October 2019

Rowing the Atlantic

Sally Kettle

Sally’s adventures on the Atlantic Ocean in a row-boat on three occasions, all with different companions are quite extraordinary. Having not been at sea, or even rowed before, Sally attempted to cross the Atlantic with her boyfriend in a 23 foot wooden rowing boat, then with her mother and finally in a crew of four.

Sally is a Vice-President of The Children’s Trust, a UK charity for children with brain injury. She is also an ambassador for Girl-guiding - London and South East England.

15th Oct

The Empress and the Indian - the story of Victoria & Abdul

Shrabani Basu

For her Golden Jubilee in 1887, Queen Victoria received a special present: an Indian servant called Abdul Karim. The controversial relationship between them rocked the Palace and the establishment. Shrabani Basu reveals how a 24-year-old humble Indian clerk found his way to Victoria’s heart, and rose rapidly through the ranks to become her private Indian secretary and teacher at a time when the British Empire was at its height.

Her book – “Victoria & Abdul” – has been made into an Oscar nominated film starring Dame Judi Dench.

22nd Oct

The Art and Business of War

Major General (Retired) Graham Binns CBE, DSO, MC

Major General Binns was educated at Hymers College, and was commissioned into Yorkshire’s infantry in 1977, serving for 35 years, and led 7th Armoured Brigade (The Desert Rats) during the Iraq invasion in 2003.

On retiring, he was appointed Chief Executive of one of the world’s largest private security companies providing support to government, international organisations and commercial companies in complex and high risk environments. During this talk, he discusses both the Art and Business of War, in and out of uniform.

29th Oct