From the mid-fifteenth century the River Thames has been an important and colourful part of the national story. The lecture is a riverscape of this history from the Tudor age to the present day. It has been the inspiration for artists and architects, including, Canaletto, Doré, Kent, Turner and Wren; and the stage for royal ritual, cheerful and solemn river pageants, palaces and pleasure gardens and the ceremonial barges of the City of London Livery Companies and the Crown – a legacy today invested in Gloriana The Queen’s Row Barge

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PETER WARWICK

An author, historian, high-profile event organiser and a recognised authority on Admiral Lord Nelson. Specialises in naval, maritime and polar history. Chairs The 1805 Club, which conserves the monuments of the Georgian sailing navy; The New Waterloo Dispatch (Waterloo 200), the official body that arranged the bicentenary commemorations for Waterloo in 2015 and is now, through cross-culture, celebrating the Idea that is Europe; and Thames Alive which is re-introducing pageantry to the River Thames. In 2012 arranged the manpowered squadron of Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant and the Thames Olympic Torch Relay. A founder and Trustee of Gloriana The Queen’s Row Barge. As vice-chairman of the Official Nelson Commemorations Committee played a key role in the planning of The Trafalgar Festival and Sea Britain 2005. Lectures widely in the UK at schools, universities and defence establishments, overseas, and on sea voyages