What an unexpected pleasure it was to spend last night listening to Professor Sir David Cannadine’s lecture, Sixty years a Queen: The Diamond Jubilee in historical perspective.

Judging by the packed house at The Wills Memorial Building, most of the audience knew something I didn’t. Sir David is not only a leading authority on royalty (all of it, not just the British version) but an enthralling speaker and hugely funny.

After thinking my evening was going to be full of dusty academic nonsense, it turned out to be a cracker. I should have dropped my skeptic attitude earlier.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol Enjoying the mini fish and chips on offer.

There’s lots of amazing stuff happening in Bristol for the Jubilee and (unless you’re going to live for another 60 years) we may not get another opportunity like this  to learn something / have a good knees up / get crazy patriotic. So, dive in. The water’s lovely.

If you were unable to attend, the lecture is now available to download.