The Wider World

Diana Darke

The Influence of Islamic Architecture in Europe
Against a backdrop of Islamophobia, Europeans are increasingly airbrushing from history their cultural debt to the Muslim world. But this legacy lives on in some of Europe’s most recognisable buildings, from Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament. In this illuminating talk Diana will give pupils a fascinating exploration of Europe’s medieval architectural wonders—and the Muslim master-builders behind them.
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David Webb

The Power of Giving – Organ Donation

“They (Year 9s) thought it was pitched just right and gave them plenty to think about whilst learning so much. Again, thank you for taking the time to give this important talk to my class”

Surbiton High School

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Jim Holmes

Japan – Bowing to Tradition
From the northern snow country to the southern tropical beaches, Japan is a diverse and complicated country. But how has Japan integrated very traditional aspects of its culture into a vibrant, enigmatic and successful modern state? With religion dominated by foxes, the Keigo hierarchy intact, and rural communities dwindling, crowded high-rise cities and technology now dominate. Time honoured practices now divide an ageing population on the edge of generational rift, Japan on the edge of change.
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Isla van Tricht

Pursuing a Career in the Arts

As well as delivering PSHE talks in schools, Isla is a theatre, TV and film writer. Her work has been produced in London, off Broadway, New York and across the UK. She currently has four original TV series and two feature films in active development as well as a short film for which she is writer/director.In this presentation, Isla will discuss her work in the artistic field and her routes into a creative career.

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Jim Holmes

Cambodia and the Ancient Kingdom of Angkor
From its bustling capital Phnom Penh now becoming known for its garment factories, to the stunning 12th century temples of Angkor, Cambodia is full of contrasts. Forgotten in an all-consuming jungle for centuries, these towering Khmer temples hold stone friezes that depict the intricate details of everyday life, religion and conflict 900 years ago. Tormented still by the Khmer Rouge years and currently dominated by a questionable political dynasty, it is the location to the world’s only river that flows in both directions, now under threat from hydropower.
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Annabel Taylor-Ross

Blankets or Barriers – Understanding the Refugee Crisis and Our Response
When does giving help create more problems? What are we trying to achieve - genuine help or appeasing our own guilt? How do we ‘Do no harm’? This talk will enable your pupils to see the refugee crisis with empathy from a perspective that is more than just a headline or a thread on social media
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Sophia Lovell Smith

The Stage – A career in Theatre Design

Sophia has been designing for theatre, opera, dance and interactive performances for children for over 30 years. This talk will discuss her work in theatre and routes into a creative career.

To make a booking to or to learn more about this talk then get in touch with us today.

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Jim Holmes

The Lower Mekong – Water, Wars and Watts
The world’s 12th longest rivers flows from China through Laos, Thailand and Cambodia and out into the South China Sea from Vietnam. Home to the worlds largest freshwater fish, the Mekong flows past ancient Buddhist temples and is a spiritual lifeline for remote ethnic minority groups. The ghosts of the Vietnam war are settled although the unexploded ordnance remains, but hydropower now plays a huge role in the region causing environmental tensions and a massive loss off aquatic diversity.
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Diana Darke

The Ottoman Cultural Legacy

Diana Darke is a Middle East cultural expert and published author. With degrees in Arabic from Oxford University and in Islamic Art & Architecture from SOAS, London, she has spent over 30 years specializing in the region, working for both government and commercial sectors. In this talk Diana celebrates the culture of the Ottoman Empire, from aesthetics and architecture to scientific and medical innovations, the significant role of women, and explores the crucial part commerce and trade played in supporting the empire and increasing its cultural reach, presenting the magnificent achievements of an empire that lasted over 600 years.

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Jim Holmes

English Breakfast and the Story of Ceylon Tea in Sri Lanka
The slopes of Sri Lanka’s southern mountains are clothed in neat rows of low bushes that produce the country’s greatest exports, tea. The famed ‘English Breakfast’ is known the world over but the story of tea in old Ceylon is far less refreshing. Tour tea estates and factories to meet the immigrant villagers who still hand pick this everyday product to bring you the true story of tea. From its beginnings in 1824 through to processes little changed 200 years later, this may leave a bitter taste in the mouth.
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