Those of you who knew Richard, our Development Director, so sadly and so soon taken from us, will remember not only his huge contribution to the College but also his passionate love for the literature, culture and music of his native North of England, and especially of Northumberland and County Durham.

Richard grew up in Northumbria and was a life-long champion of the North of England. He wanted to showcase northern talent, helping to alter attitudes and to celebrate the wealth of culture he found there. He was Director of Development for the Theatre Royal in Newcastle and oversaw its expansion for three years. He was also the founding father of the Northumbrian Association and campaigned to get the Lindisfarne Gospels back to Durham Cathedral supported by Sir Tom Cowie and the then Bishop of Durham Michael Turnbull. In the process he raised money to take culture, history and copies of the Gospels to schools in the area of which he was rightfully proud.

In his memory the College has decided to institute a yearly event – which may be a lecture, a recital, or a performance - on Northern themes, which it hopes members and alumni will help to endow.

This first event will be a talk by Mr Richard Evans, Director of Beamish Museum, The Living Museum of the North. Richard will speak about the 'Northern Coalfield': an area of international significance, which amongst other UK industrial sites, formed the cradle of the global industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Beamish is an open air museum, where Richard Berg Rust previously worked as Head of Development. Its guiding principle is to preserve examples of everyday life in urban and rural North East England at the climax of industrialisation in the early 20th century. On its 350 acres it uses a mix of rescued and relocated original and replica buildings, it houses a huge collection of artefacts, working vehicles and equipment, and it manages livestock and farmland. Mr Evans’ talk will focus on the life and culture of the Great Northern Coalfield.

The event is free and the talk will be followed by a drinks reception.

This lecture has been made possible by the kind support of alumni, seniors and friends of the College. If you would like to contribute to the Richard Berg Rust lecture fund to ensure that we can carry on with this fascinating and unique series please donate online (www.hugheshallglobal.com/afgift) and select ‘The Richard Berg Rust Lecture Fund’ or email development@hughes.cam.ac.uk.