Appearances
For over 10 years I have given over 200 talks to a broad range of audiences on contrasting aspects of the Bankes family history and the Russell-Cotes Museum and Art Gallery. Subjects include ‘The Formidable Women of Kingston Lacy’, ‘William John Bankes, artistic, adventurous, charming’, ‘Four Centuries of Stories from the Bankes Archive’, ‘Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and the rise of Bournemouth’, ‘Sir Merton Russell Cotes and a Victorian Villa.’
Engagements
| Date | Subject | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 4th October 2025 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | DHC Bankes Archive |
| 15th October 2025 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Studland History Group |
| 16th October 2025 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Westbourne Bookshop |
| 17th October 2025 | Tour of Kingston Lacy | Private Editors’ Group |
| 4th November 2025 | Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and the Victorian Villa | Cranborne History Society |
| 21st January 2026 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Poole Museum Society |
| 3rd February 2026 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Cranborne History Society |
| 5th February 2026 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | East Dorset Heritage Trust |
| 18th February 2026 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Tangent |
| 24th February 2026 | The Italian Influence on Kingston Lacy | Anglo-Italian Society of Bournemouth |
| 26th February 2026 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Bournemouth Probus 2 Group |
| 21st April 2026 | Formidable Women of Kingston Lacy | Dorset Family History Group |
| 14th May 2026 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Wimborne Literary Festival |
| 3rd June 2026 | Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and the Victorian Villa | Milford-on-Sea Ladies |
| 10th June 2026 | Formidable Women | Merley & Canford WI |
| 16th June 2026 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Society for Poole |
| 18th June 2026 | Tour of Russell-Cotes | Corfe Castle Probus |
| 15th September 2026 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Purbeck National Trust |
| 16th September 2026 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Merley Community Centre |
| 3 November 2026 | Formidable Women of Kingston Lacy | Child Okeford WI |
| 28th January 2027 | The Man Who Didn’t Succeed | Dorchester Association |
| 7th July 2027 | Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and the Victorian Villa | Milford Ladies Group |
To enquire about availability, speaking topics, or booking arrangements, please get in touch.