The Man Who Didn’t Succeed: A Talk by David Beardsley
The Bankes archive is one of our largest family collections, covering 800 years of British history. We are offering two events which illuminate aspects of the family’s story.
Book early to avoid disappointment!
Join us at Dorset History Centre for a talk by David Beardsley on his new book ‘The Man Who Didn’t Succeed’, which looks at the life of John Ralph Bankes.
It was work as a volunteer researcher at the Bankes Archive that inspired David to write the remarkable and sad story of John Bankes (1937-1996), son of the last owner of Kingston Lacy. Privileged and conventionally educated, he was on track to inherit the fabulous house and estate. But John died a solitary and messy death in London, the latter half of his existence marred by deep personal sorrow and material neglect.
This talk is given in support of Dorset Archives Trust, a charity that works to preserve and promote Dorset’s rich archival heritage. Its strapline is ‘Saving Dorset’s disappearing history’ and it undertakes this work by fundraising, holding events, supporting projects and promoting the value of archives. DAT works closely with the Dorset History Centre in Dorchester which holds archive collections dating back over 1000 years from across Bournemouth, Poole and wider Dorset.
