The Wokingham Society

Open Meetings

The Society holds Open Meetings, normally on the third Wednesday evening in March and June as well as after the AGM in November. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meetings. Recent meetings have included:

Paul King gave a talk at the 2023 AGM on the history of banking and other financial institutions in Wokingham. A report of his talk can be read here.

Dennis Eyriey gave a talk about the history and work of Wokingham United Charities on Wednesday 21 June. You can read a report of his talk here.

John Harrison gave a talk on Wokingham’s Bricks and Bells on Wednesday 15 March 2023 in the Town Hall. A report of his talk can be read here.

At the Society’s Annual General Meeting Ann Smith, Secretary of the Berkshire Local History Society, gave an illustrated talk on One Hundred Years of Shopping in Reading, a summary of which can be seen here.

Robin Cops gave an illustrated talk about Embracing the Art of the Possible. To read a report of the presentation click here.

Guy Grannum gave an illustrated talk about Caribbean connections, settlers and sojourners in the Wokingham area.,
To read a report of the presentation click here.

Richard Gibbs gave a talk entitled 'A Potted History of Wokingham' For a report of the meeting click here.

Peter Must, Chairman of the Wokingham Society, gave an illustrated talk entitled 'Lucas Hospital: Wokingham's only Grade I listed building'. To read a report of the presentation click here.

Two talks 'Friends of the Emm Brook' by Stephanie MacKay and Eddie Napper, and 'St Paul's Tree Succession Project' by Andy Clark. To read a report of the presentation click here.

Councillor Philip Mirfin, Executive Member for Regeneration gave an illustrated talk 'Wokingham Town Centre Regeneration: To Date and to Come'. To read a report of the presentation click here.

'The Great Stink: Joseph Bazelgette and the Building of London's Sewers': A talk by David Tinker. To read a report of the talk click here.

What does your Town Clerk Do?: An illustrated talk by Jan Nowecki, Town Clerk. To read a report of the talk click here.

Putting Local Landmarks on TV: A talk by Paddy Haycocks. To read a report of the talk click here.

History of Reading: An illustrated talk by Joan Dils on the History of Reading. To read a report of the talk click here.

The meetings are currently held in The Main Hall in Wokingham Town Hall at 7.45 for 8pm and they are free for everyone. Light refreshments are provided after the meeting.