MONTHLY MEETINGS at Liston Hall on the 4th Thursday of the month at 2.30pm
Thursday 25th June – Fran Sandham ‘A Strange Tibetan Adventure’
In 1897 Henry set out to explore the forbidden kingdom of Tibet and its fabled capital Lhasa. He entered the country immaculately dressed but without any permissions. Months later he was ejected wearing just filthy rags and carrying only a map he had drawn in his own blood! But back in Europe he became a celebrity!
Thursday 23rd July – Jenny Mallin ‘Partition and my British Raj Family’
In August 1947, two independent nations would be formed – India and Pakistan. Partition allowed for the establishment of two sovereign countries which could pursue their own political economic and social systems. The context of Jenny’s talk is a portrayal of how future generations of her family caught up in events in 1947, made different decisions: some chose to stay in India and got Indian citizenship, whilst others decided to make a new life in the United Kingdom or elsewhere in the British Commonwealth. Jenny will deliver a fascinating insight into two families: her parents who emigrated to the UK in 1954 who had to face post war Britain with its rationing and finding their own feet there, to her father’s baby sister who made the decision to stay in India. She will explore the Anglo Indians’ sense of belonging to their British ancestry with their family’s historical background but also the juxtaposition of their stronger feelings of rootedness in clinging to the memories of an India they were accustomed to. Records indicate that in 2025 there are still 350,000-400,000 Anglo Indians still living in India.
Theatre visits – check the current newsletter for forthcoming theatre visits.
There are National Summer Schools and Workshops, and Thames Valley U3A Events. For information on these events and booking forms please click here Thames Valley Network Events.