An Evening with Nick Milton and David Kidney at Waterstones Birmingham

Join us for an enlightening evening with Nick Milton and David Kidney as they discuss why Neville Chamberlain has been airbrushed from Birmingham’s history and the work of the Chamberlain Highbury Trust.

About the Book

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain is still best remembered for appeasing Adolf Hitler and waving his ‘piece of paper’ at Heston aerodrome. Sacrificing the Sudetenland at Munich on 30 September 1938, he then memorably declared ‘peace for our time’. Yet just a year later Britain was forced to declare war on Germany for the second time in just over twenty years.

History has judged his policy of appeasement as being the catalyst for the bloodiest conflict in human history. So over 80 years after his death Chamberlain remains the most vilified politician of our time and has been airbrushed from much of Birmingham’s history. But there is much more to Chamberlain’s legacy than Hitler, Munich and the path to war, not least Chamberlain’s contribution to social housing in the city, his creation of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and his commitment to nature conservation.

This is his story, told in his own words.

About the Speakers

Nicholas Milton is a journalist, historian and author. He has written for the Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Times and the Independent. He has published four books - Neville Chamberlain’s Legacy, The Role of Birds in World War One and World War Two and The Secret Life of the Adder - The Vanishing Viper, all published by Pen and sword. He currently works for Birmingham City Council and lives in Stratford upon Avon.

David Kidney’s working life has been in three distinct parts: first, as a solicitor in Staffordshire. Secondly, David was elected Member of Parliament for Stafford in 1997. Thirdly, and most recently, he worked in public health, including the Chief Executive of the UK’s Public Health Register for over seven years. A Labour MP for 13 years, David has an abiding interest in politics and history. He also chairs a health technologies cluster in the West Midlands and supports fundraising for St Paul’s church in the Jewellery Quarter, which is where David lives.

Reviews

“This book made me change my mind about a man I thought was a posh, bow-tied bloke who told my parents that their world was about to get blown to bits. Nev is now on my ‘imaginary dinner party’ guest list.” - Chris Packham CBE

“This fascinating book by Nick Milton sheds new light on the complex character of Neville chamberlain” – Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP

Host or Publisher Waterstones Sauchiehall St