Cookham Festival History Related Talks (Edited by Author)
This is a message from Heather Adams who organises the Marlow Society Local History Group talks, leads some of our guided walks and organises some of our visits.
You are warmly invited to the Cookham Festival! With over 60 events taking place from 1–17 May, there’s something for everyone.
History lovers are particularly well served this year, with a rich programme of fascinating talks:
• Gabor Thomas shares the latest discoveries from the Cookham Dig
• Adam Nicolson—renowned historian, cultural commentator and environmentalist—appears in conversation with Mike Copland
• Photojournalist Jim Donahue offers a vivid snapshot of life in the Thames Valley: past, present and future
• Richard Poad shares the life and times of Cookham’s village doctor (1911–1940)
• Keith Parry explores Cookham’s commons and the fight against the Enclosure Acts
• Professor Simon Wenham brings to life the history of Salters Steamers, a much-loved presence on the Thames
• Discover Maud Grieve,the inspirational herbalist who transformed medicine from her Buckinghamshire farm during the First World War
• David Gilbert and the Queen Chroniclers’ musicianswill be performing stories inspired by the haunting world of Saxon Cookham Abbey.
And that’s just the beginning. The Festival also features a wide variety of events—from a visit to the Odney Club Sculpture Garden, to an evening with Simon Williams (Upstairs, Downstairs) and Lucy Fleming sharing memories of Celia Johnson (Brief Encounter) in wartime Nettlebed; from guided walks celebrating Stanley Spencer to lively discussions on assisted dying and the impact of AI on our towns and villages—history in the making.
To explore the full programme and book tickets, visit
