Why do we write to Saint Nick? How did it come to be this way, and how are things different around the world? Archives Assistant Ashley March delves into the Royal Mail Archive - and further afield - to explore the phenomenon of writing to Santa Claus. Warning! Not suitable for under-10s (contains spoilers!).…

Graphic designer James Addison has been testing the Royal Mail’s delivery service through a series of peculiar envelopes containing nothing more than cryptic clues and puzzling addresses to see what lengths our humble posties will go to deliver our letters. Here he will be talking about his project, and explores similar artists who have challenged …

Sir Anthony Eden is best known for his lion-hearted leadership alongside Winston Churchill during the Second World War, but long before his finest hour, Eden fought his first battles in the trenches during the First World War. Examining recently re-discovered letters to his sister Marjorie Warwick, this talk re-assesses the concept of aristocratic …

For 169 days in 2009 Julian Sayarer cycled 110 miles a day through 20 countries on his way to breaking the world record for a circumnavigation by bicycle. Reflecting on his 18,049 mile challenge, his book Life Cycles tells of his experiences on the road in a time of paper maps and before smart phones. In his talk, Julian will tell of his remarkable…