Please contact me to discuss any of the following:

 

  • Talks for public groups, care settings or corporate events

  • Walking Tours

  • Arts, Crafts and Archaeology sessions (adult/child/corporate)

  • Life Story Scrapbooking sessions (1:1 or group)

  • Reminiscence sessions (1:1 or group)

  • Reminscence stall for community events

  • Mini Dig for community events

  • COMING SOON - Elders of the Woods

Talks

D-Day Hampshire: : Discover how Hampshire became a frontline county in the planning and preparation for D-Day. Featuring historic photos and oral history from local residents.

 

D-Day New Forest: Discover the crucial role the New Forest played in preparation for the 6th June 1944. Featuring historic photos and oral history from local residents.

 

Got Any Gum Chum: The US Army in Southampton during WW2. Hear oral history accounts given by Southampton residents about their experiences of the friendly invasion, and learn about the troops and their time in the city. Historic photos bring this tale to life. 

 

VE Day in Hampshire: A reflection of the significance of VE day 8th May, 1945, and how it was celebrated across Hampshire with archive images and oral history. 

 

New Forest Archaeology & History: Time travel through 10,000 years of human life and see how the New Forest evolved through prehistory to a royal hunting ground, a centre for Tudor Shipbuilding, a military training area and finally a National Park.

 

Hiding in Plain Sight: Sometimes the places and things we see are so familiar to us, we don't consider their historical significance. This talk celebrates the everyday heritage in the New Forest towns and villages.

 

Ghosts, Smugglers, Spies and a Riot: Discover the secret history of the beautiful village of Beaulieu. 

 

Lyndhurst through time: How did Lyndhurst become the capital of the New Forest? This talk reveals life in Lyndhurst from its earliest origins to recent times, looking at some of the people who lived there. 

 

Hythe - The development of a village: Using archive images and maps, this talk traces the village of Hythe from its earliest origins to recent times. 

 

New Forest People: Tales of people who have lived in the New Forest - some well known, some not. 

 

 

Testimonials

"Helen is a great speaker who draws you into her subject"

 

Jennifer

"The session was both informative and interactie, and our residents thoroughly enjoyed it. Those who grew up locally shared their own memories and stories, while residents from other parts of the UK were amazed to learn just how much activity took place along the South Coast in the lead up to D-Day. Thank you Helen for such an engaging and throught-provoking afternoon"

 

Sunnybank House Care Home 

"A fascinating talk that had our residents and local visitors captivated from start to finish"

 

 Hartwood House Care Home 

Reminiscence

 

 

The Smell of Fresh Bread -a reminiscence about the local bakery

 

Please Mr Postman - a reminiscence about letter writing and the Post Office.

 

The Way We Used to Shop – Butchers, Bakers, and independent shops

 

Talking through time - a reminiscence about the telephone with real telephones to handle.

 

The New Forest - local history-based reminiscence.

 

Christmas Memories

 

Nature-Based Reminscience - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. These sessions can be held indoors or outdoors and provide connection with nature through freshly collected seasonal nature objects – daffodils, fruits, pinecones etc.

 

Arts, Crafts & Archaeology

Arts, Crafts and Archaeology sessions run for the public, groups or corporate events, are a blend of archaeological discovery and mindful crafting.