Sir Max Hastings to turn ‘Catastrophe’ into triumph for wildlife research

This October the best-selling historian and journalist Sir Max Hastings is to give a talk on the outbreak of the First World War, with the proceeds going to the UK's leading wildlife research charity, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).

Sir Max will be talking in this centenary year under the title: ‘How Europe Went to War in 1914’. His new book Catastrophe, about the continent’s descent into disaster, has already sold almost 200,000 copies in Britain alone, and has been widely applauded as the pre-eminent recent narrative of the outbreak of war. He will also be signing copies of the book for the benefit of the Trust.

The talk will be held at the Officers’ Mess, Vimy Barracks, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire on Thursday 9th October.

Sir Max is not only a renowned and prolific author - with over two dozen titles to his name, mostly specialising in historic and global conflicts - he has also led an extraordinary career as a journalist, and was the first reporter into the liberated Port Stanley in 1982. He is a former editor of The Daily Telegraph and is a frequent commentator for The Mail on Sunday, The Sunday Times and The Guardian, as well as a familiar face from television documentaries. Sir Max has been a prominent member and supporter of the GWCT for over thirty years. The proceeds for the talk will go towards funding the vital and varied research work of the GWCT, whose recent projects have included the popular woodcockwatch.com website, which tracks the migration of the elusive woodcock through satellite tagging.

The event is kindly sponsored by wealth managers Brewin Dolphin. Luke Pearce, assistant director of Brewin Dolphin said, “We’re delighted to sponsor the talk and to lend our support to the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. The work the charity does is invaluable and we’re pleased to help with their fundraising. We hope that everyone enjoys the event.”

With tickets priced at £35 per head, the talk is certain to be a fascinating insight into a world-shaking moment in history from one of the acknowledged experts of the period. The evening will begin with drinks at 6.30pm, with the talk starting at 7.30pm prompt. For further information please contact Sophie Dingwall on 07925 597676 or by email at sdingwall@gwct.org.uk.

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Photocaption: Sir Max Hastings, the renowned and best-selling historian, is also a long-term supporter of the GWCT and its valuable scientific research.