Bedford Skeptics

We’re a group of free-thinking people in Bedford who like to get together in a casual atmosphere and talk about interesting things.

Each month, we find a speaker – typically a scientist or prominent skeptic who will speak for around 40 minutes.  The subjects of the talks vary, but they will typically be about a common belief that either cannot be justified by the available evidence, or that can actually be demonstrated to be false by the available evidence – or else something that is just plain interesting or contentious.

Examples of subjects we have already covered are: Electric cars, Hypnotism, Fracking, The Alpha Course, Prostitution, Policing, Spin in Lobbying, Futurology, Academy Schools, Income Inequality and a whole lot more to come.

The talk is followed by a chance to question the speaker yourself, or just relax and listen to what people have to say.

Meetings are usually on the third Thursday of the month. Arrive at 7:00pm for a 7:30 start. Why not come along and join in? 

Please note that after our April 2024 meeting, we are moving to a bi-monthly timetable. For full details, scroll down to the ‘Events’ section.

Non-skeptics are not only welcome, they’re actively encouraged!

Location: The North End Social Club, 60 Roff Avenue, Bedford, MK41 7TW

Ring the bell and wait to be admitted – our private room is immediately on the left.

Note: Disabled access is from the rear, car park side, under the fire escape.


Events


Thursday 18th April 2024

Good Homes for All – Or Just The Lucky Few?

David Bevan

Everybody deserves a decent home they can afford. But the young and lots of others are missing out with sky-high house prices and heavy mortgages. People are paying huge rents for often squalid places with little future security. Shelter has declared a national housing emergency.

So what is this housing crisis, what are the causes and how are we going to sort it? This presentation will try to give some answers.

We will look at how the country responded to housing crises after the two world wars with a mission to build ‘Homes for Heroes’. And what we can learn from the successes and failures of council homes and private housebuilding over the years.

Examples from abroad and home will show how we can do things differently and better. We will discuss what our politicians and others should do now to end the crisis.

David Bevan’s background is in building conservation, urban design and planning. He worked in the private and third sectors and managed heritage, environment, conservation and design sections at Bedfordshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.


Thursday 16th May 2024

The Cambridgeshire Crucifixion

David Ingham

In 2017, a routine archaeological dig was taking place on the site of a proposed housing development in the village of Fenstanton in the Cambridgeshire Fens. When human remains were found alongside a variety of Roman artefacts, none of the team at Albion Archaeology saw anything out of the ordinary. But once the bones were washed back at HQ, something highly unusual was uncovered: a nail through the heelbone of one of the individuals. Could this be evidence of a Roman crucifixion?


Thursday 20th June 2024

No event this month.

From this month Bedford Skeptics will hold Bi-Monthly events.

(Jan. / Mar. / May / Jul. / Sept. / Nov.)


Thursday 18th July 2024

Historic Building Mythbusting

James Wright

In his third visit to Bedford Skeptics, James Wright will dive into commonly believed and repeated stories about historic buildings.

James will explore folklore, history, art, architecture, archaeology, sociology, and psychology to delve into the myths surrounding many mysterious features in mediaeval buildings. We can learn so much of value about a society through what it builds. By explaining the development of myths and the underlying truths behind them, a broader and deeper understanding of historic buildings can bring us that little bit closer to their former occupants. Sometimes the realities hiding behind the stories are even more interesting, romantic, and exciting than the myth itself…

James Wright of Triskele Heritage will release Historic Building Mythbusting – Uncovering Folklore, History and Archaeology via The History Press on 6 June 2024.


No August Event

Our Usual Summer Break


Thursday 19th September 2024

Corporate Psychopaths

Dr. Clive Boddy

Dr Clive Boddy has been researching the effects of having psychopaths in the workplace since 2005. His ground-breaking work on corporate psychopaths was initially subject to ridicule and rejection, but the idea of the corporate psychopath is now firmly established and accepted.

Clive will discuss who corporate psychopaths are, why they are obsessed with getting career advancement, what they do to their colleagues and organisations and what the effects of this are and, what the effects are that they ultimately have on society and why they should be controlled.

Clive is currently the Deputy Head of the School of Management at Anglia Ruskin University and was previously Professor of Management at the University of Tasmania, and before that Professor of Leadership in London.

He has also held Visiting Professorships at Lincoln and
Middlesex Universities. Clive’s research interests include qualitative research techniques, toxic leadership and particularly in researching the effects of corporate psychopaths on employees, the organisation
and society.

Clive’s publications on corporate psychopaths include over 50 papers, several chapters, two doctorates and two books: ‘Corporate Psychopaths: Organizational Destroyers’ and, most recently, ‘A Climate Of Fear: Stone Cold Psychopaths at Work’. He has thus published more on corporate psychopaths than any other academic globally.


Thursday 17th October 2024

No event this month.


Thursday 21st November 2024

Event To Be Confirmed.

Watch this space for details of our November event.


Thursday 19th December 2024

No event this month.