London Lives > Events

London Lives Events

Kensington and Chelsea Libraries have the biggest biography collection in the capital and to celebrate the stacks will be opened for a special tour as part of London Lives.

The National Portrait Gallery too, is joining in and hosting a lecture, Biography and the City on June 8th (full details below) as well as a creative writing course for adults with author and screenwriter, Catherine Johnson.

Many libraries are hosting author talks and events to help you to find out more about your nearest and dearest or your local neighbourhood. Check out the listings below and see what's on near you:

Date & Time	Venue	Event details
16 May 2006 18:00 to 20:00	North Kensington Library (Kensington and Chelsea) Opening hours and accessibility	Crime Walk - North Kensington A walk covering areas of North Kensington connected with famous crimes. Followed by refreshments 020 7727 6586 or 020 73612029
17 May 2006 19:00 to 20:00	Balham Library (Wandsworth) Opening hours and accessibility	Prunella Scales Prunella Scales - appearing at Balham Library to talk about her life in films, television and theatre. Tickets free - to book phone 020 8871 7195 020 8871 7195
18 May 2006 19:30 to 00:00	Whitton Library (Richmond) Opening hours and accessibility	Walk through Whitton's History Ed Harris reads from his book 'Mr Giltrow's Enumeration' recreating a social history of Whitton in the context of the 1901 Census. 020 8894 9828
20 May 2006 10:00 to 16:00	Lewisham Local Studies Centre (Lewisham) Opening hours and accessibility	Learn about your family history Want to walk in your ancestors' shoes? Lewisham Local Studies Centre is offering walk-in sessions with help from family historians to get you started on your family history. You will be able to look at and use all the resources of the Centre, including census and parish records, directories for the borough. Find out about “Ancestry” - a service available free from computer terminals in all Lewisham’s libraries. Two drop-in sessions 10am-noon and 2-4pm. 020 8297 0682
20 May 2006 15:00 to 16:00	(Wandsworth) Wandsworth Museum The Courthouse 11 Garratt Lane Wandsworth SW18 4AQ	Writers and poets of Wandsworth Learn about the lives of the myriad of authors who've lived and worked in Wandsworth. Talk by Sue Barber, Assistant Curator 020 8871 7074
20 May 2006 14:00 to 16:00	(Greenwich) Greenwich Heritage Centre Royal Arsenal Woolwich London SE7 7LW	Family History Collage A chance to create and take away your own family history collage. Bring details of your family tree, favourite photos and memorabilia. Our guest artist will help you create a personal family history collage. Choose from thousands of images from the Centre's collection to complete your unique family portrait. Admission is Free. Booking essential tel: 020 8854 2452. 020 8854 2452
23 May 2006 19:00 to 21:00	Lewisham Library (Lewisham) Opening hours and accessibility	After Hours Literature Binge Woolia Brown and Desman Clark present tales from Vista Reminiscence Group's 'Tapestry of Life.' Local poet Lunette Joy Swaby launches her anthology 'Sweet and Bitter Herbs.' Books on sale at this London Lives event. 020 8297 9677
23 May 2006 14:00 to 16:00	Yiewsley Library (Hillingdon) Opening hours and accessibility	Family History taster session Would you like to discover more about your ancestors? Find out how at our Family History taster session. Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring some of the great electronic resources available at Hillingdon Libraries, including access to the Ancestry website. Bring along your research as there will be an opportunity for you to work with the resources independently after the session. Places are limited, so please book early (by phone, email or at the library) to avoid disappointment. 01895 442539 or email abeer@hillingdongrid.org
23 May 2006 19:00 to 20:00	(Westminster) The Library of and Museum of Freemasonry Freemason's Hall 60 Great Queen St	Coffee Houses of Covent Garden: illustrated talk In partnership with the London Transport Museum, the Library and Museum of Freemasonry hosts an illustrated talk describing the development of coffee house culture in Covent Garden from the 17th century to the present day. 0207 379 6344; bookings@ltmuseum.co.uk
24 May 2006 18:00 to 20:00	Westminster Reference Library (Westminster) Opening hours and accessibility	Coffee House to Coffee Republic - Guided Walk Explore the world of London coffee houses old and new. Author Antony Clayton leads a walk through Soho and Covent Garden. Meet outside the library. 020 7641 5250
