historypitt.co.uk
This is a list of current talks available. More will be added over time, and other topics will be accommodated on request if at all possible.
New Talks Now Added
1
The History of British Policing 1749 to 1950
Ever wondered why the Bow Street Runners were formed,
why the British Government thought it necessary to form the Metropolitan Police, how the early police force was equipped, or why the police found it impossible to catch Jack the Ripper?
All of these questions and more are answered in this talk, which benefits from the aid of props - some reproduction and some authentic antique equipment - used by the police forces of Victorian Britain.
Members of The City of London Police, 1887.
2
Gentlemen's Fashions 1780s to 1950s
This talk concentrates on the fashions and innovations in the dress of the British Gentleman from the Georgian Era to the Post-War Era. This is done with the aid of genuine examples of clothing - particularly hats - and later reproductions and adaptations. Ever wonder why the Top Hat was so fashionable, how the Bowler Hat came to be invented, or where the idea for wearing Tailcoats came from? All these questions and more will be answered in the Gentlemen's Fashions Talk.
3
The Home Front
The Home Front Talk, which is aimed at Schools and Child Education Groups, focuses on the role of those in Britain during World War II who worked as Air Raid Wardens, the formation of the Local Defence Volunteers and their change to the Home Guard, and the changes made in the everyday lives of civilians due to the war. This talk includes themed activities. Ever wonder about the roles played by the ARP and Emergency Services during the Blitz, the plans for Britain's resistance in case of invasion, or the roles that women had to fill that until then had been thought of as only suitable for men? All this and more is answered in the Home Front Talk.
4
Burton, Lawrence, and Bell - The stories of three separate British adventurers who absorbed themselves in the Arab World
Orientalism is a word seldom used today, but in the 18th, 19th and early 20th Centuries it was widely used to describe men and women from the Western World - particularly Britain - who studied, travelled to, fell in love with, and immersed themselves in the Arab World. These included men like Sir Richard Francis Burton and T E Lawrence, and women such as Gertrude Bell.
This Talk tells their stories, describes how they left their mark, the influences the East had on the West, what we learnt and can still learn from this part of the World, and how for some a call to the desert still persists.
NEW
A Christmas Carol - The Origins and Writing of Charles Dickens' Christmas Classic
5
New
There have been many film adaptations of A Christmas Carol, and people all over the world have grown up knowing and loving the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge and how through the visitations and interventions of Spirits he is transformed for his own good and the good of all who know him. It all began with Charles Dickens writing his Christmas story, which he managed to complete and publish in only six weeks. This Talk - offered in late November and in December only - tells the story of why he felt compelled to write it, how he came up with the characters, what influenced the story, and how the story has influenced how we look at Christmas ever since.
6
Blackadder - Behind the Scenes
This talk concentrates on my time working on Dish and Dishonesty in BBC TVs Blackadder 3. It starts with my child actor days, what it was like growing up in showbusiness, and what led to me gaining the role in Blackadder, then moves onto the Audition, Rehearsals, and Filming of the episode. It will also briefly cover other roles that came afterwards, the real history that is portrayed in the series, and how that relates to the plots and writing of this BBC comedy classic. Ever wonder what it was really like to work with Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, and Hugh Laurie, or how scenes are changed and transformed between writing, rehearsing and filming? All this and more is answered in the Blackadder - Behind the Scenes Talk.
All Historical Talks 1,2 and 3 can have education based activities added, facilitated by my experienced assistant, if the Talk is being given to a School or Child Education Group.
Please feel free to use the contact form to request a different talk topic.
