Theme: Discovery

This event was an incredible day.

Inspiring talks, wonderful entertainment and a Guinness World Record Attempt!

Stay tuned for the next one!

Assembly Hall Theatre
Crescent Road
Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2LU
United Kingdom

Adrian King-Cox

Father and son, son and father. They are growing up together, expanding their music and artistic tastes and learning about each other along the way.

Dame Kelly Holmes

Dame Kelly Holmes won two Gold Medals at Athens Olympics in 2004 for the 800m and 1500m cementing her place in history as the first women ever in Great Britain to win two gold medals at the same games. Having served in the military she was awarded an MBE for her services to the British Army in 1998 and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2005 for her services to sport. In 2008 Kelly founded and is now President of The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, which helps disadvantaged young people in the UK. Kelly opened a her own coffeehouse in her hometown of Hildenborough in December 2014 which is named Café 1809,(pronounced one eight oh nine) after the Olympic race number worn in Athens.

Dana Denis-Smith

Founder of the First 100 Years Project, a ground-breaking history project that is putting women back in their place, by charting the journey of the women working in law since 1919. Celebrating these women and the progress of women in law is only possible with facts, such as names, dates, and cases; otherwise, she explains, history is simply analysis and opinion. Dana shows how looking at the past is both enriching and grounding, as well as a great place to learn how to shape the future.

Graham Mann

Graham Mann, Musical Director of Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra talks about rhythm and improvisation and shares some big tunes that will raise the roof.

Henry Rose Lee

A true headliner in her life of everyday discovery. Ten years ago, Henry learned she was “face blind”, and cannot recognise people she knows by their facial features...not even her husband. It has taught her a lot about how to see people in other ways, and getting to the heart of what really matters for them.

Jane Walker MBE

In 2002, Jane Walker started two charities, one in the UK to raise funds for a charity she started in the Philippines. Jane has developed highly successful poverty reduction programs for disenfranchised communities in some of the worst slums in Manila. Following her fantastic work, she was awarded an MBE in 2009 and won the Woman of the Year UK award in 2010. When the charity established local financial support, Jane handed over the day to day management of the Philippine charity in 2015 to the local board of trustees and CEO. Jane and her team turned their attention to the UK, where Jane is the CEO for the Purple Community Fund, a charity that provides social enterprise projects for socially vulnerable people living in the UK and internationally. She continues to support and work with PCF Philippines and has expanded the international arm of the charity to work in Pakistan and Tanzania.

Joaquim Bretcha

On the face of it, your standard business traveller from Barcelona. But Joaquim has his own take on how to discover the city you find yourself in. Come and hear what he finds out when he starts discovering Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Justyn Rees Larcombe

Justyn Rees Larcombe had everything. Highly successful fast-track career. Beautiful wife and three sons. Having lost it all through a relentless addiction to online gambling, he is now campaigning for education and a change in laws, and shares his wisdom for those who may be struggling with secret habits, compulsions and additions of all types.

Lance Corporal Cassidy Little

A veteran and winner of The People's Strictly Come Dancing. Cassidy will be talking about resilience and cheerfulness in the face of undeniable adversity. “Pride. Determination. Aggression. Resilience. Cheerful in the face of adversity.” @Bears_eat_oats

Lara Khalaf

Lara Khalaf, a Syrian woman and resident of the UK for over 13 years who now finds herself in a fascinating socio-cultural juxtaposition with the refugee men of Syria that are now reaching out to her for help.

Louis King-Cox

Father and son, son and father. They are growing up together, expanding their music and artistic tastes and learning about each other along the way.

Maddy Warren

The return of Maddy Warren, Queen of Dialysis. Maddy our well-loved previous speaker will be coming back to share a bit about what has happened to her since the last time she was on stage with us.

Paul Cheese

Local sampler of sounds and maker of music. Following a childhood where he wasn’t allowed to leave the drive, he now makes a habit and a career of exploration on two wheels. The results of his discoveries come through in songwriting and composing and more.

Philip Clemo

Clemo hopes to give us an opportunity to explore the world as a two-year old might; the way a pre-verbal child might experience something for the first time. He invites us to go deeply into the experience of listening; pushing the creative boundaries of technology. Philip’s Breath Project is only the beginning; exploring non-verbal and pre-verbal communication for those hungry to experience the world around us without words.

Phoebe Oldrey

Phoebe Oldrey an interior designer who wants to remind us to think less about the beanbags and the pretty things, and discover more about the layout of spaces and the impact that has on productivity and wellbeing.

Polly Taylor BEM

Founder and force behind the Pickering Cancer Centre. Polly calls herself old-fashioned and believes that time is the most important gift that you can give a person. When that time pairs with a smile and laughter, all the better. When that person has cancer, or is supporting someone who has cancer, time and a smile have the power to change a lifetime of memories. Polly shares her vision and her reasons for creating a place for cancer patients to talk.

Steve Chapman

Explores the deeper recesses of personality, and talks about his relationship with his own ‘inner critic’ and self-doubt. Using creative practices, gestalt principles and mask work, he shows us that our identity and sense of self isn’t as fixed as we may believe. By learning to dance with his inner critic, rather than fight it, he has been able to notice and understand things he wasn't aware of, and in doing so, liberate more of his own creative ambitions.