The talks are all video presentations and I supply all of the equipment including a screen where necessary. I will travel anywhere in UK. I am used to giving talks at all types of venues and for all types of events including after-dinner engagements, charity evenings, National Trust, Rotary, PROBUS, TWG, WI, U3A etc. Usually my talks last between 45 and 50 minutes though I am very happy to expand them (without extra fee) when asked to do so. All of my equipment is PAT compliant.
Thomas Plantagenet of Tutbury Castle
A history talk
When William the Conqueror crossed the Channel in 1066
he brought with him men who can best be described as soldiers of fortune - they were prepared to support him in his unlikely plan to conquer England on the basis that there
would be rich pickings if he suceeded. Having, against all expectations, conquered England,
William ruthlessly
confiscated the land from the Saxon ruling classes and doled it out at peppercorn
rents to his supporters. These
men were given their titles and their landed wealth in exchange for loyalty -
if things got tough for the crown they were honour bound to aid the king.
But by the 14th century the barons had forgotten all about loyalty and were following their own self-seeking agendas. One such baron was Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, cousin to King
Edward II and owner of the magnificent Tutbury Castle. Thomas didn't like Edward and thought he'd make a better king himself. He is the first of the Staffordshire barons featured in my book A Crown for
Staffordshire and this talk follows his fifteen year vendetta against King
Edward II which ended with Thomas's execution
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