BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Newcomen.com - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Newcomen.com
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.newcomen.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Newcomen.com
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Europe/London
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20190331T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20191027T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20200329T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20201025T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20210328T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20211031T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20220327T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20221030T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20230326T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20231029T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20240331T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20241027T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20250330T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20251026T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20260329T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20261025T010000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:UTC
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20210101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250224T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250224T200000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20241029T103221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241029T103221Z
UID:15892-1740421800-1740427200@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The Trinity House Story' by Julian Parkes
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nplease email meetings.syorks@newcomen.com for zoom link \nHave you ever wondered who looks after the major lighthouses around England\, Wales and the Channel Islands? How did they come to be there in the first place? \nIncorporated by Royal Charter by Henry Vlll in 1514\, Trinity House is today a vital part of Britain’s maritime community. In addition to owning and operating lighthouses\, lightvessels\, beacons and buoys to keep safe all mariners at sea around our shores\, Trinity House is called in to mark – and clear if required – wrecks\, help develop state of the art electronic navigation tools for vessels of all sizes to overcome the vulnerabilities of GPS\, and to act as Nautical Assessors in Admiralty Court cases. \nAdd to that a sizeable maritime fraternity which regularly advises on current maritime issues and future opportunities\, and a charitable side that donates in excess of £5m a year to worthy maritime causes\, and you start to get a picture of Trinity House. \nAbout the Speaker\nA Master Mariner\, Younger Brother at Trinity House and Fellow of the Nautical Institute\, Julian Parkes completed a traditional Merchant Navy deck apprenticeship\, when he served world-wide on a range of general cargo vessels.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-trinity-house-story-by-julian-parkes/
LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/25-02-24_TheTrinityHouseStory_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250212T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250212T193000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20240920T083106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250120T103756Z
UID:15764-1739383200-1739388600@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The sinking of the Empress of Ireland' by Hugh Ferguson
DESCRIPTION:This event is both an in-person and on-line event. No need to register – just come along or click this zoom link to join on-line. \nIn the early hours of 29th May 1914\, the British-built ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland\, on route from Quebec to Liverpool\, was struck by a Norwegian collier near the mouth of the St Lawrence river\, and sank within fourteen minutes. More than 1000 of the nearly 1500 people on board died – including 840 passengers\, which was more than on the Titanic two years earlier or on the Lusitania a year later. This was one of the world’s worst peacetime maritime disasters\, yet it has been largely forgotten.\n \nHugh Ferguson will relate the events leading up to the disaster\, the event itself\, and its aftermath – largely through the words of his father Ronald Ferguson\, the young Chief Wireless Operator on the Empress\, who sent out the SOS which alerted rescue ships\, and who was the last to leave the sinking ship.\n \nThe talk will touch on several aspects of engineering\, including early wireless and contemporary design of ocean liners. But it is primarily a dramatic story of human courage\, tragedy and survival.\n \nAbout the Speaker\nHugh Ferguson is an engineer\, journalist and writer. He was formerly editor of New Civil Engineer magazine\, managing director of the Institution of Civil Engineers’ commercial company Thomas Telford Ltd\, and ICE’s Deputy Director General.  \nHe is author or co-author of The Civil Engineers (2011)\, Engineers (2012)\, The Contractors (2013)\, Constructionarium (2016) and The Consulting Engineers (2020).
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-sinking-of-the-empress-of-ireland-by-hugh-ferguson/
LOCATION:LONDON  Alan Baxter Gallery\, 75 Cowcross St\, Clerkenwell\, London\, EC1M 6EL
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - London Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/25-02-12_TheSinkingoftheEmpressofIreland_ExtraHeadroom_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - London Branch":MAILTO:office@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250205T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250205T210000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20241028T144840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250110T100344Z
UID:15865-1738782000-1738789200@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'Drifting into Digital Dependence' by Vaughan Pomeroy
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nDigital systems can be found in all sorts of unlikely\, and arguably sometimes unnecessary\, places that we increasingly depend on in modern life. Unlike most changes in technology where take-up follows a similar pathway from early adoption to market dominance\, the digital revolution is more subtle. The distance between the operator or user and the ‘machine’ she controls becomes invaded by digital systems which have the seductive power to lull a sense of security whilst being an incomprehensible black box. \nUsing the modern merchant ship as the basis\, the talk will consider the pathway towards adoption of new technology\, the development of automation and the resulting impact on usability. When did we become dependent on digital systems without a manual work around? How should this sort of development be recorded for historical purposes to inform future generations? The speed of change is extraordinary\, and the drivers for adoption are not always clear. \nAbout the Speaker\nVaughan Pomeroy joined the British Aircraft Corporation at Weybridge from school in 1970 as an undergraduate apprentice. His daughter points out that it is now a museum! After graduating\, Vaughan returned to Weybridge working on aircraft systems\, particularly avionics. He joined the consulting engineers Mott\, Hay and Anderson in 1974 working on a variety of infrastructure projects\, before joining Lloyd's Register of Shipping in 1980. \nVaughan retired in 2010 as Technical Director\, since when he has worked with Southampton University and with universities in Singapore.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/drifting-into-digital-dependence-by-vaughan-pomeroy/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24-02-15_DigitalDependence_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250127T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250127T200000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20241029T100110Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250120T152644Z
UID:15889-1738002600-1738008000@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The Background to the 1925 Stockton & Darlington Centenary Celebrations' by Les Turnbull
