Events and Meetings
The following meetings are planned for the 2025 to 2026 season. All are planned to be at Macclesfield Library as usual. All meetings start at 7.30 pm.
Meetings are usually open to both members and non-members; however non-members pay a £5 fee. 18s and under are normally admitted without charge.
Tuesday, 30th September 2025
The Indomitable Mr Roe: the Story of Charles Roe's Amazing Life
Honorary historical consultant to Macclesfield Town Council, Dorothy Bentley Smith describes Charles Roe's life and his influence on Macclesfield and elsewhere. Dorothy is the author of ten books.
Thursday, 6th November 2025
Manchester's Resurrection: How was it Done?
The 20th Century slow decline of Manchester's industrial base led to the city centre having a depressed character by the 1970s. Peter Folkman, Honorary Professor at Manchester Business School, shares his first-hand experience of its resurrection.
The AGM will follow the talk and discussion
Tuesday, 25th November 2025
James Baldwin: Memory and Memoir
Academic and writer Douglas Field discusses his most recent book Walking in the Dark: James Baldwin, My Father and Me. A blend of history, literary criticism and travelogue which draws on his experience of dealing with his father’s Alzheimer's Disease.
Thursday, 22nd January 2026
Jane Austen's Fashion Bible
Professor of Eighteenth-Century Studies at Mansfield College, Oxford, Ros Ballaster explores Jane Austen's representations of style through the colour plates of a Regency high fashion journal, La Belle Assemblee.
Tuesday, 17th February 2026
Has there been a Miscarriage of Justice?
Claire McGourlay talks about the work of the Manchester Innocence Project, where staff and students of the Justice Hub at Manchester University collaborate to help those wrongly imprisoned prove their innocence. Claire has written a leading textbook on legal evidence.
Thursday 19th March 2026
Millennium Dreams: What went Wrong with Britain?
Andrew Hindmoor, author of Haywire: A Political History of Britain Since 2000, talks about the ways in which Britain has become a country in which almost everyone can agree that something has gone profoundly wrong; the challenges for the decade ahead; and how it is that the singer James Blunt came close to saving the world.
Tuesday, 14th April 2026
The Disreputable Exploits of the Rat
In preparation for his widely acclaimed book, Stowaways, Joe Shute visited some of the most rodent infested cities on earth to examine how rats have shaped human history, the hidden world they inhabit and their role in natural ecosystems. In this illustrated talk, he explores our complex relationship with the rat and the secrets of their extraordinary lives. Joe is currently engaged in postgraduate work at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Thursday, 14th May 2026
Sarah Siddons: The First Celebrity Actress
Jo Willett describes the life of the first "superstar" actress – Sarah Siddons. Born poor, she ultimately became Britain's greatest tragic actress, though in the 18th-century world she battled to manage her reputation. Jo was a TV producer and is the recipient of a BAFTA and an International Emmy.