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Public Speaker from Evesham in Worcestershire
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Anywhere in the UK Avon Gloucestershire Herefordshire Oxfordshire Shropshire Warwickshire West Midlands Worcestershire
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Not more than £50 within 10 miles of home Educational General Interest History Science Technology War and Conflict

Tim Barney

Location: Evesham, Worcestershire
About me...

Having retired from a career in the IT industry, I now have the opportunity to pursue my lifelong interest in military history and technology.  Like any enthusiast, I’ve always wanted to share my passion with those around me, and have given informal lectures on military subjects, for a number of years: so I suppose I must be one of those strange people who actually enjoys public speaking!  Now I’m eager to present my talks to a wider audience, and share all these amazing narratives with local clubs and societies

About my Talks...

All my talks are designed for non-specialist audiences and are intended to appeal to men and women from every walk of life: when technical or scientific jargon is included, I always translate this into everyday language.  You will notice that my talks last a little longer than usual.  I believe that to tell the full story, the speaker needs to place the subject in context, by including all those essential details that are so important in helping history to ‘come alive’ – so my talks are about how things worked, as well as what they were used for.  However if your timescale is restricted, I can also offer condensed overviews that include all the most important features – see individual descriptions below for details.  If you are interested in a particular talk, and would like to discuss other options to suit your programme, or require more information, then please do contact me.
All the talks are fully illustrated by PowerPoint slides.  I have my own projector, and only require a screen or other projection surface.

Fee:

For any booking received during 2019 (including bookings for 2020 dates), my fee will be £50 per talk, plus 45p per mile expenses, if travelling more than 25 miles from Evesham.  For all bookings received from January 2020, the charge will be £75, plus travel as above.  I will be very happy to negotiate a fee for talks anywhere in the UK, on an ad hoc basis: please contact me to discuss.
I am usually available at short notice, should you have an urgent requirement for a speaker.

My Contact Details:
Phone:

01386 49119 Phone

07759 925829

Email:

tjnbarney@gmail.com

View Talks by Tim Barney

Lock, Stock and Barrel (or ‘Bullets for Beginners’)

Public Speaker from Worcestershire Tim Barney talks about "Lock, Stock and Barrel"

An insight into the development of military firearms, from the fourteenth to the twenty-first century. The story of how the soldier’s personal weapon evolved from a crude black powder tube, that was almost as dangerous to the user as the target, to the sophisticated mass-produced weapons of today, is a fascinating and often surprising tale. Including both technical discussion and many historical examples, this talk offers a wide-ranging and comprehensive overview.

Duration: 90 minutes, plus a short mid-point interval.

Also available: 60 minute overview.

The God of War (or ‘Bigger Bullets for Beginners’)

Public Speaker from Worcestershire Tim Barney presents his talk The God of War,

This talk follows the development of artillery weapons and tactics, from the middle ages to the present day. ‘The God of War’ was the phrase chosen by Josef Stalin, to describe the Red Army’s artillery arm. During this talk we will discuss the evolution of ‘the guns’ from the rock-throwing siege engines of the ancient world, to the multiple launch rocket systems of today, delving en route into the history of explosives, the castle architect’s response to the challenge of gunpowder bombardment, and the ingenuity of Sir William Armstrong.

Duration: 90 minutes, plus a short mid-point interval.

Also available: 60 minute overview.

Destroyer of Worlds

Public Speaker from Worcestershire presents his talk Destroyer of Worlds.

This compelling talk lifts the lid on nuclear and thermonuclear weapons: the physics behind them, the design and operation of the weapons themselves, the various delivery and guidance systems, and of course what happens at the receiving end.  For such a high profile and emotive subject, regularly the subject of ill-informed speculation, there is a surprising lack of knowledge about how these weapons work, and what their effects would be in the real world.  This talk aims to fill in those gaps, and thereby transform heat into light!

Duration: 90 minutes, plus a short mid-point interval.

Also available: 60 minute version, which omits discussion of delivery and guidance systems.

Mad, Bad and Dangerous

Public Speaker from Worcestershire,Tim Barney presents his talk Mad, Bad and Dangerous.

Yes, I know that’s what they used to say about Lord Byron – but this talk is about military ideas and inventions that turned out to be crazy, or useless, or just downright dangerous – and sometimes all three!  A light-hearted look at a sorry saga of incompetence, short-sightedness and wishful thinking, plus a sideways glance at some other inventions that were perfectly serviceable in themselves, but ended up being used in the wrong way, at the wrong time or in the wrong place – and sometimes all three! As we often say about our own governments… how can they get it so WRONG?!

Duration: 90 minutes, plus a short mid-point interval.

Also available: 75 and 100 minute versions, these include fewer/more examples.

Tim Barney Contact Details:
Phone:

01386 49119 Phone

07759 925829

Email:

tjnbarney@gmail.com