- James McGee
Chalke Valley History Festival 2016
Yes, it's that time of year again, folks.
You mean you didn't have the dates in your diary already?
June 27th to July 3rd.
Set in a stunning location, this is one of the best festivals on the circuit, with the greatest selection of speakers this side of the Black Stump (Look that up if you don't know what it means!).
I would provide you with a list but if I did that, we'd be here all night.
Oh, all right, then, if you insist; here's a very, very small selection of some of the people who are set to entertain you, in no particular order:
Michael Morpurgo
Max Hastings
John Blashford-Snell
Philip Kerr
Ian Hislop
Alice Roberts
Charlie Higson
Melvyn Bragg
John Sessions
Dan Jones
Michael Wood
James Heneage (My old boss from my Ottakars days, who'll be giving a talk on the Indian Mutiny).
Tom Holland
Andrew Roberts
Mark Knopfler (Yes, that Mark Knopfler. Mark, with two or three fellow musicians, will be covering a selection of his songs which have been written about and influenced by people and moments from history.)
You cannot tell me that there's not someone of interest among that lot. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
There are air displays and battlefield re-enactments; more than enough to keep the entire family satisfied. Great food and drink, too, with not a fast food franchise in sight.
The event bills itself as 'The largest festival dedicated entirely to History in the UK'
So, go on, take a look at the programme. What have you got to lose?
Click on the image above or below to link to the site and all manner of wonderful things will be revealed.