Evelyn Waugh Lecture & Dinner

This occasion was set up in 2008 as a means of thanking all members of the Lancing Foundation and the 1848 Society for their loyalty and gSir%20David%20Hare_2.jpgenerosity to the College. Sir David Hare was the guest speaker in the augural year; he spoke movingly about his schooldays at Lancing and the inspiration he received from a number of masters which ultimately led to his successful career today.  David’s lecture is available to read here.

Alexander%20Waugh.jpgAlexander Waugh, grandson of Evelyn Waugh, spoke in the second year about both his grandfather’s time at Lancing and his great works. Alexander dispelled many of the myths surrounding his grandfather’s schooldays and consequent relationship with Lancing. He opened the lecture with the news that he had just signed a contract with Oxford University Press to re-publish all forty-seven works of his grandfather. Alexander will be the editor of the project and expects it to take sixteen years to complete.
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The 2011 Lecture was held on 21 March to coincide with the celebrations to mark the Bicentenary of our founder’s birthday. Christopher Hampton CBE, OL, was the guest speaker; Christopher is a playwright, screen writer and film director. He is best known for his play based on the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses and the film version Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and also more recently for writing the nominated screenplay for the film adaptation of Ian McEwan's Atonement. His eagerly anticipated film ‘A Dangerous Method’, for which he wrote the screenplay, basing it on his own play ‘The Talking Cure’, is about the turbulent relationship between Carl Jung and his mentor Sigmund Freud and will be released later this year. Christopher spoke about the similarities between his life and that of Evelyn Waugh, and about how apparently disastrous events can have a very positive and happy outcome.

Tom%20Waugh.jpgAt drinks held before the 2011 Foundation Dinner, in the Sanderson Room, a bronze bust of Evelyn Waugh was unveiled by its creator, Evelyn Waugh's grandson Tom Waugh. This will remain in the Sanderson Room which is the old library, where Waugh spent a great deal of his time as librarianRichard%20Griffiths.jpg.

At the 2012 Lecture the Reverend Professor Richard Griffiths (Teme 1948 - 1953) gave a fascinating talk on Waugh's Lancing diaries and the lessons that can be learned from them in relation to his other written works. It inspired many members of the audience to re-read the most well-known novels. A transcript of the lecture is available here.

Derek%20and%20Anthony.jpgThe 2013 lecture was a very special occasion; Derek Granger, producer of the iconic serialisation of Waugh’s most successful novel, Brideshead Revisited, described the filming of the book. He was introduced by Anthony Andrews, the actor who made his name as Sebastian Flyte in the series.Sir%20Peter%20Bazalgette.jpg

Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chair of Arts Council England and President of the Royal Television Society, was the guest speaker in 2014. His entertaining and informative talk delighted the audience of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests and led to a lively question and answer session.

Charles%20Moore%20in%20Great%20School.jpgThe College welcomed Charles Moore in 2015. Mr Moore is the former editor of the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and the Spectator, and latterly Margaret Thatcher’s official biographer. In a fascinating talk Mr Moore talked about the challenges of writing a biography of the most iconic political leader since Churchill.

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Selina Hastings, journalist, author and biographer of Evelyn Waugh was the guest speaker at the 2016 Lecture. Selina’s subject for her talk was the literary and epistolary relationship between Waugh and his lifetime friend, Nancy Mitford. Over 150 guest from the Lancing family attended the special occasion, 100 years on from when Waugh first came to Lancing and 50 years since his death on Easter Day in 1966.

Sir%20Alan%20Moses.jpgThe 2017 Lecture was given by Sir Alan Moses, Chairman of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and a former Lord Justice of Appeal. Sir Alan joked at the beginning of his talk that it should be all too obvious that he would focus on Waugh’s Scoop. Published in 1938, it was his personal revenge on journalists, concealing his envy of their success and his own failure when sent to Abyssinia by the Daily Mail. Sir Alan’s lecture can be read in full here.

Our speaker on 27 November 2018 was Sir Tim Rice (Second's 1958-1962) and on 25 April 2019 we welcomed the author William Boyd.