THE role played by Ulverston's Sir John Barrow in promoting exploration is examined as part of the annual series of talks hosted by the Grange Lecture Society.

This group was founded in 1908 and is in its 109th season of talks which are held in the Victoria Hall, Grange, from 7.15pm.

The talk on February 13 by Brian Wilson is called "Barrow's Boys and Other Polar Explorers".

A spokesperson for the society said: "Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Great Britain had the largest navy of all times.

"Sir John Barrow, from Ulverston, was the second secretary to the Admiralty and saw explortion as a useful way of utilising their skills.

"This talk concentrates on expeditions to try to discover a northwest passage, which went via the Arctic, through to the Pacific and to the Orient.

"It is a story of courage, extreme hardship, personnel cost and eventual success."

Sir John Barrow was born at Dragley Beck, Ulverston, and became a pioneering civil servant with the Admiralty.

His work was recognised by the building of the Sir John Barrow Monument in his home town.

The next Grange talk is on February 6 when Jon Cannon describes "A Thousand Years of History: Medieval Cathedrals as Time Machines".

Mr Cannon is an architectural historian who has written several books on medieval architecture and presented the BBC programme How to Build a Cathedral.

The spokesperson said: "This talk explores the amazing structure and content of English Medieval Cathedrals and is full of insight about the people, contentsand ritual beliefs which helped to create these beautiful works of art."

On March 6 Jerry Stone will present a talk on "The Next 50 Years in Space" which immediately follows a brief annual meeting.

The spokesperson noted: "We've been flying in space for over 50 years, since Yuri Gagarin in 1961. What will come next?"

Admission to any of the talks is £4 on the door and you can find about more about the work of the group on its website at www.grangelecturesociety.co.uk