Norwich School has for many years been proud to host the East of England branch of the Royal Geographical Society in their excellent series of public lectures delivered by experienced and engaging experts. The school hosts a programme of interesting talks on site throughout the year to enhance the school’s intellectual offering to its community of pupils, alumni, friends and parents, and these lectures form part of that.
An appreciative audience on 26 April 2022 were treated to a talk in Norwich School’s Blake Studio given by Stephen Taylor, former journalist and foreign correspondent, and author of eight books of fiction and non-fiction. He drew the inspiration for this lecture from his new book Sons of the Waves: The Common Seaman in the Heroic Age of Sail.
The rich content focussed on the ordinary ‘Jack Tars’ who were a courageous, hard-working and charismatic crew at a time of great global exploration. Stephen presented these men in their own words drawing from first hand sources such as diaries and naval reports. His wide-ranging talk covered aspects such as press gangs and discipline, mortality and illness, emotional homecomings and women at sea, pay and mutinies, together with the heroics that helped make Britain the leading naval superpower of the age.
In complete contrast, the next lecture in the series is entitled: Wild: Life and Landscape, to be given by internationally acclaimed photographer Ben Osborne. Ben has sailed to Antarctica with Sir David Attenborough for the BBC series Life in the Freezer and shot still images for Blue Planet and Planet Earth and in 2007 he was the overall winner of the prestigious ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’. His talk will highlight the Himalayas, South Georgia, Greenland, Africa, Scotland and include other stunning locations. We are expecting a fascinating and entertaining story which he will illustrate with many of his spectacular images.
It will be held on 10th May 2022 in Norwich School’s Blake Studio from 7pm (for a 7:30 start). All are very welcome, especially those seeking a calming and visually stunning break from exam revision, with £5.00 entry on the door and free to students. See: Royal Geographical Society - Wild: life and landscape - Ben Osborne (rgs.org)