Speaking on Saturday, September 6, 2025, we have :

1st: Darran Rees – Love Letter to Romania

When Darran Rees first drove northward toward Transylvania he felt he was being transported back in time. These remarkable landscapes were like visions of the past with such odd beauty and majesty that betrayed little of their recent history. Over the following fifteen years he was fortunate enough to continue that journey and indeed accompany Romania on its own journey as it unbuckled itself from the chains of its dictatorship and looked to an independent and brighter future. These images represent a record of this unique yet often misunderstood country, its exceptional people and their rare culture, family values and traditions. It shows a moment in time, a unique time in a unique country among extraordinary people.

Darran Rees was born and raised in Wales. Originally trained in art, he later discovered the power of the ‘still’ image and photography. Following photography college and two years assisting a London based commercial photographer, Darran began his own journey with his chosen medium in 1992. This is his first book. Darran Rees, a Welshman by birth, now resides in North London, but travels internationally for his work.

2nd: Olivia McGregor – Guiana

Olivia McGregor was the recipient of the Royal Geographical Society’s 2024 Neville Shulman Challenge Award and will be talking about her journey to the savannahs and rainforests of Guyana.

Olivia travelled to The Lost World, one of the last wildernesses on Earth, a land steeped in exotic myth and legend that served as inspiration for Jurassic Park. Among its inhabitants were the Makushi people, indigenous to the region, with a rich culture dating back 11,000 years.

The Makushi people are at a crossroads, caught between traditional ways of living in close connection with their natural environment and the influences of the modern industrialised world. Olivia will talk about how they are adjusting and the implications of this for everyone. Their survival could be humanity’s own.

Date & Time: Saturday 6th September 2025

Doors open at 14:15 in London and on Zoom with the talks starting around 14:45 (London see Event Time Announcer for local times), please arrive early so we can deal with any issues with joining.

We would ask that anyone with respiratory symptoms participate via Zoom.

Admission costs:

• £7 for members. (Members can access a ticket code below or from the members area.)
• £10 for non-members. (save £3 if you join at this meeting)
• a recording to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders.

Unfortunately, we have had to increase the door prices to cover our costs as our venue hire costs have increased.

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Tickets go on sale just before the meetings.