DESCRIPTION:This is an in-person and on-line event – please sign up to this eventbrite link to register your attendance for either option \nThis is a joint meeting with the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers \nWhen the North Eastern Railway organised the 50th anniversary Jubilee celebration of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) in 1875\, it elevated a largely colliery focussed railway to international status and created a fictitious narrative of history. \nUsing recently discovered archival and archaeological evidence\, the author argues for a different interpretation\, which gives more weight to the railways which had existed for more than 200 years before the opening of the S&DR. \nIt considers the ideas of William Thomas\, voiced in 1800\, for a novel railway system to transport not only minerals but also merchandise and people. Thomas’ ideas reached fruition at the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830\, which provided the model for other railways across the world. \nAbout the Speaker\nLes Turnbull graduated in history at Durham University and worked as a schoolmaster\, university lecturer and senior education adviser. Upon retirement he became a volunteer at NEIMME where now serves as a member of Council. \nLes has written several books on the history of mining and his particular interest\, the early railways of the Great Northern Coalfield. He is frequently called upon to lecture both within the region and beyond.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-background-to-the-1925-stockton-darlington-centenary-celebrations-by-les-turnbull/
LOCATION:NEWCASTLE Neville Hall\, Westgate Rd\, Newcastle upon Tyne\, Tyne & Wear\, NE1 1SE
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/25-01-27_1925StocktonDarlingtonCentenaryCelebrations_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241216T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241216T210000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20241028T171445Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241028T171709Z
UID:15881-1734375600-1734382800@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The Natural Gas Conversion Programme' by Russell Thomas
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nplease email meetings.syorks@newcomen.com for zoom link. \nThis is a joint meeting with the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society \nThe natural gas conversion program was a government-led initiative in the UK to transition the gas industry from town gas to natural gas between 1966 and 1977. \nGas users were faced with an ultimatum; switch to natural gas and accept the inconvenience of the changeover or choose another fuel source and absorb the resulting cost and disruption. It was regarded as one of the UK’s biggest post-war engineering projects. \nAbout the Speaker\nRussell Thomas is Technical Director of WSP in the UK and his wide ranging career has had a strong environmental and historical focus on the energy sector and gas in particular. Russell’s early career had a strong focus on addressing environmental legacy issues associated with the gas manufacturing industry\, through developing remediation systems. This work had an extensive research element which has been maintained throughout his career working with universities and academic institutions (e.g. the University of Strathclyde\, University of Manchester and the BGS) generating extensive journal publications. \nMore recent work has focused on heritage aspects of the industry including the understanding\, interpreting and reuse of former gasworks structures. Russell is media trained having featured in several TV programmes and has also been asked as an international expert to speak at overseas conferences. Another main area of interest is the energy transition\, trying to learn from the extensive history of the energy industry and gas in particular. \nRussell is currently managing a very interesting collaboration with the British Geological Survey. His main areas of research focus over the years have been the application of environmental forensics to tars\, bioaccessability of hydrocarbons\, remediation of heavy metals and furthering the understanding of microbial communities in gas production wastes and unconventional gases.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-natural-gas-conversion-programme-by-russell-thomas/
LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-12-16_TheNaturalGasConversionProgramme_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241204T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241204T210000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20241028T141901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241128T173931Z
UID:15859-1733338800-1733346000@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'How Chaddesley Corbett changed the world' by David Hardwick
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ONLINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in. \nThe Role of the Potter family in the Industrial Revolution\nThe beginning of the Industrial Revolution is often traced back to 1712 when Thomas Newcomen built a mechanical pump that was not powered by wind\, water\, or human/animal power in Dudley. There are\, however\, many myths and mistakes in this traditional narrative\, particularly regarding the role played by a small boy called Humphrey Potter in creating the first truly self-acting machine. The Potter family were from Chaddesley Corbett. \nThis talk looks at the facts around the earliest Newcomen Engines and what role the family played in changing the world. \nAbout the Speaker\nDavid Hardwick is a Chartered Building Surveyor specialising in historic properties and particularly in industrial archaeology. He is an experienced lecturer at colleges and universities in all aspects of construction and heritage\, as well as giving talks to a wide range of local and national history organisations. It is his passion for industrial archaeology and\, in particular\, mining history and the development of the early Newcomen Engines\, that results in his latest research. 
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/how-chaddesley-corbett-changed-the-world-by-david-hardwick-2/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/24-03-06_HowChaddesleyCorbettChangedtheWorld_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241125T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241125T200000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20241028T163104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241028T165258Z
UID:15875-1732559400-1732564800@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'Sir Frank Whittle and Jet Propulsion: some oft repeated myths' by Dr Fred Starr
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nplease email meetings.syorks@newcomen.com for zoom link. \nRepeated statements that the development of the jet engine was held up by the shortcomings of high temperature alloys for turbine blades are without foundation. Frank Whittle\, given the funding\, could have had a jet engine prototype running by 1932-33 and the RAF could have been equipped with jet fighters by 1939. \nIt was unfortunate that Griffith (of Griffith Crack Fame) was so opposed to the jet engine principle\, probably because he saw this as a rival to his own weird turboprop ideas. Accordingly\, funding was withheld\, the Germans taking the lead. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr Fred Starr graduated as Metallurgist from Battersea College (now the University of Surrey) in 1966. After a short period\, training to be a shift engineer on a steam reforming plant at Hitchin\, he joined British Gas\, London Research Station\, in Fulham where he remained for 30 years. Initially he did failure investigation on steam reforming plants\, some of which included visits to the sites at Breakwater\, Plymouth\, and Seabank\, Bristol. In this respect\, a big regret was not knowing that the Newcomen Society used to meet at the Science Museum\, just up the road from where he worked in Fulham. \nMuch of Fred’s time at London Research was spent on materials for high temperature gasifiers. When this work terminated\, he came up with novel ideas for generating electricity using natural gas. This included the concept of incorporating a Stirling Engine within a gas boiler\, and the Closed Cycle Gas Turbine project. His deep interest in aircraft and aircraft engines and background in steam reforming were key to the success of the Closed Cycle Gas Turbine “demonstrator”. Privatisation killed real R&D\, and he left British Gas in 1996. Fred’s most important job after leaving British Gas was with the EU’s Joint Research Centre in the Netherlands\, where he did the basic design for a HYPOGEN plant making hydrogen from coal. Despite this\, he is extremely cynical about the hydrogen economy. \nFormally “retiring” in 2007\, Fred became an active member of the Newcomen Society. With the help of Bryan Lawton\, John Anning and Ed Marshall he got the Society to put on a conference on The Piston Engine Revolution (the development of the IC engine). Later on\, he came up with the Swords into Ploughshares conference (how WWI transformed British Engineering).
