A HISTORY festival hailed as the ‘first of its kind in Wales’ is to be held in Bangor.

Top historians including David Starkey, Lucy Worsley and David Olusoga are heading to the city as speakers at the prestigious event.

The Four Nations History Festival is set to be held at Bangor University, between October 25-26, 2019.

Led by the University’s School of History, the festival will explore the shared and distinct histories of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The event will also involve the Storiel museum, Bangor Cathedral, and other groups, and will bring eminent and emerging scholars together.

Mrs Raj Jones, a Fellow of Bangor University, who is the driving force behind the festival and its sponsor said: “This festival will be a first of its kind in Wales. It should provide an opportunity to showcase the remarkable heritage and history of this area and of Wales in the context of the bigger picture, both - national and global.

“It will also highlight the interesting and scholarly work being done by Bangor University.”

Raj’s late husband Dr Thomas Parry Jones OBE was famed as the inventor of the Electronic Breathalyser. He was an alumnus of the university and set up an Endowment Fund, which has previously supported the Bangor Science Festival.

Mrs Jones added: “This year I felt we should mount a history festival similar to the ones held yearly at York and Winchester.

“Local and invited speakers will be involved including speakers such as Trevor Fishlock from Cardiff and John Keay from Argyll, plus others.

“It will be a community event, there will be exhibitions and book signing opportunities. The first day-time is free and schools will be invited.”

David Starkey CBE is a constitutional historian who has written over 20 books and has presented numerous programmes on television and radio.

Lucy Worsley OBE is Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces and a presenter of historical programmes such as The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain (2014) and Six Wives with Lucy Worsley (2016).

David Olusoga OBE is an historian, broadcaster and film-maker who is a Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester.

People are requested to register their interest in attending from Friday, July 12 on the Pontio Web site or at their Box Office: 01248 382828. Or see fournations.bangor.ac.uk A full programme will be out soon.