The Dedham Vale Society AGM will be held at Nayland Village Hall, on Monday, 6th October 2025 at 8 pm.
After the AGM, Phil Roberts will present a talk on Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Thomas Wolsey, Ipswich's Greatest Son, was England's leading Statesman, Churchman and Patron of the Arts in his service to King Henry VIlI for over fourteen years. In that time, thanks to Wolsey being Henry's Lord Chancellor and friend, his Master played a greater role in European politics than had been seen for a century or more. There were courageous initiatives in domestic government. Although the Cardinal still had to consult the King's council, Wolsey had extraordinary diplomatic and administration skills helping him to fulfil governmental roles equivalent to a modern day Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and many other positions. The church was also in desperate need for reform which Wolsey initiated, and he was responsible for the influence of the Renaissance culture in England. You cannot understand Wolsey without Henry but you cannot understand Henry without Wolsey.
Phil Roberts is a well-renowned historian, researcher, lecturer and author. He earned a doctorate at Southampton University in Early Modern History and has written many papers in the fields of nautical studies, marine archaeology, oceanography and ancient warfare. A lecturer for the Mary Rose Trust and a popular BBC Radio guest, he has written Cardinal Wolsey – For King and Country, which is available from all good booksellers.
