Programme

Many meetings are held in the Natural History Museum in London, but please check the venue carefully before travelling to a meeting.

Non-members are usually welcome at Quekett meetings, but please check with the Meetings Secretary.

Events shown indented and in italics are not arranged by the Quekett, although we will be represented at some of them. Any enquiries should be directed to the local organiser.

Here is a downloadable .pdf version of the Programme (revised 17th February 2024).  Please be aware that changes may be made at short notice, so ensure you check this on-line version before travelling to events or signing in to Zoom.

2024 Programme

January 2024

Sunday 7th January 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon – Wimbledon
Wimbledon Common Nature Club
“Life Under a Microscope” – Quekett members will be in the Information Centre (SW19 5NR) on Wimbledon Common (near the Windmill), showing interesting slides and specimens to local children as part of our outreach programme.
blue-link-icon-18 Read a report of this meeting

Sunday 14th January 2024 – 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Milton
Milton Microscopy Group
Are Busy Bees Picky Pollen Pickers? We will be analysing pollen balls collected by individual bees to see how their collecting behaviour varies between bees.
Milton Community Centre Lounge, Coles Road, Milton, Cambridgeshire, CB24 6BL. (what3words ///ally.pies.comical)
Contact Chris Thomas for more information.

Tuesday 16th January 2024 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Zoom logo
Gossip meeting
“My latest microscopical acquisition”
blue-link-icon-18 Watch a video of this meeting

Saturday 20th January 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Foraminifera and sand (dry mounts); photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

February 2024

Saturday 3rd February 2024 – 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Committee meeting Zoom logo only

Saturday 10th February 2024 – 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. – South Kensington
Workshop
Practical slide-making – crystals and dry mounts (seeds, sand and forams) Led by Chris Thomas
Room PA135, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.
blue-link-icon-18 Read a report of this workshop

Saturday 10th February 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Lindfield
Sussex Biological Recorders’ Seminar
Oathall Community College, Appledore Gardens, Lindfield, West Sussex, RH16 2AQ.
The Quekett will have a stand at this event as part of our outreach programme.
blue-link-icon-18 Read a report of this event

Saturday 17th February 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Polarised light; crystal melts; photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

Saturday 24th February 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Cobham
Home Counties Meeting (Surrey)
Talks (Robert Ratford: “Stereoscopic microscopes” and Bevil Templeton-Smith: “Art photography using a microscope”), gossip and practical microscopy.
St Andrews Church Hall, Downside Bridge Road, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 3EJ.
For more information, please contact Joan Bingley.
blue-link-icon-18 Read a report of this meeting

March 2024

Tuesday 5th March 2024 – 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. – South Kensington
Workshop and Gossip
Hairs: examination and mounting. Led by John Gregory
Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.
blue-link-icon-18 Read a report of this meeting

Followed by:

Tuesday 5th March 2024 – 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Annual General MeetingZoom logo
Election of the committee for the coming year. Please note that only the AGM will be on Zoom.
Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.

Saturday 9th March 2024 – 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Sonning Common
Quekett Spring Sale (formerly the Reading Convention)
Sales only event.
Sonning Common Village Hall, Wood Lane, Sonning Common, Oxfordshire, RG4 9SL. Note that although the Village Hall website says ‘Reading’, Sonning Common is six miles north of Reading and not to be confused with Sonning.
blue-link-icon-18 Read a report of this event

Friday 15th March to Sunday 14th April 2024 – Taunton
Big views of tiny creatures
Exhibition of photographs and photomicrographs by Quekett member David Spears
Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8LG (TA2 8LQ for Sat Nav or ///fancy.arena.tanks for What3Words).

Saturday 16th March 2024 – Poole
Drop-In Microscopy
Outreach in Poole Main Library
The Quekett has been invited to set up a microscopy display as part of British Science Week.Contact Pam Hamer for more information.

Saturday 16th March 2024 – 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Penkridge
West Midlands open meeting
Joint meeting with the Postal Microscopical Society.
Gossip with demonstrations, exhibits and sales, followed by talks in the afternoon.
Haling Dene Centre, Cannock Road, Penkridge, Staffordshire, ST19 5DT. Contact Steve Gill for more information.

Saturday 23rd March 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Basic microscopy; photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

April 2024

Saturday 6th April 2024 – 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. – South Kensington
Workshop
Stains and staining
Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.

Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th April 2024 – 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Liverpool
Microscope Week
Free event at Treasure House Theatre, World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN.
Members of the Manchester Microscopical Society will be there on 11th April.

