Illustrated Talks
Catering for the needs of clubs and associations through to corporate gatherings, I offer a full range of talks and series of talks using ‘Powerpoint’ slides and my own projector.The talks can be tailored to meet the interests and requirements of your group.
Restoration!
In this series of illustrated talks we select one of Manchester buildings in a different stage of restoration. We learn about it’s history and gain an insight into it’s restoration – why the building is so important, the original crafts used, techniques applied nowadays for it’s restoration and what will be new when it reopens. Most importantly, we find out when the building is likely to be open for visiting! Places selected for these talks are :
John Rylands Library; Victoria Baths; Mrs Gaskell’s house at Plymouth Grove; Gorton Monastery
Real life Experiences of a Tour Guide!
Discover the joys, trials and tribulations of tour guiding. This talk gives an insight into the Blue Badge Tourist Guide - the training we undertake, the nervous first tour, and the amusing experiences that occur on a regular basis as we take on a variety of work.
Literary Manchester
This talk looks at literary connections in Manchester from hundreds of years ago until the present day. Selecting writers from a span of several centuries, we learn about their life, their connections with Manchester and what they thought about the place – good or bad!
Literary North West
Travelling further afield we hear about literary connections in Greater Manchester and the North West. Find out about the Lake District writers and poets – William Wordsworth, John Ruskin, Arthur Ransome, Melvyn Bragg. Nearer to home, learn about Richmal Crompton from Bury, author of the hilarious ‘Just William’ books, and Shelagh Delaney from Salford of ‘A Taste of Honey’ fame.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Find out about the life and works of Mrs Gaskell, the authoress of North and South, Cranford and Mary Barton. Hear about her busy Manchester lifestyle – ‘multi-tasking’ as mother, housekeeper, minister’s wife, critique, hostess - and authoress too! See how her books often reflected the real-life person and contemporary Manchester at the time.
Manchester Town Hall
Enjoy an illustrated ‘virtual’ tour of our magnificent Town Hall - see details of the pre-Raphaelite style murals and the sumptuous décor of the Lord Mayor’s state rooms.
Hear the story of why this building just had to be constructed, and how the exterior and interior showcase the history of Manchester.
Crafty Arty Manchester
This illustrated talk showcases a selection of Manchester’s ‘gems’ - paintings, ceramics. sculpture, stained glass, interior décor, and architecture. We look at the stories behind these objects and find out about the artistry which made them. |