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/sir-frank-whittle-and-jet-propulsion-some-oft-repeated-myths-by-fred-starr/
LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-11-25_SirFrankWhittleandJetPropulsion_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241120T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241120T193000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20240926T111228Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241113T092309Z
UID:15783-1732125600-1732131000@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The Liberation Line' by Christian Wolmar
DESCRIPTION:This event is both an in-person and on-line event. No need to register – just come along or click this zoom link to join on-line. \nIn the run up to D Day\, June 6 1944\, a combination of Allied bombing and sabotage by the French Resistance reduced the railway to a set of disconnected lines. This was to prevent the Germans from using the railways to reinforce their defence of the beaches.  \nThe Liberation Line tells the story of how around 50\,000 UK and US troops were sent over the Channel to rebuild and operate the lines\, often in perilous situations. At the heart of the book is the story of how 10\,000 men were deployed to rebuild a 135 mile long line in Normandy in just 3 days in order to allow General Patton to reach Paris. \nAbout the Speaker\nChristian Wolmar is a writer and broadcaster specialising in Transport. He spent many years on national newspapers such as The Observer and The Independent and still writes for a variety of publications including a regular column in Rail magazine.  \nChristian frequently appears on TV and radio programmes most notably the recent Panorama on HS2. He has written 20 books including Railways and the Raj and British Rail a new history. The Liberation Line is his most recent book\, published in the summer.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-liberation-line-by-christian-wolmar/
LOCATION:LONDON  Alan Baxter Gallery\, 75 Cowcross St\, Clerkenwell\, London\, EC1M 6EL
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - London Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24-11-20_TheLiberationLine_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - London Branch":MAILTO:office@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241106T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241106T210000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20241028T135817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241106T093013Z
UID:15849-1730919600-1730926800@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The Telegraph to India in the Victorian Era' by Dr John Moyle
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register\nJoining us ON LINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in \nMuch has been heard about laying the under-sea telegraph cables across the Atlantic and other oceans\, particularly around the 150th anniversary of the first transatlantic cable laid in 1866. However\, the need to extend the telegraph lines\, mainly over land routes to\, and across\, India was also vital to British colonial and military interests.  \nWith strained relations between Britain and several other European countries in the mid-18th century\, there was also a need to route the lines to avoid crossing unfriendly countries. Before the technology for underwater cables had been perfected\, there were sometimes gaps in the route\, requiring messages to be forwarded by steamer before re-entering the telegraph system. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr John Moyle is a Chartered Engineer\, retired physician & anaesthetist plus historian with a particular interest in telegraphy and medical technology.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-telegraph-to-india-in-the-victorian-era-by-john-moyle/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-11-06_TheTelegraphToIndiaInTheVictorianEra_v2_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241028T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241028T200000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20241028T120007Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241028T120007Z
UID:15844-1730140200-1730145600@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'Technology and health: the history of the science behind the cure' by Dr Jenny Stephenson
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register.\nJoining us ON LINE – Meeting ID – 840 6763 5852 \nDr Jenny Stephenson will be covering the medical history of some of the common treatments and procedures we know today\, asking which represent groundbreaking changes and which have remained much the same over decades\, and why. \nAbout the Speaker\nDr Jenny Stephenson was a GP until recently when she left the Practice after 40 years service. Her interest in history has led to a Diploma in Medical History and quite a few talks delivered locally\, to raise money for charity. \nJenny has written two relevant books for this talk. One is about the history of General Practice and the other is about the evolving relationship through the history of pharmacists and doctors. All proceeds go towards local charities.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/technology-and-health-the-history-of-the-science-behind-the-cure-by-dr-jenny-stephenson/
LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24-10-28_TechnologyAndHealthThe-historyOfTheScienceBehindTheCure_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241002T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241002T210000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20240930T112447Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241001T134912Z
UID:15794-1727895600-1727902800@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'The Nice Parts of Technical Curatorship' by Dr Jim Andrew
DESCRIPTION:Joining us IN PERSON – just turn up\, there’s no need to register.\nJoining us ON LINE – click on this zoom link before the event to join in. \nThis is a joint meeting with Thinktank: Birmingham Science Museum \nMost of a senor curator’s time is spent on typical management activities as in any other job\, but from time to time the curator can do some research or hand on aspects of exhibits’ history or use.  \nThis talk will look at a few of these sagas and even blocking attempts to “poach” the exhibits for display elsewhere\, or dare one say it\, to sell! \nAbout the Speaker\nDr Jim Andrew was Honorary Secretary of the Midlands Branch of the Newcomen Society\, and is currently Chairman. \nAfter starting his working life in environmental protection for local government\, he joined the Birmingham Museum Service at the Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry\, where he remained\, as curator responsible for the Science Museum’s technical collection.  \nAlthough now retired\, Dr Jim Andrew remains as a volunteer technical adviser at the Thinktank Museum.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-nice-parts-of-technical-curatorship-by-dr-jim-andrew/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24-10-02_TheNicePartsOfTechnicalCuratorship_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220523T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220523T193000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20211019T152917Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220521T090205Z
