Programme 2024 / 25

Meetings take place on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm in Warmington Village Hall (unless otherwise stated). Members free, guests, £2. Membership is only £10 per year!

(Page updated 2nd November 2024)

Thursday, 21st November

A.G.M.

After the usual short AGM we have David Judd: “The Warmington Judd family and where it has taken me”.

Thursday, 19th December

Christmas Social. 7.30 pm

Jenny has kindly offered to host the social once again at her house. (ask for directions, if you are unsure)

Please let Jenny know if you are coming, just for catering purposes.

2025

Thursday, 16th January

Paul Gregory, Director International Dark Sky Association. MSLL, MILP.

Light Pollution and how we can protect our dark skies…..

The nighttime environment is a precious natural resource for all life on Earth, but the glow of uncontrolled outdoor lighting has hidden the stars and changed our perception of the night.

“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”

— Vincent van Gogh

The Natural Night Sky Inspires

Until recently, for all of human history, our ancestors experienced a sky brimming with stars – a night sky that inspired science, religion, philosophy, art and literature, including some of Shakespeare’s most famous sonnets.

The natural night sky is our common and universal heritage, yet it’s rapidly becoming unknown to the newest generations.

Van Gogh painted his famous “Starry Night” in Saint Rémy, France, in 1889. Now, the Milky Way can no longer be seen from there. If he were alive today, would he still be inspired to paint “Starry Night”?

Experiencing the night sky provides perspective, and inspiration, and leads us to reflect on our humanity and place in the universe. The history of scientific discovery and even human curiosity itself is indebted to the natural night sky.

Without the natural night sky we could not have:

Navigated the globe
Walked on the Moon
Learned of our expanding universe
Discovered that humans are made of stardust

Thursday, 20 Feb 2025

Beat Kümin returns for a talk on:

‘Tower Ball Deposits in the German Lands’

The chronicles and objects some German communities deposit in golden spheres located on top of towers during construction or repairs

Thursday, 21st March

It is hoped to have a talk on the early mechanisation of farming. TBC (Watch this space)