Meetings & Programmes
Under normal circumstances, the Friends hold ten meetings a year when the guest speaker usually covers a local history subject. The meetings are on the third Thursday evening of most months in the Archaeology Gallery at the Museum in Market Place, Basingstoke. The doors are opened between 7.10 and 7.30 with the meeting commencing at 7.35.
There is a short break after the talk when tea and coffee are usually available for a nominal amount and there is the opportunity to take part in our raffle for attractive prizes.
Nearby car parking costs £2.40 for the evening after 7pm.
Admission is FREE for Members. Once again a limited number of Guests can attend the meetings. Guests will have to pre-book by phoning the Museum on 01256 465902 (daytime) at least twenty four hours in advance.
A small admission charge of £5.00 per person is payable at the door. This £5.00 can be used towards a full membership fee of just £15.00 for the year if you join the Friends on the night. This ensures that you will have a seat at all future meetings without the need to pre-book.
Next Friends Open Meeting
Friends of the Willis Museum Talks Programme
2025-2026
July 17th 2025 - Marcus Ward
A Year in the life of The New Forest
Marcus takes us on a journey through A Wildlife Year in the New Forest, exploring the seasonal changes and the incredible species that call this ancient landscape home. He shares his knowledge and experiences from years of wildlife surveying and guiding, offering insights into the behaviour, migration, and conservation of key species throughout the year.
September 18th - Jane Glennie
The Experimental Housekeeping of Jane Austen’s good friend Martha Lloyd
Martha Lloyd, “experimental housekeeper” and Jane Austen’s best friend gossips with her neighbours as she packs up their house in Castle Square Southampton. Using original letters by Jane Austen, find out about her close friendship with Martha and their happy time living in Southampton.
October 16th - AGM
AGM Followed by 'Jane Austen Celebrations' - Members only meeting
November 20th - Diana White
Christmas Traditions
Diana’s talk covers how Christmas traditions have changed over time and their origins.
January 15th 2026 - Guy Caplin
Man behind Q
There can’t be many people in this country who have not seen at least one Bond film featuring that smooth spy and womaniser, James Bond, who survives many tricky situations using a piece of equipment made by the in-house boffin known as Q.
Guy Caplin has investigated long forgotten and unknown war heroes. One such was Charles Fraser-Smith who was in MI6 who invented the self-heating can of soup. He realised that British agents dropped into occupied France needed to blend in with the locals which included smelling like a native, so he invented garlic flavoured chocolate and many other ‘gadgets’
February 12th - Alan Turton
The Last Days of Charles 1st
Alan takes us through the final days of Charles I, the King who faced Civil Wars, was overthrown by parliament and executed in January 1649.
March 19th - Richard Anderson
The Life of Edwina Mountbatten
Edwina was married to Lord Louis Mountbatten and was one of the wealthiest women in Britain. She had a very hard start to life but once she moved to London was the darling of the social set. World War II put an end to all that and she became one of the hardest working women of her age. Sadly, she died young but led an amazing life.
April 16th - Richard Brown
Spitfire Production in Tadley
Did they really make Spitfires in Tadley? Why was the Spitfire aeroplane so important to Britain? Why was it produced in sheds and garages spread around central Southern England? Richard will tell us the intriguing tale that answers these questions.
May 21st - David Wickens
The History of Lasham Airfield
The airfield was built on farming land in 1942 as an RAF station during the Second World War. The RAF ceased operations in 1948, but an aircraft company, General Aircraft Ltd, continued to fly from the airfield for some time – today an engineering company still maintains jet aircraft for various airlines. From 1951, the main activity at Lasham airfield became recreational and is now the home of the largest British gliding club together with the Gliding Heritage Centre which is a collection of vintage gliders open to the public.
June 18th - Bob Clarke
The Woman who gave Birth to Rabbits
Mary Toft was an English woman from Godalming, Surrey, who in 1726 became the subject of considerable controversy when she tricked doctors into believing that she had given birth to rabbits. The resultant public mockery created panic within the medical profession and ruined the careers of several prominent surgeons.