The Society has an increasingly varied programme of events. The events are usually held in places related to George Borrow, and there’s usually time set aside for sight-seeing, often with expert local guides. All the meetings are friendly and everyone is welcome to come along and join in. You don’t have to be a member to attend meetings, and at the moment there is no extra fee for attendance if you are not a member, though we hope you will join the Society! Existing members often bring guests who are not members.
Fortunately George Borrow travelled widely so the Society not only gets about, but usually discovers a link between Borrow and excellent pubs and hotels in the area!
All events are written up in our George Borrow Bulletin, and so members who were unable to attend don’t miss out too much. We also hope to show a few photographs from the events on our website.
On 13th April 2012 members gathered for a weekend in Salisbury and Amesbury, visiting the places Borrow mentioned in Lavengro. Pictures and a brief write-up are available.
On 2nd December 2011 members of the Society met in London for a private viewing of two pictures of George Borrow not normally on public display and held by the National Portrait Gallery. Then on the 3rd December 2011 members met up for Christmas lunch, at the Golden Lion, where a pleasant afternoon was had by all.
The Society’s weekend (16–18th September 2011) was held at the Radnorshire Arms hotel in Presteigne (where George Borrow stayed on his second tour of Wales). Activities included an evening with various members talking part (including Mike’s photographs of Borrows’ Wild Wales tour) and a Sunday spent touring South Wales with lunch at Llandovery.
On 23rd July 2011 the Society gathered at Brompton to lay a wreath on George Borrow’s grave, followed by a walk to Hereford Square (where the Borrows lived) with a meal in the Hereford Arms and a talk by Clive Wilkins-Jones on Lucy Brightwell.
On 16th April 2011 the Society met for a day at Oulton, where events including seeing Ann Borrow’s restored grave (George Borrow’s mother), the church where the Borrows worshipped (and a talk by Oulton expert Ivan Bunn), a tour of Oulton and a nice lunch at the Wherry Hotel.
The sixth Fraser memorial lecture was held at the International Students House, London, on 21 August 2010, with Dr. David Chandler giving a fascinating talk on Joseph Sell, followed by a lively discussion.
The Society also met in Hungary 3–9 October 2010. A full write-up of the activities is in Bulletin 1, 2nd Series.
The year finished off with hardy members of the Society meeting in a snow-bound London on 18th December 2010, at the Golden Lion pub. for a Christmas lunch and an afternoon nattering about George Borrow.
The Society gathered for a weekend in London, 25–26th July 2009. There were talks on the Greenwich fairs of Lavengro, visits to Greenwich, Hereford Square, Putney and Richmond Park. The talks were held in Brompton Cemetery. Fit members of the Society seemed to have walked at least 10 miles during a very enjoyable weekend.
The Society then regrouped in Salamanca (15–19 September 2009) where there were talks, a civic reception, and lots of sight-seeing.
The reports are in Bulletin 40. The programme that was planned is available if you wish to read it.
The Society visited Clonmel 30 September to 3 October 2008, with the report in Bulletin 37, and we have some pictures
The Society had a weekend in Southwold, Suffolk, 21–23 September 2007, which included a trip to “Lavengro” (George Borrow’s house at Oulton, rebuilt but with the summer-house still standing).
On 28th March 2006 the Society joined the Norwich Society at the Assembly House, Norwich, with an evening devoted to George Borrow. A write-up is in Bulletin 34.
The Society a had week’s trip to St. Petersburg (where George Borrow worked on printing the Manchu), 1–8th July 2006. Reports on the week are in Bulletin 33.
The Society also had a weekend at St. Deniol’s, Howarden, 29th September to 2nd October 2006, which included the fourth Fraser Memorial lecture, given by Martin Murphy, who caused a sensation by reading the continuation of the story of George and Murtagh. There was a dinner at Ruthin and trips round Chester. Details are available in Bulletin 34.
A George Borrow day was held on 17th February 2005 at the University of Alcalá, Spain, with Ken Barrett providing a note on the activities in Bulletin 30.
Later in the year (16–18th September 2005) the Society had a weekend in Llangollen, which is written up in Bulletin 31. A highlight was the reception provided by the Pattinson family at Dee Cottage (where the Borrows lived for much of the Wild Wales period).
The Society went on a week’s trip to the Isle of Man (1–8 July 2004), visiting various places mentioned in George Borrow’s “unpublished” Manx notebook.
Marking 200 years since the birth of George Borrow, this year the Society produced an extra number of the Bulletin (number 26), which corresponded with the weekend the Society held at Dereham, Norwich and Oulton, on 4–6th July 2003.
Following the death of our founder, Sir Angus Fraser on 27th May 2001, the Society started to commemorate Angus with the Fraser Memorial Lecture, and the first such lecture was given on 27th July 2002 at the International Students House, London, by Dr. David Chandler. After the lecture members enjoyed a buffet lunch and then went to Brompton Cemetery to lay a wreath on Borrow’s grave.
On 8–12th October 2002 the Society met at Seville. Comprehensive reports are given in Bulletin No. 24.
The weekend was held at Ponterwyd, 7–8th July 2001, which was held at the George Borrow hotel! Reported in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 22.
The first weekend was held in Great Yarmouth, 12–14 May 2000. A report on this meeting is available in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 20.
A second weekend was held at Berwick-upon-Tweed on 7–9th July 2000. A report on this meeting is in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 21.
The weekend was held at Bury St. Edmunds, on the 3–4th July 1999.
The Society weekend was held on 4–5th July 1998, at the West Arms Hotel, Llanarmon Dyffyn Ceiriog (i.e. the Cieriog valley area). There’s a report in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 16.
On 2–4 October 1998 the George Borrow Society joined the Cambrian Archæological Association at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel, Pembroke, where the theme was ‘George Borrow’s other visits to Wild Wales.’
The meeting was held at Liskeard, 12th July 1997. A report is available in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 14.
The meeting was held at Santiago de Compostela, 10–13th September 1996. There’s a report by Ann Ridler in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 12.
The meeting was held at Bala, 7–9th July 1995. There’s a report by Paul Watkins in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 10.
The meeting was held at Norwich and Oulton, 1–3 July 1994. There’s a report by Margaret Sharman in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 8
Professor Michael Collie organised the main conference at Madrid, 3–4 June 1993, at the Instituto Internacional. There’s a report by Clive Wilkins-Jones in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 6
The meeting was at Llangollen, on 18–19 July 1992. There’s a report by Patricia H. Alderidge in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 4.
The Third George Borrow conference, organised by Professor Michael Collie with Sir Angus Fraser, was held at Wensum Lodge, King Street, Norwich, on the 6th and 7th of July 1991. The George Borrow Society was founded at this conference. There’s a report by Richard Burleigh in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 2.
The George Borrow Conference, organized by Professor Michael Collie, was held at the George Borrow hotel in Ponterwyd, Wales. Professor Collie later wrote up his trials and tribulations in organising this conference in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 1.
The “pre-George Borrow Society” met at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge, and over dinner Professor Michael Collie was asked to organize a George Borrow Conference in Wales. Professor Collie mentions this in the George Borrow Bulletin, No. 1.