07 June 2006 00:00 to 00:00	Kensington Central Library (Kensington and Chelsea) Opening hours and accessibility	Biography tour and visit to Linley Sambourne House A tour and talk related to Kensington's extensive biography collection; followed by a tour of Linley Sambourne House. Two sessions -one at 3pm one at 7pm Maximum 15 at each session 020 7361 3010
08 June 2006 19:00 to 20:00	(Westminster) National Portrait Gallery	London Lives: Biography and the City Panel discussion featuring five biographers and academics from the Department of English at King's College London, working on biographies of London subjects. Speakers include David Nokes, Leonee Ormond, Max Saunders, Marion Turner, and Neil Vickers. The subjects for discussion include Dr Johnson, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Ford Madox Ford, Medieval Londoners such as Thomas Usk, and the Victorian cartoonist Linley Lambourne. Organised in collaboration with King’s College London 020 7306 0055
12 June 2006 18:00 to 20:00	Chelsea Library (Kensington and Chelsea) Opening hours and accessibility	Kings Road Walk Walk round King's Road area taking in houses of famous people and places of historical interest. Maximum 15 people 020 73526056
20 June 2006 00:00 to 00:00	(Kensington and Chelsea) National Portrait Gallery	Cultural Creators An event with author Catherine Johnson to link paintings and art with creative writing.This will run over three Tuesdays and participants should try to attend all sessions 020 703613010
20 June 2006 18:00 to 20:00	Chelsea Library (Kensington and Chelsea) Opening hours and accessibility	Bagging up the bits A crime walk around Chelsea followed by refreshments 020 7352 6056 or 020 7361 3010
21 June 2006 14:00 to 15:00	Valence Library (Barking and Dagenham) Opening hours and accessibility	London Lives - a talk Mark Watson, Borough Heritage Officer uncovers some of the amazing people who have lived in Barking and Dagenham. Launch event for the London Lives book promotion - join us and enter the free local quiz. 020 8 270 6864
04 July 2006 12:00 to 13:00	Shoe Lane Library (City of London) Opening hours and accessibility	The amorous adventures of James Boswell James Boswell (1740-1795) is best known for his famous biography The Life of Samuel Johnson. Yet Boswell wrote obsessively on all subjects, not least of his weakness for female companionship. His diaries give a surprisingly frank insight into his sexual adventures, and the all too frequent bouts of venereal disease that followed them. 0207 583 7178
05 July 2006 19:00 to 20:00	Richmond Lending Library (Richmond) Opening hours and accessibility	Love Libraries - Clare Clark Take a trip back in time to the mysterious underground world of Victorian London. Clare Clark reads from her atmospheric new novel "The Great Stink". 020 8940 0981
07 July 2006 14:00 to 15:00	New Malden Library (Kingston) Opening hours and accessibility	Dee Williams Talk The popular London writer Dee Williams will be giving a talk about her life and work, including her latest novel: Sunshine after rain, published in 2005 020 8547 6490
29 July 2006 14:00 to 16:00	Central Library (Hillingdon) Opening hours and accessibility	Archive Adventure What lies hidden in the depths of an archive? What secrets can you find out about people of the past? Join in this special, one-chance-only interactive adventure to find out. Become a time detective and spend an afternoon exploring and investigating London history and some weird and wonderful people of the past. Suitable for ages 6-10 and their families. 01895 250714
02 August 2006 13:00 to 14:00	Guildhall Library (City of London) Opening hours and accessibility	Tour of Guildhall Library Each visit will start at 1.00pm and will last for one hour. You will hear about the history of the Library, see the collections and visit behind the scenes. If you would like to join the tour you must book in advance. 020 7332 1866
22 August 2006 18:00 to 20:00	Westminster Reference Library (Westminster) Opening hours and accessibility	Coffee House to Coffee Republic An illustrated talk by Antony Clayton, author of "London's coffee houses, a stimulating story", which covers the history and culture of coffee houses and coffee bars in Westminster, concentrating on Covent Garden in the eighteenth century and Soho in the 1950s. 020 7641 5250
14 September 2006 14:00 to 16:00	(Kingston) Surbiton Library Large Hall, adjacent to Surbiton Library, Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6AG	Kingston's Literary Lives A talk by Jacqueline Banerjee, author of "Literary Surrey" on Kingston's literary links, in particular John Galsworthy and The Forsyte Saga connection. 020 8547 6499
