Speaker's Corner

Monthly talks at Claygate Village Hall on the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm

Baked Alaska or Mexican Chilly? Climate Change Explained

November 5th Presenter: Nick Cook

In July 2019 people sunbathed in a baking Alaska as temperatures soared to an unprecedented 32C. In the same month the normally baking city of Guadalajara in Mexico shivered beneath a chilly 3-foot blanket of freak hailstones. Both events made the headlines. What is going on here? What climate change does to weather is covered in Nick’s talk. He will also present the fascinating history, science and politics of climate change in a clear and entertaining way so that your opinions are fully informed.

Nick Cook

Nick worked for more than twenty years as a research scientist after which he says he was ‘press-ganged’ into health and safety for a multi-national company where he became a well-known expert. Now retired Nick spends his time lecturing, speaking and writing. Topics include creative writing, memoir writing, Greek mythology, the social history of health and safety and story telling for adults.

So Far So Good

December 3rd Presenter: Malcolm Wells MBE

As a medical assistant in the first Gulf war Malcolm’s talk contains light-hearted stories of things that could have gone better.

He also spent 24 years in the Army as a musician playing cello on state occasions and banquets at Kensington and Buckingham Palaces. From this time he has some amusing stories including the occasion when they played the wrong National Anthem!

The talk finishes with the ‘behind the scenes’ experience of receiving the MBE at Buckingham Palace including when he was mistaken as a member of the Royal Household.

Malcolm Wells MBE

Malcolm worked for 16 years at Canine Partners (a charity who train assistance dogs for people with disabilities) where he was National Speaker and explains how a dog can be trained to use a washing machine!

Between 2018 and 2023, Malcolm dedicated his time as a volunteer for the charity 'Literacy in a Box', successfully raising over £20,000.

A Schoolgirl’s War

7th January 2026 Presenter: Mary Smith

Featuring the recently discovered drawings of a WW2 art teacher whose work in paint and pencil documents the lives of school children and their teachers as the war unfolded. Through these drawings we see how children were taught their lessons in underground shelters and how their school life was disrupted due to air-raids and doodlebugs. The talk also features fascinating illustrations of where those lessons took pace.

This is a highly visual talk, both poignant and amusing, and would fascinate anyone interested in the home front during WW2.

Mary Smith

Mary has spent her career in education, most recently as headteacher of a large secondary school. Her talk came about because, while headteacher, two remarkable discoveries were made. One was the uncovering of an extensive set of tunnels used as underground classrooms, and the other was of an exquisite set of paintings mentioned above. She is now retired but continues to act as an educational consultant and teaches refugee groups.

Christina Daly