Railway network development talk

THE DEVELOPMENT of Reading’s railway network will be explored in the first talk of the New Year from the Centre for Heritage and Family History.

Taking place at Reading Central Library on Thursday, January 10, the talk will be given by Paul Joyce.

It will look at how Reading was linked to London’s railway network by 1840, and to Bristol the following year.

This, Mr Joyce will argue, brought important economic growth to the town – and it also paved the way to Huntley & Palmer’s Biscuits becoming a global brand.

Mr Joyce is chairman of the Reading Transport Group and his talk is the first of five that will take place between now and March all on the theme of transport.

The event starts at 2pm and will be followed by a question and answer session and refreshments.

Tickets cost £5 or £4 for members of the History Society, and all five talks can be booked for £20 or £16 for society members.

The Centre is on the second floor of Reading Central Library is Reading town centre - the Lion buses stop opposite at the Jackson’s Corner stop.

For more details, call the society on 0118 950 9553 or log on to www. berksfhs.org.uk