HAW 2026

HAW 2026

Dear HAW friends,

After a lot of thought and back and forth on how to continue with HAW, we've decided not to continue with physical meetings of HAW.

This has been a difficult decision as this year, if the pandemic had not occurred would have been my 40th year as organiser.

Several factors have influenced Lorraine and I in coming to this position. Several key regulars will no longer be attending who were vital to its success, due to personal reasons, some being simply down to health. Add to this that recently I (Paul) haven't been too well - nothing serious I add but it does make you realise one is not as young as I'd like to be 😧.

So although physical meetings will end, we will continue with Virtual HAW via zoom for those who wish to attend. It is far easier to organise, less stress and we can have more international speakers.

We will also continue to have our regulars such as Peter Rea, Mary McIntyre and Julian Onions as well as I hope Mike Foulkes and others as and when the programme requires and along with this, as well as the Bill Fox Memorial lecture on a Friday evening, the Saturday evening will now become the Allan Chapman Memorial lecture, as I'd like it to be a history based talk I have asked Mary to give it for the first time this coming September.

The dates are Friday September 18th to Sunday Morning Sept 20th. We will continue with the third Friday of September for the foreseeable future.

As some speakers do ask for a fee, there will be a charge for the whole event, no charge for individual talks, as it will be up to you how many you attend but as in previous VHAW's it will likely be a single talk on Fri evening, up to 5 talks on the Saturday inc the evening Memorial lecture, and up to 2 talks on the Sunday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

I'll post the programme nearer the time but for now I have asked Mary, Julian and Peter for Zoom talks and will be looking at a few international speakers - please however don't bombard me with suggestions, I have a few up my sleeve for now 😊

Oh, and I'll be doing a talk just to bore you all to death 😂

This decision doesn't fully rule out an occasional physical event but for now we'll be virtual.

I'm likely to sort out the booking form in July and payment can be via BACS as we do have a HAW account.

I hope you understand also hope you will continue to support HAW.

Paul & Lorraine