The Friends of Beamish Museum.Interesting Topics from the North East of England.
Friends are invited to attend the Friday Evening Meetings that are presented throughout the year. The following is the current programme and a selection of previous Meetings.
We hold our Friday Evening Meetings, virtually via Zoom (Nov, Jan, Feb) or in person, on site (Sep, Oct, Mar, Apr). Please contact the Friends' Office, by e-mail, for more details on how to join us.
Please note: The topics and speakers may be changed at the last minute without warning. This is very rare indeed and we always try to have a worthwhile substitute available just in case. Please contact the Friends' Office, or check this website, before attending.
The following will give you some idea about the topics covered by the speakers in that period.
The meetings are always well attended and enjoyed by all. Most of the speakers are eminant experts in their field. Come along if you can make it. You won't be disappointed.
Friday Evening Meetings: 2026-2027
- September 25th 2026 Antony Jackson - WW2 and its effects on the North East to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- October 16th 2026 Brian Young - The Stones of Durham Cathedral to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- November 27th 2026 David Gold - The Profumo Affair to be online via Zoom
- January 29th 2027 Miriam Bibby - The North Before Newmarket - The North East's Essential Contribution to Thoroughbread Racing History - to be online via Zoom
- February 27th 2026 - To Be Confirmed - to be online via Zoom
- March 19th 2027 - To Be Confirmed to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- April 30th 2027 Julian Harrop - "Recent photographs uncovered in the Beamish Museum collections" to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
Friday Evening Meetings: 2025-2026
- September 26th 2025 Gary Bankhead - Dive into Durham to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- October 17th 2025 Lisa Kaimenas - Gypsy, Romany and Traveller History Celebration to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- November 28th 2025 David Gold - Lady Mary Wortley Montagu English aristocrat, medical pioneer, writer and poet to be online via Zoom
- January 30th 2026 David Watchman - Tanfield 300 - a look back at a year celebrating 300 years of the Tanfield Railway - to be online via Zoom
- February 27th 2026 Margaret Bozic MBE - Road, Wall and Rail - The History of the Newcastle to Carlisle crossing - why, and how, people have made this journey over many centuries - to be online via Zoom
- March 27th 2026 Ed Waugh - The Cramlington Train Wreckers and the General Strike Centenary to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- April 24th 2026 Nigel Linge (Professor Emeritus University of Salford) -The British Phone Box Story to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
Friday Evening Meetings: 2024-2025
- September 27th 2024 Rev. Canon Michael Everitt (Durham Cathedral) - Tales of Clerical Life From Birds Custard to Cuthbert to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- October 18th 2024 Chris Lloyd (Northern Echo) - Attacking the Devil and Sinking the Unsinkable: W.T. Stead and the Titanic to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- November 29th 2024 Margaret Bozic MBE - Gertrude Bell to be online via Zoom
- January 31st 2025 David Gold - Four Georges - Kings in Tights an informative and humourous account of the lives, loves and lusts of the first 4 Hanoverian kings to be online via Zoom
- February 28th 2025 Paul Heatherington - The Swordmakers of Shotley Bridge to be online via Zoom
- March 28th 2025 John Hunt - North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- April 25th 2025 Paul Jarman - (Beamish's Director of Development, Transport and Design) Transport at Beamish to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
Friday Evening Meetings: 2023-2024
- September 29th 2023 Francesca Boyle - Staying Informed A look at the work of the Beamish Communications Team to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- October 20th 2023 Chris Lloyd (Northern Echo) - Attacking the Devil and Sinking the Unsinkable: W.T. Stead and the Titanic to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall - Cancelled due to weather
- November 24th 2023 Margaret Bozic MBE - Ruth Dodds and Tyneside in the 1920s to be online via Zoom
- January 26th 2024 Tom Davie - Cowardice or Courageous Conscientious Objection in WW1 to be online via Zoom
- February 23rd 2024 Seb Littlewood - Remaking Beamish - the Georgian Additions to be online via Zoom
- March 22nd 2024 Luke Griffiths - Early Railways and the Place of the Tanfield Waggonway to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
- April 26th 2024 Julian Harrop - Treasure of Memories "a glimpse into the Durham Advertiser newspaper collection from 1934-61" to be on site only in the 1950s Welfare Hall
The Friday Evening Meetings are held on the Museum site, normally in the 1950s Welfare Hall in the Town area and/or via Zoom. Please follow the side road from the Museum main entrance, signposted Regional Resource Centre. Pass the entrance to the RRC and take the next Right turn marked Staff Only. A member of the Friends will admit you to the site and give directions to the 1950s Welfare Hall.
The gate will be accessible between 7.30pm and 7.55pm. The meeting starts at 8.00pm and the gate will be locked during the meeting.
You will need your membership card with you when you sign in.
There is a £2.00 charge per person, per Meeting, which includes refreshments.
Speakers Needed.
Can you suggest a suitable speaker for a Friday Evening Meeting?
If yes, please contact the Friends' Office.