A large audience of parents, pupils, alumni, staff and Royal Geographical Society members enjoyed a real treat in the Blake Studio on 8th November 2022. Acclaimed travel writer, journalist and TV presenter Vitali Vitaliev gave a talk entitled The Atlas of Geographical Curiosities, reflecting the latest of his 24 published works. This lecture formed part of the school’s external programme of lectures held on site, offering insights on important issues, delivered by high-quality experts in their field for both the school and the local community.
Our Ukrainian-born speaker was an expert guide on his subject matter, providing a highly entertaining and kaleidoscopic journey through his highly unusual and somewhat eccentric life, including his appearance on a KGB blacklist which caused him to defect to the West in 1980. This transformational turning point in his life duly sparked further quirky travels and, over time, led to his considerable interest in mini states and geographical enclaves. Who knew, for example, Liechtenstein was a major manufacturer of false teeth and sausage casings, the autonomous Mount Athos region located on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece is male only, where no women or female creatures of any kind are permitted to enter, or there is a private, self-governing street located in Camden, London that, being an enclave, is therefore still part of Cambridgeshire. You get the flavour! Conversations continued long after the talk ended over refreshments.
The next offering from the Royal Geographical Society to be held at Norwich School is very different, but no less engaging. On 23rd November 2022 we welcome back to Blake Studio at the earlier time slot of 17:00 two pupils from Norwich School and six pupils from two other local state schools who will be presenting six micro-lectures to our audience on the theme of 'People, Planet, Partnerships'. It is a great opportunity for young presenters to share their reflections and their passion for our planet. The Honorary Chair for the evening will be the highly acclaimed Professor Tim O’Riordan OBE DL FBA, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia, and Advisory Board Chair of the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford. All are welcome to what promises to be a very thought-provoking evening. See: Royal Geographical Society - Youth Micro-Lectures: People, Planet, Partnership (rgs.org)
