Lecture Schedule:
21st September 2006: Trevor Pidgeon "Flers and the First Use of the Tank"
90 years ago during the Battle of The Somme, tanks were used in combat for the first time. On 15th September 1916, the British army sent the Mark I tank into action against German trenches at Flers. Trevor Pidgeon, a former soldier and world expert on this historic moment, draws on the history he collated for his book The Tanks at Flers to mark the 90th anniversary of Tanks on The Somme. There will also be a chance to view Tanks On The Somme, a Special Exhibition put together to commemorate the occasion.
19th October 2006: Purbeck Film Festival "Saving Private Ryan"
There can be few more atmospheric places to view Steven Spielberg’s 1998 war classic Saving Private Ryan than here at The Tank Museum. The Purbeck Film festival is the longest running rural film festival in the UK, providing a wide selection of thematically chosen films at appropriate venues. Amongst our towering collection of armour, the film will be viewed and then analysed to allow the audience to better understand the techniques used in film making.
16th November 2006: John Schofield "Researching War Art"
Warfare leaves its mark in many ways, some more striking than others. War art, often in the form of informal graffiti or murals, gives an intriguing insight into the minds of the soldiers, sailors and airmen that created it. John Schofield, Head of English Heritage Military Programmes, has been researching redundant military sites across Europe and recording the war art found within them. He will be discussing his findings, showing examples, and looking deeper into the meaning of this unconventional art form.
7th December 2006: Minette Walters "Crime Pays!"
Minette Walters is one of the great British crime writers of our time; with The Ice House and The Sculptress among her many bestsellers. Based in Dorset, the award-winning 'queen of the psychological thriller' will talk about her life as a writer and how she gains her inspiration, in an entertaining evening with this passionate, open-minded, and wickedly funny speaker.
18th January 2007: Gordon Corrigan "Military Myths of the Two World Wars"
In this lecture author, television presenter and retired army officer Gordon Corrigan will overturn everything you know about Britain’s part in the two world wars. With dry wit and caustic narrative he challenges many of the traditional views long held about the British army; its leadership, tactics and performance. His published titles: Mud, Blood and Poppycock and Blood Sweat and Arrogance; The Myths of Churchill’s War have provided radical re-interpretation and fascinating reading for anyone interested in these two massive subjects
22nd February 2007: Julian Fellowes "An Evening with Julian Fellowes"
Julian Fellowes, the Dorset based actor, producer, writer and director, is well known for his Oscar winning screenplay Gosford Park and his role as Lord Kilwillie in BBC 1’s Monarch of The Glen. In over 20 years as an actor, Fellowes has assumed numerous roles on the small and big screen, working alongside John Thaw, Pierce Brosnan, Anthony Hopkins and Sean Bean. In An Evening with Julian Fellowes, the audience can expect humorous anecdotes and insightful observations from our local Hollywood celebrity!
29th March 2007: Peter Collins & Carole Cuneo "Life and work of Terence Cuneo CVO OBE RGI"
The late Terence Cuneo was an artist famous for his scenes of railways, horses and military action. He was the official artist for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and was well liked by the public. A statue of Cuneo now stands in the main concourse of Waterloo train station. In this launch event for a special Terence Cuneo exhibition, Peter Collins (Chairman of the Cuneo Society) and Cuneo’s daughter Carole will talk about the artist, his work and his legacy.

Details of forthcoming events at The Tank Museum (including our lecture programme) are posted on the website Events Pages