Lunchtime talks

Unless stated, all talks begin at 1.10pm, last for approximately 45 minutes, admission is free and there is no need to book. Talks can sometimes get very busy. To guarantee a seat we do advise that you turn up with plenty of time to spare. If a talk is full we regret that we will not be able to admit latecomers.

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September 2008 at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery

Download a map from the documents table below.

Tuesday 2 September - Stanhope Forbes
Discover more about this famous Newlyn artist with Alison Bevan, Director at Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Penzance.

Tuesday 9 September - A Musical Journey Through Life
Join our International Concert Series Co-ordinator, Jeanie Moore, as she explores her music-filled life over the last 80 years.

Tuesday 16 September - A Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach… Explored
Uncover a wealth of new insights into Stanhope Forbes’ well-known painting with Alan Read, Blue Badge Guide at Tate Modern and Tate Britain.

Tuesday 23 September - The Real Story Behind the Fish Sale
Join Dr Joanna Mattingly to discover how the life and times of the harbour in Newlyn in the late 1800s influenced the artists who painted there.

Tuesday 30 September - Lieutenant Pye: Collector
Unravel some of the secrets behind our ethnographic collection as Jennifer Gegg discusses how a significant number of African items came to the Museum in 1903, courtesy of Lieutenant Pye. A University of the Third Age talk.

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October 2008 at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery

Download a map from the documents table below.

Tuesday 7 October - Geometry of Fear
Listen to poems and passages inspired by the sculptures in our Geometry of Fear exhibition, read by British author, Kelvin Corcoran. Places for this talk are limited and must be booked in advance on 01752 304774.

Tuesday 14 October - At the Time of Darwin
Take a look at some of the influential Plymothians who were active during the time of Darwin's studies with Carole Longville and Mary Cobbledick. A University of the Third Age talk.

Tuesday 14 October - African Weaponry
Gain an insight into Roy Smith’s research as he shares his knowledge of a selection of African weaponry items in the Museum's collections. A University of the Third Age talk.

Tuesday 21 October - Focus on a Painting
Hear Viv Andrews and Ann Thurstans present their take on the beautiful maritime painting 'Moonlight and Searchlight' by Julius Olsson. A University of the Third Age talk.

Tuesday 28 October - Mill Prison: A Century of Captives and Captors
Join Barbie Thompson as she unearths the story of Mill Prison from the outbreak of the Seven Years War in 1756 until the end of the Crimean War in 1856. For 100 years, thousands of prisoners passed through the gates of this Millbay jail – purpose-built in 1695 to house Prisoners of War and the perfect stage for tales of courage, escapes, betrayal and espionage. A University of the Third Age talk.

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November 2008 at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery

Download a map from the documents table below.

Tuesday 4 November - The Cornish Wonder: A Portrait of John Opie (1761 to 1807)
Discover the story of John Opie, the Cornish peasant genius who sought his fortune as an artist in London – eventually becoming Professor of Painting at the Royal Academy and so famous that he was buried in St Paul's Cathedral among the nation's heroes. His many portraits captured an era and can be found in museums and galleries across the world - yet most people have never heard of him! Viv Hendra, owner of the Lander Gallery in Truro, uses images of Opie's splendid paintings to tell the extraordinary story of a life that is remarkable, fascinating, inspiring, scandalous, amusing, poignant and always entertaining.

Tuesday 11 November - Sir John St. Aubyn (1758 to 1839) – His Herbarium and Mineral Collection
Take a glimpse into the life of Sir John, his friends, and his obsession for collecting. Come and listen to the remarkable history of his collection and discover how it’s still influencing research more than 200 years on.

Tuesday 18 November - Conserving Plymouth’s Heritage
Find out more about this interesting - and often unseen - aspect of Museum life with members of our conservation team as they discuss, in particular, some of the objects prepared for our new ground floor galleries.

Tuesday 25 November - The World of the Small
Come and see why the world of the small is truly fascinating! Join Assistant Keeper of Natural History, Jan Freedman, to find out more about the Museum’s unique J. H. Keys Microscope Slide Collection and the famous beetle collector who lived and worked in Plymouth.

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December 2008 at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery

Download a map from the documents table below.

Tuesday 2 December - Educating Charlie
Enjoy this highly entertaining and informative one man show by Lloyd Lee as he puts the great Charles Dickens into context. Born to a debt-ridden father during the harsh years of the early 19th century, Dickens went on to become our greatest writer since Shakespeare. 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of him visiting Plymouth to conduct a reading. Lloyd Lee is a trained actor who has previously played Charles Dickens in the award winning 'The Sparkler of Albion' - London’s longest running one man show. Free festive refreshments will be served afterwards. Due to the length of this talk, the session will begin at 12.45pm and finish at 2.30pm. A 15 minute interval will take place at approximately 1.30pm. Advance booking is required on 01752 304774.

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