Our virtual talks are free but any donations are welcome via the donations Tiger on the museum website (athelstanmuseum.org.uk) where you can also register for the event via the “What’s On” page.
Jan 20, 2021 6:30 PM London
“Ghosts, Royals and Ferrymen” by Brian Margetson
Having spent 25 years creating a unique photographic archive and an intriguing catalogue of anecdotal stories of Britain’s small working ferries, on river, estuary and inshore, from rowing boats up to the Isle of Wight ferry, Brian Margetson can’t wait to share his fascinating presentation with you.
The talk introduces us to a varied collection of strange craft, interesting individuals and unusual locations… and of course, there are the weird and wacky stories that go with each of these ferries.

Feb 3, 2021 6:30 PM London
"Turner and Girtin in Malmesbury" - Nicholas Reese
This is the second of our series of talks on JMW Turner to celebrate our acquisition for Malmesbury of the Turner painting of the Abbey.
We are very grateful to HRH the Prince of Wales for agreeing to give an introduction to the tseries as Patron of The Turner Society.
During the 1790s, JMW Turner and Thomas Girtin, two young artists of genius, visited Malmesbury and made drawings and watercolours of the Abbey and the town. They were great friends and together effected a revolution in the use of the watercolour medium which was to transform landscape painting. In 1802 Girtin tragically died, but Turner was to carry on for a further half century, constantly experimenting and transforming landscape painting and its possibilities.
In his talk Nicholas Reese will illustrate this transformation, analysing the work of both artists with special emphasis on their views of Malmesbury.

Mar 3, 2021 6:30 PM London
"Turner in his time" - Sarah Stopford
This is the last in our series of talks for the time being on JMW Turner to celebrate our acquisition for Malmesbury of the Turner painting of the Abbey.
We are very grateful to HRH the Prince of Wales for agreeing to give an introduction to the series as Patron of The Turner Society.
The son of a Covent Garden barber, Turner was a classic example of a self-made man in an era when such mobility was the exception. From his first watercolour exhibited at the Royal Academy when he was fifteen, to the final oils exhibited sixty years later, he experimented and took landscape painting to a radically new place, truly exploring the face of nature and the sublime. He brought tempests and snowstorms into the gallery and dissolved castles and mountains into paint and light.