TALKS
TMS Lectures: January to April 2026
13th Jan, 10:45 am - 8th Apr 2026, 10:45 am
Browse all the upcoming lectures organised by Torquay Museum Society as part of their Spring season.
TALK: Restoring the Balance
17th Feb 2026, 10:45 am
An introduction to the Barn Owl, the effects of changing farming practices, conservation measures for Barn Owls and the work of the Barn Owl Trust. Our speaker illustrates the close links between Barn Owls and people, and shows the environmental consequences of everyday human activities.
TALK: The Rocks on my Shelf
18th Feb 2026, 10:45 am
A tale of disasters written in the rocks around us, including the ‘oxygen catastrophe’, the Late Major Bombardment on the face of the Moon, and a peculiar tale about Lapis Lazuli.
TALK: Patron's Lecture - At Your Convenience: Torquay's Lav Affair with the Public Toilet
24th Feb 2026, 10:45 am
We all use them, but we often don’t talk about them! And when we do talk about them, we call them by many different names. What did we do before they were invented, and how did the private and public toilet evolve? At your convenience, do join us at a light-hearted illustrated talk about the history of toilets in Torbay.
TALK: Destination Utah: The USAAF in a Typical English Village
25th Feb 2026, 10:45 am
Featuring Upottery airfield in Devon, this talk illustrates the impact of around 1500 American servicemen taking up residence in a quiet English village. It looks at the views of the local population, the role of the airfield in World War ll and the transportation of 1300+ paratroopers to Normandy in preparation for D-Day.
TALK: Eyes in the Sky: The History and Hope of Space Telescopes
3rd Mar 2026, 10:45 am
An overview of the current and upcoming spacebased telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope, the Nancy Roman Planet-hunting telescope due for launch in 2026/2027, and others already in the pipeline.
TALK: The Isles of Scilly
4th Mar 2026, 10:45 am
The beautiful Isles of Scilly off the western tip of Cornwall whilst rugged are endowed with a mild microclimate that enables exotic plants to thrive. This talk looks at the remarkable wealth of wildlife and stunning landscapes of Scilly. Peter has worked on the islands and leads tours there every year.
TALK: The History of a House in Hastings
10th Mar 2026, 10:45 am
Jenny and Peter owned a house in Hastings with a romantic Pre-Raphaelite history. Using historical and art records, house exploration and archaeological excavation, they describe how they uncovered the history of the house... and its famous visitors.
TALK: The Life and Times of Galileo
11th Mar 2026, 10:45 am
Keen amateur astronomer, telescope maker & musician Bud Budzynski looks at the less well known sides of the classic astronomer Galileo, using a ‘contemporary’ reporting style.
TALK: Around the World in Pictures and Music
17th Mar 2026, 10:45 am
Described as a true feast for the senses, the presentation features photographs from Keith and his wife Janet’s extensive travels, complemented by carefully selected music.
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