UID:8074-1653330600-1653334200@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'Gun making by machinery - the 1853 Enfield Rifle\, mechanised manufacture and interchangeability' by Peter Smithurst
DESCRIPTION:An in person presentation by Peter Smithurst \nFor those who are unable to attend in person questions may be submitted via email before the lecture to events@newcomen.com or via Zoom chat during the lecture. \nBooking information\nIf COVID restrictions permit this will be held as a joint In-Person and Online meeting and irrespective of whether you wish to join us In-Person or Online it is essential that you book your place via Eventbrite (see button below). Tickets are free but as we almost certainly will be limited as to the number of people who can attend in person and as we can only accommodate 100 attendees online we recommend you book early. Eventbrite will email you a confirmation immediately after registration. \nIn-Person meeting at Kelham Island Museum\nFor those of you who wish to join us in person we will meet from 6:00 pm\, but it is prossible that COVID restrictions may mean that teas and coffee are not available. \nAbout the Speaker\nPeter Smithurst  \nAbout the Venue\nAn in-person and webcast (zoom) meeting. \nAs previously the meeting will start at 6:30 pm and tea and coffee will be available from 6:00 pm and we look forward to welcoming you to what we hope will be an interesting series of talks and discussions. \nFor those of you who are uncertain about attending in-person meetings at present\, we are also pleased to announce that all this year’s programme of talks will also be available as a live webcast. \nKelham Island Museum has advised that although no social distancing restrictions will be in place for the meeting\, we will need to keep a detailed register of attendees.  To assist with this and to gauge demand for the in-person talk it would be very helpful if you could let us know if you wish to join us using the Eventbrite link below.  Similarly\, if you would like to join us online please book using the Eventbrite link below.  We are very happy if you wish to “hedge your bets” and book for both the in-person and online talks at this stage and make a final decision nearer the time. \nA group of members and guests will be meeting for a pre-talk meal and if you wish to join us please let me know so that I can advise them of the probable numbers. \nAll Newcomen evening meetings are free and open to all and if you are aware of any non-members who may be interested in this talk please feel free to forward this email to them. \nPlease Note:-  The parking arrangements at the Museum have changed and the car park between the Museum and the river is now closed and is being used by the Museum Cafe and Bar as an outdoor seating area.  Details of the new parking arrangements can be found at http://www.simt.co.uk/kelham-island-museum/plan-your-visit \nSign Up For This Event Here
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/gun-making-by-machinery-the-1853-enfield-rifle-mechanised-manufacture-and-interchangeability-by-peter-smithurst/
LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/22-05-23_GunMakingByMachinery-EnfieldRifle_1200x675.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220411T063000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220411T193000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20211019T152712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220409T111807Z
UID:8072-1649658600-1649705400@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'A History of Dowty' by Ally McConnell
DESCRIPTION:An webcast (Zoom) presentation by Ally McConnell.\nFeaturing material from Sir George Dowty’s autobiography & the Dowty archive. \nPLEASE NOTE: This is no longer an in-person event. It is however available to book online via the link below \nFor those who are unable to attend in person\, questions may be submitted via email before the lecture to events@newcomen.com or via Zoom chat during the lecture. \nBooking information\nTickets are free but as we can only accommodate 100 attendees online\, we recommend you book early via the Sign up link below (you will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite immediately after registration). \nSign Up For This Event Here
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/a-history-of-dowty-using-material-from-sir-george-dowtys-autobiography-and-the-dowty-archive-by-ally-mcconnell/
LOCATION:This is an Online Event
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/22-04-11_GeorgeDowty_RailwayRetarder_1200x675.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220406T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220406T210000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20220403T052951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220403T060330Z
UID:10392-1649271600-1649278800@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'Boxing Clever' - a brief history of corrugated containers and the ingenuity of their design and manufacture
DESCRIPTION:An in person and online presentation by Nigel Jopson\nNigel Jopson offers an insight into the complexity of items often taken for granted. \nSign Up For This Event Here
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/boxing-clever-a-brief-history-of-corrugated-containers-and-the-ingenuity-of-their-design-and-manufacture/
LOCATION:BIRMINGHAM Think Tank\, Birmingham Science Museum\,\, Curzon Street\, Birmingham\, West Midlands\, B4 7XG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - Midlands Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/22-04-06_BoxingClever_NigelJopson_1920x1080.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - Midland Branch":MAILTO:midlands@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220321T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220321T193000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20211112T105235Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220315T122615Z
UID:8617-1647887400-1647891000@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:How Alloy Steels came to serve the Engineer (followed by branch AGM)
