Talks & Events

Daniel Defoe is known to all as the author of Robinson Crusoe, but he was much more than the country’s first novelist. In 1724 was published his ‘Whole tour of the island of Great Britain’ and this talk will look at his journey through SE England in particular, 300 years … Read more

Crime fiction’s popularity shows no sign of waning. If anything, over the last decade it’s taken an even more central place on our bookshelves and TV screens. Local crime fiction author William Shaw, whose work is set in and around Dungeness, thinks he has an answer – and it’s probably … Read more

The Academy of Punch & Judy project launched recently at the West Pier Centre. Prof. Glyn Edwards Brighton’s Punch and Judy man and ‘Professor’ says, ‘The Academy is very much about spreading the word to see if we can identify any local talent who might want to take up the … Read more

This talk examines a much-ridiculed aspect of British seaside dress. More than an unfashionable solution to the vagaries of the weather, however, wearing socks and sandals can be surprisingly radical. This talk charts their origins, their intersection with the history of socialism, and their association with local figures and events, … Read more

Access to the coast was severely restricted during World War II and many resorts suffered bomb damage to key parts of their tourism infrastructure. This talk looks at the recovery period, as the pent-up demand for seaside holidays helped resorts bounce back and start building new visitor attractions that embodied … Read more