In 2020 Covid-19 restrictions prevented us, as with all organisations, from running our usual annual programme of social events – evening talks and presentations, coffee mornings and visits.

Instead, we launched at the end of 2020 a series of ‘In Conversation’ recordings with local personalities and organisations about their life in Farnham and more general matters of interest. This first group of ‘Conversations’ covers a broad range of interests from the retired Bishop of St Albans to the owner of The Blue Bear bookshop who launched a new business just four months before lockdown in early 2020.

A second series, similarly covering a different mix of Farnham personalities and organisations that help make Farnham the place it is or with their own particular interests, followed in August 2021.

They are simple Zoom recordings so they also reflect the way many have had to adjust to working virtually and working from home! We hope we have avoided the usual ‘you’re on mute’ intervention but the rest of the challenge of working remotely is included which many will recognise.

Both series can be accessed via the links shown below.

Having started as an initiative during the Covid restrictions it has become an ongoing feature of our events programme as we return to more normal annual activity.

Simon Bradbury, of Farnham’s Heritage Open Days committee, looks at how HODs has evolved over more than twenty years to arrive at this year’s festival.

Alan Gavaghan, Chairman of The Farnham Society, reflects upon his time in post as he prepares to hand over.

Gavin Stride, retiring Director and CEO of Farnham Maltings.

First shown 20 February 2023

Anne Cooper Farnham Theatre Association

First shown 8 August 2022

Susie Lidstone, local artist.

First shown 25 November 2021

Libby Ralph, Chair of Farnham Biodiversity Partnership.

First shown 20 November 2021

Michael Blower, Vice President of The Farnham Society.

First shown 8 September 2021

Josh Godfrey, Curator of Farnham Museum.

First shown 10 August 2021

Mark Robson, Chairman of the British Institute of Inn Keeping

First shown 15 May 2021

Michael Maher, Chair of Trustees at Farnham Maltings and former Chair of Trustees at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice

First shown 24 April 2021

Rt Rev Dr Chris Herbert, Farnham resident and former Bishop of St Albans, talks about his life and his love of Farnham

First shown Sunday 4 April 2021

Chairman Alan Gavaghan discusses the role of the Society

First shown Sunday 14 February 2021

Sylvia Schuller of The Blue Bear Bookshop, The Borough

First shown Wednesday 2 December 2020