Future Events and Talks 2026 - 2027​

3pm – Thursday, 8th October, 2026

at

The Old Court, St Leonard’s Road, 
Windsor SL4 3BL

WINE

A talk by Christopher Burr

Christopher Burr is a British Master of Wine (MW), fine wine consultant, speaker, and former international head of wine at Christie’s auction house. He’s known for hosting high-end wine tastings, corporate wine dinners, and entertaining talks that combine wine education with stories from decades in the international wine trade.

Christopher’s wine talks typically cover:

  • Fine wine appreciation and tasting
  • Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhône and rare wines
  • Counterfeit wines and wine fraud
  • Collecting and investing in wine
  • Food and wine pairing
  • Entertaining stories from auctions, producers, and global wine events

He has spoken at:

  • Corporate and VIP wine dinners
  • Cruise wine programs (including Cunard and Seabourn)
  • International wine conferences
  • Educational tastings and masterclasses

Some notable anecdotes mentioned in his speaking profile include:

  • Presenting “the world’s best wines” in Moscow for Vladimir Potanin
  • Meeting Salvador Dalí regarding a Champagne award concept
  • Advising major collectors and luxury hospitality groups

The W&ES AGM

You are invited to attend 

7.30pm – on Wednesday, 28th October, 2026

at

The Old Court, St Leonard’s Road, 
Windsor SL4 3BL

Once again we are priveleged and delighted at the return of 

Peter Symonds for his 3rd talk on

Westminster Abbey

3pm – Thursday, 5th November, 2026

at

The Old Court, St Leonard’s Road, 
Windsor SL4 3BL

We are truly delighted to welcome back

Fjodor van den Boek to present another fascinating talk on 

The Clocks of Windsor Castle

3pm – Wednesday, 3rd December, 2026

at

The Old Court, St Leonard’s Road, 
Windsor SL4 3BL

Fjodor began his horological career at the Vakschool Schoonhoven in Schoonhoven, The Netherlands, where he studied clock restoration and watch repair. After four years of study, he graduated as “Student of the Year” before moving to the United Kingdom to continue his education at West Dean College, West Dean, where he specialised in the Conservation of Clocks and Related Materials. He received his postgraduate diploma in July 2017.

Since October 2019, Fjodor has served as Horological Conservator for the Royal Collection Trust.

“I specialise in all things horological and prefer to take a historical approach to every repair I undertake, avoiding reliance on modern technologies such as CNC machines or software. My aim is the preservation of the craft through the preservation of the object.”

At the start of British Summer Time, Fjodor required sixteen hours to ensure that all four hundred clocks at Windsor Castle displayed the correct time once again.

Oyez  Oyez  Oyez

The Role RBWM Town Crier

by Chris Brown

3pm – Thursday, 7th January, 2027

at

The Old Court, St Leonard’s Road, 
Windsor SL4 3BL

The Role RBWM Town Crier

From Medieval times, the town crier has been a primary means of news communication with the townsfolk. Royal proclamations, local bylaws, market days, adverts and newsworthy events were all proclaimed by the town crier.

The position of RBWM Town Crier is a voluntary role which includes reading proclamations, attending civic functions and helping promote the Borough.

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez”. The word Oyez does not mean ‘oh yes’ but comes from the French ouïr, which means “to hear”. So it could be translated as simply ‘Listen’.

Chris Brown is the first official town crier in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for almost a century. The last town crier of Windsor was delivering proclamations in the 1890s. Maidenhead’s last crier was Mark James Taylor who continued town crying until the 1920s. It is Mr Taylor’s original bell (recently refurbished by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry) that residents and visitors will hear resounding around the Borough.

Chris can also be booked for private work such as giving talks on my role and the history of the Borough, making proclamations at openings and events or even delivering a special birthday message.

Bisham Abbey 

Karen Townsend 

presents her talk on this historic and important Berkshire Manor house

3pm – Thursday, 4th February 2027

at

The Old Court, St Leonard’s Road, 
Windsor SL4 3BL

Previous talks by Karen include

Stonor Park, Henley on Thames – February 2026

Dorney Court, Dorney – February 2025

Bisham Abbey is one of those English sites where layers of medieval, Tudor, and modern history all overlap in a surprisingly compact place with its origins going back more than 750 years.

Bisham Abbey began in the 13th century as a manor of the Knights Templar before becoming an Augustinian priory and later a short-lived Benedictine abbey. It was dissolved under Henry VIII in 1538 and converted into a Tudor country house associated with Anne of Cleves and Elizabeth I. Today the surviving Grade I listed building serves as a National Sports Centre, while legends of the “Grey Lady” ghost remain part of its folklore.

Menin Gate 100 Years

by CWGC Speaker, Brian Rogers

A W&ES ZOOM Talk

7.30 pm on Wednesday 7th April 2027

The iconic Menin Gate is approaching a major centenary in 2027, and the new centenary logo created by CWGC draws its inspiration from the architecture of the memorial, integrating the number 100 to symbolise a century of shared commemoration at the site.

Featuring the memorial’s central triumphal arch and a lion in repose, it captures the Menin Gate’s dignity and enduring significance as part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed First World War funerary and memorial sites, as well as its deep connection to Ieper’s history. With partners, we completed a major restoration of the Menin Gate in 2025, carefully timed to ensure the memorial was preserved and prepared for its centenary period.

Unveiled in 1927, The Menin Gate commemorates by name more than 54,000 Commonwealth servicemen who have no known war grave.