25 September 2006 00:00 to 00:00	East Ham Library (Newham) Opening hours and accessibility	Untold stories exhibition Aspects of Black and Asian lives in West Ham. 25 Sept - 7Oct 020 8430 3648
04 October 2006 13:00 to 14:00	Guildhall Library (City of London) Opening hours and accessibility	Tour of Guildhall Library Each visit will start at 1.00pm and will last for one hour. You will hear about the history of the Library, see the collections and visit behind the scenes. If you would like to join the tour you must book in advance. 020 7332 1866
09 October 2006 14:00 to 16:00	Harlesden Library (Brent) Opening hours and accessibility	Blogging workshop An online discussion of Black history and what it means to Brent residents. This will be published on www.bhm2006.blogspot.com to celebrate Black History Month. 0208 965 7132
10 October 2006 00:00 to 00:00	Manor Park Library (Newham) Opening hours and accessibility	Untold stories exhibition Aspects of Black and Asian lives in West Ham. 10 Oct - 22 Oct 020 8430 2207
10 October 2006 19:00 to 20:00	Willesden Green Library (Brent) Opening hours and accessibility	An Illustrated talk by Jon Newman Jon looks at how Black people were portrayed on the early 19th century London stage, covering early melodramas about the abolition of slavery, black performers and celebrities like Ira Aldridge and Master Juba. 0208 937 3400
11 October 2006 18:00 to 20:00	Hackney Central Library (Hackney) Opening hours and accessibility	Douglas Williams - Find your voice The Black experience - living in Britain today. Discussion and workshop 020 8356 1620
11 October 2006 19:00 to 20:00	Tokyngton Library (Brent) Opening hours and accessibility	Quiz with Mastermind winner Shaun Wallace Enjoy a fantastic evening of entertainment as Brent's very own Mastermind Shaun Wallace tells of his experiences as a TV game show aficionado. Shaun was the first Black man to become a BBC Mastermind champion Shaun will also host a BHM quiz with prizes for each team of up to four people, giving you a chance to pit your wits as well! Come along as a team or join one on the night. 0208 937 3590
13 October 2006 14:00 to 20:00	Homerton Library (Hackney) Opening hours and accessibility	Exhibition of poetry and photography BEMA (Black and Ethnic Minority Arts Network) present an exciting and diverse exhibition of work by local photographers and poets. A stimulating and rewarding showcase of local creative talent. 020 8356 1690
14 October 2006 11:00 to 12:00	Oakwood Library (Enfield) Opening hours and accessibility	Family Learning Week Family History in Enfield - local history talk 0208 379 1711
16 October 2006 19:00 to 20:00	Kingsbury Library (Brent) Opening hours and accessibility	Tracing your family tree workshop - Patrick Vernon An interactive debate on the issues and challenges for the African Caribbean community in tracing their family trees with reference to Patrick's own ancestors, the Shirley family. 0208 937 3520
16 October 2006 11:00 to 13:00	Battersea Library (Wandsworth) Opening hours and accessibility	Inspiring Stories Come and hear the stories of Black elders and tell us yours. Discover how to trace your family tree, use the Moving Here website, and find out how to get into print with the 'Library of Unwritten Books' 020 8871 7466
21 October 2006 14:00 to 16:00	Cricklewood Library (Brent) Opening hours and accessibility	Writing ourselves An afternoon to reminisce and then write about the most memorable of your life. 0208 937 3540
24 October 2006 00:00 to 00:00	Stratford Library (Newham) Opening hours and accessibility	Untold Stories Exhibition Aspects of Black and Asian lives in West Ham. 24 Oct - 5 Nov 020 8430 6890
31 October 2006 14:00 to 15:00	Willesden Green Library (Brent) Opening hours and accessibility	Moving here - web workshop for adults Learn how to use the web to trace the history of migration to the UK from the Caribbean. 0208 937 3400
03 November 2006 19:00 to 21:00	Willesden Green Library (Brent) Opening hours and accessibility	Black Women's Mental Health project The launch of the BWMHP annual lecture, with guest speakers and members giving presentations on mental health issues facing Black women. 0208 937 3400 box office: 02089616324
06 December 2006 13:00 to 14:00	Guildhall Library (City of London) Opening hours and accessibility	Tour of Guildhall Library Each visit will start at 1.00pm and will last for one hour. You will hear about the history of the Library, see the collections and visit behind the scenes. If you would like to join the tour you must book in advance. 020 7332 1866

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