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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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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T120000
DTSTAMP:20260418T095424
CREATED:20260107T070056Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T131952Z
UID:10000642-1782990000-1782993600@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Cheshire as a Palatinate
DESCRIPTION:As Cheshire proceeds with plans for devolution as part of a Mayoral Combined Authority\, this talk examines the county’s history of semi-independence from central government. Beeston castle (pictured)\,visible across Cheshire\, was an assertion of the self-governing authority of the medieval earls of Chester\, in relation to both England and Wales. The county’s relative autonomy continued after the earldom passed to the crown under Henry III but was curtailed in the sixteenth century and extinguished in 1830\, only now to be revived in a modern context.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/chester-as-a-palatinate/
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/2025/01/Beeston-castle-for-FoIdeas-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T133000
DTSTAMP:20260418T095424
CREATED:20260107T070040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T132023Z
UID:10000644-1782995400-1782999000@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Finding the Battle of Brunanburh: Was This Definitive Battle of 973 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:20260702T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T150000
DTSTAMP:20260418T095424
CREATED:20260107T070051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T132126Z
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:20260702T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T153000
DTSTAMP:20260418T095424
CREATED:20260107T070017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T132152Z
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:20260702T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T153000
DTSTAMP:20260418T095424
CREATED:20260107T070042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T132221Z
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:20260704T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260704T150000
DTSTAMP:20260418T095424
CREATED:20260107T070044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T132631Z
UID:10000636-1783173600-1783177200@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Mya-Rose Craig: In Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr Mya-Rose Craig\, a remarkable environmentalist whose journey began as a young birdwatcher and led to the founding of Black2Nature – a movement championing ethnic diversity in nature conservation and the environment. Mya-Rose will share how focus\, motivation\, and commitment can turn passion into meaningful action. Don’t miss this chance for an optimistic look at how we can better engage young people\, particularly\, in care for nature. \nReflecting the University of Chester’s commitment to dialogue and partnership with young people to address social and environmental issues\, Mya-Rose will be in conversation with Dr Rebecca Collins. Rebecca is the Director of the University’s Sustainability and Environment Research and Knowledge Exchange Institute (SERKEI)\, which brings together over 150 researchers with expertise relevant to sustainability and the future of our environments.  She also leads the university’s work to embed learning for sustainability across undergraduate curricula.  She is particularly passionate about how we can best engage young people in how to care for nature\, in the face of so much anxiety about the future. \n 
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/7304/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:In Conversation Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260704T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260704T170000
DTSTAMP:20260418T095424
CREATED:20260121T182350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T132652Z
UID:10000652-1783180800-1783184400@festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk
SUMMARY:Dame Jenny Harries: In Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Join Dame Jenny Harries for an in-conversation event exploring a life in public service. From frontline medicine to national leadership\, Jenny will reflect on pivotal moments and challenges in her career\, offering candid insights into resilience\, decision-making\, and purpose across an extraordinary career dedicated to public health and leadership.\n\n\nJenny will be in conversation with Dr Kirstie Simpson\, acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science\, Business and Enterprise at the University of Chester.  A champion of women’s leadership\, Kirstie is committed to inspiring inclusive leadership at all levels of the organisations with which she works\, and was selected as one of the North West Business Leadership Team’s ‘Rising Stars’ – a network of female business leaders.
URL:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/dame-jenny-harries-in-conversation/
LOCATION:Chester Picturehouse\, Unit 10 Hunter Street\, Chester\, CH1 2AR\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:In Conversation Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jenny-Harries-Chancellor-7.jpg
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