Programme
The LALHS meets at the Jubilee Pavilion, Long Ashton Village Hall on the first Thursday of the months of October through to April. We aim to offer a varied and interesting programme of talks presented by local and regional experts. Evenings commence at 7.30pm and have generally ended by 9.30pm with a refreshment break. Guests and new members are very welcome.
Programme of events for 2026
| 1st October | AGM followed by Greengrocer’s Son Becomes Concorde Engineer – John Britton |
| John Britton was born in Long Ashton where for many years his parents ran the Fruit and Veg Shop, the focal point for village residents to share local news and events. He joined the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) at Filton as a Technician Apprentice and rose to the rank of Chief Concorde Engineer in the UK. John is an active volunteer at Aerospace Bristol – home of the last Concorde to fly – landing at Filton for the last time in November 2003. | |
| 5th November | Yanks in Bristol – Oliver Davey |
| During WW2, some 2 million American military personnel passed through Britain. Around Bristol, huge encampments were built bringing local people, including Long Ashton villagers, into contact with "Yanks". Oliver Davey has comprehensively researched this fascinating period of regional history and will be sharing with us the experiences of the US military in Bristol and their encounters with the local population. | |
| 3rd December | The Story of Birnbeck Pier – Peter Lander |
| Today, Birnbeck Pier stands as one of Weston-super-Mare’s most important heritage landmarks. It is a Victorian engineering achievement, a former pleasure pier, a lifeboat station, a wartime site and a symbol of local determination. Its story is one of ambition, enjoyment, service, decline and renewal. Peter Lander, archivist for Birnbeck Pier Regeneration Trust, has been researching its history and hopes you will bring along any photographs you may have. |
Programme of events for 2027
| 7th January | Pressgangs, Pirates, Hobblers & Pilots: A Nautical History of Pill – Louise Dixey |
| The nearby village of Pill boasts a rich 500-year maritime heritage dating back to the Middle Ages. Closely associated with its pilots (in 1497, Pill provided the pilot to guide John Cabot safely through the River Avon and Bristol Channel), the village also has a colourful past, being famously described in 1755 by Methodist minister John Wesley as a place of "brutal, abandoned wickedness"! Pill born resident and local historian, Louise Dixey, will tell all! | |
| 4th February | Brandon Hill: Highlights in History - David Martyn |
| We are all familiar with the iconic Cabot Tower built in 1897-98 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage to North America, but how much do we know about the various public gatherings, including protests and celebrations, throughout its history, or its defensive role in the English Civil War. The land was initially opened to the public in 1625 when it was purchased by the Corporation of Bristol, potentially making it the oldest municipal space in the country. | |
| 4th March | The Forest of Dean: Landscape and Heritage – Roger Deeks |
| The landscape and heritage of the Forest of Dean have been uniquely forged by its geology and topography. This talk will explain how the traditions and rights of people who live in the Forest have evolved since 1217. It will consider the impact of the extraction industries, particularly iron and coal, beginning with the Romans and progressing through the industrial revolution into the twentieth century. | |
| 1st April | The Aust Ferry Service – Tim Ryan |
| The Severn Estuary Aust Ferry Service ran for 40 years from Aust to Beachley, closing on 8th September 1966, the day before the Severn Bridge was opened by the Queen. A group of enthusiasts discovered one of the three ferries, the Severn Princess, in a Breakers Yard in Southern Ireland in 1999 and had her towed back to Beachley in 2003. Restoration work began in 2014. Tim Ryan is an active member of the team. |
VISITORS WELCOME
Meetings are held in the Jubilee Pavilion at 7.30p.m.
Contact Details
| Peter Clark ~ Chairman |
| Bridgett Collett ~ Hon.Treasurer |
| Contact Us |