Historian and broadcaster Andrew Lound returns to take a look at how Birmingham and the Black Country have had a long association with aviation from hot air and hydrogen balloons to the jet age of today. He takes a detailed look at the history of aviation in the Midlands, featuring the early days in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Walsall and the creation of the firm Boulton and Paul - and offers some surprising facts, as well as some amazing characters.

Photo: Tiger Moth G-ANCX at Pendeford Airfield, which closed in 1970. The proximity of the airfield, with a workforce skilled in engineering, helped attract Boulton and Paul aircraft manufacturers, originally of Norwich, to open a new factory in neighbouring Bilbrook in the 1930s. Photo courtesy of ATC History.

Contemporary wags dubbed the seats at King Edward VII’s coronation “specially-reserved for his lady friends”. Bored and frustrated as Prince of Wales, Edward enjoyed longstanding relationships with Lillie Langtree, Daisy Warwick, Jennie Churchill and Alice Keppel – four women, remarkable in their own right - whose lives are highlighted in this talk by Mary Bodfish.

Photo: Portrait of King Edward VII (1841–1910) from photographic studio W & D Downey, photographer unknown.

During the reign of Henry VIII, the convent of nuns known as The White Ladies was dissolved by Thomas Cromwell. Over 100 years later, the future Charles II sought sanctuary at the Manor House built next to the ruins of the convent, after his defeat by Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester. Robert Parry recalls the story of the convent and of two remarkable days in September 1651 which changed the course of English history.

Photo: an historic drawing depicting White Ladies (at the front on the left-hand side) and Boscobel (through the woods).

How did we all come to wear poppies on Armistice Day? Barry Picken will be along to tell us, and also to give us the story of the grave of the Unknown Warrior sited at Westminster Abbey.

Photo: Yeoman Warder reading from the roll of honour alongside a bugler who sounded the Last Post among thousands of ceramic Remembrance poppies in the temporary art installation “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” at the Tower of London, unveiled on November 11th, 2014.

A fortress since 1087, Dudley has seen its fair share of sieges, political derring do and royal visits - not to mention illegal mints, ghosts and great fires. Max Keen will be joining us to talk us through it.

Photo: by Tony Hisgett. The ruins of the castle courtyard that remain today were begun in the 13th Century. The destruction of part of the walls and the keep occured during the Civil War in 1646 when Cromwell's forces captured the castle.

History Society chairman Judy Davies looks at how national events have had an impact on our village history, the expansion of the village with the coming of the railway, and its continuing growth from then onwards. Her talk will be illustrated with slides of old Codsall. Tonight’s meeting will finish at the later time of 9.30pm as we will have an interval halfway through to serve festive mince pices, fizz and orange juice!

Photo: An archive shot of railway staff at Codsall Railway Station, from the days before the building of the footbridge.

A few years ago, our history society chairman Judy Davies wrote a book titled Bilbrook in a Bygone Age which has proved a great success and still attracts regular sales. In this special afternoon talk organised with Bilbrook Parish Council, Judy will set the scene with a few details about national events which had an impact on the area - including the waves of conquering incomers from the Romans to the Normans, before tracing a thousand years of history to the present day. There will then be a slide show of early Bilbrook starting from Birches Bridge and finishing at Boulton Paul’s factory. There is no charge but a donation to our society would be appreciated.

John Wilkinson was one of the great men of the industrial revolution as well as being an immensely successful entrepreneur, and industry owes him a huge debt of gratitude, as Richard Sells explains.

Photo: Portrait of John Wilkinson, The Ironmaster, 1728-1808 by Lemuel Francis Abbott.

This presentation deals with Wolverhampton’s experience of the First World War on both the home front and in the field of battle. It includes references to recruitment, munitions production, care of the wounded, Zeppelin raids, war heroes and the local campaign to plant avenues of trees as living war memorials. Quintin Watt will also seek to explain why Wulfrunians never dwelt on the war, and moved on soon afterwards.

Photo: Men and women use wooden mallets to secure the tops of shells in the 'Melting House' of the National Filling Factory, Chilwell, which produced munitions during the First World War. Photo by Nicholls Horace taken in July 1917, and used courtesy of the Imperial War Museum.

Thomas Telford left his mark on our neighbouring county of Shropshire, building roads, bridges, canals, acqueducts, churches and even Shrewsbury’s prison. Dorothy Nicolle will join us to talk about his work and his Shropshire legacy.

Photo: Engraved portrait of Thomas Telford published on the front cover of Atlas to the Life of Thomas Telford - Civil Engineer in 1838. Engraved by W. Raddon from a painting by S. Lane.