DESCRIPTION:An In Person & Online Presentation by Dr. Peter Morgan\nThis meeting will be followed by the Branch Annual General Meeting \nWorld production of alloy steels increased rapidly from the 1890’s\, reaching 3.85% of world steel production in 1920.  This expansion resulted mainly from the mechanisation of warfare and the demands of the 1st World War.  It was was based on foundations built in the 19th Century and these are explored in this lecture. \nBy 1800\,   many of the major alloying elements used in steelmaking had been identified and some were becoming available\, through the work mainly of geologists and analytical chemists.  Alliances of scientists\, steelmakers and steel users began to look at their potential. \nAt this time the primary use of steel in industry was for the essential operation of cutting.  Crucible steelmaking allowed production of a reliable high hardness carbon steel in small sections\, albeit only of limited toughness and ductility and with poor tempering resistance.   From 1820 onwards the work of people across many disciplines\, including Faraday\, Fischer\, Sorby\, R.F. Mushet\, and Hadfield\, provided new steels and understanding of the fundamental processes governing their treatment and behaviour. \nWith parallel developments in steelmaking technology allowing bulk production of alloy steels\, larger high strength components could be made. They contributed to new industries requiring steels with specific properties such as resistance to wear\, corrosion resistance and strength at elevated  temperatures. These included electrotechnology\, chemicals manufacture and the production of high performance internal combustion engines. \nAbout the Venue\nAn in-person and webcast (zoom) meeting. \nAs previously the meeting will start at 6:30 pm and tea and coffee will be available from 6:00 pm and we look forward to welcoming you to what we hope will be an interesting series of talks and discussions. \nFor those of you who are uncertain about attending in-person meetings at present\, we are also pleased to announce that all this year’s programme of talks will also be available as a live webcast. \nKelham Island Museum has advised that although no social distancing restrictions will be in place for the meeting\, we will need to keep a detailed register of attendees.  To assist with this and to gauge demand for the in-person talk it would be very helpful if you could let us know if you wish to join us using the Eventbrite link below.  Similarly\, if you would like to join us online please book using the Eventbrite link below.  We are very happy if you wish to “hedge your bets” and book for both the in-person and online talks at this stage and make a final decision nearer the time. \nA group of members and guests will be meeting for a pre-talk meal and if you wish to join us please let me know so that I can advise them of the probable numbers. \nAll Newcomen evening meetings are free and open to all and if you are aware of any non-members who may be interested in this talk please feel free to forward this email to them. \nPlease Note:-  The parking arrangements at the Museum have changed and the car park between the Museum and the river is now closed and is being used by the Museum Cafe and Bar as an outdoor seating area.  Details of the new parking arrangements can be found at www.simt.co.uk/kelham-island-museum/plan-your-visit \nSign Up For This Event Here
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/how-alloy-steels-came-to-serve-the-engineer-followed-by-branch-agm/
LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/22-02-21_SteelAlloy_1120x630.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220315T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220315T190000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20211115T090346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220301T154016Z
UID:8670-1647365400-1647370800@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:'Women of Steel' by Michelle Rawlins (with the SMEA & SYIHS)
DESCRIPTION:A joint meeting with the Sheffield Metallurgical & Engineering Association (SMEA) and the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society (SYIHS) presented by Michelle Rawlins\nThe Annual Barraclough Lecture \nA talk about some of the formidable women who worked in the Sheffield steel industry during World War Two. \nSMEA website \nSYIHS website \nAbout the Speaker\nMichelle Rawlins is a freelance journalist and author who also teaches at the University of Sheffield \nAbout the Venue\nCrown Plaza Royal Victoria\, Sheffield \nThis is an in-person and webcast (Zoom) meeting. \nAs previously the meeting will start at 5:30 pm and tea and coffee will be available from 6:00 pm and we look forward to welcoming you to what we hope will be an interesting series of talks and discussions. \nFor those of you who are uncertain about attending in-person meetings at present\, we are also pleased to announce that a majority of this year’s programme of talks will also be available as a live webcast.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/women-of-steel/
LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria\, Victoria Station Road\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S4 7YE
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/22-03-15_WomenOfSteel_MichelleRawlings_1200x675.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220228T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220228T200000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20220218T165109Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220218T180704Z
UID:10330-1646073000-1646078400@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:The Varied Life and Career of William Bragge
DESCRIPTION:An In Person & Online Presentation by David Boursnell\nWilliam Bragge’s life illustrates the mix of religious beliefs\, intellectual curiosity\, entrepreneurship\, manufacturing development and civic responsibility that were a feature of the Industrial Revolution. \nBorn in 1823\, the son of a Birmingham jeweller\, Bragge did an engineering apprenticeship in Birmingham which led to a career as both a civil and a locomotive engineer. In 1852 he went to South America\, where he built railways and gas works in both Brazil and Argentina. \nHe returned to England in 1858 a wealthy man and was able to buy a partnership with John Brown and Co in Sheffield. After helping with the company’s expansion into Bessemer steel and armour plates he travelled widely\, negotiating contracts with governments in Russia and elsewhere. He used his travels to build up large collections including tobacco materials\, illuminated manuscripts\, ethnographic objects\, geology and precious stones – many of the items are now in the collections of major museums around the world. \nIn the 1870s\, after his year as Master Cutler\, Bragge devoted himself more to civic activities and the promotion of Free Libraries and technical education in Sheffield. He was the prime mover in the establishment of the Weston Park Museum in the City. \nBragge’s wife Martha died in 1877\, after what appears to have been a protracted illness\, and he then moved back to his native Birmingham\, where he was involved with the establishment of the English Watch Co. as well as involving himself in civic activities until his death in 1884. \nAbout the Venue\nAn in-person and webcast (zoom) meeting. \nAs previously the meeting will start at 6:30 pm and tea and coffee will be available from 6:00 pm and we look forward to welcoming you to what we hope will be an interesting series of talks and discussions. \nFor those of you who are uncertain about attending in-person meetings at present\, we are also pleased to announce that all this year’s programme of talks will also be available as a live webcast. \nKelham Island Museum has advised that although no social distancing restrictions will be in place for the meeting\, we will need to keep a detailed register of attendees.  To assist with this and to gauge demand for the in-person talk it would be very helpful if you could let us know if you wish to join us using the Eventbrite link below.  Similarly\, if you would like to join us online please book using the Eventbrite link below.  We are very happy if you wish to “hedge your bets” and book for both the in-person and online talks at this stage and make a final decision nearer the time. \nA group of members and guests will be meeting for a pre-talk meal and if you wish to join us please let me know so that I can advise them of the probable numbers. \nAll Newcomen evening meetings are free and open to all and if you are aware of any non-members who may be interested in this talk please feel free to forward this email to them. \nPlease Note:-  The parking arrangements at the Museum have changed and the car park between the Museum and the river is now closed and is being used by the Museum Cafe and Bar as an outdoor seating area.  Details of the new parking arrangements can be found at www.simt.co.uk/kelham-island-museum/plan-your-visit
