Blesma Member Harry Parker has been hard at work helping to organise this year's Chelsea History Festival, which this year will take part largely online.

The past will be brought to life in an immersive mixture of digital and physical events for the Chelsea History Festival 2020.

In response to the pandemic, their new website will host short films and digital content. These films will allow you to explore the hidden histories of one of London’s most historic and beautiful districts.

You can also join a walk around Chelsea with Paul Wood, resident tree expert, looking at the ancient and unique trees of Chelsea. There will be exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of iconic Chelsea institutions, including the Chelsea Physic Garden.

The festival’s co-founders – the National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Chelsea and Chelsea Physic Garden – are proud to host a diverse programme of talks from world-class speakers, authors, thinkers and historians.

Unfortunately, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be no physical events held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea this year as the venue is still closed to the public. The Hospital’s first priority is to ensure the welfare of the Chelsea Pensioners at this time.

The Line-up

With an impressive range of speakers, the festival explores history in all its variety.

The world-renowned human rights lawyer and author Philippe Sands will be discussing his new book on the Ratline. These were infamous escape routes used by Nazis and other fascists fleeing Europe in the aftermath of the Second World War.

They will delve into the natural world by looking at the healing power of gardening with Sue Stuart Smith and unknown world of fungi with Merlin Sheldrake.

Valerie Hansen will demonstrate that the world was a globalised and connected place in the year 1000, and Laura Spinney will remind us that this is by no means the first global pandemic as she examines the Spanish Flu of 1918.

Winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2019, Hallie Rubenhold uncovers the lives of the five women killed by Jack the Ripper.

Professor Olivette Otele will reveal the fascinating history of Africans in Europe, ahead of the publication of her ground-breaking new book, African Europeans.

While Michael Morpurgo, former Children’s Laureate and acclaimed writer of War Horse, will discuss his experiences of lockdown and turning war into fiction for children and adults.