The Victorian era produced some prominent figures who seemed to fit so much into their lives that you might wonder how they had time to sleep. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, William Morris and William Ewart Gladstone spring to mind, but another example, rather less well known, is Sir Henry Cole.

Retired engineer and volunteer for the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and the Basingstoke Canal Society will give us an illustrated talk on the history of the Panama Canal. 

Robert Hooke and Thomas Tompion were both involved in the development of clocks and watches, and their work helped make English clockmakers leaders in the world.

Full title "The Last Line: The 1940 anti-invasion defences between Guildford & Dorking'”. A Dorking Local History Group event which SIHG are promoting. See www.dlhg.org.uk for more on Dorking Local History Group

Archaeologist Paul  (from SYAS) will give us an archaeological evaluation of the 1940 anti-invasion defences between Guildford and Dorking.

Talk by Peter Hoar of the Barnes Wallis Foundation
Effingham resident Barnes Wallis is best known for inventing the bouncing bomb used by the RAF’s “Dambusters” but many of his inventions were in civilian aircraft & communications technology. Come along and hear more. 

Doors 7PM, talk starts 7:30. £2 for non-members. Tea and biscuits available.

A Dorking Local History Group event promoted by SIHG. More at www.dlhg.org.uk

** THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL. Please email garrypaulbrooks@gmail.com to be put on waiting list ****

An easy two mile walk led by local journalist and historian David Rose. You’ll see dragon’s teeth, public air-raid shelter, sites of V1 bomb explosion and more – and a lot of stories from David. £6pp, payable in advance. Interested? Email garrypaulbrooks@gmail.com

A Dorking Local History Group even promoted by SIHG.

Wallis is best know for his bouncing bomb used to destroy German dams in WW2, but in his early years he was a Naval Architect before moving on to become one of the country's leading airship designers. Reluctantly he transitioned to design aircraft, following the demise of airships, and perhaps his most famous design was the Wellington bomber. He studied bomb design and as well as the dams bomb, he designed the two largest  bombs used during WW2, the Tallboy and Grand Slam.  This talk will be given by Bill Mc Naught, Chairman of the 5 Deans U3A.

In 1914 the British aeroplane industry was in its infancy, as was the flying arm of Britain's armed forces. When World War One began in July the British went to France with only a handful of primitive aeroplanes, but by 1918 the Royal Flying Corps was the biggest and most capable air force in the world with many thousands of aircraft in service.  This talk will be given by Richard Marks, Freelance professional historian.

This illustrated talk looks at the Home Front in Surrey during the Second World War and includes defensive positions, munitions production, the Home Guard and Canadian troops, air raids and aircraft crashes, Civil Defence, the Women's Land Army and transport.  The talk will be given by David Rose, Local historian and writer.

The Annual Symposium of the Society will take place in East Horsley Village Hall. Online booking via PayPal at £12 per person is now available by clicking on the BOOK tab above. Due to difficulty in paying them in cheques cannot now be accepted. Online booking enables us to assess the catering requirements and streamlines the administration process.

Payment by cash on the day is discouraged but will be possible and exact change would be appreciated. Tickets cost £12 per person.