St John the Baptist Church, 14 Kidderminster Rd, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 7JW
Well known explorer, author & BBC Radio 4 broadcaster John Pilkington returns to St John’s with his latest talk. On Tuesday 4th October John will deliver his presentation “Russia & Europe: What Next?” where he will recount the stories of his solo journey through Eastern Europe and into Russia.
When asked about his latest travels John said “Passions are running high in Ukraine and the breakaway states of the Caucasus. Vladimir Putin’s adventures in Ukraine took the West by surprise. But I think, in some ways they followed a pattern that goes back more than a century to the legendry “Great Game” between Russia and Britain in Victoria times. Since the Soviet Union’s break-up, Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia have become Russia’s ‘forgotten’ satellite states – unrecognised and unheard of by most outsiders. Now Donetsk and Luhansk have joined the list, and Russia has full control of Crimea.
In 2015 John met people on both sides of these disputed borders, and promises some surprising insights in his talk.
Friends of St John’s Chairman Jo Slade enthused “John has been described as “one of Britain’s best tellers of travellers’ tails, and his previous talks in St John’s have been inspiration and informative. John is a wonderful speaker, bring the tails of his travels to life with his fabulous photographs and enthusiastic and captivating style.
Tickets for John Pilkington “Russia & Europe: What Next?” are £7.50 each, with a special offer of just £2.50 
for students. Available in person from the Parish Office, 14 Kidderminster Road, by email friends [dot] stjohns [dot] church [at] gmail [dot] com or phone 01527 853734. The talk takes place at St John’s on Tuesday 4th October at 7.30pm, doors open at 7.
Friends of St John’s raise funds to support the ongoing maintenance and restoration needs at Bromsgrove’s landmark, historic building. Events are organised to make full use of the space and to bring a new audience into the building.
For more information www.facebook.com/FriendsStJohnsBromsgrove
or on Twitter @FriendsStJohns
Tickets £7.50 & £2.50 for students : friends [dot] stjohns [dot] church [at] gmail [dot] com : 01527 835734
Doors open at 7.00pm