Past Events

The Wimbledon Philosophical Society organises a variety of live events and talks on different topics in local venues.

Below are described our recent events and links to further information about them.

WPS Event: Summer Garden Party . This ever popular and highly successful event was held this summer on Sunday 7 June. The weather was pleasant and thankfully no rain appeared.

Over snacks and refreshments, we celebrated another successful year of philosophically themed meetings and held poetry and prose readings. 

Some fond memories from the party:

WPS Event:

We were delighted to host Dennis Sewell on Tuesday, 28 April. His talk “making Moral Judgments in History” explored the case of George Downing: liar, blackmailer, seducer, thief, double-dealing shapeshifter, betrayer and artful spy. In considering the ‘pitfall’ of judging the past by the standards of the present – the issue of “Presentism”, he posed the question of whether we risk making too many excuses for historic bad actors and wicked behaviour. The biographer of one of the most infamous scoundrels in Stuart England considers where to draw the ethical lines.

Dennis Sewell is a writer, broadcaster and a contributing editor of the Spectator. He spent twenty-two years on the staff of BBC News, where he worked as a reporter for the network’s flagship TV current affairs programme Newsnight, hosted two of BBC Radio’s most popular political talk shows, was an award-winning documentary maker, the producer of two major series on the history of espionage, and went on assignments to Washington, New York, Moscow, Paris, and Brussels.

WPS Committee Member Peter Hirsch, standing in for Chairman Ed Nanno, thanks Speaker Dennis Sewell.

The talk was followed by a short refreshment break and opportunity for informal conversation, before a lively Q&A session.

WPS Event: A book launch party was held on Wednesday 25th March in the beautiful candlelit rooms of Southside House, 3 Woodhayes Rd SW19 4RJ to celebrate the publication of the “Tales of Ashok” by Leslie Dighton, one of our own.

WPS Chairman Ed Nanno thanks Leslie Dighton for his acclaimed presentation.

The “Tales” is a philosophic fable written in response to our confused and conflicted times. Leslie described the book, answered questions and gave a book signing. There was an opportunity to mingle before and after the event. 

If you were unable to come, further information including how to buy the book is on the website talesfoashok.com 

WPS event: Lord Simon McDonald, gave a fascinating talk on 11 February 2026 at Southside House, 3 Woodhayes Rd SW19 4RJ.

Lord Sir Simon McDonald GCMG KCMG KCVO spoke on “Lessons from a Life in Diplomacy”. Sir Simon was the Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office August 2015 to August 2020.

He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1982 and, early in his career, served in Jeddah, Riyadh, Bonn and Washington, D.C.  He was British Ambassador to Israel (2003-2006) and to Germany (2010-15).  In September 2015 Simon became Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCO and Head of the Diplomatic Service.  After leaving the FCO in Autumn 2020, he was appointed a life peer, taking his seat in the House of Lords as Lord McDonald of Salford in February 2021.

Sir Simon is a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) and  Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).

His first book – Leadership:  Lessons from a Life in Diplomacy – was published in 2022 and his second – Beyond Britannia: Reshaping UK Foreign Policy – in 2023.

The University of Salford awarded him an Honorary doctorate in 2024.

Sir Simon became the 39th Master of Christ’s College Cambridge on 1 September 2022.  

WPS Event – 12th November 2025 Leslie Dighton

Our member Leslie Dighton discussed the “Tales of Ashok” on Wednesday, 12 November. Unfortunately Dennis Sewell, the previously arranged speaker for this date was unwell. Dennis Sewell’s talk “Making Moral Judgments in History was postponed. We will announce a new date in due course.

Leslie had been working on a book with artist Jennifer Williams, the Tales of Ashok (Umbria Press 2026) and discussed some of the themes with us. 

The Tales of Ashok tells the story of Ashok, a desert dweller called by a mysterious voice to embark on a journey of unknown purpose 5,000 years ago. As he travels across ancient lands and through time, Ashok encounters societies facing turmoil from war, excess, environmental collapse, and social conflict. Through his wisdom, humility, and imaginative problem-solving, Ashok helps people confront challenges of overconsumption, inequality, and disconnection, inspiring communal epiphanies and sparking a movement towards cooperation and renewed purpose. The narrative blends fable, allegory, and magical realism, reflecting on contemporary crises – such as climate change and social fragmentation – by drawing lessons from ancient and modern failures to seek the common good. Ultimately, the book is a manifesto for regeneration and hope, advocating a shift from individualistic materialism toward a society founded on shared values, dialogue, and a deep respect for nature and community.