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-varied-life-and-career-of-william-bragge/
LOCATION:SHEFFIELD Kelham Island Museum\, Alma Street\, Sheffield\, South Yorkshire\, S3 8RG
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - South Yorkshire Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/22-02-28_WilliamBragge_WestonParkMuseum_1920x1080.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20220124T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20220124T193000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20211112T094939Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220116T134045Z
UID:8586-1643049000-1643052600@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:ONLINE ONLY - ‘Poking its Nose into Everything’ - The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts\, Manufactures and Commerce
DESCRIPTION:A presentation by Susan Bennett MA\nThis event is now Online Only \nFrom its foundation in 1754 the RSA has poked its nose into everything from the ‘polite arts’ to science and technology\, with many other areas of interest in between.  The Society encouraged inventions and developments through its ‘premium’ system which developed in the mid-19thcentury into a wide-ranging lecture programme.  The RSA also led a number of campaigns\, as well as laying the groundwork for the Great Exhibition of 1851. \nAbout the Speaker\nSusan Bennett MA \nFounder member and Honorary Secretary of the William Shipley Group for RSA History (founded 2004) and as former RSA Curator/Archivist Susan Bennett has given presentations and published articles on many aspects of the RSA’s rich and varied history. \nHer book A Thankless Child.  The Life and Times of Georgiana Jane Henderson (1771-1850) was published in 2020. \nSign Up For This Event Here
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-history-of-the-royal-society-of-arts-the-rsa/
LOCATION:This is an Online Event
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online)
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/22-01-24_Repository-at-RSA-1843_1920x1080.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - South Yorkshire Branch":MAILTO:meetings.syorks@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20211208T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20211208T190000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184018
CREATED:20211019T150730Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211205T083233Z
UID:8058-1638986400-1638990000@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:Industrial Steam Power In London 1780 – 1805
DESCRIPTION:An in-person and streamed (Zoom) lecture by Dr. John Kanefsky\nThe role played by London in the classic period of the Industrial revolution (say 1760-1815) has long been a topic of debate among historians of technology. Some have argued that London was unimportant; others that it was a driving force as much as Lancashire or the coalfields. \nThe existence of the huge Boulton and Watt (B&W) archive and the mythology that grew up promoting the firm has led to over-concentration on their output: as recently as 2016 a researcher could write that they had a monopoly of engine building in the capital. This is patently untrue: they were the most important\, but only one of the players in the market for steam engines. \nThis paper examines\, from a wide range of sources\, actual engine numbers built\, as far as they can be ascertained\, and places them in the national context. Moreover\, a survey of steam engines at work in the capital was made by Farey in 1804/5 and published in his famous Treatise in 1827 (see event image). To benchmark this Dr. John Kanefsky‘s online database of Watt and other engines installed up to 1800 has been extended to 1805 for London\, not just for B&W engines but also other makers including Trevithick. The results are instructive and unexpected. \nAttending the Lecture\nIn-Person meeting at the Alan Baxter Gallery\nFor those of you who wish to join us in person\, we will meet from 6:00 pm as usual. \nOnline Meeting\nFor those of you who wish to join us online\, please book via the link below. You will then receive a separate email with a link to access the online event via Zoom on the evening prior to the event. Please note that each link is unique and should not be shared. This link will be available from 6:00 pm and as this is a Zoom Webinar\, whilst you will be able to see and hear the Chairman and Speaker\, they will not be able to see you and you will not be able to see other participants. \nThe Newcomen Society reserves the right to alter the event and its line-up or cancel the event. The Newcomen Society will not be liable for any additional expenses incurred by ticket holders in relation to the event. \nBooking is essential. \nSign Up For This Event Here (Eventbrite)
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/industrial-steam-power-in-london-1780-1805-by-dr-john-kanefsky/
LOCATION:LONDON  Alan Baxter Gallery\, 75 Cowcross St\, Clerkenwell\, London\, EC1M 6EL
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online),UK - London Branch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/A_Treatise_on_the_Steam_Engine_1827_Plate_22_1920x1080.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - London Branch":MAILTO:office@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20210217T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20210217T180000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184019
CREATED:20210107T154208Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210107T162122Z
UID:6239-1613577600-1613584800@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:The Newcomen Society AGM 2021
DESCRIPTION:The Annual General Meeting of The Newcomen Society for the Study of the History of Engineering and Technology will be held online on Wednesday\, 17 February 2021 at 4 pm.  The main business will be to receive and approve the Accounts\, the Report of the Directors\, the Independent Examiner’s Report and the Report of the Trustees.  The meeting will elect Honorary Officers and receive a report on the ballot to elect members of Council. \nMembers will receive the full Agenda by e-mail (or by post for those who do not use e-mail) along with ballot papers for the election of Council Members and details of the online voting procedure.
