BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Festival of Ideas - ECPv6.16.5.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Festival of Ideas
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Festival of Ideas
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Europe/London
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20250330T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20251026T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20260329T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20261025T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20270328T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20271031T010000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T170000
DTSTAMP:20260513T140525Z
CREATED:20260518T080009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T140525Z
UID:10000697-1783076400-1783098000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Chester's Social Health Pledge: One Conversation at a Time
DESCRIPTION:What if one small conversation could make someone’s day better? Join Public Health staff and Master of Public Health students from the University of Chester to explore social health and why simple moments of connection matter. Visit our interactive stall\, choose a conversation starter\, and make a social pledge to have one meaningful conversation during the Festival. Better questions lead to better conversations. And better conversations can help tackle loneliness\, one chat at a time.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/chesters-social-health-pledge-one-conversation-at-a-time/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Staffed Table / Event / Exhibit
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/75.-Chesters-Social-Health-Pledge.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T160000
DTSTAMP:20260515T105151Z
CREATED:20260518T080034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T105151Z
UID:10000747-1783076400-1783094400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Talking Tours: Let’s Talk History
DESCRIPTION:Lace up your plimsoles and sprint through the last century of Cheshire’s sporting past with Let’s Talk\, History. Using historic sound recordings from Cheshire Archives’ collections\, this free audio trail tells 100 years of stories about the county’s competitive\, recreational and\, at times\, amusing sports. From the football field to the polo field. George Best and his team cheating their way to victory against Chester FC to street-side boxing matches to win £5. Follow the trail map and scan the free QR code on the Let’s Talk\, History posters at each location to hear the stories of our sporting stars from yesteryear. The ball’s in your court! \nPick up your trail map from the info point in Chester Town Hall to get started!
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/talking-tours-lets-talk-history-2/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Walk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T150000
DTSTAMP:20260518T080039Z
CREATED:20260518T080032Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T080039Z
UID:10000700-1783076400-1783090800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:"The future in our hands"- An exhibition by the students of Chester schools in collaboration with WeMindTheGap.
DESCRIPTION:Join us to hear what matters to young people in Chester today! Students taking part in WeMindTheGap’s WeInspire programme across three Chester high schools will be showcasing a vibrant collection of mixed media works to present their thoughts\, opinions and feelings about life as a teenager in Chester. \n  \nWeMindTheGap | Giving new opportunities to under-served young people \nWeMindTheGap: Overview | LinkedIn \nFacebook
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/the-future-in-our-hands-an-exhibition-by-the-students-of-chester-schools-in-collaboration-with-wemindthegap/
LOCATION:Churchill House\, Queen’s Park Campus\, University of Chester\, Queen's Park Road\, Chester\, CH4 7AD
CATEGORIES:Staffed Table / Event / Exhibit
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T123000
DTSTAMP:20260513T140323Z
CREATED:20260518T080032Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T140323Z
UID:10000699-1783076400-1783081800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Sustainability Walk - Energy
DESCRIPTION:This led walk\, which is also “wheels accessible”\, is one of four themed routes staged as part of the 2026 “Festival of ideas” that uses examples from the existing cityscape to demonstrate various aspects of the overall theme of ‘Sustainability’. \nThis walk focuses on the Sustainability dimension of ‘Energy’ visiting various sites in and around Chester City Centre to illustrate live examples of what are demonstrations of energy conservation or renewable energy production.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/sustainability-walk-energy/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Walk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T120000
DTSTAMP:20260625T080733Z
CREATED:20260518T080008Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T080733Z
UID:10000725-1783076400-1783080000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Supporting the next generation:  inter-generational mentoring - how "the old" can mentor "the young".
