. Most of us must have left thankful that we are…
Bedford Morris Men January 2023
The Bedford Morris Men visited us on 20th January 2023 and great fun was had by all. They performed a Mummers Play, talked about the history of Morris Dancing and then performed a series of such dances.
History Quiz after our 2022 AGM
Our thanks go to Stephen Selley, John Hutchings and Chris Walker for setting the questions in the History Quiz that followed our AGM on 16th September 2022 and also to Alison Baggott who provided the food and drink.
Colmworth & Neighbours History Society 