Royston Pike Lecture Series returns this spring

The Royston Pike Lecture Series is releasing a new programme of talks at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre from April to June 2026. 

The three evening lectures will explore history, heritage and social change. Here is what’s on: 

Wednesday 8 April 

‘Liberté: the life of WWII heroine Noor Inayat Khan’ by Shrabani Basu, best-selling author and historian, author of ‘Spy Princess’. 
The talk explores the extraordinary life of Noor Inayat Khan, the first female radio operator sent into occupied France, whose bravery earned her both the George Cross and the Croix de Guerre. Drawing on interviews and secret service records, Shrabani Basu brings Noor’s remarkable wartime story to life. 

Wednesday 13 May

‘Leith Hill Place: an inspirational home from home’ by Catherine McCusker, Visitor Operations and Experiences Manager for Surrey Hills East at the National Trust. 
Catherine explores the creative legacy of Leith Hill Place, from its connections to composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, the Wedgwood family and Charles Darwin, to its more recent improvements as a welcoming space for reflection, creativity and artistic expression set within Surrey’s natural landscape. 

Wednesday 17 June 

‘Queer heritage trailblazers’ by Sue Shave, a queer heritage consultant whose work includes projects with Queer Britain and Brooklands Stories Uncovered. 
Sue highlights 200 years of LGBTQ+ history through influential trailblazers from Surrey and across the UK, including racing driver and fighter pilot Roberta Cowell, diarist Anne Lister and campaigner Mark Ashton. 

All talks take place at Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, KT12 2PF, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4. Find more information and book online.