Bringing history back to life (From Cotswold Journal)

First Gloucester history festival just weeks away

1:55pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News

TV presenters, historians and authors are among  the speakers lined up for the first ever Gloucester History Festival, from  August 27 to September 9, covering subjects from World War II code-breaking and Royalty to family history and Elizabethan England
The festival will celebrate more than 2000 years of history with more than 140 events for people of all ages. It builds on the success of both the Heritage Open Days and last year’s History Week.
Nick Barratt, the renowned genealogist and creator of the popular BBC TV programme Who Do You Think You Are? will be running a Family History Workshop at Gloucestershire Archives on Friday,  September 7, before giving a talk on The Future of History at Blackfriars Priory in the evening.
The GCHQ historian Tony Comer will be speaking about Britain’s code-breaking teams during World War II and how they managed to crack the German Enigma codes in a talk at Blackfriars Priory on Friday, September 7.  
Ben Gummer, the historian, author and MP, will be speaking on the Black Death and the impact it had on the city, county and nation, drawing on the records in Gloucester. Ben Gummer’s talk takes place at Blackfriars Priory on Thursday, September 6.
On Wednesday, September 5, Derek James is speaking on The Age of Aviation in Gloucestershire – The Gloster Aircraft Company and Frank Whittle, and in conjunction with this talk, a replica of a Gloster E28 aircraft will be on display at Blackfriars Priory.
Author of That Woman, the first full biography of the Duchess of Windsor, Anne Sebba, will be talking about The Life of Wallis Simpson on Saturday, September 8.
Also on a royal theme, Helen Rappaport, author of Magnificent Obsession, will be speaking about the profound impact that Prince Albert’s death had on Queen Victoria, on Saturday September 8,  while later that evening, historian  Ian Mortimer will be speaking about The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England and presenting a vivid picture of life in Elizabethan England.
Other speakers at Gloucester History Festival include The Canal and River Trust Heritage advisor, David Viner, who is giving a talk on The Waterways of Britain and the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal  (Monday  September 3)and Ray Holt of Cotswold Archaeology who is giving an illustrated talk on The 2011-2012 Excavations of Blackfriars and Greyfriars monasteries (Tuesday, September 4). In addition, the owners of Highnam and Elmore Courts, Roger Head and Anselm Guise, will be talking about their experiences living in these historical stately homes on Tuesday  September 4. 
In three FREE events as part of the Heritage Open Days, Tim Potts will be giving a talk on The Restoration of Robert Raikes House on Thursday, September 6 at Gloucester Guildhall. Also at the Guildhall, Darrel Kirby will be speaking about Gloucester Then & Now on Friday September 7. Finally Philip Lancaster will be giving a talk on Ivor Gurney’s Poetry and Music at the City Museum on Saturday, September 8.
Details of all events at the forthcoming Gloucester History Festival can be found at www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk
Tickets for the talks go on sale on Monday, August 13 and are available from The Tourist Information Centre, 28 Southgate Street, Gloucester Tel: 01452 396572 and from Gloucester Guildhall Box Office Tel: 01452 503050 or www.gloucesterguildhall.co.uk. Tickets for the majority of the talks cost £7 for Adults and £6 for Children/Concessions. The Family History Workshop costs £11 for Adults and £10 for Children/Concessions. The Heritage Open Day talks are FREE Events, however, tickets do need to be reserved in advance from The Tourist Information Centre.