Lecture Programme 2026
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Wednesday 4 November 2026
The Golden Age of the Transatlantic Liner
Wednesday 2 December 2026
Crowds and Clouds of Angels
The Golden Age of the Transatlantic Liner
At the beginning of the twentieth century, it was the domination of shipping routes to and from America that was the golden prize. Here is the fascinating story of how each company positioned itself in the size of liners, the luxurious environments with posters, art, ephemera and the offerings across the Atlantic Ocean either side of the Great War. We look at the breathtaking interiors as portrayed in the Shipbuilder special supplements of the day and the Sales Brochures. What were the reasons for the tragedy of both the Lusitania and Titanic? What art was lost on Titanic? Was it just plain sailing on the Atlantic? Howard Smith’s lectures have a reputation for stunning graphics – this lecture is no exception and also has vintage film of RMS Olympic with the building and launch as well as a glimpse of the First Class dining experience – up to 1933 these were floating luxury hotels for the seriously rich and below decks a cramped one-way ticket for the 12 million immigrants to the States. …the big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh… It then all changed to cruising.
Wednesday 4 November 2026
Lecturer: Howard Smith
Born during the Second World War, Howard was educated in Scotland and gained an MA from Trinity College, Dublin. In the 1960s he worked for UK and International advertising agencies before starting his own marketing and print company in Canterbury.. Each lecture lasts an hour and is an in-depth fully researched exploration of extraordinary creativity sometimes in unbelievable circumstances. Because subjects are recent there is a wealth of actual information to support the stories, which are both nostalgic and entertaining. All lectures have trademark stunning illustrations and many contain vintage film clips.
Crowds and Clouds of Angels
Digby Hall, Sherborne
Wednesday 2 December 2026
3 pm and 7 pm
There are so many angels there could seem to be an avalanche of them. It’s unusual for there not to be an image of at least one angel, if not many in our churches and cathedrals and yet passers-by know very little about them. We hear of tens of thousands in the Bible and other early texts but a surprise is how many of their names are known to us. Where do they come from and what are they for? We can see a hierarchy in the Nine Orders of Angels but that’s rather general and was devised in the 6th Century. What about the rest of them? Are they male or female? And what do they look like? Angelic beings wearing white nighties and gold wings are more of a Victorian concept and it seems that the biblical ones were originally flightless – so when did they get their wings?
Lecturer: Imogen Corrigan
After nearly 20 years in the British army, went to the University of Kent to study Anglo-Saxon & Medieval History and Art, graduating with 1st class honours, followed by an MPhil from the University of Birmingham. Works as a freelance lecturer across Britain and Europe as well as lecturing on small cruise ships and running study tours and courses on land. Has written Stone on Stone: the Men Who Built the Cathedrals, published 2019. A Freeman of the City of London, being a Member of the Company of Communicators. Advisor on memorials and monuments for Canterbury’s Diocesan Advisory Committee.