Talking History Archives - Page 6 of 7

Victoria and Albert (4)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:17 — 9.4MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 12 d – Victoria and Albert (4)

Please note: This talk is in five parts and Victoria and Albert (4) is the fourth part. Please scroll down to each part after listening to the previous part. There is a linked video after parts 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Nigel Mariott tells us about the lives of Victoria and Albert and their great love for each other. He brings humour to the talk and included a number of video clips. I have split the talk into five parts so that you can ‘click on the link’ to see the video at the appropriate place.

Victoria and Albert (4) concentrates on Victoria’s later life. We are introduced to John Brown and hear about his influence. Nigel talks about her good character and also the Diamond Jubilee of 1897.

I have converted the presentation used at the talk into a series of images as it is too large to load.

Please click on one of the images as you listen to the talk to open the gallery.

To view the Diamond Jubilee videos please click here and then here for the second one.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

I have used Media Magazine for the title music and it is licensed from AKM Music.

Victoria and Albert (5)

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Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 12 e – Victoria and Albert (5)

Please note: This talk is in five parts and Victoria and Albert (5) is the last part. Please scroll down to each part after listening to the previous part. There is a linked video after parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Victoria and Albert (5) concentrates on the legacy they left on British (and global) culture. Nigel talks about the National History Museum, the Albert Hall, the ‘V and A’ and the Albert Memorial.

I have converted the presentation used at the talk into a series of images as it is too large to load.

Please click on one of the images as you listen to the talk to open the gallery.

To view the ‘V and A’ video please click here.

For more about membership of the ‘V and A’ please click here.

Queen Victoria’s Scrapbook can be found by by clicking here.

The exhibition ‘Victoria: Woman and Crown’ is open until 5th January 2020 – for more details please click here.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

Media Magazine is used as the title music and is licensed from AKM Music.

Shortcuts Around the World (A)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:24 — 33.3MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 11 A – Shortcuts Around the World (A) – the Suez and Panama Canals

Please note: Shortcuts Around the World (A) is the first part of the talk by Bruce Oelman. Once you have listened to this part please scroll down to part B.

In Shortcuts Around the World (A) Bruce tells us about the building of the Suez Canal and then starts on the story of the Panama Canal.

Bruce talks about Napoleon’s interest in building a canal. The project didn’t proceed because the French engineers got their sums wrong! We also learn of the canal built by the ancient Egyptians.

He talks about the difficulty Ferdinand de Lesseps had in getting permission from Turkey to build the canal. Much of this was due to the attitude of the British who wanted to protect the Empire. He covers the fact that de Lesseps used innovative money raising techniques for both canals!

This part of the talk ends at the start of the project to build the Panama Canal.

The presentation used at the talk is too large to load here. I have converted it into a series of images shown in the gallery below. Please click on one of the images as you listen to the talk and it will open the gallery.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording which I cannot remove.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Shortcuts Around the World (B)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:06 — 32.1MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 11 B – Shortcuts Around the World (B) – the Suez and Panama Canals

Please note: Shortcuts Around the World (B) is the second part of the talk by Bruce Oelman.

In Shortcuts Around the World (B) Bruce tells us about the building of the Panama Canal.

He covers the difficulties encountered by the French in their efforts. He also talks about the corruption case that ruined the reputation of Ferdinand de Lesseps. It appears that de Lesseps used innovative money raising techniques for both canals!

The USA bought out the project following the failure of the French efforts. They then brought in people who were capable of delivering the project and preventing the endemic disease issues. The Canal was build by the US Corps of Engineers and opened in 1914.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording which I cannot remove.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

The Sick Man of Europe (A)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:00 — 32.0MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 10 A – The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 (A)

Please note: this talk is in two parts. Please scroll down to the second part after listening to Part A.

Peter Duffy tells us about the fate of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire in The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878.

The conference led to changes in the countries allocated to the different European Empires in both the Balkans and Mediterranean. The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 describes the different policies driving the key attendees.

Britain was keen to protect the Suez Canal and India from Russian aspirations and so supported Turkey. In addition Britain gained Cyprus at the conference. Austro Hungary received states in the Balkans. Germany wanted to consolidate its position and alliances.

The ‘carve up’ described in The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 ultimately laid the foundations for the First World War.

Click here to open the presentation that accompanies this talk.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording and some disturbance from builders renovating the room next to the meeting room.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

The Sick Man of Europe (B)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:40 — 17.1MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 10 B – The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 (B)

Peter Duffy tells us about the fate of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire in The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878.

The ‘carve up’ described in The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 ultimately laid the foundations for the First World War.

Click here to open the presentation that accompanies this talk.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording and some disturbance from builders renovating the room next to the meeting room.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Darwin and Evolution (A) – Talking History with Farnham U3A

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Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 9 A – Darwin and Evolution (A)

Sam Osmond tells the story of the life of the Victorian scientist Charles Darwin and his theory of Evolution in Darwin and Evolution (A).

