A talk, with film and photos
For over two years Paul, from South Shropshire, has been travelling in and out of Ukraine, delivering humanitarian aid throughout the country (from Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia to Odesa). He has just completed his 24th trip. Come and hear his moving story.
Tuesday 19th November 2024
7.30 p.m.
At the Ludlow Quaker Meeting House
St. Mary’s Lane, Ludlow, SY8 1DZ
All are welcome
In this event report, our newsletter editor Frances Lloyd recaps the talk by Professor Colin Kelcey about a traumatic but pivotal event in London’s history.
This was a talk by Colin Kelcey about five particular days in December 1952 when London was enveloped in smog and the city was at a standstill.
This was not the first episode of pollution where impacts on health were noted. In December 1930 in the Meuse Valley in Belgium there was an incident of fog which killed 63 people. Previously in 1911 in the same area a lot of cattle were killed and farmers found that they could only save them by moving them to higher ground – this had been realised from earlier smog events. Cows were like the canary in the mine, unusually sensitive to air pollution. Subsequently at a meeting there were ominous warnings about what could happen, it was said that if there was a similar event in London it could result in 3,200 deaths.
Continue reading “Event Report: Five Days in December – September 17th, 2024”A talk by Phil Cheatle, Lead Campaign Commentator of the campaign group My Death, My Decision (MDMD)
One of life’s certainties is that we will all die. People are living longer, but more of us are spending our final months or years in incurable pain or distress which some consider to be to the detriment of their quality of life. How much choice should we have in deciding the manner and timing of our death? These are the complex ethical questions of our time, with strong opinions and concerns on all sides of the debate.
Tuesday 15th October 2024
7.30 p.m.
At the Ludlow Quaker Meeting House
St. Mary’s Lane, Ludlow, SY8 1DZ
All are welcome
A talk by Professor Colin Kelcey, neuroscientist and Fellow of the Royal Institution
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
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.
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.
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.
Continue reading “Event Report: Daoism – going with the flow – April 16th, 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.
Continue reading “Event Report: Erasmus Darwin – “The Everything Man” – March 19th, 2024”A talk by Alec Jones, Principal of Dragon Spring Taiji School of Taiji and Qigong
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
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
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 (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.
Continue reading “Event Report: A talk by Susie O’Hagan of Hands Together Ludlow, November 21st, 2023”