‘On the Trail of T.E. Lawrence: 1908-1911’, a talk by Dr Nick Lynch

Combined North West Group & Royal Geographical Society event

CHESTER CATHEDRAL – FRIDAY 18^th FEBRUARY 2022 @ 7:00 pm – Tickets must be purchased in advance from The Royal Geographical Society website at a special price of £7.50 for Society members. There will be no cash sales on the door.

‘On the Trail of T.E. Lawrence: 1908-1911’, a talk by Dr Nick Lynch

Nick will talk about his journeys following the young Lawrence of Arabia prior to the outbreak of WW1, including cycling the majority of Lawrence’s 2500 mile tour of France.

Lawrence’s hardiness, simple living, and determination, which characterise his role in the Arab Revolt, are already evident in his 2500 mile cycling tour of France in 1908, and his walking tours of Syria in 1909 and southern Turkey in 1911. Nick will talk about following the young Lawrence of Arabia on these three journeys prior to the outbreak of WW1. Use is made of Lawrence’s letters and photographs to make then and now comparisons.

Nick is a trustee and former chairman of the T.E.Lawrence Society and is coordinator of its London Group. His interest in Lawrence dates from the late 1980s. On learning that no-one had previously followed Lawrence’s 1908 Crusader Castles cycle tour of France, he felt that the experience might give him some additional insight into Lawrence’s character and stamina. Nick’s re-tracing of the cycle route was followed in subsequent years by visits to Syria, Turkey, Israel and Jordan. Nick is currently at work on a publication describing these journeys, and detailing the locations of Lawrence’s photographs from this time.