Christopher Joll’s illustrated talk gives a flavour of The Drum Horse in the Fountain, an anecdotally-driven account of more than 300 of the officers and men of the Guards who have served their sovereign since 1660. In addition to forty-four holders of the Victoria Cross, Guardsmen have created the Special Air Service; pioneered military parachuting; founded the Special Operations Executive and the Commandos; headed the Secret Intelligence Service; provided several foreign Heads of State and a candidate for the throne of Albania, a Prime Minister and a whole host of Cabinet Ministers; a Cardinal who might have been Pope, an Archbishop of Canterbury, a Bishop, two monks and three Grand Priors;  championship boxers, footballers and Olympic medallists; best-selling authors, playwrights and composers; international pop, jazz, light and classical musicians; comedians; artists; Oscar winning film stars; spies, traitors, murderers – and some of the most eccentric men ever to have been let loose on the public.

To book tickets please visit the Literary Festival website.