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Cambridge alumnus Lord Watson of Richmond, CBE will give a free public talk on Thursday 6 December entitled ‘ ̽»¨Ö±²¥voyage of English from first colony to global language'.

̽»¨Ö±²¥talk will mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia as the first English-speaking settlement in the New World, preceding the Pilgrim Fathers' arrival in New England on the Mayflower by 13 years.

Lord Watson will argue that the landing in Jamestown marked the first step in the spread of English from a single country to a global language for two billion people.

̽»¨Ö±²¥Member of the House of Lords, businessman and author helped to organise much of the British involvement in the anniversary celebrations including the Queen's visit to Jamestown in May.

̽»¨Ö±²¥talk coincides with the release of his book ‘Jamestown: ̽»¨Ö±²¥Voyage of English'. Lord Watson will cover many aspects of the language's journey including Winston Churchill's use of English during World War Two.

Lord Watson studied at Jesus College before taking a traineeship with the BBC. His extensive broadcasting career has included ̽»¨Ö±²¥Money Programme and Panorama on BBC television and BBC Radio 4 and the World Service.

He is a Patron of the Churchill Archives Centre, Chairman of the Cambridge Foundation, and a Chairman Emeritus of the English-Speaking Union.

̽»¨Ö±²¥free event takes place at the Møller Centre Lecture Theatre, Churchill College, starting at 6pm.

For more details see the link at the top right of the page.