03 March 2010
University to host lectures on future of the UK
The University of Sheffield is hosting a prestigious series of public lectures on the future of the UK, with personal perspectives from politicians and experts on each of the four regions of the country.
The Cambrian Society lecture series, `The Future of the United Kingdom – a Personal Perspective´ are being held to mark the centenary of the Sheffield and District Cambrian Society.
The Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, formerly First Minister of the Assembly for Wales, will be giving the first lecture at Firth Hall on Wednesday 10 March 2010.
Rhodri Morgan served as First Minister from April 2000 to December 2009, having been first elected to the Welsh Assembly in 1999. He previously served as Labour MP for Cardiff West between 1987 and 2001, during which time he held a number of positions including Shadow Environment Spokesman and Chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee on Public Administration.
Prominent figures from Scotland, Northern Ireland and England will be speaking in subsequent lectures. The Rt Hon George Reid, Lord High Commissioner of Scotland and formerly an MP, MSP and Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, will be speaking on Wednesday 5 May 2010.
Baron Paul Bew of Donegore, Professor of Irish Politics at Queen´s University, Belfast and author of a number of books on Northern Irish politics, will be giving the third lecture on Wednesday 12 May. Professor Paul Bew also acted as an historical advisor to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry and later an advisor to David Trimble
In the last lecture of the series, the Rt Hon David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside and former Home Secretary, will be speaking on Wednesday 27 October 2010.
The Sheffield and District Cambrian Society was founded in 1910, and aims to provide facilities to help promote the language, culture, literature and art of Wales. They hold a St. David´s Day celebration every year, and this year are organising this series of lectures for their centenary.
Menna Yarwood, President of the Society, said: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome Rhodri Morgan to Sheffield, our adopted home from home, in this, our Society's centenary year.
We feel particularly privileged that Rhodri so readily accepted our invitation to give this Inaugural Lecture at a time of such national change and uncertainty. There is no one in the Principality with a wider perspective on the future of the United Kingdom and the position of Wales within it."
Professor Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield and patron of the Society, said: "The University of Sheffield is proud to be hosting this series of prestigious lectures to mark one hundred years of the Sheffield and District Cambrian Society.
Each of the speakers are highly respected in their fields and will offer an unrivalled insight into the future of our country from four different regions. In what promises to be an exciting year for politics, we are delighted to welcome all four speakers to the University of Sheffield to give their perspectives."
Notes for Editors: Tickets are free and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Tickets for each talk will be available from the following dates:
Lecture 1 – Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM
Available now
Lecture 2 – Rt Hon George Reid
Available from Wednesday April 14 2010
Lecture 3 – Baron Bew of Donegore
Available from Wednesday April 21 2010
Lecture 4 – David Blunkett
Details announced closer to date.
Tickets can be ordered from http://www.shef.ac.uk/whatson/universitylectures/cambriansociety.html , and will be sent out 7-10 days prior to the lecture.
There will be an optional drinks reception after each lecture, with a charge of £3 per head. Tickets for the reception will be issued separately. Cheques should be sent to arrive at least 10 days in advance of the event, made payable to 'The University of Sheffield' and addressed to Gail Street, Events Team, The University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN.
For further information please contact: Kyle Christie, Media Relations Assistant, on 0114 2229852 or at K.Christie@sheffield.ac.uk
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