The talk features some of the aerial photographs in the collection of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. They are featured in the book entitled the ‘The Archaeology of Upland Gwent’, edited by Dr Frank Olding. His talk will be based on this magnificent book which has been published by the Royal Commission and includes photographs taken by Toby Driver, Air Survey Officer for the Royal Commission Wales.

The talk encompasses areas of Gwent you might not have visited before and shows the fascinating range of sites from Bronze Age to industrial times. There has been a profound change in the attitude to the remains of our industrial past and of course Blaenavon has become a World Heritage Site and areas of upland Gwent have achieved new evaluations and status. There is no-one better than Frank Olding to take us on this tour of upland Gwent. He was brought up in Abertillery and was educated at Cardiff University. He is a renowned archaeologist and most of his professional career has been spent working in the Gwent valleys as a museum curator and archaeologist. He is currently Heritage Officer for Blaenau Gwent.

Frank Olding is well-known to many of us as a speaker who delivers information in an interesting and humorous way. Some of you might remember him as the Chairman of the Eisteddfod Local Executive Committee at Abergavenny last year. These aerial photographs together with his ability to hold an audience’s interest will make for a memorable event, so come and join us.