Alan Johnson, the former Labour cabinet member, heads the line-up of talks for the latest programme of the Purley Literary Society.
A third memoir: Alan Johnson
Purley Lit, which was established more than 100 years ago, stages a series of talks from October to March each year, presented by authors, enthusiasts and experts.
Among the highlights of Purley Lit’s 2016-2017 season is “The Life and Times of Kensington Palace” by a former director of the State Apartments, “Gardening Under the Tsars” about St Petersburg, and “The early years of Churchill”. And there’s one evening which will celebrate musical heritage from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
Johnson, as you might expect, has a book to sell, the third volume of his memoirs, The Long and Winding Road which begins with his entry to parliament in 1997. and which follows his previous autobiographies, This Boy and Please, Mr Postman.
The former Home Secretary, who was previously Business, Education and Health Secretary will be giving his talk on March 21.
Purley Lit’s other dates include:
Nov 8: Dr Lois Oliver: Tailoring the image – Costume and accessories in art
Nov 22: The London Klezmer Quartet
Dec 6: Neil Miller: Hever Castle gardens
2017
Jan 10: Colin Jones: Gardening under the Tsars
Jan 24: Chas Bailey: Early Churchil years
Feb 7: Nigel Arch: The Life and Times of Kensington Palace
Feb 21: John Wilson: Lord Armstrong of Cragside
Mar 7: John Pilkington: Russia and Europe – what next?
All the talks take place at Purley United Reform Church, Brighton Road, from 8pm. Entry for each talk is £5, or season tickets cost £22, or £12 for January to March.
For more details, contact the membership secretaries Yvonne and Richard Walker on 01737 552654, or visit the Purley Lit website here.
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