Pontefract Civic Society are please to present a series of talks throughout the year covering a wide range of topics and interest and are open for everyone to enjoy. From September 2026 these talks are at the NEW VENUE of Pontefract Masonic Lodge, 1 Ackworth Rd, Pontefract starting at 7pm and are free for members or for a modest fee plus admin charge for non members. Tickets available via Eventbrite. New members are always welcome so come and join us!
Our 2027 talks program is now being booked and events will be published soon.
We are are always looking for more speakers so if you have a talk or presentation you would like to offer us then please contact us
Tuesday 17th February 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Town Hall
Tiny Tickers
Our speaker for the evening Linda Atkins tells the story of how Tiny Tickers was founded and what their aims are.
Tiny Tickers is a small national charity which was founded in 1999. They are the only charity in the UK that works to ensure a safer start for babies born with a congenital heart defect and their ultimate aim is that no baby leaves hospital with an undetected problem
Free for our members or tickets are available for non members at £3.96 from Eventbrite
Tuesday 17th March 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Town Hall
Our Stories – Wakefield Council District Heritage Talk
Dr Tegwen Roberts WMDC Heritage Development Manager
Free for our members or tickets are available for non members at £3.96 from Eventbrite
Tuesday 21st April 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Town Hall
Just Three Words
Chris Cade is an actor and storyteller in educational theatre.
Just Three Words tells the heart-felt tale of Albert Johnson who joins up with the Local Defence Volunteers in 1940. He is on duty as a member of the Home Guard during the York Baedeker Air Raid of April 1942…….. and witnesses its consequences.
Free for our members or tickets are available for non members at £3.96 from Eventbrite
Tuesday May 19th 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Town Hall
Model Villages : Saltaire and More.
Eric Jackson
Free for our members or tickets are available for non members at £3.96 from Eventbrite
Tuesday June 16th 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Town Hall
What’s that got to do with the price of fish?
A performance by magician Ray Roberts
Free for our members or tickets are available for non members at £3.96 from Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/whats-that-to-do-with-the-price-of-fish-tickets-1990002560227
Tuesday 21st July 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Town Hall
Friends of Waterton Wall
Barbara Phipps lives in Walton, near Wakefield and has studied the life and work of Charles Waterton for many years. Her book, Charles Waterton, Creator of the First Nature Reserve, was published in 2019. She gives talks and leads walks around Walton Hall parkland.
Starting with a short history of the house, then moving on to Charles’ environmentalism and what inspired him to protect nature within his parkland, and how he did this. Finishing with the achievements of Friends of Waterton’s Wall.
Free for our members or tickets are available for non members at £3.96 from Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friends-of-waterton-wall-tickets-1989919900991
Tuesday August 18th 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Town Hall
The Early Years of the Wakefield, Pontefract and Goole Railway 1844 to 1849
In this talk Peter Cookson describes the growth of the Wakefield Pontefract & Goole Railway from its beginning to its completion
In this talk Peter Cookson describes the growth of the Wakefield Pontefract & Goole Railway from its beginning in Pontefract to its completion, as seen through contemporary newspaper accounts. The talk will concentrate on the effects of the coming of the Railway on the social history of the town.
Free for our members or tickets are available for non members at £3 on the door or £3.96 from Eventbrite (includes booking fee) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-early-years-of-the-wakefield-pontefract-and-goole-railway-1844-to-1849-tickets-1989916306239
Tuesday September 15th 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Masonic Lodge
World War II Spy from Fryston
‘The Spy from Fryston – The Life and Times of Tommy Drew-Brook
Join Pontefract Civic Society for a fascinating talk by David Smith exploring the extraordinary life of Tommy Drew-Brook, a man from our own local area who went on to become involved in the secret world of wartime intelligence.
From his early life and service during the First World War to his work with British Security Co-ordination and the top-secret Camp X in Canada, discover the remarkable story of a local man whose wartime activities were hidden behind a veil of secrecy.
A fascinating story of espionage, war and a remarkable connection to our local area.
Free event as part of the Heritage Opens Days
Tuesday October 20th 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Masonic Lodge
The Mobile Police Museum
David Hardcastle
Our host for the evening, David Hardcastle, will be giving an interactive presentation on the history of the police service
Our host for the evening, David Hardcastle, is a retired West Yorkshire Police constable of 20 years and is a volunteer at a local police museum. He will be giving an interactive presentation on the history of the police service over the last 120+ years.
The presentation will feature historical artifacts that will be available to handle during the talk for proper immersion in the history of policing, artifacts ranging from 1880, covering the Victorian period, both World Wars and into the 21st Century. A big assortment of various police uniforms, helmets, hats and even a working radio from the 1980s for the audience to try!
Free for our members or tickets are available for non members at £3 on the door or £3.96 from Eventbrite (includes booking fee) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-mobile-police-museum-tickets-1989918895985
Tuesday November 17th 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Masonic Lodge
Setting up the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Unending Vigil, Known unto God
The story of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The First World War or the Great War was the first industrialised war which very quickly created a new challenge for the British and Allied governments and because of demands by families of all classes to respect the lives and sacrifice of soldiers killed on the battlefields across the globe. Out of this emotional situation grew the Imperial War graves Commission. This presentation will tell the story behind the emergence of the Imperial War graves Commission and later the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the challenge it faced in paying due respect to those who gave their lives for their country.
Free for our members or tickets are available for non members at £3 on the door or £3.96 from Eventbrite (includes booking fee)
Monday 30th November 7pm – 9pm – Pontefract Masonic Lodge
Performance of A Christmas Carol
Chris Cade
Tickets are available soon
December – Date TBC 7pm – 9pm – Kings Croft Hotel
An evening with with the Liquorice Singers
Tickets are available soon.