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-newcomen-society-agm-2021/
LOCATION:This is an Online Event
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online)
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/video_conferencing_remote_work_online_meeting_1200x800.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - North Western Branch":MAILTO:catherine.casson@manchester.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201215T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201215T193000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184019
CREATED:20201031T122218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201031T122833Z
UID:5564-1608057000-1608060600@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:The Famous ‘Flying Scotsman’ - Marketing\, Circumstance and Chance
DESCRIPTION:An Online Lecture from Bob GwynneIn the UK approximately 110\,000 steam locomotives were built\, but just one seems to be universally known amongst the British public. Author\, curator and Flying Scotsman expert Bob Gwynne will attempt to answer the question as to why the ‘Flying Scotsman’ is so famous. \nExpect unusual images and ‘people’ stories that cover more than 90 years of ‘marketing\, circumstance and chance’ in a lively presentation that will provide some insight as to why the 3rd ‘A1’ locomotive built by the LNER for a specific job\, became a ‘UK plc’ brand as familiar as HP Sauce and Big Ben. \nAbout the Speaker\nBob Gwynne is an outstanding speaker from the National Railway Museum in York and author of a book on the Flying Scotsman. It is a topic that needs no introduction! \nThe event will be hosted by Jonathan Aylen – President of the Newcomen Society \nQuestions may be submitted via email before the lecture to events@newcomen.com or via Zoom chat during the lecture. \nBooking information:\nTickets are free but subject to availability and are only available in advance through Eventbrite. To secure your place we recommend you book in advance. \nPlease click on the link below to register via Eventbrite\,  who will then email you a confirmation immediately after registration. You will receive a separate email with a link to access the event auditorium on the evening prior to the event itself. This link will be active approximately half an hour before it starts. The event auditorium will also provide access to the other items included in your ticket. \nPlease Note – Each link is unique and should not be shared; also as this is a Zoom Webinar\, whilst you will be able to see and hear the Chairman and Speaker\, they will not be able to see you and you will not be able to see other participants. \nThe Newcomen Society reserves the right to alter the event and its line-up\, or cancel the event. The Newcomen Society will not be liable for any additional expenses incurred by ticket holders in relation to the event. \nYour email address is held by the Newcomen Society to enable it to send you information like this.  Your email address will never be used for other purposes or revealed to third parties.  If you do not wish us to continue holding your address\, please contact us at events@Newcomen.com and we will delete your details from our records. \n\nSign Up For This Event Here
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/the-famous-flying-scotsman-marketing-circumstance-and-chance/
LOCATION:This is an Online Event
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online)
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TheFlyingScotsman_668x607.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - North Western Branch":MAILTO:catherine.casson@manchester.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201117T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201117T200000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184019
CREATED:20201001T115824Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201031T122946Z
UID:5386-1605637800-1605643200@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:Babbage And The Abstraction Of Mechanism
DESCRIPTION:Above image – Detail from Plummer’s Difference Engine Number 3 – Photo credit Adrian Johnstone \nAn Online Lecture from Professor Adrian JohnstoneCharles Babbage has been called the ‘Great-Uncle’ of modern computing\, a claim that rests simultaneously on his demonstrable understanding of most of the architectural principles underlying the modern computer\, and the almost universal ignorance of Babbage’s work before 1970. There has since been an explosion of interest both in Babbage’s devices and the impact they might have had in some parallel history\, and in Babbage himself as a man of great originality who had essentially no influence at all on subsequent technological development. \nIn all this\, one fundamental question has been largely ignored: how is it that one individual working alone could have synthesised a workable computer design over a short period\, designing an object whose complexity of behaviour so far exceeded that of contemporary machines that it would not be matched for over one hundred years? \nThe key\, as is well understood in modern engineering contexts\, is to abstract away from the full complexity of a concrete system. The complexity barrier was also faced by the electronics industry in the 1970’s and 1980’s\, and triggered a switch from visual descriptions of large scale digital electronic devices to text-based Hardware Description Languages similar in style to that of a software programming language. Babbage too faced an overwhelming complexity barrier\, and his response was indeed to design a system of hardware abstractions which he called his Notation. The ideas allowed him to reason in the abstract about chains of cause and effect in his mechanisms\, and he believed the Notation to be his crowning achievement. \nHis ideas were not taken up: one near contemporary rejected it because there could be many concrete machines that had the same notational description\, which of course was precisely the point. \nIn this talk Professor Johnstone will outline Babbage’s life and times; describe the functioning of the adder that is at the heart of Babbage’s mid-period designs and describe aspects of his notation that pre-date by 150 years similar concepts in Hardware Description Languages. \nAbout the Speaker\nAdrian Johnstone is Professor of Computing at Royal Holloway\, University of London. He was a founding committee member of the Computer Conservation Society\, and principal investigator for the Leverhulme Trust funded project Notions and Notations: Babbage’s Language of Thought. \nThe event will be hosted by Jonathan Aylen – President of the Newcomen Society \nBooking information:\nTickets are free but subject to availability and are only available in advance through Eventbrite. To secure your place we recommend you book in advance. \nPlease click on the link below to register via Eventbrite\,  who will then email you a confirmation immediately after registration. You will receive a separate email with a link to access the event auditorium on the evening prior to the event itself. This link will be active approximately half an hour before it starts. The event auditorium will also provide access to the other items included in your ticket. \nPlease Note – Each link is unique and should not be shared; also as this is a Zoom Webinar\, whilst you will be able to see and hear the Chairman and Speaker\, they will not be able to see you and you will not be able to see other participants. \nThe Newcomen Society reserves the right to alter the event and its line-up\, or cancel the event. The Newcomen Society will not be liable for any additional expenses incurred by ticket holders in relation to the event. \nYour email address is held by the Newcomen Society to enable it to send you information like this.  Your email address will never be used for other purposes or revealed to third parties.  If you do not wish us to continue holding your address\, please contact us at events@Newcomen.com and we will delete your details from our records. \n\nSign Up For This Event HerePlummer’s Difference Engine Number 3 : Photo credit Adrian Johnstone
