With many thanks to organisers Dr James Pritchett and Chloe Storer the 13th BCMH New Researchers’ Conference took place at Hull on Trafalgar Day 2023. Particular credit is due to them since Storm Babet had misread her calendar and turned up on the day before the Conference rather than the day after. I suppose it is a Storm thing.
The Venue at Hull – how appropriate that it looks like the setting for one of those Agatha Christie murder mysteries where the occupants are trapped inside by a storm. Photo: Chloe Storer
Babet succeeded in closing down nearly all rail services running north over the Trent. Perhaps she was on a retainer from that waterway which had decided to emphasise its fading position as the dividing line between the north and south of England. The Trent certainly achieved its ancient historical status for two or three days.
But only four of our 31 speakers were unable to attend and only two of the Panel Chairs – though they were both members of the BCMH Committee – and mightily frustrated they were too. Bill Philpott did manage to attend after a journey of an Odyssean nature. Although Andy Wheale could not get there on the day – his description of Kings Cross Station sounded similar to the Gare de l’Est on mobilisation day in 1914 but not favourably – we are all grateful for his assistance and encouragement to James in setting up the Conference. The nine Panels were very varied and even though only two out of four speakers were able to attend one of them, this gave more time for questions. Even the absence of name badges meant that attendees had to introduce themselves in the old-fashioned way – refreshing!
| Doctrine, Training and Wargames. Well done to our two speakers, @JWyattMatlack and Peter Sizer. | Breakout area and lunch. Somehow the designers have repelled the grim greyness of Storm Babet | Andrew Young talking about Thomas More Molyneux – author of Conjuct Operations (1758). A Thinking Soldier – and a Guards officer!! |
At least I managed to hear about Thomas More Molyneux at the Helion Conference on Amphibious Warfare in Derby on 4th November.
My sources tell me that The Lunch Buffet was very well done, with a lovely selection of cakes, and, perhaps not surprisingly, the attendees enjoyed the Wine Reception at the end.
BCMH are grateful to James’ PhD student, Alex Tant-Brown who was on hand with any IT issues which he sorted quickly.
The conference organiser is Dr James R Pritchett. His email address is j.r.pritchett@hull.ac.uk.