January 16 ¦ Men of the Mill - Standeven & Co.Ltd 1914-1918 ¦ Richard Smith
Our speaker and Society member, Richard Smith, is conducting ongoing research into all the men listed on the Great War Roll of Honour of Standeven & Co. Ltd. His talk will focus on some of those who served and died, and some who returned. Incorporated in 1885 by founding partners John William Standeven and Sam Earnshaw, the company manufactured woollen cloth. The firm was located originally at Mixenden Mill, then to Ellen Royde Mills and finally in 1905 to Ladyship Mills, just down Old Lane from Boothtown.At its height the business employed 700 people undertaking all the processes from raw material to finished articles. Processes included combing, drawing, spinning, weaving and finishing. The cloths ranged from tropical goods to 32oz coatings. Special attention was devoted to export trade and the business had direct resident representatives in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, the United States of America and South Africa. Continental business was also well looked after. During World War II they produced material for army uniforms. The business closed in 1969,although the Standeven brand carries on
February 13 ¦ All Quiet on The Western Front ¦ Richard Spendlove
Richards talk will cover the story of the author, Erich Maria Remarque, and the story of the book including its three film adaptations
March 13 ¦ Kershaws Brigade ¦ Rob Hamilton
From Gettysburg to Appomattox, Rob will describe the actions involving a Confederate Brigade led by a General whose ancestors came from Calderdale
April 10 ¦ Local Preparations for WWII ¦ Corinne McDonald
Corinne's talk will cover the measures taken in Halifax in anticipation of an outbreak of hostilities involving attacks on civilians by bomb & poison gas
May 8 ¦ The Ghost ¦ David Glover
David's subject is Sir Marmaduke Langdale, the Yorkshire Cavalier, who fought at Marston Moor and, after the Restoration, was made Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding by King Charles II
June 12 ¦ Family Service ¦ Ian Richardson
Ian's heritage includes a family with six brothers who all served in World War One. His talk will tell their story
July 10 ¦ Famous Gunfights ¦ John Spencer
...of The Old West - John will describe the reality of the “Wild West” which has been fictionalised in
countless Westerns, both films and books.
August ¦ No Meeting
Summer break
September 11 ¦ The Peace Museum ¦ Speaker TBC
Now located at Salt's Mill, Saltaire, the talk will cover the history, goals, and work of the museum which aims to tell the story of peace movements.
October 9 ¦ The D-Day Landings ¦ Derek Hirst
The story of 6th June 1944 on a 50 mile stretch of Normandy Coast divided into five sectors, Utah,
Omaha, Gold, Juno & Sword
November 13 ¦ Holocaust Centre North ¦ Speaker TBC
Located at the University of Huddersfield and developed in partnership with the Leeds based
Holocaust Survivors' Friendship Association, this talk will cover refugees who settled in the West Riding
December 11 ¦ Christmas Social
Plenty of Food, Something to Drink, & Lots of Conviviality bring our 2025 season to a close