2022-2023


A list of this season's talks appears below, click on an individual entry for more information.

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    Madagascar: The Gardens of Mars

    October 4th

    John Gimlette

    John, a writer and journalist, travels the world’s fourth largest island, visiting remote tribes, enchanted forests, battlefields, sorcerers and an eccentric militia. Prepare to be surprised.

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    Jordan - The Desert Highway

    October 18th

    Jan Parsons

    In a change to our scheduled talk, Jan will take us on a journey through the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from the Golan Heights to the desert of Wadi Rum, well known for its links to T E Lawrence.

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    Glorious Georgia

    November 1st

    Jonny Bealby & David Phillips

    Jonny will talk about this magical country in the Caucasus mountains that straddles the border between East and West. After the break David will look at the birds, mammals and plants found in Georgia’s mountains and steppes and coast.

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    Up Close on the Silk Road

    November 15th

    Sophie Ibbotson

    Travel across Central Asia from the Pamir mountains to the desert sands of the Kyzylkum, exploring the natural and man-made treasures of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

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    Members' Social & Lake District: Celebration and Warning

    November 29th

    Chris Forse

    Join us for our annual social evening and quiz, then Chris celebrates the Lake District’s unique landscape and way of life, but can it and its culture be sustained in a changing world?

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    The Fascination of Islands

    December 13th

    John Beatty

    Why are islands so compelling? John will help us answer this question with his images of islands worldwide — icy, tropical, desert, flat, high and volcanic.

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    In the Footsteps of Remarkable Women

    January 17th

    Annabel Abbs

    From Texas and New Mexico to the furthest corners of Europe and Australia, join Annabel as she explains how the transformative power of walking affected the lives, writings and art of historical women.

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    The Gibraltar Story and Malta GC

    January 24th

    Paul Whittle

    In a change to our original programme, Paul will give us a wide-ranging look at these two former bastions of British military power in the Mediterranean – their history, heritage, culture and their vital role in World War 2.

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    Cycling the TransAm

    February 7th

    John Weatherburn

    The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail was conceived to celebrate America’s bicentenary. John rode the 4,300-mile route in 2015, exploring its geography, culture and history.

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    Travels in Afghanistan

    February 21st

    Chris Aslan Alexander

    Chris will talk about his numerous adventures in Afghanistan, buying natural dyes, assisting textile projects and even swimming across the border river with Tajikistan.

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    Coconuts to the Credit Crunch

    March 7th

    Andy Browning

    The story of Andy’s adventure, travelling over 10,000 miles through the heart of the African continent entirely by public transport, to surprise an old friend.

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    Shackleton’s South Georgia

    March 21st

    Mark Stratton

    South Georgia is best known for Sir Ernest Shackleton. But if he could return today, he might not recognise the world’s only ecosystem in recovery.

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    Journey into the Strangest Lands

    April 4th

    Nick Hunt

    A journey through landscapes out of place: arctic tundra in Scotland; primeval forest in Poland and Belarus; Europe’s only desert in Spain; and the grassland steppes of Hungary.

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    AGM & Members’ Talks & Mongolia on Ice

    April 18th

    Matt Nixon

    With minimal experience of ice skating, Matt took on a 100-mile skate down the frozen Lake Khovsgol in Mongolia. There were broken bones but it was fun in hindsight.

These are the main items of the programme, but they may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. Other events will be announced at the meetings and in our newsletters.

Download this season's programme as a pdf file

Download this season's programme as a calendar file

Browse this season's programme in an online calendar


Members' Evenings:

Members' evenings are given during the season, for members by members, either in their own homes or in the small hall at Onslow Village Hall. Full details and bookings will be available at regular Club meetings.

We would like to be able to offer a programme of Members' Evenings this season, so if you have digital photographs or slides and have some interesting travels to share, please let us know!