Beverley or Bookham? Your choice for 19 January.

Once the seasonal festivities are over, you are warmly invited to the first Society event of the New Year on Friday, 19 January at the Abraham Dixon Hall of the Letherhead Institute. Starting time 7.30pm for coffee before the lecture. It costs just £2 each for members and their guests.

Richard Hughes will be speaking on Beverley Nichols, Ashtead’s Forgotten Celebrity, who lived at Merry Hall, the Georgian manor house in Agates Lane for ten years after World War 2. Between 1920 and 1982, Nichols (1898-1983) wrote more than 60 books and plays and regular magazine articles. His works included novels, short stories, essays, children's books, non-fiction on travel, politics, religion, cats, parapsychology, and autobiography. He also composed musicals. Among his best remembered works now are his gardening books. He lived at Merry Hall from 1946 until 1956 and wrote about its renovation.

Alternatively, you can go to St Nicolas Church Pastoral Centre, Great Bookham to hear local archaeologist Lyn Spencer talking about her book, Great Bookham - The Development of a Surrey Village in Maps, published by the Leatherhead & District Local History Society. Lyn will be explaining how recent research and excavation in the centre of the village have helped to bring the past to life.

The price there will be £7.50 to include wine and light refreshments, payable on the door. Call the Parish Office on 01372 450709 to book.