Bob Massey can be found at www.bobmassey.info/415325374  and contacted at email on bob.m.massey@gmail.com or phone 0115 9263626,

He is a retired Theatre Consultant who has planned many theatres and performance spaces through out the world. Alongside his consultancy work he was, for 30 years, Technical Manager of a Theatre in Nottingham, running shows and organising events for the visiting artists. As a lighting designer for over 40yrs ,he lit all types of shows from drama to musicals.

He is also a Historian with an interest in Local History and World War Two Airforces as well as the history of the Moving Image and of course theatre subjects.

He has been teaching at various university’s and colleges around the country, as he is a qualified tutor and Lecturer. As well as a member of Local History Groups he is also a member of cinema, theatre and aircraft research groups and industry organisations serving on many committees.

He has taught local history, computer and theatre subjects on courses around the country for over 30yrs. He regularly writes articles on these subjects for magazines and trade publications.

He has appeared in programmes on television and radio on local history projects as well as in the local press.

He has recently published two volumes on the history of Arnold and Mapperley Nottingham and the surrounding villages. Details can be found on the MY BOOKS page

He is available for courses and talks, all talks illustrated with pictures and /or video clips. As I research more courses this provides material for various other talks on similar themes. Please ask for an update.

General

• Traditional Christmas: How our British traditions of the Christmas season came about
• Fascinating Felines: The sometime unusual story of our furry pet the cat
• Snippets from History: stories and tales from north Nottingham
• Turn again: The real story of Dick Whitington Lord Mayor of London
• Little miss sure shot: the true story of Annie Oakley “the greatest shot in the world”
• The cup thaty cheers !: The fascinating story of our national drink Tea
• Are you sitting comfortably: The story of the beginnings of children’s radio and television.
• The Mary Celeste:The real story of the maritime mystery
• The Real Biggles: The life and times of W E Johns First World War Pilot and writer of the Biggles stories
• Battledress and Greasepaint : Variety entertainment for the armed forces during World War Two.
• ENSA and stars in Battledress
• Gone in two and half hours: The loss of the White Star liner Titanic that hit an iceberg
• Women and Children First: the sinking of the troop ship Birkenhead
• Tricks of Light and Colour: . The story of Optical illusions that fool the eye and brain
• More Tricks of Light and Colour. Further optical illusions that fool the eye and brain
• Victorian Optical Toys: Toys that lead to the development of movies
• Nursery Rhymes: their strange stories, meanings and origins
• Dick Turpin: The story of the real man and not just the legend
• Houdini Highwayman: Jack Sheppard Highwayman, robber and jail breaker an 18th century peoples hero
• Glen Miller: Bandleader extraordinaire; his life and mysterious death
• The Dance Band Era on Film: The story of Famous British bands of the 20s and 30s recorded on film
• Hearts of Oak : Women, who over the centuries, masqueraded as men to join the military
• Violet Jessop: Stewardess, World War One Nurse and survivor of the sinking of the SS Titanic and SS Britannic
• Then They were Gone: Unexplained Mysterious deaths and disappearances of people over the years.
• Beside the seaside beside the sea: the history of seaside entertainment
• Down to the sea: the story of the British love of the seaside.
• Nottingham On Sea: A sketch history of the town of Skegness
• Catch phrase?: the meaning and origin of some well know sayings that we all use every day
• John Robinson and Home Brewery: The story of the Nottingham Daybrook brewery firm
• Samuel Robinson and Daybrook laundry: The story of the Robinson family and the laundry.
• Wind, Milling and Bread: a local story of the history of bread and milling
• Up the Flue : The strange history of Chimneys and Chimney sweeps:
• Herbert Ponting: Photographer, Film maker, war correspondent and explorer with Capt Scott in the Antarctic
• Bread or Beer: How man changed for ever; the history of the start of farming.
• The biggest Worsted mill: The story of Hawksley and Davison and the start of the industrial revolution
• Let there be light : The Illuminating history of lights and lighting

Local History General

• Gone but not forgotten: some of the Lost buildings of Nottinghamshire
• Goose Fair on Film: part 1 in the square; The story, Historic film and pictures of Nottingham’s own
• Goose Fair on Film: part 2 on the forest; The story, Historic film and pictures of Nottingham’s own
• Muriel and Bert: Jessie Chambers, D H Lawrence’s first girlfriend at Swinhouse farm and their relationship.
• Pints and Pubs: The long history of beer and beer houses
• W H Higginbottom Architect: The unknown designer of many Nottinghamshire’s public buildings
• Getting about: moving from place to place; History of transport of people and goods
• Smashing the frames: the story of the start and finish of the Luddites frame breaking in Nottinghamshire
• Before Waterloo: The effects of the Napoleonic Wars on the people of a small English town
• Searching Family History: using the internet, libraries and other resources to uncover history
• Horsemen and Footpads : the story of Highwaymen and robbers through the ages
• Luke Barton: the unknown Arnold inventor who brought us modern socks and stockings
• The 3Rs : the early history of how education for everyone started.
• Richard Parkes Bonington: Artist, founder of the English school of painting born in Arnold Nottingham

Local History Nottingham area

• The Rubeam Rodam: the history of 4 and half miles of one of the oldest roads in the country
• Murder, Mystery and Mayhem: stories of dark deeds and strange events in the Nottingham Villages
• More Murder, Mystery and Mayhem: Further stories of dark deeds and strange events
• Law and order: the history of policing in Nottinghamshire
• People and Places: how some people from Nottinghamshire shaped the areas history
• The Forest; its Highway Robbery!: Robbers and Robbery on the lonely stretch of the road north through Sherwood Forest Nottingham
• Hows That!!!?: Arnolds international cricketing elite in the 19th century

World War One

• The VADS : The Voluntary Aid Detachment and Auxiliary Hospitals in World War One
• Arnot Hill Auxiliary Hospital: Arnot Hill House Arnolds Auxiliary Hospital of World War One
• Up and At Em: Royal Flying Corp from its formation into war 1911-1914
• Wings over the Somme: The story of the Royal Flying Corp and the Royal Naval Air Service and the battles of the Somme

Cinema

• Silent laughter on the silver screen.: the stories of Early comedy stars of the silent cinema.
• The Tudor and the Moths: The story of the Tudor Cinema West Bridgford Nottingham.
• Selling on film: the earliest adverts on film from the beginning of the cinema
• Victorian Optical Toys: Toys that lead to the development of the movies
• Living pictures: The earliest films and the start of the Cinema from 1895 to 1913
• Earliest 20th century British film makers: Haggar, Hepworth, Paul and others who developed the early cinema
• The Music Hall on film: Film clips and stories of some of our music Hall acts
• More Music Hall on film: Further film clips and stories of some of our music Hall acts
• Variety at War: on Film: Film and stories of Acts from the Second World War who kept up our moral
• Fred and Ginger: the life and times of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers.

Theatre

• Exit stage left: Stories from my life in the theatre, designing and working on stages and entertainment venues
• “Can you hear me mother:” life and times of comedian Sandy Powell
• ‘If it Wasn’t for the Houses in Between’ : Gus Elen music hall entertainer and ‘coster’ comedian
• *Theatre tricks and Illusions: Some stage lighting tricks and theatre effects used in shows.
• *(Requires full Blackout and extra set up time)
• Beside the seaside beside the sea: the history of seaside and growth of entertainment
• The Sun, Naked Flames and the Theatre:: The history of lighting the stage from earliest times to the present day.
• Entertaining Arnold: The history of live entertainment in Arnold
• Painting with light: The art of stage lighting, how its done
• W J Furse Theatre Division: the history of the UKs oldest theatre equipment supplier
• Thorn Lighting Theatre Division: the story of the inventors of modern electronic stage and television lighting
• When we meet again: the story of Vera Lynn singer, film star and forces sweetheart.

Aircraft

• The Dragon has Wings: The Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corp Air Unit: the history of a unique airforce
• British Aircraft in the Spanish Civil War: British Aircraft in the rehearsal for World War Two
• Small Airforces of the British Empire: How they played their vital part in World War Two
• Aerial defenders of Burma and Malaya: The Burma and Malayan Volunteer Airforces and World War Two
• Up and At Em: Royal Flying Corp from its formation into war 1911-1914
• AA Mechanics in the Air: The unknown story of the Air Arm of the Automobile Association
• Thats an odd one: unusual aircraft designed by the allied and axis forces in world war two
• Wings over the Somme: The story of the Royal Flying Corp and the Royal Naval Air Service and the battles of the Somme

Computers

• From Abacus to PCs; the history of computers
• Why should I use a computer I don’t need one: an introduction to what computers do for you and why you need one.
• *The next two talks require an internet connection if possible
• *Searching History: using computers, the internet and libraries to uncover local and family history
• *The internet: A source of entertainment, information and wonder!

Talks on Local History of the Arnold area

• The Cinemas of Arnold: The history of the cinema in a small town
• More Cinemas of Arnold: The further history of the cinema in a small town
• The Cinemas of Mapperley: The cinema in a Nottingham suburb
• The Cinemas of Carlton: The cinema comes to the Urban District
• More Cinemas of Carlton : The cinema comes to the Urban District
• Cinemas of Netherfield: The cinema comes to the Urban District
• Ernhale to Arnold: The General History of the town and village of Arnold part 1:
• Ernhale to Arnold: The General History of the town and village of Arnold part 2:
• From Iron age to Iron horse; Arnolds history from earliest times to the industrial revolution
• From fee to Free , Education in a small town: the history of early education and schools
• The old Bonington : The history of Arnold largest cinema and theatre
• Estate to Public Park: The history of Arnot Hill Park Arnold
• The Wakes of Arnold: history, film and photos of the annual parades and celebrations in Arnold
• Arnold on film: historic film of Arnold times and events .
• Grinding the Grain: History of Arnolds windmills
• Inns, Taverns and Pubs of Arnold;. The history of the pubs of Arnold
• More Inns, Taverns and Pubs of Arnold;. The further history of the pubs of Arnold
• Even More Inns, Taverns and Pubs of Arnold. The further history of the pubs of Arnold
• Arnolds painters: The lives of 4 different artists with a local Arnold connection
• Country Retreat: the houses of the great and good of Arnold
• Water water every where : the story of wells to piped water in Arnold
• Making Arnold work, the development of a town: The history of work in Arnold Nottingham
• Entertaining Arnold: The history of live entertainment in a small town
• Mapperley as it was: Mapperley Nottingham Its past in pictures
• Forgotten schools of Arnold: the history of earliest schools for the great and good in Arnold
• Royalty in Arnold: Royal visits to Arnold over the years
• Moria House: The history of this house and the people who lived there.