Talks, Tours and Workshops
Get more from your visit by coming along to one of our talks, tours or workshops.
George A Windrush Boy: Meet the Author
20 October 2026
11.30am-1pm
Dressing Room, The Higgins Bedford - Free Entry
Meet the author and curator of this display inspired by Gilroy Gregory’s historical novel, George (the teenage years), which tells the story of an 11-year-old Windrush boy who came to England from Jamaica and lived in South London during the 1960s and 1970s. The display is a glimpse into the lives of these unknown British children who came with their parents from the colonies to help in the rebuilding of Britain after World War 2. Gilroy Gregory will be reading from his book, explaining some of the objects on display, as well as providing an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of the book, do come and join us.
Handling Sessions: Romans
7 October, 1-3pm, free, drop in
Discover more about periods of history represented in the museum with Higgins volunteers and our handling collection.
Bedfordshire Natural History Society 80 years: The Art of Nature Workshops
15 October, 26 November, 9 December
11.30am-1.30pm, free, booking essential
Come and create your own artwork inspired by our natural world. In celebration of the Bedfordshire Natural History Society's 80th Anniversary we are running artist-led workshops with Fiona Wilson, who will encourage you to reconnect with nature through exploring your own creativity. A selection of the artwork created in these workshops will be chosen for our staircase display. Workshops for adults are free but places are limited, booking is essential.
The Egypt You Don’t Know: Stories, Memories and Living Heritage
17 October, 2-3pm, Free - Booking Essential
Join Dr. Tasneem Ramadan, an Egyptian researcher exploring performance, culture and heritage in a journey of discovery of the Egypt you don’t know. This talk will explore overlooked Egyptian women’s cultural traditions including storytelling, music and ritual. Tasneem will draw on her research and her own cultural experiences to discuss living traditions and invite audiences to reflect on their own stories and connections to heritage.
Photo Captions:
Top: Portrait photograph of Tasneem Ramadan
Bottom: Makan (Egyptian Center for Culture and Arts), 2022. Photographs taken by the author during fieldwork; reproduced with permission
Being Human Festival 2026 - Writing Lives at the Crossroads
5-14 November Foyer Display, talks and workshops in partnership with University of Bedfordshire and Panacea Museum.
Discovering the Past through Literary Bedfordshire - Launch event
5 November, 1-2pm, Free - Booking Essential
This talk, by Dr Nicola Darwood of the University of Bedfordshire, will introduce you (or perhaps reintroduce you) to some of the writers who have lived or worked in Bedford over the centuries. You'll hear about some favourites (John Bunyan, for example), but also some lesser known, or forgotten, writers.
George, a Windrush Boy - with Author Gilroy Gregory
12 November, 1.30-2.30pm, Free - Booking Essential
George (the teenage years) is an autobiographical novel by author ‘Gilly’, Gilroy Gregory, that tells the story of an 11-year-old Windrush boy who came to England from Jamaica and lived in South London during the 1960s - 70s.
The author will give a talk about how he and his daughter, Dr Davina Gregory-Kameka (the artist), came to tell the story, with illustrations, of this black immigrant boy. The novel and complimentary display is a glimpse into the lives of these unknown British children who came with their parents from the colonies to help in the rebuilding of Britain after World War II.
Gilroy shares his story, representing a lost generation of children (lost to the government and the British public) and in more recent times some mistakenly identified and forcibly removed as illegal immigrants, others losing their jobs, houses and healthcare.
Gilroy Gregory has written a story that echoes with immigration experiences still relevant today to encourage understanding and empathy.
Trevor Huddleston - The man behind the statue
13 November 11.30am-12.30pm, Free - Booking Essential
The talk, given by Lydia McDonald Keeper of Social History, will explore Archbishop Trevor Huddleston's life, his work with the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and his role in the release from prison of Nelson Mandela on 11 February 1990. Huddleston is remembered for his outstanding achievements, following his death, with a statue, a bronze cast bust, displayed in Bedford Town Centre, that was unveiled by Nelson Mandela when he visited on 7April 2000. Despite the statue in the town centre few people know of Huddleston. This biographical talk uncovers Trevor’s early family life in Bedford, his work as a missionary to South Africa, his international anti-apartheid campaign, as well as his friendships with key figures including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Oliver Tambo and his fight to free Nelson Mandela from his imprisonment, in which they succeeded.
