Please find below a schedule of the upcoming meetings of the Milton Keynes branch of the Western Front Association - all Forum members are more than welcome to attend!

The meetings are held at the Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey (click here for a map).

Doors open at 7pm for a prompt 7:30pm start. Our meetings are open to the general public. We welcome a donation towards the cost of room hire and refreshments - £3 (local branch members) and £4 (non-members) is suggested.

19th June - Members' Evening - where we will have a chance to chat at leisure with like minded friends. Bring along an artefact or favourite book if you wish.

17th July - Lost in France - the story of Leigh Richmond Roose - Spencer Vignes

August - No meeting

18th September - The Third Dorothy Mann Memorial Lecture - Women at War - John Chester

16th October - Mapping the Front - Howard Anderson

20th November - Remembrance - Ian Johnson & Roy Backhouse

11th December - Christmas Social & Talk: Tracing a soldier in the RAMC - John T. Smith

2010

15th January (at The Chrysalis) - Professor Richard Holmes

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to PM me.

Regards
Brian

A reminder of this week's meeting of the Milton Keynes branch of the Western Front Association:

Friday 17th July @ 19:30 - "Lost in France The Remarkable Life and Death of Leigh Richmond Roose, Football’s First Playboy" - Spencer Vignes

Spencer's book on Roose is described as follows:

"Leigh Richmond Roose. Footballer, playboy, soldier. This man, who kept goal for Wales and a string of top clubs in Edwardian times, is confirmed by this biography as one of the great characters in the history of the game. In the days of tough centre forwards charging the goalkeeper into the back of the net, Leigh gave as good as he got, flooring any opponent foolish enough to come near. Another old rule, whereby the keeper could handle the ball anywhere in his own half, had to be changed just to keep him in check. Spending the best part of his career with Stoke City and Sunderland, he was part of the Mackems side that thrashed rivals Newcastle 9-1 at St James’ Park, and kept goal for Wales when they won their first-ever Home Nations Championship. Remaining staunchly amateur throughout his career, he would nonetheless squeeze every penny and perk he could out of his clubs, once commissioning a train to take him to a match and sending the bill to Sunderland. A delightfully scandalous relationship with the nation’s favourite music hall star, Marie Lloyd, put Leigh in the newspaper gossip columns as well as on the back pages, making him easily the most famous sportsman of his time, as well as arguably the finest goalkeeper (The Daily Mail certainly thought so when naming him in their ‘World XI to challenge another planet at football’). True to his exuberant nature, Leigh did not hesitate to join the forces when his country needed him, thus becoming one of the millions of casualties of the Great War. But even then, his story was not over, for just how and where Leigh died, nobody could say."

"A terrific biography that rescues a charismatic figure from undeserved obscurity." Andrew Baker, The Daily Telegraph

Venue : the Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre (details in post #1)

Had this talk at the East Mids WFA last friday. The talk was thoroughly enjoyable and wasn't all about football. Despite inital misgivings over the subject matter (not a footy fan, i'm afraid), I found I really enjoyed the evening. Recommended!

James O'Hara

A reminder of this week's meeting of the Milton Keynes branch of the Western Front Association:

Friday 18th September @ 19:30 - The Third Dorothy Mann Memorial Lecture

"Women at War - an illustrated talk about the vital role played by women and the consequent change in their status in society"
John Chester - WFA Branch Co-ordinator

Venue : the Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre (details in post #1)