Admin – Ludlow and Marches Humanists

21/08/202421/08/2024

Next meeting: Five Days in December

A talk by Professor Colin Kelcey, neuroscientist and Fellow of the Royal Institution

Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Smog-of-London

In December 1952, London was enveloped in a lethal ‘Smog’. This event brought the city to a standstill and triggered one of the worst ecological disasters of the 20th century resulting in thousands of deaths throughout the city. Professor Kelcey will examine the causes and consequences of this event and consider society’s subsequent approach to the problem of air pollution.

Tuesday 17th September 2024
7.30 p.m.

At the Ludlow Quaker Meeting House
St. Mary’s Lane, Ludlow, SY8 1DZ

All are welcome

14/08/202414/08/2024

Summer social event – July 2024

For our 2024 summer social, Ludlow & Marches Humanist members enjoyed a leisurely two-hour meander through the streets of the old town before a delightful lunch at Kins, on Old Street. We were guided in our walk by an entertaining ‘treasure trail’ which led us on a quest between about twenty points of interest, that included captured Russian cannons, carved wooden profiles, castle walls and ancient houses and trades. For mid-July in Britain, the rain surprisingly (mostly) held off, and the temperature was clement. As you can see, all seem to have enjoyed the experience, and we were able to chat about events and people and politics as all humans love to.

24/05/202431/05/2024

Event Report: Daoism – going with the flow – April 16th, 2024

In this event report, our newsletter editor Frances Lloyd recaps the talk by Alec Jones, Principal of Dragon Spring Taiji School of Taiji and Qigong.

A stone sculpture of Laozi, author of the foundational text of Daoism
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi

Alec told us that Daoism – sometimes spelled Taoism – is many things: a religion, a philosophy, and a way of life.

Laozi was an educated man living in China in the 6th century. He was a keeper of archives in the capital of China, able to read lots of information and gain a lot of knowledge. He felt he’d seen enough corruption in the way the country was run and decided to move to the mountains. The guard at the border asked why he’d made the decision and, after talking, the guard asked him to write down some of his words of wisdom. This became the Tao Te Ching and was 5,000 Chinese characters. It consisted of succinct mystical phrases called chapters and there were 81 chapters (some very short). It demonstrated his wisdom. Many people saw it as the way to govern a country.

05/04/202407/04/2024

Event Report: Erasmus Darwin – “The Everything Man” – March 19th, 2024

In this event report, our newsletter editor Frances Lloyd recaps the talk by Professor Colin Kelcey, FRS, FRSS, FLS, MRI, about the intriguing and remarkable life of Erasmus Darwin.

Erasmus Darwin was the grandfather of Charles Darwin. Colin showed us a picture of him by the painter Joseph Wright of Derby. Erasmus was a ‘porky’ man who lived from 1731 to1802. He lived at a time when there was lots going on politically and socially. He was one of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment.

30/03/202424/05/2024

Next meeting: Daoism – going with the flow

A talk by Alec Jones, Principal of Dragon Spring Taiji School of Taiji and Qigong

Source: https://www.dragonspringtaiji.co.uk/contact.htm

A religion? A philosophy? A way of life? Perhaps all of these. Or is Daoism just too inscrutable for Westerners to understand! Your chance to find out.

Alec has been practicing Taiji, Qigong and Daoism for over 40 years.

Tuesday 16th April 2024
7.30 p.m.

At the Ludlow Quaker Meeting House
St. Mary’s Lane, Ludlow, SY8 1DZ

All are welcome

Read the event report

06/03/202405/04/2024

Next meeting: Erasmus Darwin – “The Everything Man”

A talk by Dr. Colin Kelcey, neuroscientist and Fellow of the Royal Institution

Erasmus Darwin (1731 – 1802) One of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment; a founding member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham. Better known to us as the grandfather of Charles Darwin, Erasmus was an inventor and polymath in his own right but is now rather eclipsed by his famous grandson.

Tuesday 19th March 2024
7.30 p.m.

At the Ludlow Quaker Meeting House
St. Mary’s Lane, Ludlow, SY8 1DZ

All are welcome

Read the event report

31/01/202431/01/2024

Event Report: A talk by Susie O’Hagan of Hands Together Ludlow, November 21st, 2023

In this event report, our newsletter editor Frances Lloyd recaps Susie’s talk about the organisation’s work to help, inform and support people in and around Ludlow.

Hands Together Ludlow’s premises on Lower Galdeford

Hands Together Ludlow (HTL) is a registered charity located at 15 Lower Galdeford, Ludlow. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Susie O’Hagan, Operations Manager, explained that the charity identifies gaps and supports people to help themselves.

13/12/2023

Remembrance Sunday 2023

Humanists take part in Ludlow ceremony

Members of the Ludlow and Marches Humanists took part in the wreath laying at Ludlow Peace Memorial on Remembrance Sunday, November 12th, 2023.

Frances Lloyd laid the wreath on behalf of our local Humanists group

26/10/202331/01/2024

Next meeting: Creating a more equitable community in and around Ludlow

A talk by Susie O’Hagan from Hands Together Ludlow

Susie will talk about the wide variety of projects this local charity supports. The Men’s Shed, Good Grief Café, Walks for All, Befriending, Tuesday Community Lunch are some of the ways Hands Together Ludlow aims to improve our wellbeing.

Tuesday 21st November 2023
7.30 p.m.

At the Ludlow Quaker Meeting House
St. Mary’s Lane, Ludlow, SY8 1DZ

All are welcome

Read the event report

26/10/202313/12/2023