Our Talks: Women's Stories Waiting to Be Told
History has a habit of overlooking women's contributions — and that's exactly why our talks programme exists. Each year, the Chichester Women's History Group brings together speakers who are uncovering, restoring and celebrating the stories of women who shaped our world but were too often written out of it.
Here's what's coming up for the rest of 2026:
21 April — Women and Evacuation | Prof Maggie Andrews explores how the care of wartime evacuees became an unrecognised area of women's war work.
19 May - Women of Courage | Local historian, Sheryl Green will be sharing stories from RAF Tangmere.
16 June — Silent Women: The Female Directors Who Pioneered Cinema | Film historian Ellen Cheshire reveals the forgotten women who were behind the camera in cinema's earliest days.
20 June — The Women's Writers Fest | A full day celebrating brilliant women writers, featuring Kate Mosse CBE, Elly Griffiths, Lesley Thomson, Tessa Boase and more. Part of the Festival of Chichester.
21 July — Working As A Woman In Politics | Our Patron and Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller on life as a woman in the world of politics.
15 September — The Women of the Air Transport Auxiliary | Author Kevin O'Regan tells the story of the 168 women who flew military aircraft in World War II.
20 October — Defying the Odds: Nordic Women Artists and the Modern Breakthrough | James Vaux on the Nordic women painters who won international acclaim — and were then forgotten.
17 November — Louisa Maria Hubbard: Championing the Right of Women to Work | Local historian Sandra Lowton explores the Victorian woman who fought for others' right to earn a living.
Every one of these talks shines a light on women whose achievements deserve to be known. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a champion of women, a book lover, or simply curious, there's something here for you.
Tickets for all talks are available on our events page — we'd love to see you there.
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ChichestHER: Their Story, Our Inspiration
Opening October 2026 at The Novium Museum in Chichester, this major exhibition—funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund—celebrates the lives and achievements of women in the city’s history. Find out more
From suffragists and educators to artists, medics and politicians, ChichestHER will explore the rich and varied impact of women on life in our district.
