The majority of the talks in the
2024-25 season will be held in the Hub at the Pavilion on Park Drive, Hethersett, but since the first Covid lockdown, when we started to hold virtual meetings, meetings have been published live using Zoom and can be watched afterwards on Youtube using the links in Past Events.
For all meetings, a link to the Zoom meeting will be emailed out in advance of the meeting, to members for whom we have current email addresses.
Any member wishing to take part in a talk via Zoom is advised to download the 'Zoom' client,
if they don't already have the app, onto their computer/tablet/phone.
If you don't have one it takes much longer to join a meeting!
Currently the programme is being reconstructed assuming that we will keep the same date/time
slots as per our traditional approach; roughly every other Monday starting at 19.30.
To keep abreast of developments please watch this space.
Sat 19th July 2025 at 10:15, Gorse Industrial Estate, Thetford
Visit: Former Atomic Weapons Bunker
by Richard Eldred,
Summary:
Tour a Scheduled Monument to the Cold War, where the Atom bombs Blue Danube and Red Beard were maintained including a voluntary climb up a 25ft watchtower!
This tour is limited at present to 20 participants. An email was sent on 13th June to all paid-up Members detailing how to apply for a place on this visit.
Thu 7th August 2025 at 09:45, RAF Coltishall
Visit: Tour of RAF Coltishall Heritage Centre
by Heritage Centre Staff,
Summary:
This "Talk and Tour" event consists of an illustrated talk, a tour of the former RAF Coltishall site visiting various heritage places not seen generally, including an in-depth look at the Jaguar aircraft with a couple of ex aircraft engineer team members, and then time in the Heritage Centre itself hosted by guides most of whom served on the Station. For further information see RAF Coltishall Heritage Centre
This tour is limited at present to 20 participants. An email was sent on 5th July to all paid-up Members detailing how to apply for a place on this visit.
Mon 8th September 2025 at 19:30, Zoom
Visit: Council Meeting
by The President,
Mon 6th October 2025 at 19:30, TBA
Talk:
Mon 13th October 2025 at 19:30, Zoom
Council: Council Meeting
by The President,
Mon 20th October 2025 at 19:30, Hethersett Hub+Zoom
Talk: Air Ambulance
by Matthew Jones, Air Ambulance
Summary:
Matthew will talk about the Air Ambulance Charity and what it does. He will include some snippets that may be of particular interest to engineers. For example, he will talk about some of the remarkable medical equipment that is on board their helicopters.
This talk will cbe our 2025-2026 Charity Lecture. So there will be a collection at the talk; all of which will go to Air Ambulance.
Mon 3rd November 2025 at 19:30, Hethersett Hub+Zoom
Talk: The Orkneys grid and powering up ships Offshore
by Shaun Faulkner , Schnieder Electric
Mon 17th November 2025 at 19:30, Hethersett Hub+Zoom
Talk: The Genetical Engineering of Plants
by Prof Jonathon Jones, Head, Sainsburt Lab, John Innes Inst., Norwich
Summary: Jonathan will explain how the recent Precision Breeding Act can liberate and transform plant science by responding to climate change, reducing pesticide use and food poverty through huge increases in agricultural productivity.
Jonathan was recently awarded the 2025 Wolf Prize in Agriculture (the Nobel Prize of Agriculture) for his and his teams ground breaking discoveries of the immune system and disease resistance in plants.
Mon 1st December 2025 at 19:30, Hethersett Hub+Zoom
Talk: Modern Fuels
by Dr Michelle Miller, Perfuels Ltd
Mon 15th December 2025 at 19:30, Zoom+Hethersett Hub
Talk: Greenpower Challenge - Developing the electric F24 car
by Dennis Coltman and Bill Anthony, Langley and Town Close Schools
Mon 12th January 2026 at 19:30, Zoom
Visit: Council Meeting
by The President,
Mon 26th January 2026 at 19:30, TBA
Talk:
Mon 9th February 2026 at 19:30, TBA
Talk:
Mon 23rd February 2026 at 19:30, Hethersett Hub+Zoom
Talk: In-Orbit, Service, Assembly and Manufacturing
by Stuart Catchpole, Space East
Mon 9th March 2026 at 19:30, Hethersett Hub + Zoom
Talk: Don’t Underestimate Mother Nature
by William Anthony, Entrepreneurial engineer?
Summary:
As the ex-owner of a French factory with a 16M€ turnover producing over 6,000 tonnes of natural fibre composites, Bill will give an insight into the unseen use of natural materials and composites in many engineering applications (automotive, aerospace, construction and furniture) and the barriers to market.
Mon 16th March 2026 at 19:30, TBA
Council: Council Meeting
by The President,
Mon 23rd March 2026 at 19:30, Hethersett Hub+Zoom
Talk: Quantum Computing - an update
by Andy Stanford Clark, IBM -Distinguished Scientist
Summary: About two years ago Andy presented the NES with an outline of Quantum Computing. As the topic has advanced very rapidly over this time period Andy has agreed to come back and give NES Members an update.
Mon 30th March 2026 at 19:30, TBA
Talk: AGM
by The President,