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/babbage-and-the-abstraction-of-mechanism/
LOCATION:This is an Online Event
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online)
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/BabbageMachineOriginal_Detail_PhotoCredit-AdrianJohnstone_1920x1280.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - London Branch":MAILTO:office@newcomen.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20201013T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20201013T200000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184019
CREATED:20201001T111034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201002T104111Z
UID:5368-1602613800-1602619200@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:Cold War To Coal Trains: TOPS
DESCRIPTION:An Online Lecture from Jonathan Aylen\nBritish Railways’ first computer based train operating system \nTOPS (Total Operations Processing System) was a computer system implemented by British Railways (BR) from 1973 to control its freight traffic. It allowed BR to keep tabs on its rolling stock across the whole rail network using IBM 370 mainframe computers in London. It was a major step towards modern management of railways in the UK. \nTOPS was developed in the USA through collaboration between IBM and Southern Pacific. The software had its origins in the US Strategic Air Command’s SAGE – Semi-Automatic Ground Environment – system which gave early warning of Soviet bomber attacks on the US. TOPS was not so much “swords into ploughshares” as “Cold War to Coal Trains”. \nThe research exhibited in this talk is the summary of a collaboration between Bob Gwynne of the National Railway Museum\, York and Jonathan Aylen to understand the history of computerisation on British Railways. The research shows how railways shaped society and their contribution to modern management. \nQuestions may be submitted via email before the lecture to events@Newcomen.com or via Zoom chat during the lecture. \nAbout the Speaker\nJonathan Aylen is President of the Newcomen Society and a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Manchester. \nBooking information:\nTickets are free but subject to availability and are only available in advance through Eventbrite. To secure your place we recommend you book in advance. \nPlease click on the link below to register via Eventbrite\,  who will then email you a confirmation immediately after registration. You will receive a separate email with a link to access the event auditorium on the evening prior to the event itself. This link will be active approximately half an hour before it starts. The event auditorium will also provide access to the other items included in your ticket. \nPlease Note – Each link is unique and should not be shared; also as this is a Zoom Webinar\, whilst you will be able to see and hear the Chairman and Speaker\, they will not be able to see you and you will not be able to see other participants. \nThe Newcomen Society reserves the right to alter the event and its line-up\, or cancel the event. The Newcomen Society will not be liable for any additional expenses incurred by ticket holders in relation to the event. \nYour email address is held by the Newcomen Society to enable it to send you information like this.  Your email address will never be used for other purposes or revealed to third parties.  If you do not wish us to continue holding your address\, please contact us at events@Newcomen.com and we will delete your details from our records. \n\nSign Up For This Event HereOther Upcoming Events . . .\n‘The Dickinson Memorial Lecture’ by Bridget EickhoffMay 13 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/cold-war-to-coal-trains-tops-2/
LOCATION:This is an Online Event
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online)
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TOPS_PublicityPamphlet_NRM_Edit-1920x2046-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Newcomen - North Western Branch":MAILTO:catherine.casson@manchester.ac.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200922T183000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200922T213000
DTSTAMP:20260416T184019
CREATED:20200930T104726Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201003T071647Z
UID:5329-1600799400-1600810200@www.newcomen.com
SUMMARY:Wealden Iron
DESCRIPTION:An Online Lecture from Dr Tim Smith\nFor some 338 years the Weald was home to a major iron industry with some 109 forges and 119 furnaces\, the last of which closed in 1813. \nHowever\, the area supported a much older iron industry stretching back some 2\,300 years. Early furnaces were small\, made of clay and stone\, and produced a solid spongy mass of iron called a bloom that was never molten but could be hammered into useful shapes. Knights’ armour\, weapons\, horse and ox shoes\, nails and tools were all made from this bloomery iron. \nIn 1490\, the very first blast furnace was built in Britain\, on the Weald\, at Buxted in East Sussex. Called blast furnaces because bellows blew a continuous blast of air into the furnace near its base\, these furnaces produced molten iron that could be cast direct from the furnaces into useful items such as fire backs\, salt pans and later cannon and shot. \nTo make tools\, horse and ox shoes\, nails and hand weapons\, the iron had to be refined in forges to reduce its carbon content. For this the iron was cast into large ‘beams’ 2-3 metres long weighing half a tonne or more\, called ‘sows’. These sows were refined at the forges by burning off the tip of the sow under a blast of air and hammering the resultant mushy mass into long bars. The beating of the water powered hammers gave rise to the name ‘hammer pond’. \nSign Up For This Event HereAbout the Author\nDr Tim Smith\, is a graduate in Metallurgy and has been a member of the Historical Metallurgy Society since his student days at Brunel University. Tim is a leading global expert on modern iron and steel technology. \n\nAs one of the first Newcomen Events to be conducted online as a result of the Corona Virus pandemic\, this talk attracted great praise: “excellent”; “entertaining”; “fluent”; “informative”; “an excellent lecture on a subject of great interest” and from a member in the USA: “The webinar yesterday was excellent – very good talk and excellent slides. It has certainly set the bar high”
URL:https://www.newcomen.com/activity/wealden-iron/
LOCATION:This is an Online Event
CATEGORIES:Shed Talks (Newcomen Online)
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.newcomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/wealdeniron.jpg_1680x1200.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR