Talk, High Wycombe and the Founding of the Royal Military Academy, with Willie Reid, Thursday 18th September 2025, 7:45pm, Church Centre, Featherbed Lane

John Gaspard le Marchant was labelled "the greatest dunce I have ever met" by his schoolmaster in Bath. But he became an outstanding cavalry commander and he also recognised the need for proper officer training in the British Army if the French were ever to be defeated in the Napoleonic Wars. The result, in 1799, was the establishment of school for staff officers in High Wycombe which later turned into the Royal Military College and eventually into the Royal Military Academy. Major-General le Marchant, as he became, was also an accomplished artist and Willie Reid's talk will include some of his local paintings.

Talks at The Prestwood Gardening Society

Don't forget that we have a reciprocal arrangement with our friends in the Prestwood Gardening Society whereby our members can attend each other's talks at no cost. You can view Prestwood's programme here: Events Calendar - Prestwood Gardening Society (e-voice.org.uk)