Friday 12th April 2024Zoom logo
World Microscope Day Minus 1
Microscopy techniques and technology. More details from Robert Ratford

Saturday 13th April 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Lockington
Gossip meeting and excursion
Emphasis on freshwater biology
Lockington & Hemington Village Hall, Leicestershire. Details from D. T. Hope

Saturday 13th April 2024Zoom logo
World Microscope Day
Microscopes types, history, maintenance and restoration. More details from Robert Ratford

Saturday 13th April 2024 – 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – St Ives
Milton Microscopy Group at the Norris Museum for World Microscope Day
Microscopists sharing their interest with the public
Norris Museum, 41 The Broadway, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5BX. (what3words ///inquest.pheasants.heartless)
Contact Chris Thomas for more information.

Sunday 14th April 2024Zoom logo
World Microscope Day Plus 1
Specimens, slides, photomicrography of specimens, drawing, sculpture and art. More details from Robert Ratford

Saturday 20th April 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Plant microtomy (buds); photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

Saturday 20th April 2024 – 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Langton Matravers
South Coast open meeting
Joint meeting with the Postal Microscopical Society, gossip, demonstrations and exhibits.
Village Hall, Langton Matravers, Dorset, BH19 3HA. For more details contact Pam Hamer.

Saturday 27th April 2024 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Bradfield St George
East of England open meeting
Joint meeting with the Eastern Counties Microscopy Study Group and the Iceni Microscopy Study Group.
Gossip, exhibits, sales and lectures.
For more details, contact Robert Ratford.
Village Hall, Bradfield St George, Suffolk, IP30 0AS.

May 2024

Saturday 4th May 2024 – Husbands Bosworth
Postal Microscopical Society – AGM
Gossip, demonstrations, exhibits, sales and a short AGM. Contact Steve Gill for more information

Tuesday 14th May 2024 – 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. – South Kensington
Gossip meeting
Victorian slides
Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.

Followed by:

Tuesday 14th May 2024 – 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Presidential Address
Terry Hope’s first Presidential Address
Neil Chalmers Seminar Room, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.
Please contact Lisa Ashby with any queries, [email protected].

Saturday 18th May 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Pond dipping, photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

June 2024

Saturday 1st June 2024 – 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Pool-in-Wharfedale
Leeds Microscopical Society
Annual open meeting, with exhibits, gossip and sales. For more information please contact Mike Smith.
Village Memorial Hall, Arthington Lane, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 1LG.

Saturday 8th June 2024 – Walton-on-the-Naze – (times to be confirmed)
Home Counties Meeting (Essex)
Excursion to collect fossils followed by practical microscopy and talks
Naze Nature Discovery Centre, Old Hall Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, CO14 8LE.
For more details, contact Robert Ratford.

Saturday 15th June 2024 – Bournemouth
Bournemouth Natural Science Society & Museum (BNSSM)
Gossip with demonstrations and access to the museum.
BNSSM, Bournemouth, 39 Christchurch Road, BH1 3NS.
For more information contact Grenham Ireland

Saturday 15th June 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Pond dipping; photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd June 2024 – Wimbledon
Wimbledon Common Weekend of Nature
Quekett members will be in the Information Centre (SW19 5NR) on Wimbledon Common on Sunday 23rd providing microscopes for viewing the specimens found on the Common, as part of our outreach programme.

Saturday 29th June 2024 – All day – Keston, Bromley
Excursion – pond dipping and practical microscopy.
Keston Ponds and Keston Village Hall, 132 Heathfield Road, Bromley, BR2 6BF. Bring a packed lunch. For more information contact Lisa Ashby.

Sunday 30th June 2024 – 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Milton
Milton Microscopy Group
Leaf and hair prints for microscopy using UV crystal resin
Milton Community Centre Lounge, Coles Road, Milton, Cambridgeshire, CB24 6BL. (what3words ///ally.pies.comical)
Contact Chris Thomas for more information.

July 2024

Sunday 7th July 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Northampton
Northampton Natural History Society – Annual Exhibition of Microscopy
The Humfrey Rooms, 10 Castilian Terrace, Northampton, NN1 1LD.
Exhibits, gossip and sales in the morning, with lectures in the afternoon. Further details from Tim Newton.

Tuesday 9th July 2024 – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Committee meeting
Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum.

Tuesday 9th July 2024 – 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. – South Kensington
M. C. Cooke Lecture
Topic to be confirmed
Neil Chalmers Seminar Room, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD and on Zoom logo.

