My Talks

Bill Coombes

My Talks

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	The International Space Station. This is my most popular talk and I have presented it around 250 times. The talk is not technical. I start with a description of the International Space Station (ISS), where it is, how fast is traveling, how big it is and who lives there. I then show a short video by a Lady Ex Commander of the ISS who will show you how you clean your teeth in space, what they eat and drink and most important of all, how you use the toilet in space. Don’t forget that there is virtually no gravity on the ISS so there is no force to make thing to in the direction that you want them too. All tastefully done by the way. The final part of the talk is a selection of pictures taken from the ISS including some taken by me. Besides being a talk for any audience, this talk is also very popular with Students in Schools. I am a licensed Radio Amateur, a member of AMSAT & the RSGB and work with youngsters, educating them in what is orbiting the Earth. Bill
	The Enigma Machine A talk about the Enigma Machine and how it was decoded. Not highly technical but an explanation on how it worked and how it was ‘cracked’. I also briefly cover the Lorenz Machine which not many people have heard of. As part of the talk, I demonstrate a modern version of the Enigma Machine that still has the same amount of security and is around the size of a 20 packet of cigaretes, aswell as showing how to make a simple simple version but secure version that has no electronics. The talk includes Bletchley Park and the 8,000+ people that were working there including Alan Turing, Gordon Welchman. Without these brilliant people, we might well have lost the last war. Not a highly technical talk but you will learn what it did and how the code was broken. Bill
	The Royal Art of Poisoning - Ready 2021 A talk based around poisons and how they have been used over the millennia. I cover some of the more famous poisonings, the toxins that people were using as medicine and make up and the lengths that people went to to try and kill each other. I also cover the very toxic chemicals that we still use these days to cure our illnesses. I also cover some of the really poisonous plants that we often eat on a daily basis and grow in our Houses & Gardens. Lots in this talk that I think is very interesting & quite an eye opener. Bill
	Bee Keeping I have had an interest and kept Bees most of my life so this is a subject near to my Heart. This talk is about my experiences of keeping Bees over the years. This is not a technical talk about Bee Keeping but does explain what is in a hive, how honey is produced along with a number of other products that Bees produce and what it takes to keep Bees yourself. (They really keep me and all I do is to manage them). Some of the funny things that have happened to me whilst Bee Keeping. Lots of pictures and useful information in this talk. Bill
	The Battle o f Azincourt - Against all Odds Many people have heard of the Battle of Azincourt but not a lot know the real story. This Battle wasn’t planned and all Henry 5th was trying to do was to get home from a his previous attack on Harfleur. Unfortunately, he was followed by the French Military and they made if very difficult for him to get home. With most of his men sick, he went into battle at Azincourt and fought against odds of 4 to one and his main task force was English Archers against mounted armoured knights. I normally bring a Bow and a range of Arrows of the type used at this time. Bill