Joan Concannon

York Festival of Ideas

Joan Concannon, Chief Reputation & Stakeholder Relations Officer at the University of York is the co-founding Director of York Festival of Ideas since its inception in 2011. 

The York Festival of Ideas is one of the largest cultural collaborations in York and has provided a programme of predominantly free events to thousands of people of all ages from the city and further afield. She will present highlights of this year’s programme theme ‘Place and Space’ and discuss why the University of York leads such a large scale collaborative endeavour and how to get involved. 

Plant Stall

Newton on Ouse Village Green &

Parish Hall

Further details to follow but in the meantime...

Please think of us if you are dividing or disposing of surplus plants and deliver, labelled if possible, to Marion Blacker, White House Farm, Cherry Tree Avenue

Mary Murray

When the Queen Came to Lunch

In 2005, Royal Ascot Racecourse was scheduled to be closed and refurbished, and The Queen chose York Racecourse as the ideal alternative for Royal Ascot Week to take place instead.  Nearby, Bishopthorpe Palace, home to the Archbishops of York, was identified as the perfect place for Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh to come every day for a week and host drinks and lunch for members of their family and personal guests. This is the story of how that came about.

The talk will be given by Mary Murray, who was at that time Private Secretary to the Archbishop of York and the Executive Co-ordinator of all that took place, together with Her Majesty’s Royal Household.

Neil Brown, Architect 

Featuring revitalised York

There have been many exciting residential and commercial developments undertaken by Neil’s company.  We will hear about some of those in and around York where Neil and his team operate at the heart of the City which will include, in particular, sites revitalised and reenvisioned, including Coney Street riverside plans that we heard briefly about from Andrew Morrison last year with his engaging talk on York Central.  

There is also a really good wooden physical model of York, that will be available to look at which includes some projects undertaken.

Jacqui Ritchie

Planning for Later Life

As you know we are all getting slightly older and our needs, wants and wishes are changing.  Some of our friends are moving nearer their families because of care needs, and so how do we know what’s right for us? Sheila Ritchie’s eldest daughter, Jacqui is a nurse with over 30 years’ experience and has been operating care homes for a large provider across the UK for the past 8 years with a recent move to a family owned care home group based in the north of England.

Jacqui will talk to us about the difficult decisions that some of us might face when choosing care for ourselves and/or our loved ones - how do we know it’s time, what options are available – care at home or moving into a care home.  How do we know if a care home is the right fit for us and where do we go to gather intelligence and what questions we should ask so that we can make an informed decision.  

She will explain to us why it’s important to have a Power of Attorney, not just for our finances but also for our health and well-being.   She will also indicate how we could pay for such services.  Perhaps not a stage to look forward to, but nevertheless a most important stage we must face.

David Kenworthy

Drugs in Sport

‘Doping in sport - an acceptable facet of modern events, to win at any cost or something that should be banned at any cost?’ 

David was the first chair of UK Anti-Doping and held that position for eight years, a period which covered the London Olympics and Sochi Winter Olympics.

Roger Browne

The Life and Music of Irving Berlin

(Venue TBC)

Roger Browne is a professional raconteur, writer, director and jazz pianist, appearing in jazz clubs and jazz festivals in the UK, throughout Europe and North America and Canada, and has provided piano accompaniment for many national and international legends such as Stephane Grappelli, Marion Montgomery, Wild Bill Davison, Scott Hamilton, Ray Nance, Bud Freeman, Humphrey Lyttleton, George Melly, George Chisholm, and many more.

Roger is President of Stockport Operatic Society and pianist with, and leader of, internationally renowned, Manchester Jazz.

His Presentation "The Life and Music of Irving Berlin" is an incredible tale of Rags to Riches. At six years old, as Israel Beilin, Young Irving was taken from Russia to escape persecution of Jewish families in Europe.  He went on to write “God Bless America”, “White Christmas” and “Easter Parade”. Berlin wrote hundreds of huge hits, representing American Popular Music.

Roger's presentation will include live performances, on piano, of Berlin's greatest hits.