1CELEBRATED and sometimes controversial historian, David Starkey, will talk on Catherine Parr: England’s First Protestant Queen at the first event in the new 2018/2019 South Lakeland Decorative and Fine Arts Society programme of lectures and events, held at Kendal’s Brewery Arts Centre’s Cinema One on Tuesday, October 9. For further information about the society and the season’s eight-lecture programme telephone 01524-761836.

2 FORMER Ambleside FC player Martyn Routledge will be back in Ambleside town on Monday, October 22, signing copies of his new book, The Beautiful Badge, at Fred Holdsworth’s bookshop from 5.30pm-7.30pm. Martyn played for Ambleside for 10 years and is as passionate about football as he is about his work as a creative designer – so he’s combined both talents to produce a book about football club badges, their origins and how they came to represent a particular team.

3 AUTHOR of The Gathering Tide and The Blackbird Diaries, Karen Lloyd, is giving an illustrated talk in aid of Kendal Winter Night Shelter, at St Thomas’s Church, on Friday, October 19 (7.30pm). Karen’s talk is based on research for her forthcoming book The Nature of Abundance, which has seen her travel - in pursuit of positive news from the natural environment - to places such as Spain’s Extremadura region, the Prespa Lakes the mountains of Transylvania, and visit the Hortobagy National Park in Hungary, spending time with the people running the reintroduction programme of Przewalski’s wild horses.

4 DISCOVER poetry at Dove Cottage, Grasmere, on Thursday (October 18) when monthly poetry reading group will read and talk about a selection of classic and contemporary poems chosen to reflect the changing seasons. The sessions will be led by Grasmere poet Polly Atkin, and both seasoned poetry lovers and those new to reading or talking about a poem are welcome. Runs from 7.30pm-9pm. Telephone 015394-35544.

5 ABBOT Hall Art Gallery is offering the chance for people to meet the artist behind the Kendal gallery’s A Shadow On The Blind exhibition, award-winning Alison Watt. Alison’s exhibition includes new work and a selection of key earlier paintings. Her talk - on Tuesday, October 23 (1pm-2pm) - will provide an insight into her artistic process and inspiration. Telephone 01539-722464.