DAVID Starkey needs little introduction.

His television series on Henry V111, Elizabeth 1, and the Six Wives of Henry V111 have made him a familiar face across the nation.

Born and brought up in Kendal to Quaker parents he did well at grammar school and won a scholarship to read history at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, of which he is still a fellow.

In 2004 he began a new Channel 4 multi-year series Monarchy, which chronicled the history of English Kings and Queens from the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms onward. His greatest contribution to Tudor research has been in explaining the complicated social etiquette of Henry's household, exploring the complicated nature of Catherine Howard's fall in 1541/1542, and rescuing Anne Boleyn from the historical doldrums by persuasively proving that she was a committed religious reformer, keen politician and sparkling intellectual.

A celebrated and sometimes controversial historian, the well known radio and tv presenter, writer and director, is the guest speaker at the first event in the new 2018/2019 South Lakeland Decorative and Fine Arts Society programme of lectures and events.

Dr Starkey's talk at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre's Cinema One on Tuesday, October 9, will be Catherine Parr: England's First Protestant Queen.

The former Kendalian has a special interest in the last wife of Henry V111, whose family had Kendal connections. History has revealed that she was much involved in the growing movement towards what become the Protestant religion, having written and published for use in her household devotions a work entitled Prayers or Meditations.

According to records, she gave published copies of the book to friends, and the tome became more widely known than apparently the Queen intended.

South Lakeland Decorative and Fine Arts Society's monthly programme runs until May 2019 with a wide variety of subjects and specialist speakers covering arts in various forms, architecture and historical figures such as the Chinese Dowager Empress Cixi.

SLDFAS meets on the second Tuesday of the month at the Brewery at 1.30pm. However, the next lecture is held at Kendal Rugby Club on November 13 at 1pm, and features Professor Brendan Cassidy, talking about the art of Raffaello Santi, best known as Raphael.

For further information about the society and the season's eight-lecture programme telephone 01524-761836.