‘A Romany Lifestyle’
A look into the past of gypsies, travellers and itinerant workers in the local area in days gone by. The places they made their camps, the work they did harvesting on local farms and market gardens, hop picking and their ways and traditions. It features a host of vintage photographs from David’s collection and personal family details of the Baker family of which Geoff is a descendant.
Following the success of ZOOM providing a medium for reaching everyone that wants to attend a talk or presentation without leaving the comfort of their home, David Rose and I will be conducting a series of talks via ZOOM.
Details of the illustrated talks are listed below:
'Dave Salmon - ‘A Nostalgic View of Guildford' (Through the lens of Dave Salmon’s Camera)
Well-known Guildford Historian David Rose again has joined forces with Geoff with this illustrated talk/presentation entitled ‘A Nostalgic View of Guildford ’.
Dave Salmon took so many photographs during his life and this collection doesn’t disappoint. Again they depict snapshots in time where Dave had the presence of mind to capture not only the changing face of Guildford but the characters that socialised there.
Dave always carried a camera and would be seen at a variety of events; Guildford City football matches, presentations, carnivals, Pubs and Working Men’s Clubs.
‘Railway Accidents and Incidents’
Covers the accidents and incidents that occurred at Gomshall, Chilworth, Shalford, Guildford Tunnel, Guildford and Tongham between the years 1892 - 1976. Detailed explanations of how these accidents occurred and how they could have been prevented.
'When the Railways came to Guildford'
‘When the Railways came to Guildford’ covers the history of the railways coming to Guildford in 1845 and its impact on the town to the various forms of traction from steam to the diesels and electrics of present day.
A tremendous selection of unseen photographs will be included.
‘Dave Salmon - ‘A Study in Steam’
Dave’s collection of photographs of steam locomotives is phenomenal. In this presentation, Geoff will show an excellent selection of photographs that Dave captured between 1961 and 1968 at Guildford, Woking and other areas of the Country that remained in steam operation following the end of steam on the Southern in July 1967.
Geoff also worked on most of the classes of locomotives shown during the illustrated presentation, will give an insight to what it was like to work on these magnificent locomotives.
'The Ramblings of a Railwayman'
During ‘The Ramblings of a Railwayman’ Geoff talks about his first interest in railways as a train spotter and as a 15 year old straight from school starting his career as an engine cleaner, working in the boilersmith’s shop and eventually becoming a top-link fireman based at Guildford Motive Power Depot. This gave him a privileged opportunity to work with a diverse group of drivers and locomotives until the final day of steam on the Southern Region, Sunday 9th July 1967. The illustrated talk can be adjusted to last between 60 - 90 minutes with a suitable comfort break in between.
'Rambling Railwayman’s Recollections'
‘Rambling Railwayman’s Recollections’ follows on from when Geoff’s first talk left off when on Monday 10th July he transferred to Woking as a Secondman. Geoff continues with his stories following the path of his working life; passing his driver’s exam, appointment as Driver at Effingham Junction, driving days at Woking Mixed Traction depot to his appointment to become a Senior Instructor at Waterloo South Side Training School.
Following the privatisation of British Rail in 1994, a different career path ensued where Geoff initially became an I.T. trainer with Surrey Police but returned to the railway industry to become Training Design Manager with South West Trains.
