Forthcoming events in the KES talks and readings programme
Thursday 23 October 2025, commencing at 7.00 pm, finishing by 9.00 pm
In person at the Medical Society of London and on Zoom
Excellent English
Readings by members of excellent English prose or poetry which others might enjoy. It is not necessary to read.
The Medical Society of London, 11 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, London W1G 9EB, is about seven minutes' walk from Oxford Circus Tube Station. Any member of the Society may attend without giving prior notice. Guests of members and QES Forum members are welcome as potential future members. Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided.
Zoom meetings are open to members and non-members alike. If you would like to join the meeting, please notify Bernard Lamb at bernardlamb@btinternet.com who will send you the joining details.
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Thursday 13 November 2025, commencing at 7.00 pm, finishing by 9.00 pm
Zoom only
Cristina Lamb Guevara and John Lamb, Teaching English to foreigners in foreign lands
The joys and frustrations of one teacher in Europe (France) and another in South America (Colombia).
Zoom meetings are open to members and non-members alike. If you would like to join the meeting, please notify Bernard Lamb at bernardlamb@btinternet.com who will send you the joining details.
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Thursday 11 December 2025, commencing at 7.00 pm, finishing by 9.00 pm
Zoom only
Cllr Roger Diamond, The Hidden Purpose of Rasta Talk and Rastafari
After slavery was abolished, many of the ex-slaves became Rastafarians and developed a new type of Patois called Rasta Talk. Most people assume the Rasta movement in Britain started to die out in recent years. But secret Rasta societies do exist. They want to fulfill the hidden messages in Rasta Talk. What is their new universal purpose that might affect all of mankind?
Zoom meetings are open to members and non-members alike. If you would like to join the meeting, please notify Bernard Lamb at bernardlamb@btinternet.com who will send you the joining details.
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Thursday 29 January 2026, commencing at 7.00 pm, finishing by 9.00 pm
Zoom only
Susan McKenna, Southern African English
Susan McKenna will speak about English as spoken in southern Africa - a blend of British English, Southern Hemisphere influences, and local linguistic inventiveness.
Susan grew up and taught English in Zimbabwe, and has ties with South Africa.
Zoom meetings are open to members and non-members alike. If you would like to join the meeting, please notify Bernard Lamb at bernardlamb@btinternet.com who will send you the joining details.
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Thursday 12 February 2026, commencing at 7.00 pm, finishing by 9.00 pm
In person at the Medical Society of London and on Zoom
Members' Poetry Readings
Members do not have to read but are invited to do so, with poems about love being topical before St Valentine's Day. Other subjects are welcome. People usually have a chance to read more than one poem.
The Medical Society of London, 11 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, London W1G 9EB, is about seven minutes' walk from Oxford Circus Tube Station. Any member of the Society may attend without giving prior notice. Guests of members and QES Forum members are welcome as potential future members. Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided.
Zoom meetings are open to members and non-members alike. If you would like to join the meeting, please notify Bernard Lamb at bernardlamb@btinternet.com who will send you the joining details.
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Thursday 12 March 2026, commencing at 7.00 pm, finishing by 9.00 pm
Zoom only
Ray Ward, Philip Larkin and Me
Ray was at the University of Hull when Larkin was the Librarian. He met Larkin (Ray too was a Chartered Librarian) and became interested in matters Larkinesque. He is a member of the Philip Larkin Society, has attended many of its events, and contributed to its journal, About Larkin. He will tell us about his interest in a distinguished and sometimes controversial figure.
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Offers to give talks or suggestions of topics will be most welcome. Please contact Bernard Lamb at bernardlamb@btinternet.com
He will also be happy to receive nominations for the King’s English Society Prize for Excellent English. They must be of prose published in the particular year, with long items such as books represented by a short extract. Closing date for items published in 2025 is 31st May 2026.
Bernard Lamb, Head of the talks and readings subcommittee