We hear about his early life, and how he went to Edinburgh to study to be a doctor. Sam tells us about his time at Cambridge where he was studying to become a clergyman. As Darwin was more interested in entomology, botany and geology he only got an ‘ordinary’ degree.

He was lucky to get a berth on the 5 year voyage of the Beagle. We hear of the visits the Galapagos Islands. There Darwin saw an amazing range of wildlife and geology. He studied the wildlife and noted the difference in the finches on different islands.

In Darwin and Evolution (A) Sam discusses the books he published and how some Christians were, and still are, offended by them.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording and some disturbance from builders renovating the room next to the meeting room.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Darwin and Evolution (B) – Talking History with Farnham U3A

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:15 — 9.4MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 9 – Darwin and Evolution B

Sam Osmond continues the story about the life of the Victorian scientist Charles Darwin and his theory of Evolution in Darwin and Evolution (B) .

We hear about Herbert Spence, a leading Victorian philosopher, and his ideas about evolution. Sam discusses selective breeding, a topic Plato wrote about over 2,000 years ago. 18th century selective breeding ‘improved’ livestock.

We learn that DNA analysis of fossils supports the theories discussed in Darwin and Evolution (B).

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording and some disturbance from builders renovating the room next to the meeting room.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

The Austro Hungarian Empire (a) – Talking History with Farnham U3A

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:52 — 36.5MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 8 a

in the Austro Hungarian Empire (a) Jo Huddleston tells us about the early years of the Empire. He tells us that there were Prime Ministers in both Austria and Hungary. He discusses the stress this caused and the need for the Emperor to keep tight control.

We hear about the suicide of Franz Joseph’s son and how Franz Ferdinand became the heir apparent.

We also learn about the international weakness of the Austro Hungarian Empire (a) and the threats from other nations.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

The Austro Hungarian Empire (b) – Talking History with Farnham U3A

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:10 — 30.4MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 8 b

The Austro Hungarian Empire (b) continues Jo’s talk. Jo picks up the story in the 1880s, and tells us about the period to the Empire’s dissolution in 1918.

We hear about the lack of democratic government and the stress caused by the differences between Austria and Hungary. Franz Joseph was the Emperor from 1867 to 1916. He governed for much of the time with just a few ministers and a small Civil Service.

Jo also talks about the institutional antisemitism, particularly in Vienna. This had a major effect on an aspiring, but relatively unsuccessful, artist living in Vienna at the time.

Jo tells us how the visit by Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand to Sarajevo went ahead even though the threat level was known. As we know, this led to World War 1.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

From Faraday to Ferranti (a) – Talking History with Farnham U3A – S2018/9 07A

The ‘From Faraday to Ferranti (a)’ podcast has been removed at the request of the speaker.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham u3a Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

From Faraday to Ferranti (b) – Talking History with Farnham U3A – S2018/9 07B

The ‘Faraday to Ferranti (b)’ talk has been removed at the speaker’s request.

The Farnham u3a site is at Farnham u3a Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Talking History with Farnham U3A – Kitchener – S2018/9 06

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In Kitchener, Alan Bridgeman focuses on the campaign to avenge the death of General Gordon. His main source is the book With Kitchener to Khartoum, written by the Daily Mail journalist G W Steevens who covered the campaign. The book is written in the style of the time and might not be considered to be ‘politically correct’ today.

A number of journalists covered the campaign against the army of Abdullah al-Taashi, the Khalifa. He was the successor to the Mahdi.

The talk is full of observations made by Steevens in the period before the battle as well as his description of the battle and its aftermath.

The talk concludes with Kitchener’s role in the First World War and his death when HMS Hampshire sank after hitting a mine in 1916.

Click on a graphic to open the gallery:

Please note: The graphics included in this post may differ from those used in the original talk for copyright reasons.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

The White Rajahs of Sarawak (a) – Talking History with Farnham U3A – S2018/9 05A

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:44 — 25.4MB)

The White Rajahs of Sarawak tells the story of the Brooke family’s rule of Sarawak. They ruled for 100 years from 1841 until the Japanese Invasion in December 1941.

The talk starts with some of the history of the area in the centuries preceding the arrival of James Brooke. James used an inheritance to purchase a schooner in which he sailed to Singapore. He then sailed to Sarawak and by quelling a rebellion he managed to gain control of Sarawak.

James, whose hero was Sir Stamford Raffles, ran Sarawak very differently to the normal British way. He spent much of his time with the indigenous inhabitants and became highly respected by those he ruled.

James handed over the rule of Sarawak to his nephew Charles and retired to England.

The White Rajahs of Sarawak is a fascinating story about Imperialism in the mid-19th century.

Click on a graphic to open the gallery:

Please note: The graphics included in this post may differ from those used in the original talk for copyright reasons.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

The White Rajahs of Sarawak (b) – Talking History with Farnham U3A – S2018/9 05B

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:52 — 24.6MB)

The White Rajahs of Sarawak tells the story of the Brooke family’s rule of Sarawak. The rule lasted for 100 years from 1841 until the Japanese Invasion in December 1941.

