Huge success at first Buckingham History Festival

Hundreds of people, including many locals, flocked to the first ever Buckingham History Festival this weekend.

There was a capacity audience in the Vinson Building lecture theatre for distinguished historian David Starkey’s talk – Henry VIII and The First Brexit.

More than 900 tickets were sold, including two thirds from Buckingham and the surrounding villages.

Speakers included The University of Buckingham Vice-Chancellor, Sir Anthony Seldon, Clive Aslet, Tim Bouverie, Sir Paul Collier, Saul David, Ophelia Field, Martin Gayford, Simon Heffer, Tom Holland, Martin Kemp, Jeremy Musson, Jane Ridley, Michael Scott, Lady Anne Somerset, Miles Taylor, Adrian Tinniswood, Roger Scruton and Marion Turner.

The two-day event, organised by the Humanities Research Institute, was held in the Vinson Building and Radcliffe Centre. Following the success of the inaugural event, another will be held next year.

Vice-Chancellor of The University of Buckingham, Sir Anthony Seldon, said: “The festival was a huge success. It was fantastic seeing so many local people there. The new Vinson Building, which has a bookshop and coffee bar open to the public, was the perfect venue. Many local people enjoyed visiting it for the first time and we hope more people will now come to browse in the bookshop or have a coffee. We look forward to welcoming even more local people at next year’s History Festival.”