Our monthly meetings this year have involved a variety of subjects. Our guest speaker In March was John Calvert and the title of his talk was “The Last Two Furlongs.” It was a light-hearted look at life in later years, but it gave everyone the chance to reflect on the changes which have come about in the name of progress. The importance of family life and respect for others are just as important now as ever before. John Calvert’s talk contained humour and anecdotes, which were very much appreciated by the audience.
Our April meeting was a celebration of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Members and visitors were invited to share stories about the Coronation of 1953 and also to bring any memorabilia to show. The hall was set out like a street party with sandwiches, cakes and bunting. A Coronation Quiz was held and everyone enjoyed the afternoon.
“The Development of Medieval Ulverston” was the subject of Dan Elsworth’s talk in September. There is very little written evidence for the development of Ulverston, but stone axes from the Neolithic period and flint artefacts show the earliest clusters of settlement. Coins of various dates and pottery have been found in higher parts of the town that were away from flooding. In the Medieval period industries developed which included iron, glass, salt, slate and water mills. The documentary evidence for Medieval Ulverston is limited, but sometimes clues are unearthed during building work. Dan Elsworth has been an archaeologist for 25 years and his talk gave an insight into how the evidence from small sites can build up to give a bigger picture.