Tuesday 23rd July 2024 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Zoom logo
Gossip meeting
Diatoms – finding, collecting, cleaning, viewing

Saturday 27th July 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Pollen slides; pollen identification; photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

August 2024

Saturday 3rd August 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Horsham
Excursion to Warnham Local Nature Reserve
Warnham Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 2RA.
Collect samples at this varied nature reserve. Free parking.
For more information contact Graham Matthews.

Saturday 10th August 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Letchworth
Microscopium – The Microscopists’ Fair
Letchworth Settlement, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6 4UB.
The Quekett sales event. To book a table contact [email protected]
Attendees must take note of the Club’s sales policy.

Saturday 17th August 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Bees’ legs; photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th August 2024 – Downe, Kent
Down House Microscopy Weekend. The Quekett will be participating as part of our outreach programme.
Down House, Luxted Road, Downe, Kent, BR6 7JT.

Friday 24th to Monday 26th August 2024 – all day – Kirby Grindalythe
Microscopists’ weekend
Cranedale Centre, Kirby Grindalythe, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 8DB.
For more information, please contact Steve Gill.

September 2024

Tuesday 3rd September 2024 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Committee meeting Zoom logo

Sunday 8th September 2024 – 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Wimbledon
Wimbledon Common Open Day
The Quekett will have a stand in the Information Centre (SW19 5NR) on Wimbledon Common as part of our outreach programme. A donation car park and the Windmill Tearooms are near the Centre. Short walk from the 93 bus route (alight at Parkside Hospital). The free Open Day features craft and charity stalls, birds of prey, reptiles, farm animals, farm machinery and arena events.

Tuesday 17th September 2024 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Zoom logo
Gossip meeting
Converting to LED. Led by Gordon Brown.

Saturday 21st September 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Insect wings; photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

October 2024

Saturday 5th October 2024 – 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Pool-in-Wharfedale
Postal Microscopical Society – Autumn Meeting
Exhibits, gossip, sales and possibly lectures. For more information please contact Mike Smith.
Village Memorial Hall, Arthington Lane, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 1LG.

Saturday 12th to Monday 14th October 2024 – all day – London
New Scientist Live
ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL.
The Quekett will have a stand as part of its outreach programme.  Volunteers are welcome, please contact Robert Ratford for details.

Tuesday 15th October 2024 – 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Quekex Lecture I (Zoom logo only)

Saturday 19th October 2024 – 10:00 am to 3:00 pm – Potters Bar
Quekex – The Annual Exhibition of Microscopy
Lectures, demonstrations, displays and members’ exhibits.
Elm Court Community Centre, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 3BP
Contact Lisa Ashby for more information.

Sunday 20th October 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Parasites; photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th October 2024 – all day – Esher
National Honey Show
Sandown Park Racecourse, Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9AJ.
The Quekett will have a stand in the Trade Hall as part of our outreach programme.

Sunday 27th October 2024 – 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Milton
Milton Microscopy Group
Topic TBC
Milton Community Centre Lounge, Coles Road, Milton, Cambridgeshire, CB24 6BL. (what3words ///ally.pies.comical)
Contact Chris Thomas for more information.

November 2024

Saturday 2nd November 2024 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Committee meeting

Tuesday 12th November 2024 – 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. – Zoom logo only
L. V. Martin Lecture
“The Ted Kellock Slide Collection” by staff from the Stromness Museum

Saturday 16th November 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Owl pellets; photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.

December 2024

Tuesday 3rd December 2024 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Zoom logo only
Gossip meeting on darkfield, led by Steve Trewhella

Saturday 14th December 2024 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Zoom logo only
Lecture and Christmas Quiz

Saturday 21st December 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Crowfield
Anglian Microscopy Group
Christmas plants; photomicrography
Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ.
Contact Gordon Brown for further information.


2025 Programme

October 2025

Thursday 23rd to Saturday 25th October 2025 – all day – Esher
National Honey Show
Sandown Park Racecourse, Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9AJ.
The Quekett will have a stand in the Trade Hall as part of its outreach programme.

Notes

Please note that Tuesday evening meetings at the Natural History Museum start at 5:30 p.m. to alleviate the problems due to the Museum’s security arrangements.

This page is kept up to date with alterations and additions to the programme. Changes may also be announced on the What’s new? page and on social media.

For any enquiries regarding Quekett events in this programme, please contact the Meetings Secretary (Paul Smith).

Events shown indented and in italics are not arranged by the Quekett, although we will be represented at some of these events. Any enquiries should be directed to the local organiser.

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