Captain James Cook

 by John Pennington

Introduction

I have chosen James Cook as the subject of my talk for the following reasons:

He was perhaps the most skilled navigator, surveyor and mapmaker that had ever lived. To add to that he became an important scientist and member of the Royal Society.

As a RN officer and captain he was an excellent leader of men, was humane and always concerned for their welfare. He was always very keen to promote friendship with the local natives.

As a man, he was honest, plain and truthful, obsessive and passionate about his work and duty. At over 6ft, he was very tall for the times.

He is mostly known for his travels and discoveries in Australia, NZ, Tahiti and Hawaii, but he achieved much more in other parts of the world.

Apart from that, he spent much of his formative years in the place I grew up in, Whitby and Staithes, is a local hero there, with an excellent museum and statue on the West Cliff above the harbour.

Antony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury - the Poor Man's Earl

                                                             By Linda Hansford 

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the 7^th Earl of Shaftesbury who became known as ‘the poor man’s earl’, was a dedicated social and industrial reformer, known for his commitment to changing the lunacy laws and lifelong advocacy for the better treatment of working people.  A Tory whose evangelism informed his outlook and who believed in the second coming of Christ, Anthony devoted his parliamentary career to issues of injustice in relation to education, public health and working conditions.  He was the acknowledged leader of the evangelism movement within the Church of England.

Women in World War I

by Margaret Pearce

We have read books, seen TV programmes and movies about the sacrifice and heroisms of our armed forces during WW1 but there was a force who gave support – Women.

They were mobilized in unprecedented numbers – thousands served in military support roles and on the home front – in Russia some saw combat as well!

The posters did not represent the dangers and did not communicate the reality that munition labour entailed.  They were also designed for women to persuade their men to join up.

They took on new roles, brought about many changes in the lives of British women – greater new opportunities, and a positive impact that strengthened their case for the right to vote.