On Thursday 23 May, members of the Society’s Council were in Uxbridge to meet with historians and senior managers at Brunel University.

The day brought together teaching staff, researchers and students, along with members of the university’s senior management. Panels considered the work of historians at Brunel, the state of History within UK higher education, and the Society’s engagement with politicians to raise concerns about cuts and closures in departments. A session with RHS Councillors also discussed the role and work of the Royal Historical Society, and how the Society can best respond to the needs of historians, of all kinds, at the regional and national level.

The RHS Visit to Brunel closed with a public lecture, ‘Country Walks in Colonial Britain’, given by Corinne Fowler (University of Leicester). In this lecture Corinne discussed her new book, Our Island Stories: Country Walks Through Colonial Britain (May 2024) and the colonial connections and legacies found when walking the British countryside.

We are very grateful to historians at Brunel University for hosting the Visit, and especially Dr Alison Carol and Dr Inge Dornan for organising the day. We are also very grateful to those from across the university who took part in the panel discussions, and to the Vice Chancellor and Pro Vice Chancellor Research for meeting with the Council to discuss History at Brunel. And special thanks to Professor Corinne Fowler for her excellent guest lecture which formed part of the 2024 Brunel Research Festival (13-31 May).