Local History Talks Zooming In!

Published on: 10 Feb, 2021
Updated on: 10 Feb, 2021

Anyone interested in local history won’t want to miss some forthcoming illustrated talks they can enjoy from their armchairs via the online app Zoom.

Two Q1 class locos with an engineer’s train at Guildford station.

Local historian and writer David Rose and retired railwayman Geoff Burch will be giving their brand new talk, When the Railways Came to Guildford, to the Woking and Guildford regional group of the Mid-Hants Railway next Monday, February 15, at 8pm, and non-members can hear it too for free.

To receive a link to join, email Richard Kirwin at mhr70c@aol.com

The talk traces the development of railways into Guildford from the first line in 1845. Its once busy motive power depot will be featured alongside other staff at the station. The talk continues with the introduction of electrification, branch lines closures in the 1960s, the end of steam in 1967, through to the modern day with the re-building of the station in 1988, and right up to the extensive track maintenance completed over Easter 2020.

A Redhill to Reading passenger train approaches Guildford station passing the motive power depot on the right.

For railway fans, it promises to be the best night in they’ll have had for years as the sheer variety of pictures of locomotives and Guildford station views has never been shown before in a talk of this kind.

Then on Wednesday, February 17, at 1pm, David Rose will be giving another brand new talk, Woking at Work.

It is being hosted by The Lightbox at Woking online via Zoom as a fundraiser for the arts and heritage centre.

Martinsyde’s aircraft factory at Woking.

It takes a look at businesses in the town over the past 100 years including engineering firms such as James Walker, GQ Parachutes and the Sorbo rubber factory. Plus other trades including printers Unwin’s, railway workers, shop-keepers, gas and electricity works, timber merchants on the canal, nurserymen and commerce.

Tickets £8 or free to members of The Lightbox. Book online at https://www.thelightbox.org.uk/

A view inside GQ Parachutes’ Woking factory.

Responses to Local History Talks Zooming In!

David Thurlow Reply

February 10, 2021 at 7:40 pm

I was born in Guildford and moved to Australia in 1965.

I will not be able to attend your meeting. I am now living in the Netherlands and travel restrictions prevent travel.

I hope there will be a book or some printed information and photos.

David Rose replies: The talk you are interested in, When the railways came to Guildford, is on the internet via an application called Zoom. No need to leave the Netherlands.
Books and DVDs are already available on Geoff Burch’s website. Go to: http://ramblingrailwayman.co.uk/