Book at http://berwickea.org/event/history-through-a-northumbrian-lens-part-two/

This is a series of three one-hour lectures by Mike Fraser, organised in association with Berwick Literary Festival. Patrons of the Festival are entitled to a 50% discount on tickets for the full course (see Tickets). This listing is for the full course; you can book individual lectures here.

The lectures are on Saturdays: Sept 4, Sept 18 and Oct 2.

Our earlier event, History through a Northumbrian Lens: Part One looked at Sir William Beveridge, Sir Edward Grey and Sir Charles Trevelyan.

In Part Two Mike will discuss John MacKay Wilson, Lord Walter Runciman, Thomas Burt and Mabel Philipson to similarly illuminate key issues in British history from electoral reform to the position of women in society.

John MacKay Wilson, best known for his Tales, was also a successful Editor of the Berwick Advertiser. Discussion of his powerful editorials will provide a radical perspective on events at the time of the Great Reform Act 1832.

Lord Walter Runciman from Doxford Hall was a rather undistinguished politician when he was sent by Chamberlain to Czechoslovakia in August 1938, but his subsequent report was crucial to the latter’s “Peace in our time” Munich agreement with Hitler.

Finally, Mike discusses the careers of two significant Northumbrian MPs. When Thomas Burt was elected as Liberal MP for Morpeth in 1874, he was the first working class man to enter Parliament. In 1923 Mabel Philipson replaced her husband as MP for Berwick to become the third female MP to sit in the Commons. The first to be elected, an Irish Nationalist, had refused to take her seat.

Sept 4 – John MacKay Wilson

Sept 18 – Lord Walter Runciman

Oct 2 – Thomas Burt and Mabel Philipson

Mike will deliver illustrated talks and there will be ample time for debate about the contributions of these individuals during crucial periods of British history.

Lectures will be delivered via Zoom. If you haven’t used Zoom before, please go to www.zoom.us and look at the tutorials. Once you have booked, you will find the Zoom invitation in the Online Event Page on Eventbrite. You will also receive an email with the invitation 24 hours before the event. If you can’t find the invitation, please email .

If you book this course online, we will hold your personal data in accordance with our privacy policy. If you do not wish us to hold your personal data, please book by post (see www.berwickea.org) and do not supply an email address.