Meetings
Wickham History Society holds meetings at 7.30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Our programme includes a variety of guest speakers who cover both local history and wider history topics. We also organise visits to places of interest in the Summer.
The annual charge for Membership is £10pp. Guests are welcome to attend meetings for £3pp.
To join the Wickham History Society, please contact the Secretary.
SPRING 2026 PROGRAMME
27th January 2026 – Dr Nick Barratt – via Zoom
‘The Forgotten Spy ’- The Secret Life of Ernest Oldham
In this tale about an unremarkable man, Nick delves into the murky waters of the British and Soviet secret services of the 1920s and 1930s, to reveal the shocking story of his great uncle Ernest Holloway Oldham – known as ARNO to his Russian ‘handlers’.
24th February 2026 – Dr Margaret Roberts – via Zoom
Country Seats and Sporting Feats
Explore the sporting heritage of Britain’s country houses, from medieval hunting parks to modern cricket pitches and tennis courts. This talk reveals how sport influenced architects, landscape design and shaped daily life and social identity for both aristocrats and estate workers.
24th March 2026 – Andrew Negus
Southampton – A War Winning City Part 3
Hear how during two World Wars, Southampton docks and dockers helped to keep Britons fed and their factories supplied with materials. At the same time, the city coped with millions of soldiers arriving and then even more leaving for battle. The docks will treble in size as Southampton responds to the changing world of sea transport. Aircraft, surprisingly, will feature a lot, as will horses, a rogue lion and, of course, Benny Hill.
28th April 2026 – Nigel Linger
A Last Farewell
In this first talk in a trilogy on Nelson, join Nigel as he takes us through the last days and hours of Great Britain’s greatest Naval Hero, Admiral Lord Nelson as he prepares to embark on HMS Victory at Portsmouth and leave his beloved homeland for the last time, September 1805.
26th May 2026 – Annual General Meeting
Followed by Lewis Sharp
The Royal Commission and the History of Fort Nelson
How was Portsmouth defended at the height of Britain’s coastal fort-building era? Lewis takes us through the story of Fort Nelson and the wider network of fortifications, starting with the Royal Commission of 1859. With the help of graphics from the Palmerston Forts Society, he reveals how the system developed, how the fort was armed, and how it was intended to repel an enemy attack. The talk concludes with its remarkable restoration and new role as a museum, highlighting the key role played by the Palmerston Forts Society in preserving and bringing the site back to life.
Please note: Programme subject to change depending on availability of speakers.