Queering the Gothic - Recontextualising 19th Century Literature by Ezra-Quinn Watson
14 November 11.30am-12.30pm, Free - Booking Essential
The representation of different social groups in novels and visual media has become an important issue today; how characters are perceived affects how humanity and individuals perceive themselves.
Through this talk/discussion exploring 19th century texts: Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Bronte; Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Bronte; Northanger Abbey (1817) by Jane Austen; and Dorian Gray (1890) by Oscar Wilde, Ezra Quinn-Watson will expand the readings of these narratives.
These historic texts have existed in the Gothic genre for decades and although some connections have been made between them and queerness or neurodiversity. This has always been limited to binary understandings of gender and sexuality as well as neurotypical understanding of neurodiversity.
By observing these gaps in scholarly approach and their misconceptions about these facets of identity, Ezra will consider how Gothicisms allow for representations of neurodiversity, queer identity and power dynamics in these novels.
Rainbow Beds unbinaried – An Anthology of LGBTQ+ Creativity
14 November 12.30pm-1.45pm, Free - Booking Essential
This event marks one year since the launch of 'unbinaried' (volume I), an anthology of LGBTQ+ creativity produced by members of the Rainbow Bedfordshire Writers’ Group.
It also marks the launch of 'unbinaried II'. At a critical political moment for the LGBTQ+ community, 'unbinaried' is an assertion of LGBTQ+ joy (even if joy isn’t the subject-matter of all the contributions to 'unbinaried').
In this event, we will discuss the genesis of 'unbinaried' and hear readings from some of its contributors.
Making A Chapbook
14 November 2pm-3pm, Free - Booking Essential
Learn about chapbooks and the techniques used to make them!
In this session, learn all about the history and usage of chapbooks from Dr Nicola Darwood. Then take part in a workshop with artist Abigail Rai to make your own chapbook, exploring the art of bookbinding and zine making. Participants will use their chapbooks to voice ideas, drawings, poetry and more, as well as gain insight around self-publishing practices.
This event is designed for those aged 16+ with an interest in the history of books, creative writing, or illustration.
Snails for All Exhibition Tour
Thursday 19 November 12pm-12.30pm
Friday 19 March 12pm–12.30pm
Tickets £3.95 per person, concessions £3.35, Booking Essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a half hour tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition.
Rhyme and Reason Exhibition Tours
Thursday 26 November and Thursday 25 February, 12pm-12.30pm
Tickets £3.95 per person, concessions £3.35, Booking Essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a half hour tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition.
From Solstice to Santa!
28 November 11.15-12.15
Tickets 7.75 per person, concessions £6.20
Booking Essential
In this journey through winter celebrations, Helen Ohlsson will explore winter solstice celebrations of the bronze age at Stonehenge, the Roman Saturnalia, Medieval twelve days of Christmas through to traditions introduced by the Victorians and the festivities that we recognise today.
Rhyme and Reason Study Day
Saturday 13 February 11am-4pm
Tickets £20 – tea / coffee on arrival, Booking Essential
Join us for a day exploring the themes of Rhyme & Reason with the exhibition’s curators. The day will start with a tour of the exhibition by Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art, Victoria Partridge, followed by talks by Professor Christiana Payne and Dr Mary O’Neill.
Edward Bawden Archive Session
Friday 5 March 2pm-3.30pm
Tickets £14.60 per person, concessions £11.60, Booking Essential
Hidden in secret drawers inside the Edward Bawden Gallery are hundreds of prints, drawings and ephemera. Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a delve through some of them. The session is a perfect opportunity to see well known works, as well as pieces that have never been on display before.
Who was Hilda Lyon and what has she got to do wiht airships and submarines?
Talk by Dr Nina Baker
© Peter Hemmerman, original held by Farnborough Air Sciences Trust
12 March 2027, 2-3pm
Tickets £7.75, concessions £6.20, Booking Essential
Hilda Lyon, a shopkeeper’s daughter who became arguably one of the most influential engineers of the twentieth century.
An aeronautical engineer helping design the R101 airship, inventing the Lyon Shape and the first female recipient of the Aeronautical Society’s Memorial Prize are just some of her accomplishments yet very few people have heard of her.
Book your place online or call the Box Office on 01234 718044. Use the promotional code HIGGINS30 to remove any transaction fee.
Concession prices are offered for most events to people over 65, students, those with disabilities plus their carer, National Art Pass members and adults receiving benefits.