DESCRIPTION:The MACIE (Mentoring And Coaching In Education) research group have undertaken extensive research into mentoring\, and what works well when mentoring relationships are successful. In this interactive workshop session we will take you through what we have learnt from our research into mentoring in education settings\, and apply it to real life situations that you can use in your everyday interactions. More specifically it’s about how “the old” can best go about helping “the young”. \n  \nMACIE research group (Mentoring and Coaching in Education)\nDr Luke Jones\, Gethin Foulkes\, Jo Williams\, Mary Anne McCarthy and Annie Argyropulo-Palmer
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/supporting-the-next-generation-inter-generational-mentoring-how-the-old-can-mentor-the-young/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Interactive / Creative Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mentoring-image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T113000
DTSTAMP:20260513T151554Z
CREATED:20260518T080036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151554Z
UID:10000666-1783074600-1783078200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The Rows of Chester: A Unique Creation or a Unique Survival?
DESCRIPTION:The uniqueness of Chester’s Rows lies first in the imaginative adaptation of a common medieval building form to the city’s hilly site. However\, they would not have seemed so unusual had comparable buildings elsewhere survived better. The talk will look at parallels for the building type\, how it was adapted to the landscape\, and the historical circumstances that prompted it.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/the-rows-of-chester-a-unique-creation-or-a-unique-survival/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/66.-The-Rows-of-Chester.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T133349Z
CREATED:20260616T133349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T133349Z
UID:10000759-1783072800-1783098000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Nourish to Flourish (Photo Exhibition)
DESCRIPTION:Nourish to Flourish is a school-based project led by Kate and Ellie\, helping children feel confident about healthy eating through creativity. Supported by the Bluecoat Charity\, the Westminster Foundation and Crossing Borders\, with evaluation support from RECAP (University of Chester). This year children explored artists from around the world and created artwork using food as material. The event includes a photo exhibition.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/nourish-to-flourish-photo-exhibition-2/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/63.-Nourish-to-Flourish.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T170000
DTSTAMP:20260513T140046Z
CREATED:20260518T080035Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T140046Z
UID:10000736-1783072800-1783098000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Retracing Footsteps: The Past\, Present and Future of Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon
DESCRIPTION:Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon is Wales’s most iconic mountain\, hosting 650\,000 visitors each year. This exhibition takes us on a journey that considers the past\, present\, and sustainable future of the mountain. Contemporary photographs are juxtaposed with extracts from the 19th-century Snowdon summit hotels’ visitor books. The exhibition is part of an ongoing\, interdisciplinary project at the University of Chester\, in collaboration with Bangor University and Eryri National Park Authority.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/retracing-footsteps-the-past-present-and-future-of-yr-wyddfa-snowdon-2/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260703T160000
DTSTAMP:20260515T142323Z
CREATED:20260518T080036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T142323Z
UID:10000751-1783072800-1783094400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Postgraduate Research Exhibition
DESCRIPTION:The postgraduate research exhibition will feature current research being conducted at the University of Chester across a variety of disciplines. The research will be presented via posters\, detailing what the researcher is doing\, how they are doing it\, and what impact this could have.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/postgraduate-research-exhibition-2/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T213000
DTSTAMP:20260513T135503Z
CREATED:20260518T080053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T135503Z
UID:10000665-1783018800-1783027800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Research is a Laugh - Stand-Up Comedy Night!
DESCRIPTION:Think academic research isn’t your thing? Think again! \nJoin us for an evening stand-up comedy\, a new event for 2026! Researchers from across the North West will swap jargon for punchlines and take to the stage to share their work. Expect fascinating research\, silly stories\, and lots of laughs. No prior knowledge required\, just come along and discover what happens when research meets comedy! \nThis year’s Chester Festival of Ideas line-up includes: Luke Chaplin\, Kate Slade\, Sahir Hussain\, Erin Beeston\, Bethany Facer\, and Sarah McGrath!
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/research-is-a-laugh/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T203000
DTSTAMP:20260513T151509Z
CREATED:20260107T070023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151509Z
UID:10000649-1783018800-1783024200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Cheshire Prize for Literature Awards Evening
DESCRIPTION:The Cheshire Prize for Literature showcases the literary talents of writers with a connection to the Cheshire area. Now in its 22nd year\, the awards evening will announce the winners in the primary\, secondary and adult categories for poetry\, short stories\, children’s literature and scriptwriting.  \nThe winners will be joined by renowned author Ele Fountain. Ele worked as an editor in children’s publishing where she was responsible for launching and nurturing the careers of many prize-winning and bestselling authors\, and was shortlisted for the British Council’s Young Creative Entrepreneur Award.  \nShe lived in Addis Ababa for several years\, where she wrote her debut novel\, BOY 87\, which went on to win four awards and was nominated for ten more\, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and Carnegie Medal. Her second novel\, LOST\, was a Guardian Children’s Book of the Year. FAKE has been selected as a BookTrust Future Classic. WILD was a Financial Times Best Book of the Year. Her latest novel\, STORM CHILD\, was a Times Book of the Week. Her books have sold to 13 countries worldwide and received more than 30 award nominations between them.  \nShe has talked about books and reading on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour\, BBC Radio London\, BBC Radio Scotland\, BBC World Service\, and to anyone who happens to be passing. She speaks regularly at schools and literary festivals\, delivering talks and workshops drawing on 20 years’ experience in the publishing industry. Ele currently holds a post as RLF (Royal Literary Fund) Fellow at the University of Reading.  \nThe event will start at 7pm with a complimentary drink available beforehand.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/cheshire-prize-for-literature-awards-evening-2/
LOCATION:University of Chester Exton Park School of Education\, University of Chester\, Parkgate Road\, Chester\, CH1 4BJ
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Ele-Fountain-2-July-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T173000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T183000
DTSTAMP:20260528T163001Z
CREATED:20260518T080011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260528T163001Z
UID:10000724-1783013400-1783017000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Can You Spot the Traitor? The Psychology Behind The Traitors
DESCRIPTION:Missing The Traitors now the series has finished? Join this interactive session exploring the psychology behind the show. Why do the Faithful struggle to identify the Traitors\, and why are humans so poor at spotting lies? Drawing on insights from our Psychology of the Traitors podcast\, we’ll explore deception\, trust\, groupthink and social influence. Along the way\, you’ll analyse real moments from the show and test whether you can spot the traitor.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/can-you-spot-the-traitor-the-psychology-behind-the-traitors/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T173000
DTSTAMP:20260603T122944Z
CREATED:20260528T095839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T122944Z
UID:10000754-1783008000-1783013400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Monika Haeger - Inside Stasi: The Art of Translation and Adaptation for the Stage
DESCRIPTION:This event will be led by Dr Stef Kerrigan and Dr Richard Millington and will include an audience Q&A. \nThis presentation is the first public sharing of an ongoing collaborative project between staff and students at the University of Chester whilst working with Nicole Heinrich’s 2024 play\, Monika Haeger – Inside Stasi. Heinrich’s original work is based on the life of Stasi agent Monika Haeger and is a dramatic account of her activities within the German Democratic Republic in the 1970s and 1980s. Featuring excerpts of performance\, come and join us as we share our journey of translation\, collaboration and performance. We consider the creative processes of adaptation and storytelling for the contemporary stage whilst addressing timely issues of extremism\, unreliable narrators\, absolutist ideologies and the state.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/inside-stasi-the-art-of-translation-and-adaptation-for-the-stage/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Performance,Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T170000
DTSTAMP:20260518T075828Z
CREATED:20260518T080029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T075828Z
UID:10000660-1783008000-1783011600@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Hidden Histories Beneath Our Feet: How Digital Tools Reveal Local Stories
DESCRIPTION:Discover how digital tools such as drones\, 3D scanning\, mapping\, and creative storytelling are helping uncover hidden histories in our towns and landscapes. Through visual examples from local heritage sites\, including castles and community spaces\, this session explores how technology can reconnect people with the stories beneath their feet\, and inspire new ways of seeing familiar places. \nhttps://www.avimmerse.com/ \nhttps://warringtoncastle.co.uk/
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/hidden-histories-beneath-our-feet-how-digital-tools-reveal-local-stories/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/50.-Hidden-Histories-Beneath-our-feet.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T153000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T163000
DTSTAMP:20260515T140945Z
CREATED:20260107T070004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T140945Z
UID:10000646-1783006200-1783009800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:What Am I Looking At? Following Chester’s Buildings Through Time
DESCRIPTION:Chester is filled with beautiful and distinctive buildings\, but in a place where people have lived for more than two thousand years\,  things are rarely as they seem. Combining an introduction to European architectural styles with a more detailed look at some of Chester’s most interesting architecture\, this illustrated talk will explore the ways in which buildings survive and change through the centuries\, and what they can tell us about their makers.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/what-am-i-looking-at-understanding-chesters-rich-architectural-history/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Chantal-Bradburn-FoIArchitectureImage26.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T153000
DTSTAMP:20260513T151422Z
CREATED:20260107T070042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151422Z
UID:10000645-1783002600-1783006200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Walking and Cycling to a Better Future?
DESCRIPTION:Cycling is well known as an essential part of sustainable transport planning. This public lecture from Peter Cox\, Emeritus Professor at the University of Chester and internationally acclaimed writer on cycling and sustainable travel\, will explore the implications of taking walking and cycling as the starting point of thinking about movement; not just including them in travel plans.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/walking-and-cycling-to-a-better-future/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Peter-Cox-9781908258113.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T153000
DTSTAMP:20260513T151402Z
CREATED:20260107T070017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151402Z
UID:10000647-1783002600-1783006200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:On Holy Ground: Experiencing Life in Relationships
DESCRIPTION:This lecture explores the idea that life is all about relationships\, and that the experiences that we have with ‘others’ are holy ground where we can develop in dialogue with those we are in relationship. This presentation will draw on James’ experiences in education and inter-faith to fully explore what it means to live life in relationship. It will contrast an approach to life that Martin Buber describes as ‘I-It’: where everything and everyone are things to be used. The argument of this lecture is that we should adopt an ‘I-Thou’ approach to life where we view others in a relationship of love.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/on-holy-ground-experiencing-life-in-relationships/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/81U71gAgaBL._SL1500_.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T150000
DTSTAMP:20260513T151246Z
CREATED:20260518T080054Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151246Z
UID:10000658-1783000800-1783004400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Why write a biography of Alfred Mond? The Many Lives of Chester's Forgotten MP
DESCRIPTION:Who today knows of Alfred Mond? Once one of the world’s greatest tycoons\, Mond has largely vanished from British public memory. Yet\, elsewhere in the world the picture is very different. In Israel\, there are streets\, statues and even a museum in honour of the former Chester MP. As Tim Grady will discuss\, Mond lived many different lives: politician\, industrialist\, leading Zionist and architect of the Imperial War Museum. It’s 90 years since the last biography. Is the time ripe for a follow up?
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/why-write-a-biography-of-alfred-mond-the-many-lives-of-chesters-forgotten-mp/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/78.-Why-write-a-biography-of-Alfred-Mond.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T150000
DTSTAMP:20260513T150934Z
CREATED:20260518T080042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T150934Z
UID:10000723-1783000800-1783004400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Scriveners\, Priests\, Feasts...and Huge Quantities of Objects - Medieval and Later Finds from Chester Amphitheatre
DESCRIPTION:Linked to the Grosvenor Museum’s exhibition ‘Chester Amphitheatre – an 8000 year story’\, join the museum’s Archaeological Officer for a talk on medieval and later finds from the 2004-6 excavations at the Amphitheatre. The site of Chester Amphitheatre is well known for its Roman gladiators but who was using the site when the combats had ceased? This talk looks at some of the great variety of objects found in the excavations and the people who might have used them.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/scriveners-priests-feasts-and-huge-quantities-of-objects-medieval-and-later-finds-from-chester-amphitheatre/
LOCATION:Grosvenor Museum\, Chester\, 27 Grosvenor Street\, Chester\, CH1 2DD\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T150000
DTSTAMP:20260513T151335Z
CREATED:20260107T070051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151335Z
UID:10000643-1783000800-1783004400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The Early Neston Collieries: Seven Reasons Why They Were Remarkable
DESCRIPTION:The collieries at Neston on the Wirral were worked for hundreds of years but few people know much about them. The early mines were\, however\, remarkable for their industrial\, social and commercial innovation. Among other things\, we will hear about underground canals\, blatant acts of sabotage and workers’  healthcare. Anthony has studied and written about the mines for years and will show why he believes they were where the Industrial Revolution started in west Cheshire. 
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/the-early-neston-collieries-seven-reasons-why-they-were-remarkable/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0025.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T150000
DTSTAMP:20260515T140912Z
CREATED:20260107T070022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T140912Z
UID:10000651-1783000800-1783004400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:How old am I?  Trying to date buildings in our rural and urban landscapes
DESCRIPTION:Our villages\, towns and cities are full of buildings which date from many different periods. Many have a story to tell. This introductory talk will look at the buildings around us (both rural and urban) and offer some hints and pointers to dating houses\, churches and civic buildings. Become aware of the distinctive features\, and possible red herrings\, which help when trying to date a building from visual clues. You too can become a building detective!
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/how-old-am-i-trying-to-date-buildings-in-our-rural-and-urban-landscapes/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0032.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T140000
DTSTAMP:20260513T151226Z
CREATED:20260518T080050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151226Z
UID:10000664-1782997200-1783000800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Lasting Powers of Attorney: what are they\, and how can our students help you complete them?
DESCRIPTION:Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are hugely important documents that enable you to nominate trusted people to make decisions about your health\, welfare\, property and finances in the event you lose mental capacity. Join this event to hear about how LPAs work\, the risks of not having one\, and how our students at the University of Chester Law School can help you complete your LPAs free of charge.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/lasting-powers-of-attorney-what-are-they-and-how-can-our-students-help-you-complete-them/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T140000
DTSTAMP:20260622T090912Z
CREATED:20260518T080026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260622T090912Z
UID:10000721-1782997200-1783000800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:A Practitioner Panel on Trauma Informed Approaches to Support Expectant Families
DESCRIPTION:Led by practitioners from Warrington Borough Council\, this event convenes a panel of practitioners from Tameside Council and CWaC to discuss trauma-informed and relationship-based practice through the RESTORE programme. RESTORE is a Warrington-based five-year voluntary initiative supporting expectant families who have experienced\, or are at risk of\, having children removed from their care. The discussion will be relevant to those working in family and parenting support roles interested in trauma-informed practice. \nThe panel will be chaired by Neuza Morais\, University of Chester and will bring together speakers from different organisations: \nLisa Atkinson\, Warrington Borough Council\nCarlie Mills\, Tameside Council\nJane Bradley\, Cheshire West and Chester Council\nClare Holmes\, Sarah Collins and Emma Arya-Manesh\, School of Education\, University of Chester
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/a-practitioner-panel-on-trauma-informed-approaches-to-support-expectant-families/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Discussion Panel
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/61.-Practitioner-Panel-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T133000
DTSTAMP:20260513T151138Z
CREATED:20260518T080040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T151138Z
UID:10000663-1782995400-1782999000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Sustainable (workplace) flexibility and how to achieve it
DESCRIPTION:This interactive session explores what sustainable workplace flexibility looks like and how it can be achieved in practice. A short mini lecture introduces key tensions in research and practice\, highlighting why current approaches can feel fragmented. Participants will then take part in a workshop style group discussion\, examining key stakeholders\, potential solutions\, and what makes workplace flexibility genuinely sustainable.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/sustainable-workplace-flexibility-and-how-to-achieve-it/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T133000
DTSTAMP:20260515T140843Z
CREATED:20260518T080028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T140843Z
UID:10000657-1782995400-1782999000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The Micro World and the Wood Wide Web
DESCRIPTION:When thinking of the natural world\, everyone pictures badgers\, foxes\, wildflowers or maybe tall trees in a green woodland. However\, none of this world would exist without the invisible micro world that ties the environment together. Dive into this world and learn how truly connected our precious biosphere truly is.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/the-micro-world-and-the-wood-wide-web/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/96.-The-Microworld-and-the-Wood-Wide-Web.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T133000
DTSTAMP:20260629T101423Z
CREATED:20260107T070040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T101423Z
UID:10000644-1782995400-1782999000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Finding the Battle of Brunanburh: Was This Definitive Battle of 937 Located at Bromborough in the Wirral?
DESCRIPTION:This illustrated talk by the authors of a new book will outline the case for Bromborough as the location of the ‘great war’\, as it was known\, of 937. King Athelstan of Wessex defeated a coalition of Irish\, Norse\, Scots and Cumbrians in a massive and deadly conflict. Many places have been suggested as the site of the battle. In this talk\, the evidence from literature\, history\, geography and archaeology will be presented to show that it very likely happened on Wirral.  
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/finding-the-battle-of-brunaburgh-was-this-definitive-battle-of-973-located-at-bromborough-in-the-wirral/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_0027.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T113000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T123000
DTSTAMP:20260513T150824Z
CREATED:20260518T080047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T150824Z
UID:10000662-1782991800-1782995400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Voices\, Evidence and Change: A Conversation about Rough Sleeping
DESCRIPTION:Rough sleeping remains one of the most urgent and visible social challenges facing our communities today. Voices\, Evidence and Change brings together academics\, community partners\, practitioners and people with lived experience\, to explore how research and collaboration can contribute to meaningful responses to rough sleeping. \nThis public research event creates a shared space for dialogue between the University of Chester and the local community. Too often\, discussions about rough sleeping happen without the direct involvement of those most affected. This event seeks to challenge that pattern by centring lived experience and critically considering how we can amplify diverse voices that are too often overlooked in policy and practice discussions. By bringing together different forms of knowledge\, the event aims to foster a more holistic and compassionate understanding of the issue.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/voices-evidence-and-change-a-conversation-about-rough-sleeping/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Discussion Panel
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T170000
DTSTAMP:20260612T151652Z
CREATED:20260518T080004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260612T151652Z
UID:10000746-1782990000-1783011600@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Let’s Talk History
DESCRIPTION:Lace up your plimsoles and sprint through the last century of Cheshire’s sporting past with Let’s Talk\, History. Using historic sound recordings from Cheshire Archives’ collections\, this free audio trail tells 100 years of stories about the county’s competitive\, recreational and\, at times\, amusing sports. From the football field to the polo field. George Best and his team cheating their way to victory against Chester FC to street-side boxing matches to win £5. Follow the trail map and scan the free QR code on the Let’s Talk\, History posters at each location to hear the stories of our sporting stars from yesteryear. The ball’s in your court! \nPick up your trail map from the info point in Chester Town Hall to get started!
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/talking-tours-lets-talk-history/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Walk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ZCR_637_26-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T140000
DTSTAMP:20260522T144032Z
CREATED:20260518T080040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T144032Z
UID:10000698-1782990000-1783000800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:University of Chester Riverside Museum object handling
DESCRIPTION:See objects from the Riverside Museum and meet its knowledgeable volunteers to find about more about this collection of curiosities from the worlds of medicine\, nursing\, midwifery and social work.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/university-of-chester-riverside-museum-object-handling/
LOCATION:Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ
CATEGORIES:Staffed Table / Event / Exhibit
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/85.-University-of-Chester-Riverside-Museum.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T123000
DTSTAMP:20260513T131829Z
CREATED:20260518T080040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T131829Z
UID:10000694-1782990000-1782995400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Sustainability Walk - Economy
DESCRIPTION:This led walk\, which is also “wheels accessible”\, is one of four themed routes staged as part of the 2026 “Festival of ideas” that uses examples from the existing cityscape to demonstrate various aspects of the overall theme of Sustainability. This walk focuses on the Sustainability dimension of ‘Economy’ visiting various sites in and around Chester City Centre to illustrate live examples of what are examples of those elements of a viable and sustainable local economy\, both economically and environmentally
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/sustainability-walk-economy/
LOCATION:Outside Chester Town Hall\, 33 Northgate Street Chester\, Chester\, CH1 2HQ\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Walk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/000.-Generic.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR