ALT With a string of ‘smart, funny and highly readable’ books to her name, Anna is best-known for her feisty non-fiction and Tudor scholarship. Her debut crime fiction, Death of an Englishman: an Oxford mystery, was published in 2025.

ALT Journeying from the past, from Victorian bestseller Mary Elizabeth Braddon through the Golden Age greats and into the present day, Anna Beer will offer some intriguing answers and share the insights gained from her own foray into the genre.

ALT The author of three books on the subject, Peter’s latest book is called ‘Just A Thought’.

ALT John Godber provides this intriguing taster for his talk: “In 1973 Godber slashed his eye open in the All England RUFC sevens final held in Hull. In 1975 he performed as a Drag Queen at the Gulbenkian theatre. In 1977 Bouncers was premiered at Edinburgh to two people. In 1978 his version of A Clockwork Orange opened The Man in the Moon theatre in Chelsea. In 1980 he was thrown out of Romeo and Juliet’s for wearing Hush puppies. In 1981 he met Anthony Minghella, Mike Bradwell, James Fenton and a girl from Skipton. In 1983 he sat waiting for Danny Boyle to come out of an interview at Humberside Theatre. In the same year he met Sir Phil Redmond, wrote Grange Hill, Brookside and worked on his PhD. In 1984 he left teaching and his mining background to run Hull Truck, oh and he married the girl from Skipton”.

ALT Since Charles II landed at Dover at about noon on 25th May 1660 – a scene witnessed by Samuel Pepys – the two Regiments, The Life Guards and The Blues & Royals which together became known as ‘The Household Cavalry’ have played a unique role as the official bodyguard to The Monarch.

ALT In his presentation ‘All the Kings’ Horses and All the Kings’ Men (and Women)’ Keith will use his unique style to answer many of the questions about The Household Cavalry.

ALT Nigel became a presenter of news and current affairs programmes (Today on Radio 4, Twenty-Four Hours on World Service) as well as in arts and entertainment. He somewhat unusually combined all his presentation work with acting in comedy shows. Eventually, it was Nigel’s mix of skills and enthusiasms that gave rise to Quote … Unquote, the radio show he devised and introduced for 46 years.

ALT Having researched every house in Saltaire and the lives of Salt’s workers, Maria has an original and unique take on written history.

ALT Roger Butler is a writer, photographer and lecturer and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He writes for several monthly magazines and speaks to groups and societies throughout the UK.

ALT Graham Lewis earned a Degree from Hull University in Philosophical Theology. Short of entering the church, he was left with limited career choice. In the end he followed a plethora of careers, including teaching and local government, and has maintained a lifelong interest in history.

ALT Gillian’s talk about her time in what was then a man’s army, also celebrates women in the services. She has been amusing audiences up and down the country with her anecdotes ever since and has written a book about it all, ‘It’s A Girls’ Life in the Army!’

ALT We have seen Tony Harris as Henry VIII, Churchill and Mrs Thatcher. Now this popular speaker brings us his latest character – Donald Trump. The President will tell us his solution to all the World’s problems and how he is the best leader of the free world. Ever. Really. The best. Not fake news. Tony’s unique blend of history and humour will give us another excellent evening.

ALT Margaret said: “This is the fulfilment of a long-cherished hope. The plaque recognises all the work we’ve done over more than 200 years to bring learning to the people of Hull. This ensures that visitors will understand the significance of the statues and what the Hull Literature and Philosophical Society has achieved in the city.”

ALT The plaque, unveiled on 9th October 2025, stands in front of a figure depicting Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, which once stood on the pediment of the Royal Institution in Albion Street. The institution building, which was the society’s home from 1854 to 1943 and Hull’s Municipal Museum, was destroyed by fire in 1943 during an intense Nazi bombing raid in the Second World War. The surviving carvings, created by Hull sculptor William Day Keyworth, were later moved to the Museums Quarter Gardens.

ALT Charles Hanson is one of the UK’s most recognisable auctioneers and antiques experts, best known for his charismatic appearances on BBC shows such as Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip. A trusted face in the auction world, Charles brings energy, humour and deep historical insight to every valuation and sale.

ALT His talk “Inn & Out at the Top” is a laugh-a-minute tour of the quirks and foibles, highs and lows of his time running Britain’s highest inn back in the 1970s and 1980s. Neil’s account of grappling with tight-fisted farmers, eccentric characters, bizarre local customs, naturist weekends, “lates and lock-ins”, police raids, rats in the attic, close encounters with magistrates and planners, and the shooting of a famous double-glazing commercial, is suitable for all audiences.

ALT Neil is a successful author with 70 published books to his name. A hugely engaging storyteller and award-winning speaker, Neil has entertained audiences at every type of occasion throughout the UK and right across the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

ALT Tricia was born in Sunderland in the North East of England. She trained as a diagnostic radiographer and after moving to Skipton in Yorkshire in 1973, with her husband Ian, Tricia worked at Airedale General Hospital. After they moved into a small village of Cracoe in the Yorkshire Dales, a neighbour, Angela Baker invited her to join the WI, telling her that the locals would think she was funny if she didn’t join. In February 1998 John Baker, Angela’s husband, was diagnosed with non Hodgkins Lymphoma. Sadly he died just five months later and, to raise funds in his memory, Tricia’s idea for the alternative WI calendar was born.

ALT ‘Older and Wider’ speaks on the subject of ageing with a large drizzle of mischief and affection as the ‘baby boomers’ continue to reinvent older age. Acting more like a band of teenagers with liver spots, they’ve got all the money; they’re going to live till they’re about 103 and they have the highest divorce rate in the UK. You’re more likely to find them at Zumba or Glastonbury than on a bowling green these days, and shop in Zara rather than M&S – so ignore or underestimate them at your peril!