Jenny picks up the story of the Brooke family following the departure of James in the second part of the White Rajahs of Sarawak. She starts with his nephew Charles, who lacked his uncle’s charm, had a great empathy with the Dayaks.

Charles returned to England after the death of his Uncle to find a wife. His wife, Margaret, found to Sarawak be beautiful when she joined him.

Jenny tells the story of the strife between the two brothers, Vyner and Bertram, over the years. The country became a British Colony in 1946; it was Britain’s last Colony!

Click on a graphic to open the gallery:

Please note: The graphics included in this post may differ from those used in the original talk for copyright reasons.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Talking History with Farnham U3A – 1869 – S2018/9 06A

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Welcome to 2019! Welcome to this review of the year 1869 where Michael A’Bear delves back 150 years. In his talk he gives us a flavour of the people and events of that year.

It’s an average year, he suggests, but includes the birth of Rasputin, the death of Hector Berlioz and the opening of the first Sainsbury store. The Cutty Sark, the last tea clipper, was launched (now preserved at Greenwich), Ghandi was born and ex. US President, the unpopular, Franklin Pierce died.

Listen to the podcast and hear more about these events and also the others that Michael covers.

Click on a graphic to open the gallery:

Please note: The graphics included in this post may differ from those used in the original talk for copyright reasons.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Talking History with Farnham U3A – The Strange Death of Liberal England – part A – S2018/9 04A

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:31 — 35.3MB)

In the Strange Death of Liberal England – Part A Robert Sykes follows the book by George Dangerfield published in 1935.

The book follows the difficulties faced by the Liberal Government in dealing with the House of Lords, the ‘Irish Question’, the women’s suffrage and the trade unions. This was the period when the Liberal Party was still seen as the party of the working man. At this time both the Labour and Irish Nationalist MPs supported the Liberal Government.

The book was first published in New York by Harrison Smith & Robert Hass. The book was soon out of print as the publishers went bankrupt. An edited edition was published in Britain in 1936.

This talk has been split into two sections to make it more convenient to listen to.

Click on a graphic to open the gallery:

Please note: It has not been possible to include all the graphics used in the original talk due to copyright considerations.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Talking History with Farnham U3A – The Strange Death of Liberal England – part B – S2018/9 04B

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:11 — 14.8MB)

In the second part of his talk on the Strange Death of Liberal England Robert talks about the discord that existed in Britain in 1914 immediately prior to the start of the First World War.

From a situation of strife where the Government was suffering problems with the Suffragettes, in Ireland over Home Rule and a ‘triple alliance’ of the Trade Unions, the declaration of war resulted in all sides uniting against a common enemy.

This talk has been split into two sections to make it more convenient to listen to.

Click on a graphic to open the gallery:

Please note: It has not been possible to include all the graphics used in the original talk due to copyright considerations.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

U3A Open Meeting – Theme Africa – the Three Rivers

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:43 — 46.4MB)

Welcome to this podcast of the Farnham U3A open meeting on this year’s theme Africa where Michael A’Bear talks about the explorers of the Three Rivers of equatorial Africa- the Congo, Zambezi and the Nile.

The Annual Theme meetings are open to all Farnham U3A members. Meetings are usually held each month in the Barley Room of the Farnham Maltings (Maximum capacity 100 people). Most of the meetings are free, however some are ticketed.

This podcast has been released so that those members who were not able to be present have the opportunity to listen to the talk.

Imagine we are in the raging heat of Africa…….

The characters in this story were difficult people. One could be called surly, another was a violent bully. Others included a cheat and others were larger than life characters.

Michael starts by reviewing David Livingstone whose discoveries made him famous rather than his work as a missionary, where it is believed he only converted one person. The talk continues with Henry Morton Stanley (real name John Rowlands) who was born in Wales. He had gone to sea and then jumped ship in the USA. He served on both sides in the American Civil War and then became a journalist for the New York Herald.

Michael continues with Burton and Speke’s expedition, two people who didn’t like each other! Having returned to England Speke got funding for another expedition, this time with James Augustus Grant.

Michael then explores the career of Sam Baker. Baker has been described as being like Speke on Caffeine. He was disappointed that the source of the Nile had been discovered so set off and discovered Lake Albert.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The theme music Local History 1960s used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

This podcast is also available on iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher.

U3A Open Meeting – Theme Africa – the French Foreign Legion

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Welcome to this podcast of the Farnham U3A open meeting on this year’s theme Africa where Joanne Watson talks about the French Foreign Legion.

The Annual Theme is open to all Farnham U3A members. Meetings are usually held each month in the Barley Room of the Farnham Maltings (Maximum capacity 100 people). Most of the meetings are free, however some others are ticketed.

This podcast has been released so that those members who were not able to be present have the opportunity to listen to the talk.

Joanne covers the fascinating history of the Legion. She starts with the origins of the legion. Then she covers it’s successes and failures through the decades. Having started as part of the French push into Africa, with its main base in Algeria, the role has evolved and it has fought in many theatres across the world.

Please click on a graphic to open the gallery: