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X-WR-CALNAME:Festival of Ideas
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Festival of Ideas
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T120000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205251
CREATED:20260518T080004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T145806Z
UID:10000683-1783249200-1783252800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The Cheshire Longbowmen: England's Elite Archers
DESCRIPTION:Join us to explore why the Cheshire longbowmen were regarded as some of the finest archers in history. Discover what made the longbow such a powerful weapon\, how their skill shaped events like the rebellion of Hotspur\, and why this formidable force is no longer part of Chester’s story. Uncover the rise\, impact and legacy of these remarkable medieval warriors.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/the-cheshire-longbowmen-englands-elite-archers/
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/2026/04/25.-The-Cheshire-Longbowmen-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T120000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205251
CREATED:20260518T080010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T153302Z
UID:10000696-1783249200-1783252800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Leprosy and Smallpox: how our Chester ancestors experienced the devastation of these ancient diseases
DESCRIPTION:Leprosy and smallpox are two of the world’s oldest and most stigmatising illnesses. Both conditions bring shame from the fear of contagious disease and disfigured bodies and Chester’s history offers an authentic approach to their identification and treatment. From the founding of St Giles’s Leprosy Hospital in the early twelfth century\, to the formation of the Smallpox Society of Chester in 1778\, find out how the city’s inhabitants managed the challenges of these devastating diseases.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/leprosy-and-smallpox-how-our-chester-ancestors-experienced-the-devastation-of-these-ancient-diseases/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/86.-Leprosy-and-Smallpox.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T133000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205251
CREATED:20260518T080023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T080941Z
UID:10000686-1783254600-1783258200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:‘It turned us yellow all over’: Health Care Provision for Munition Workers During the First World War.
DESCRIPTION:This talk will discuss the background to the enormous expansion of munitions’ factories and production in Britain\, as a result of the ‘Shells Scandal’ of 1915\, including within the local area around Chester. This necessitated the recruitment of thousands of munitions workers (many of whom were women) and they were to be exposed to a myriad of health problems because of their work. These health issues will be discussed and the health care and welfare provision made for munition workers during World War One will be outlined. The contribution that medical and nursing staff made\, in an early forerunner of what is now often referred to as occupational health\, will also be discussed. \nPicture Source: Leeds Library and Information Service.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/it-turned-us-yellow-all-over-health-care-provision-for-munition-workers-during-the-first-world-war/
LOCATION:Storyhouse Garret Theatre\, Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR
CATEGORIES:Public Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/94.-It-turned-us-yellow-all-over-caption-required-see-spreadsheet-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T140000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205251
CREATED:20260518T080054Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T152441Z
UID:10000688-1783256400-1783260000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Lucy Andrew\, author of A Very Vexing Murder
DESCRIPTION:Join Dr Lucy Andrew\, former Senior Literature in English Literature at the University of Chester\, as she introduces her debut novel\, A Very Vexing Murder\, a cosy crime retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma\, and discusses her path to becoming a published author.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/in-conversation-with-lucy-andrew-author-of-a-very-vexing-murder/
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/2026/04/57.-In-conversation-with-Lucy-Andrew.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T133000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T143000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205251
CREATED:20260518T080057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T152522Z
UID:10000690-1783258200-1783261800@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:'How NOT to Flee a War'
DESCRIPTION:How NOT to Flee a War is a first-hand talk by Ukrainian journalist Maria Romanenko\, co-presented with her partner Jez Myers\, telling the story of their attempt to escape Kyiv as Russia launched its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022.\nWhat begins as a surreal morning of explosions and disbelief quickly becomes a frantic and uncertain decision: whether to stay\, where to go\, and how to leave a city rapidly emptying under threat. Built around their real journey out of Ukraine\, the talk uses personal storytelling and images from the road to show what the first days of invasion felt like from the inside.\nRather than a polished narrative of survival\, Maria and Jez describe the experience with blunt honesty and dark humour – the endless traffic\, exhaustion\, panic\, misinformation\, and the reality of borders under pressure. Through Maria’s perspective as a Ukrainian\, and Jez’s as a British partner caught inside the unfolding disaster\, the talk becomes both a gripping personal account and a wider reflection on displacement\, resilience\, and what it means to lose your home overnight. \nBiographies\nMaria Romanenko is a Ukrainian journalist and co-founder of All For Ukraine. Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Hromadske International\, one of Ukraine’s best-known news organisations\, she is the only Ukrainian recipient of the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award. Since relocating to the UK\, Maria has focused on supporting displaced Ukrainians and raising awareness through talks\, including the widely delivered How NOT to Flee a War. She has conducted over 1\,000 mainstream media interviews since arriving in the UK and is a regular commentator across national and international channels.\nJez Myers is a community champion and CEO of All For Ukraine. A recipient of Manchester City Council’s prestigious Pride of Manchester Award\, he brings a dual background in business consultancy and civic engagement. After fleeing Ukraine with Maria\, Jez has advised local and national bodies on supporting displaced Ukrainians\, as well as assisting multiple Ukrainian charities. He is also Chairperson of the Spirit of Manchester Awards\, the largest voluntary sector awards in the North West of England.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/how-not-to-flee-a-war/
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/2026/04/21.-How-NOT-to-flee-a-war.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T150000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205251
CREATED:20260518T080048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T152458Z
UID:10000689-1783260000-1783263600@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:The science of fuelling for endurance sports: what's on the plate?
DESCRIPTION:Ever wondered how athletes fuel their endurance engines? This session will explore how ‘the plate’ of an endurance athlete can influence their performance. We will uncover the science behind nutritional strategies to enhance endurance performance\, discussing key controversies such as the carbohydrate vs. fat debate. The session will be led by Dr Ed Gray\, Lecturer in Applied Sport Physiology. Ed is currently conducting research investigating how different fuelling approaches influence exercise.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/the-science-of-fuelling-for-endurance-sports-whats-on-the-plate/
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/2024/05/32.-The-science-of-fuelling-for-endurance-sports-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T153000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205251
CREATED:20260518T080043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T152542Z
UID:10000714-1783261800-1783265400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Merlin's Isle: Acclaimed poet Malcolm Guite's explores the Christian elements to the myth and why it has been eroded
DESCRIPTION:The Merlin’s Isle epic ballad series is acclaimed poet Malcolm Guite’s masterwork\, a lifetime in the making. Malcolm Guite is the former Chaplain of Girton College\, Cambridge. A performance poet and singer/songwriter\, he lectures widely on poetry and theology in Britain and the US. His latest book blends myth\, theology\, and lyrical mastery. Guite re-enchants the legend of King Arthur for a new generation\, restoring its original power and mystery in this sweeping four-volume series.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/merlins-isle-acclaimed-poet-malcolm-guites-explores-the-christian-elements-to-the-myth-and-why-it-has-been-eroded/
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/2026/04/36.-Merlins-Isle.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260705T160000
DTSTAMP:20260518T205251
CREATED:20260518T080052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T150633Z
UID:10000691-1783263600-1783267200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Interviewing the IRA: Criminological Approaches to Research in Post-Conflict Zones
DESCRIPTION:Discover the untold stories of Strabane\, one of the forgotten frontlines of the Northern Ireland Troubles. This talk explores the lived experiences of those who grew up or took part in the conflict\, showing how their memories\, identities\, and communities have shaped life in a post-conflict society. \n  \nThe talk will engage with themes related to political violence\, conflict\, and lived experiences of the Northern Ireland Troubles. While the session will be handled sensitively and will not include graphic detail\, some audience members may find the topics emotionally challenging
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/interviewing-the-ira-criminological-approaches-to-research-in-post-conflict-zones/
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/2026/04/88.-Interviewing-the-IRA.jpg
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