Recent Events
Johnson Birthday Weekend
18–20 September 2020
The restrictions necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic have made it impossible to hold the Johnson Birthday Supper for 2020, which was due to take place on Saturday, 19 September. Consequently the President Elect, Posy Simmonds – cartoonist, writer and illustrator – will now be installed at the Birthday Supper on Saturday, 18 September 2021. Dr Rowan Williams has agreed to remain as President until that date.
Social distancing requirements will also mean that the civic celebration scheduled to be held in the Market Square, Lichfield at 12 noon on Saturday, 19 September will not go ahead. An alternative wreath laying will be arranged with a token number of representatives and no bystanders. This is a shame, but inevitable under the circumstances.
The Johnson Society Annual Outing 2020
In view of the Coronavirus situation, we regret that the outing to Bath which had been planned for Friday, 1 May 2020 had to be cancelled.
The Transactions content lists show the places we have visited in previous years.
AGM
In view of the ongoing Coronavirus situation, the business of the Society’s 2020 AGM was conducted by means of correspondence. All five motions submitted for voting were carried.
Annual Lecture
Monday, 2 March 2020
At the Methodist Church, Lichfield, at 7.30pm. Admission free – donations welcomed.
Emily Ireson (Fashion & Social Historian – The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust):
‘Fashions and Fancy: Clothing the 18th Century Lady – From Excesses of Fabric, to the Bare Minimum’
Winter Lectures 2019–20
All Winter Lectures start at 2.30pm and are held at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane, Lichfield WS13 8AY. Admission £3.50 (including tea and cakes).
Sunday, 16 February 2020
Dr Phil Jones: ‘Johnson, Accounting, Numbers and Life Writing’
Sunday, 19 January 2020
Professor Jonathan Reinartz: ‘A New Initiative in All Senses: Experiencing the 18th-century Hospital’
Sunday, 17 November 2019
The talk by Dr Tom Devlin on ‘18th Century Spoken Language and Regional Accents’ unfortunately had to be postponed because of illness. Instead, Dr Graham Nicholls gave a talk on ‘Four Quotations of Samuel Johnson’.
Johnson Birthday Weekend
14–16 September 2019
The new President, Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, was installed at the Johnson Supper on Saturday, 14 September. A full listing of Birthday Weekend events can be found here.
The Johnson Society Annual Outing 2019
Saturday, 30 March 2019
Visit to St John’s Gate and the Museum of the Order of St John, Clerkenwell, London.
Depart Lichfield 8:15am; arrive back in Lichfield 7:30pm.
Total cost, including coach and tour, £25.
AGM
Wednesday, 20 March 2019
At the Guildhall, Lichfield, at 7.30pm.
Dr Annette Rubery: ‘Lichfield: Past and Present’
Annual Lecture
Saturday, 2 March 2019
At the Methodist Church, Lichfield, at 7.30pm. Admission free – donations welcomed.
A great honour to present one of the greatest Johnson scholars in the world:
Professor Robert DeMaria Jr., Henry MacCracken Professor of English, Vassar College & General Editor of the Yale Edition of the Works of Samuel Johnson:
‘Was Johnson innumerate?’
Winter Lectures 2018–19
All Winter Lectures start at 2.30pm and are held at Martin’s Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane, Lichfield, WS13 8AY. Admission £3.50. Refreshments available.
Sunday, 18 November 2018
Dr Nick Seager: ‘Defoe in Scotland: Propaganda, Espionage, and Union’
Sunday, 20 January 2019
Dr Peter Collinge: ‘Aristocratic Women and the Buxton spa experience, 1780–1790’
Sunday, 17 February 2019
Dr Malcom Dick: ‘Joseph Priestley’
Other Events
Thursday, 7 – Sunday, 10 March 2019
At Stowe Pool boathouse, Lichfield, 11am – 3pm. Admission free.
‘Willow Words’
An installation showcasing poetry and prose inspired by Johnson’s Willow, written by visitors to Johnson’s Birthplace over the summer of 2018.
Saturday, 9 March 2019
At Stowe Pool boathouse, Lichfield, 12 noon – 12.45pm. Admission free.
‘Lichfield Poets – Readings on the Water’
Poetry readings inspired by Johnson’s Willow and the natural world.
Sunday, 7 July 2019, 10.30am and 3.30pm
The Friendship Walk
Following on from 2018’s Willow Walk, this year’s walk will again visit Johnson’s Willow and other places in the area with Johnsonian connections. The emphasis will be on the theme of friendship, inspired by Johnson’s famous comment: ‘A man, Sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair.’
