Magnificent surroundings for Guildford's Day at The Guildford Book Festival

The Arts Society Guildford recently hosted a spectacular day at the Guildhall in Guildford showcasing two contrasting memorable talks as part of their Special Interest Day at Guildford Book Festival 2017.

Guests were treated to Dr. Annie Gray romping through Queen Victoria’s culinary desires and peculiarities.  The result was demonstrated by the incredible before and after pictures of the size of her dresses.  Annie’s enthusiasm and subject  knowledge captured the room as descriptions of the food and the volume consumed took everyone by surprise.

Coffee and cake at the interval revived guests and members as the second part of the talk outlined how Victoria’s fondness for food encouraged chefs to produce ever more exotic concoctions for her table. No wonder her girth increased toward the end of her reign!

The afternoon brought more delights as Dr. Christopher de Hamel, a foremost authority on medieval manuscripts, winner of the Duff Cooper Prize and the Wolfson Prize for History, showed many beautiful illuminated images. Christopher told us how medieval manuscripts and Books of Hours, objects of supreme luxury and symbols of national identity, could through their stories, give us a new perspective on our history, art and culture.

Wonderful day – food and a good book – perfect. Come and join us next time!