WPS Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Discussion with David Marsh 5th October 2025

The AGM, followed by David Marsh‘s presentation was held on Sunday 5th October 2025, 7-9pm in the Lingfield Room at the Wimbledon Village Hall.  Our very own esteemed member David Marsh, Chairman and CEO of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) his new book, hot off the press, Can Europe Survive? (Oct 2025)  

  1. WPS Chairman Ed Nanno at the AGM thanks Mark Leclerq for his many years service as former chairman and committee member

WPS Chairman Ed Nanno thanks David March for his fascinating presentation on 05 Oct 2025

WPS Event – Tuesday 16th September 2025, 7-9pm, Sir Ben Okri

WPS Chairman Ed Nanno introduces Sir Ben Okri at Southside House Wimbledon sept 2025

Ben and Ed discussing his book

We were very lucky to have Sir Ben join us once again in Southside House for a night of conversation around one of our favourite philosophers, the ancient Greek Heraclitus, who is known for his theory ‘panta rhei’ (everything flows).   Heraclitus, known as “The Obscure”, famously said you cannot step into the same river twice, for neither the river nor the person is the same. 

WPS Garden Party with poetry recital, held in a wimbledon garden on Sunday 15th June 2025, 3-6pm. Around 50 members and guests attended this event held in the WPS Chairman’s new garden in Wimbledon on a beautiful June day to hear 5 speakers from the WPS Poetry committee recite their own poetry plus one guest speaker from the audience.

WPS Event – Tuesday 15th April 2025, 7-9 pm -Ben Sorgiovanni, former Oxford philosophy faculty, at Mansell Road Centre, Wimbledon. 

Ben addressed the Society on “Looking at the world through the eyes of Ludwig Wittgenstein”.  As you know, many see Wittgenstein as ‘ending philosophy’ so this was an exceptionally interesting topic for us and Ben made an excellent presentation and fielded some well informed questions from the audience.

WPS Event – Tuesday 28th January 2025, 7.30 for 8pm at St John’s Church Hall, Spencer Hill, SW19, Dan Holden, known to many as a local Councillor addressed us on the topic of ,”The relationship between the community and those who serve it: contentious issues facing local communities” and took questions from the audience of around 30 members and guests

WPS Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 16th October 2024, 6.30-7 pm for the AGM, and Guest speaker Rosemary Clunie 7-9pm

Rosemary Clunie is a painter, printmaker and video artist, born in Scotland and living in London. She has exhibited widely since 1991 and her paintings are held in eminent public and private collections.  Her work was also exhibited at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Rosemary Clunie’s work recalls that of Joan Miro or Quentin Blake… her colourful images – in rainbow hues – Financial Times.

WPS event supported by the Royal Institute of Philosophy – Tuesday 17th September 2024, 6.30-9pm, Sir Ben Okri returned to Wimbledon after last years event together with the Wimbledon Bookfest, sponsored by Wimbledon Philosophical Society, this time in conversation with Ed Nanno, WPS Chairman, about a selection of 5 of his books, the direction those have taken and plans for his future direction. This event was hosted by the new owners of Southside House in Wimbledon. Ben as you know is a prolific writer and Booker Prize winner for The Famished Road

WPS Event – Tuesday 2nd July 2024, 7-9pm at Mansell Road SW19, a very special extra event with Werner Hoyer, ex president of the European Investment Bank on the topic of European Liberal Democracy under threat from the far right. Can the ruling elite hear the message voters are sending about migration and the disadvantages of globalisation from the non-urban working class voter.

WPS Summer Garden Party with Poetry readings Sunday 30th June 3-6pm 2024, on the topic of ‘It is the best of times, it is the worst of times’. This provided the setting for individual and original poetic contributions from WPS Members and guests and a lovely sunny afternoon.

Mon 20 May 2024 – Lord Maurice Glasman 7pm from Plato to the Common Good

Lord Glasman, founder of Blue Labour spoke on the nature of the Common Good in modern politics both domestically and internationally making a significant difference to people’s lives and holding both the State and the Markets to account. Blue Labour could be the answer to the decline of Socialism in the UK and Europe in the last 40-50 years.

Lord Maurice Glasman is an English political theorist, academic, social commentator and Labour life Peer. He is a senior lecturer at London Metropolitan University and columnist for the New Statesman, Unheard and the Tablet. Maurice is a lively speaker on a wide range of political topics.

