What makes an ordinary person step up and change history?

In 1938, a 29-year-old stockbroker gave up his winter holiday to organise the rescue of 669

children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. That man was Sir Nicholas Winton.

Hear from his son, Old Abingdonian Nick Winton, as he shares the remarkable true story of his father’s lifesaving efforts — an act of courage that shaped generations. Through personal insights, rare photographs, and archive footage, including the unforgettable TV moment when Sir Nicholas met some of those he saved, this talk brings history to life.

The Kindertransports from Prague lasted less than nine months, yet their impact endures. For Sir Nicholas, it was just one chapter in a long and eventful life, recently portrayed on screen by Sir Anthony Hopkins in One Life. Living independently until the age of 106, he remained in touch with several of the children he rescued — many of whom went on to make extraordinary contributions in the arts, sciences, politics, and beyond.

Nick Winton offers a unique, insider’s perspective on this inspiring story of resilience, leadership, and the power of individual action.

‘Touching the Void’ mountaineer, Simon Yates, is a veteran of over eighty expeditions to high/remote mountains around the globe and shows no signs of slowing down. This is his story of the last decade, of new adventures and climbs in the far north and south, along with summits in South America, Central Asia and the Himalaya.

In 2023, Simon travelled with legendary British mountaineer Mick Fowler to attempt the un-climbed north face of Patkhor in Tajikistan, but contracted food poisoning from their freeze-dried food on just the second day. After some debate, they continued, but this was just the beginning of a series of events that would see them run out of food, retreat below the summit in a storm and Simon taking a bone-breaking 100m fall during the descent. After two days of lying on the glacier waiting for a helicopter, rescuers finally arrived but were unable to carry Simon down. Somehow, he would need to summon the energy for the painful three day walk to safety.

A survival classic, with the added twists of a fast-paced thriller.