Charlie is a tireless performer with a commanding stage presence. He has a number of different shows and talks, including his classic all evening, “Eccentric Look at Suffolk”. He has other popular shows that you might wish to book him for:

The Dig!!!

Charlie was personally chosen by the great Ralph Fiennes to be the dialect coach for the wonderful Netflix film The Dig. Charlie has created a fascinating new talk about his experiences preparing Ralph and the cast for their roles and Charlie will reveal the extraordinary lengths Ralph Fiennes took, not only to play Basil Brown, but to become Basil Brown!

History of spoken English

This is not a talk on split infinitives, and what the differences are between the past participle and the past tense. Definitely not! Charlie shows how the seeds of spoken English was first sown, and how each invading force affected the English language with the different sounds they brought. Charlie includes a dialect tour of the British Isles, demonstrating the different facial expressions of each dialect. He also shows how some people he knows that lip read can tell what dialect a person has.

 

 

History of English Surnames

Charlie will talk about the Anglo-Saxon and Viking bynames and nicknames we had prior to the Norman Conquest. He will explain how and why surnames evolved after 1066 AD, and the disruption it caused. Charlie then enlightens the audience on the four different types of surnames which includes explaining the meanings of some of the surnames sitting in the audience.

This will be followed by Q&A

 

2024 - 2025 Bookings

Key

TD - Charlie and "The Dig"

HOSE - History of Spoken English

HOSE-2 - History of Spoken English - Part 2

HOS – History of Surnames

ELS – Eccentric Look at Suffolk

ELEA – Eccentric Look at East Anglia

ELC – Eccentric Look at the Countryside

OTP – Open to the Public

PF – Private Function

 

2024 - 2025

2024

July

Tues 16th July - St Neot's U3A - HOSE - PF

Wed 24th July - Suffolk Building Society - Social Event - TD - PF

Wed 31st July - Autumn Leaves, Tiptree - TD - PF

 

August

Sat 3rd Aug - Burgh Apton Church - ELEA - OTP

Sat 17th Aug - Framlingham Show - TD - OTP - morning

Sat 17th Aug - Framlingham Show - TD - OTP - afternoon

Tues 27th Aug - Watford Park U3A - TD - PF

Wed 28th Aug - Chorleywood U3A - TD - PF

 

September

Fri 13th Sept - Edwardstone St Mary's - HOSE - OTP

Mon 16th Sept - StNicholas Church, Elm Park - HOSE - PF

Wed 18th Sept - Benfleet Castle Point Probus - HOSE - PF

Thurs 19th Sept - Essex & Suffolk Farm Women's Club  -  TD - PF

Thurs 26th Sept - Sawbridgeworth U3A - HOSE - PF

Sat 28th Sept - Rede Church - ELS - OTP

Mon 30th Sept - Kesgrave U3A - TD - PF

 

October

 

November

Tues 5th Nov - Frinton Men's Probus Club - TBA - PF

Wed 6th Nov - Boxmoor & Dist. Probus - HOSE - PF

Thurs 7th Nov - Wymondham U3A - TBA - PF

Tues 12th Nov - Foxearth History Society - HOS - OTP

Wed 13th Nov - East Norfolk 6th Form College - HOSE - PF

Fri 22nd Nov - Stowmarket Christmas Lights

Tues 26th Nov - Fressingfield LHAG - HOSE - OTP

Wed 27th Nov - Melbourn U3A - HOSE - PF

Sat 30th Nov - Bardwell VH - TD - OTP

 

December

Tues 3rd Dec - Cambridge Professional Development Group - TD - PF

Thurs 5th Dec - SAS Carol Service - Long Melford -

Sat 7th Dec - VIVO Concert - Holbrook Church - OTP

Mon 9th Dec - Dedham Vale Society - TD - PF

Wed 11th Dec - Broomfield U3A - HOSE - PF

Fri 13th Dec - Old Hall Cafe - Reydon - ELS - OTP

Sat 14t Dec - Walberswick LHG - HOS - PF

Mon 15th Dec - Brentwood à BecketProbus Club- HOSE - PF

 

 

 

2025

January

Thurs 2nd Jan - Diss U3A - HOS - PF

Wed 15th Jan - Wrabness Stour Ladies - HOSE - PF

Mon 20th Jan - Colchester Vintage Car Club - HOS - PF

Thurs 23rd Jan -  Preston St Mary Church - TD - OTP

 

February

Sat 1st Feb - Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall - ELS - OTP

Fri 7th Feb - Hopton History Group - HOSE - PF

Sat 8th Feb - All Saints BSE - HOS - OTP

Thurs 20th Feb - Isleham Society - TBA - OTP

 

March

Sat 1st Mar - Harkstead Church - HOS - OTP

Thurs 6th Mar - University of Suffolk - HOS - OTP

Sat 8th Mar - 13th Ipswich Sea Scouts - HOS

Thur 13th Mar - Lowestoft ALHS - TD - PF

Sat 15th Mar - MND - Bury St Edmunds - ELS - OTP

 

April

Fri 4th April - Brightlingsea U3A - HOS - PF

Tues 15th April - Norfolk Austin Car Club - TD - PF

Wed 16th April - Buxhall W.I. - TBA - PF

Thurs 24th April - Thetford U3A - HOSE - PF

Fri 25th April - Diss Corn Hall - ELEA - OTP 

Sat 26th April -  Harleston Masonic Hall - ALT - PF   

 

May

Mon 12th May - Buntingford U3A -  HOSE Pt2 - PF

Wed 14th May - Ware U3A - HOSE Pt2 - PF

Tues 20th May - Bury U3A - HOSE Pt2 - PF

 

June

Mon 16th June  - Dagenham U3A  -  HOS - PF

Fri 20th June - Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice, Stowmarket - TD - OTP

Sat June 21st  - Wellbeing Waterfield - Hadleigh - PF Suffolk Day Talk - The Dig

Sun June 22nd  - St Alban's Day Talk - Shotley

 

September

Wed 3rd Sept - Suffolk Family Hist. Soc. - TD - PF

Wed 10th Sept - Coggeshall Society - TBA - PF

Fri 12th September - Beacon Wine Circle - ELC Pt 2 - PF

November

Mon 17th Nov - Maldon & District U3A - TD - PF

 

 

Key

TD - Charlie and "The Dig"

HOSE - History of Spoken English

HOSE-2  - History of Spoken English - Part 2

HOS – History of Surnames

ELS – Eccentric Look at Suffolk

ELEA – Eccentric Look at East Anglia

ELC – Eccentric Look at the Countryside

OTP – Open to the Public