Tuesday 9th April 2024 – Sir Rodric Braithwaite posed the question “Putin’s War in the Ukraine: Success or Failure?”  This war began in Feb 2014 with the annexation of Crimea by Russia and has recently evolved into a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb 2022.  Rodric holds a unique position within British politics having served as the Ambassador to the Soviet Union and after the dissolution of the USSR, the Ambassador to the newly formed Russian Federation.  As such, he is eminently qualified to speak on this most urgent of topics within our current global landscape.

Wednesday 17th January 2024 at 7pm at Mansel Road Centre, Wimbledon SW19 – Dr. Denis McShane on Why the Labour Party always loses ? Labour have won 4 of the last 14 General elections. Denis asked why Labour is so good at losing and why so edgy when it wins – controversial former MP and Minister for Europe under Tony Blair’s government.

Monday 4th December 2023 – Local historian Peter Walker on Wimbledon and the Age of Slavery – should action be taken to correct the errors of the past such as renaming roads or removing statues ? This very controversial topic was followed by a healthy debate with over 30 WPS members and guests

Sunday 22nd October 2023 – WPS AGM in the Linfield Room, Wimbledon Village Club first floor, election of Committee and Chairman for the coming year, followed by a social event and discussion of the previous year’s programme, how the WPS can be improved and what direction we should take in future

Sunday 15th October 2023 at 8pm the Wimbledon Philosophical Society sponsored as part of Wimbledon Bookfest – Sir Ben Okri who recited from memory T.S.Eliot’s The Waste Land accompanied by his wife and dance activist Charlotte Jarvis – this was an amazing event which we were very pleased to bring to Wimbledon in collaboration with Wimbledon Bookfest

Tuesday 19th September 2023 at 7pm at the Mansell Road Centre – Speaker Paul Kohler on the Tragicomedy of the commons, a critique of the tragedy of the commons – the tragedy of the commons refers to a situation in which individuals with access to a public resource (also called a common) act in their own interest and, in doing so, ultimately deplete or denigrate the resource

Sunday 23rd July 2023 in Marryat Road – WPS Summer Garden Party with Poetry readings by members on the theme of Something very British (see programme here)

Tuesday 30th May 2023 7pm at Mansell Road Centre, Trinity Reformed Church, Wimbledon SW19, First Floor – Ann Whitehead on Honesty in Politics, what will it take to change the current political landscape to have more honest politicians and better accountability

Tuesday 25th April 2023 7pm at Mansell Road Centre, Trinity Reformed Church, Wimbledon SW19 – James Cope on Capitalism in the 21st Century and the work of French Philosopher and economist Thomas Piketty

Tuesday 28th February 2023 7pm at Mansell Road Centre, Trinity Reformed Church, Wimbledon SW19 – Fr. Simon Peat – the Philosophical thinking of Pope John Paul ll, Truth and Phenomenology – Looking at things from Different Angles to discern the truth. Phenomenology is an approach to understanding that considers reality in its givenness, as it is manifest to us in and through experience. Put simply, what you see is what you get or is it ? – followed by a discussion on Catholic Truth and the role and future of belief in the developed post-modern world

