Reminder – Open Meeting & AGM – Sat 27th June 2026

A reminder to book to attend our next FREE Open Meeting and the AGM on Saturday 27th June 2026 from 10am to 3pm at the Union Jack Club near Waterloo Station.

Our first talk of the day is:

1000 – 1100 hrs:  Curzon’s Chosen Men: Political Officers on the Periphery of Empire.

In the early 20th century, Indian Civil Servant and Political Resident John Gordon Lorimer and Political Agent Captain William Shakespear used their diplomatic, linguistic, intelligence and exploration skills in the Arabian Peninsula and Persia.  Their work enhanced Britain’s understanding of this periphery of Empire, leaving geopolitical legacies which continue to resonate long after their careers were tragically cut short.

Alan Dillon is a former Royal Marine who joined the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.  As a diplomat, he served in Afghanistan, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Whitehall.  He is a Royal Historical Society Fellow, occasional university lecturer and author of ‘Captain Shakespear, Desert Exploration, Arabian Intrigue and The Rise of Ibn Sa’ud’ and ‘Lorimer, His Gazetteer and Britain’s Pursuit of Knowledge’. 

Click on this LINK to book your place [need to book for entry to Union Jack Club]

*** ALL WELCOME. ADMISSION FREE ***