Talk

Memorial Talk 2025

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:35:00 GMT

We are honoured and delighted to welcome this years guest speaker, leading scientist, Dr. Campbell Murn FRSB FLS from the Hawk Conservancy Trust.

Read our report on the afternoon talk

Read our report on the evening talk

Tales, Talons and Tusks

This Talk is hosted by Winchester College in memory of Cameron Bespolka, who was a pupil at the College.

Dr Campbell Murn shares the highs and lows of devoting a life’s work to the research and conservation of Birds of Prey. It all started with a book in a second hand book shop. Held in awe, frequently misunderstood and often under-appreciated, Campbell delves into not only why raptors are just amazing and inspiring, but also vital. Hear fascinating stories about working hands-on with these birds, through to the scientific research that supports their conservation in Africa, Asia and here in the UK with various species of owls, kestrels, kites, buzzards and vultures. He will share the challenges these birds face, the success stories and working with others across the globe to champion these species.

The Hawk Conservancy Trust is a local charity whose mission is the conservation of Birds of Prey.

This talk is free but please do book as places are limited.

For the fourth time this event is being run in the evening to give our supporters a chance to attend what should be a very entertaining talk.

Date: Wednesday 26th November 2025
Time: 7pm, doors open at 6.30
Venue: New Hall, Winchester College
Cost: Free

Reserve your tickets here

Primary School Children Talk

Very kindly, The Hawk Conservatory Trust will be giving the same talk in the afternoon to around 450 primary school children. This Annual Lecture has proved a very popular fixture over the years and has featured a wide variety of wildlife-orientated speakers.

Primary school children enjoying a previous year's lecture

Talks from previous years

Memorial Talk 2024: Holly Budge

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 12:35:00 GMT

We are honoured and delighted to welcome Holly Budge, a leading conservationist, as our guest speaker for the Annual Memorial Lecture:

Disappearing Giants

Holly is the founder of UK Charity ‘How Many Elephants’ and initiated World Female Ranger Week. Her work has been celebrated worldwide, including by Sir David Attenborough and HRH Prince Edward. Holly is an official UN Women UK Delegate.

We need elephants now more than ever. For us to tackle and mitigate the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, we need healthy and thriving elephant populations. Holly explains how elephants are a keystone species that play a critical role, not only in balancing natural ecosystems and biodiversity, but in ensuring the future well-being of humanity. She has worked over a decade to raise global awareness about African elephants. Please join us and hear how her critical work has involved local communities as well as empowering female rangers.

This talk is free but please do book as places are limited.

For the third time this event is being run in the evening to give our supporters a chance to attend what should be a very entertaining talk.

Date: Wednesday 6th November 2024
Time: 7pm, doors open at 6.30
Venue: New Hall, Winchester College
Cost: Free

Reserve your tickets here

Primary School Children Talk

Very kindly, Holly will be giving the same talk in the afternoon to around 450 primary school children. This Annual Lecture has proved a very popular fixture over the years and has featured a wide variety of wildlife-orientated speakers.

Primary school children enjoying a previous year's lecture

Talks from previous years

Disappearing Giants

Memorial Talk 2023: Megan McCubbin

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:35:00 GMT

How to Stop Extinction

Zoologist, naturalist, wildlife broadcaster, author and television presenter Megan McCubbin, will be delivering this year's Cameron Bespolka Memorial Lecture at Winchester College.

We are honoured and delighted to welcome Megan McCubbin, to deliver this year’s Cameron Bespolka Memorial Wildlife Talk. She loves nothing better than to share the wonders of the natural world and stand up for wildlife. She has just written a book ‘An Atlas of Endangered Species’ which discusses how scientists and rangers are fighting to protect our planet’s miraculous biodiversity and she asks the very tough question: ‘What can I do to make a difference?’.

For the second time this event is being run in the evening to give our supporters a chance to attend what should be a very entertaining talk.

Date: Wednesday 15th November 2023
Time: 7pm, doors open at 6.30
Venue: New Hall, Winchester College
Cost: Free

The lecture is kindly supported by the Natural History Society at Winchester College.

Reserve your tickets here

Primary School Children Talk

Very kindly, Megan will be giving the same talk in the afternoon to around 450 primary school children. This Annual Lecture has proved a very popular fixture over the years and has featured a wide variety of wildlife-orientated speakers.

Primary school children enjoying a previous year's lecture

Talks from previous years

How do we stop extinction?

Memorial Talk 2022: Roger Morgan-Grenville

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:35:00 GMT

Across a waking land: a 1000 mile walk through a British Spring

Roger Morgan-Grenville will be delivering this year's Cameron Bespolka Memorial Lecture at Winchester College.

For the first time this event is being run in the evening to give our supporters a chance to attend what should be a very entertaining talk.

Date: Wednesday 2nd November 2022
Time: 7pm - Doors open 6.30 for a glass of wine
Venue: New Hall, Winchester College
Cost: Free

Roger Morgan-Grenville is a conservation writer, storyteller and environmental campaigner with a deep interest in the restoration of British biodiversity and a passion for birds. During his time as a soldier, he successfully retraced Shackleton's journey across South Georgia for the first time and is a founder of the charity Curlew Action. During the spring of 2022, Roger undertook a 1,000 mile solo walk from Lymington to Cape Wrath.

In a highly personal account of his adventure, Roger will explain why he went, what he learned and what lessons he drew from the many people he met and the wildlife that he observed.

The lecture is kindly supported by the Natural History Society at Winchester College.

Reserve your tickets here

Primary School Children Talk

Very kindly, Roger will be giving the same talk in the afternoon to around 450 primary school children. This Annual Lecture has proved a very popular fixture over the years and has featured a wide variety of wildlife-orientated speakers.

Primary school children enjoying a previous year's lecture

Talk

Memorial Talk 2025

Tales, Talons and Tusks

This talk is free but please do book as places are limited.

Date: Wednesday 26th November 2025Time: 7pm, doors open at 6.30Venue: New Hall, Winchester CollegeCost: Free

Reserve your tickets here

Primary School Children Talk

Talks from previous years

Memorial Talk 2024: Holly Budge

Disappearing Giants

This talk is free but please do book as places are limited.

Date: Wednesday 6th November 2024Time: 7pm, doors open at 6.30Venue: New Hall, Winchester CollegeCost: Free

Reserve your tickets here

Primary School Children Talk

Talks from previous years

Disappearing Giants

Memorial Talk 2023: Megan McCubbin

How to Stop Extinction

Date: Wednesday 15th November 2023Time: 7pm, doors open at 6.30Venue: New Hall, Winchester CollegeCost: Free

Reserve your tickets here

Primary School Children Talk

Talks from previous years

How do we stop extinction?

Memorial Talk 2022: Roger Morgan-Grenville

Across a waking land: a 1000 mile walk through a British Spring

Date: Wednesday 2nd November 2022 Time: 7pm - Doors open 6.30 for a glass of wineVenue: New Hall, Winchester CollegeCost: Free

Reserve your tickets here

Primary School Children Talk

Talks from previous years

Date: Wednesday 26th November 2025
Time: 7pm, doors open at 6.30
Venue: New Hall, Winchester College
Cost: Free

Date: Wednesday 6th November 2024
Time: 7pm, doors open at 6.30
Venue: New Hall, Winchester College
Cost: Free

Date: Wednesday 15th November 2023
Time: 7pm, doors open at 6.30
Venue: New Hall, Winchester College
Cost: Free

Date: Wednesday 2nd November 2022
Time: 7pm - Doors open 6.30 for a glass of wine
Venue: New Hall, Winchester College
Cost: Free