Gayton Centenary Celebrations:
Gayton Lectures
The idea for these lectures goes back to the first Headmaster, Ernest Young, who instituted “A remarkable series of winter lectures in 1911.” He attracted a stream of eminent speakers to the school who spoke on varied intellectual interests. He wanted the school to be “the Town school”. He also hoped the school would be a force in the community through the activities of Old Scholars.
This is what we are going to recreate by inviting Old Gaytonians to speak about a subject of their choice (excluding What I did at School.) We anticipate a talk perhaps humorous, perhaps serious, perhaps controversial, for say 40 minutes, followed by an interval with a chance for a chat, a glass of wine or fruit juice. The drink will be included in the price of the ticket. Written questions will be submitted from the Audience for answering in the second half. These would keep strictly to the lecture subject matter. A roving microphone could be used as well.
Publicity will be needed to encourage townsfolk to attend with a suggested ticket price of say £8: present school pupils free.
Currently (October 2009) we have three speakers for the year 2011. Offers to speak in 2012 are now sought.
Depending on the response from possible speakers these occasional lectures could become a legacy of the Centenary celebrations.