Latest lecture is half the world away

After its most successful lecture ever, the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society is looking down under at its next offering.
Dr Simon Sleight will be the guest at Broad Street Methodist Church on Friday, November 25 presenting Deep History – Down Under.
A reader in Urban History, Historical Youth Cultures and Australian History at King’s College London, he is also co-founding director of the Children’s History Society and a deputy director of the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, as well a prolific author in his subject matters
He is particularly interested in understanding the lived experience of the past.
Dr Sleight will talk to the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society about the history of Australia using some of the group’s artefacts.
A spokesman for the society said: “The Spalding Gentlemen’s Society museum in Broad Street, contains many objects brought back to Britain by early travellers, including boomerangs and wooden throwing clubs from Australia.
“A particularly fascinating item in the collection is a book published in 1705 entitled ‘A Compleat Collection of Voyages and Travels’, a compendium of travel writings.
“This contains a map of the world. Australia is called New Holland, and place-names around the coast contain predominantly Dutch references.
“Much of the east and south coast of the country are uncharted at this point.”
It follows the Bug Bodies lecture that more than 100 people attended.
Spalding Gentlemen Society Lectures are held at Broad Street Methodist Church starting at 7.30pm.
Admission is £3 at the door.
All are welcome. Information on the lecture programme 2022/23 can be found on the SGS website at https://www.sgsoc.org/lecture-season-2022