Father Simon Peat and Ed Nanno, 28 Feb 2023
  • Wednesday 11th January 2023 7-9pm at Wimbledon Village Hall, Lingfield Road  – Dr. John Stevens – Sex, gender and Mental Wellbeing -‘Our fellow WP Society member, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, John Stevens, talked to us about ‘Sex and gender’ and asked us to consider the sort of questions which increasingly challenge the views of all sections of society. Is gender a Thing? Why categorise at all? Nature and Nurture. Body and Mind. Politics and Disgust. Why does anyone care?
  • Sunday October 23rd 2022 at 5pm – WPS AGM was held this year at the site of the Buddhapadipa Buddhist Temple in Calonne Road SW19. The WPS AGM at 5.30pm and then at 6pm we heard from resident monk Ven. Piyobhaso on the subject of Buddhism and Buddhist Philosophy for around 45 minutes followed by questions concluding around 7pm. Members had the opportunity before the meeting to visit the temple and the extensive grounds.
  • Monday 26th September 2022, 7pm at Wimbledon Village Hall  – Christian Michel – From Plato to Putin – the dangerous theory of a multi-polar world, delving into the distant origin of Eurasianism and the deep reason why Russia (and China and many others) are fighting the very notion of a globalised (or unipolar) world.   Christian leads the Cafe Philo discussions at the French Institute in South Kensington and is a well known speaker on Philosophy and Economics.
  • Sunday 26th June 2022, 3pm. Members and guests were warmly welcomed to this year’s Garden Party hosted by Val and Chris Morrison in Marryat Road.  Ewa Cobham, Veronika Marsh, Mary Owusu-Hirsch, Roland Rogers and Ann Vaughan-Williams read their own poetry and prose followed by contributions from the audience. Members received a copy of the booklet in advance. The topic this year was ‘Journeys’.
  • Tuesday 7th June 2022, 7pm- 9:30pm at Wimbledon Library Arts Room – Politics, Power and Philosophy – Germany, Russia and the war in Ukraine, a panel discussion with Horst Teltschik (former advisor to German chancellor Helmut Kohl), other distinguished speakers including Charles Powell, Simon McDonald , Bill Keegan, Rodric Braithwaite and hosted by David Marsh – live event in Wimbledon, free to members and non-member guests
  • Wednesday 27th April 2022, 7.00 pm in the Lingfield Room at Wimbledon Village Hall. Professor Eric Kaufmann, from Birkbeck College, University of London addressed us on Free Speech, Political Identity and related topics. Prof. Kaufmann has written extensively on the Populism, Nationalism, Immigration, Religion and Orange Order in Northern Ireland.
  • Wednesday 2nd March 2022, 8:00 pm at Southside House, Lord Gus O’Donnell spoke on his work supporting a succession of 3 British Prime Ministers. Ed Nanno introduced Lord O’Donnell, who then spoke with engagement and intimacy of his work in his role as Cabinet Secretary and top Civil Servant and then took questions from the audience.
  • Sunday 17th October 2021, WPS AGM live at 5pm followed by drinks and a speaker on the management and development of Wimbledon Common by one of the Conservators .
  • Tuesday 7th September 2021, 7:30 pm at Wimbledon Village Hall. Stephen Cope gave a talk entitled “Thinking about Thinking”.
  • Sunday 25th July 2021 1pm in Marryat Road – Garden party.
  • Wednesday 12th May 7pm on ZOOM – “Sartre’s Les Mouches and the concept of freedom” with some of the philosophical/theological questions raised in the book, presentation 30 minutes followed by a discussion.
  • Wednesday 31st March, 7pm Zoom. WISDOM FROM DIFFERENT LANDS – An Anthology of Poetry, Prose and Philosophy presented by the Poetry group of the WPS and other members. You can obtain a free copy of the booklet, which contains all the writings, by emailing muzikozm@pm.me.
  • Wednesday 27th January 2021 at 7pm on ZOOM – new WPS Chairman Edward Nanno presented : “Societal life in the Age of Coronavirus – lessons from Camus’ ‘The Plague’” with some of the philosophical/ theological questions raised in the book, presentation 30 minutes followed by discussion. (click here for notes on the meeting).
  • Wednesday 2nd December 2020 at 7pm on Zoom, Philip Collins on the topic of UK Democracy – How can we fix our broken politics. Philip is a Times columnist, associate editor of Prospect Magazine and former chief speech writer to Tony Blair between 2004 and 2007
  • Sunday 13th September 2020 – WPS Garden Party at a member’s house in Marryat Road with beautiful weather and poetry readings by members on the theme of ‘Moments in eternity, Eternity in a moment’.

    The poetry recital was inspired and led by Leslie Dighton. He was unable to attend the garden party because of COV-19. Juan Tafur nobly stepped into Leslie’s shoes at the last minute and delivered his introduction and conclusion with his usual aplomb. .

    Alan Paul from the audience read his poem titled ‘Freedom’
  • Tuesday 26th May 2020 – Building a Society based on the Common Good, presented by Leslie Dighton. This event was virtual using ZOOM with an online ‘Philosophical Conversation. You can read the Little Black Book of the Common Good. You can watch the video here.
  • December 2019 – Democracy and its Crisis with Professor A.C. Grayling at Southside House (read the summary)
  • July 2019: WPS Summer Garden Party at Southside House, Wimbledon with Poetry, Fables and Legends read by members and the WPS Poetry sub-committee. (read the programme)
  • November 2018: Influential Non-Conformists in 17th Century Clapham, Marryat Road, presented by Tim Walker. (read the note on the meeting)
  • October 2018: WPS AGM, Marryat Road
  • July 2018: WPS Summer Garden Party at Southside House with Poetry Reading by some Members and Guest Poets. (read the programme)
  • October 2017: AGM & Einstein’s greatest mistake, Marryat Road, presented by David Bodanis.(see attached)
Summer Garden Party 2018