Stephen Goss

The Titanic and her times
When news broke that RMS Titanic – the supposedly unsinkable ship – had sunk with the loss of 1,500 lives there was shock across the world. While there have been larger maritime disasters since, the tragedy of the then most luxurious liner ever to be built has been remembered in a way few other shipwrecks have.

This talk provides an insight into Britain and the international situation in the ‘Belle Époque’ before the First World War. It tells the story of the conception, construction, and fate of Titanic and her two sister ships. Developed and built in Belfast, learn about the fraught and violent political situation in what was then one of the most important industrial cities in the world.

The impact of the sinking (as well as the conspiracy theories that emerged) are discussed, and the clandestine Cold War reasons for the ship’s discovery revealed. I add stories of my family connexions to Titanic and the Belfast shipyards to explore her history and why over a century later Titanic is still claiming lives.


'I’ve got a little list of society offenders': the wit and satire of Gilbert & Sullivan – Act II
It is impossible to cover the wealth of satire and parody in the works of Gilbert & Sullivan in a single one-hour talk.

This is the second part of the exploration of the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, where the ’topsy-turvy’ world is a mirror reflecting Victorian society. In an era marked by rapid social and political change, Gilbert gave theatre-going Victorians topical themes and references, targeted the most revered institutions of British society, and lampooned well-known figures.

Learn more about late Nineteenth Century British history and the context to the Savoy Operas, including their smash hit The Mikado with ‘Act II’, which goes beyond ‘Act I’ – but has just as much humour and as many musical interludes.


A Study in Sherlock: the Secrets Behind the World’s Most Famous Detective
This talk delves into the fascinating world of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective and the real-life influences that shaped his creation. Doyle, a trained physician who served in the Boer War and had a keen interest in spiritualism, drew from his experiences and the tumultuous events of his time to craft the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Today, Sherlock Holmes endures as a cultural icon, inspiring countless films, television series, and stage adaptations. With a global fanbase and numerous societies dedicated to preserving his legacy, Holmes continues to captivate audiences. A Study in Sherlock uncovers the mysteries behind the character’s creation, Doyle’s life, and the historic events that brought the world’s most famous detective to life.


The Secret history: Britain and the Cold War
This talk looks at the contribution and response of the UK to the Cold War. Starting in 1945 and continuing to Britain’s significant role in the collapse of the Soviet empire, it covers some of the most intense moments of the conflict.

Revealing the impact that global tension had on the UK as a whole, it takes the international conflict down to the local level; how would where you live have fared? Was your town or city on the Soviet target list?

The talk reveals how the various elements across society responded. Amongst other revelations it discloses clandestine arrangements, plans for secret bunkers, and how Britain was on the frontline of the global struggle between East and West. This talk covers the untold story of the local impact of the Cold War and HM Government’s plans for a post-apocalyptic Britain.


From Partition to Protocol: the history of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland was the sticking point over a negotiated deal to leave the EU. Teresa May’s government was dependent on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party – who objected to and helped bring down her exit deal. This talk explains why there is a ‘Northern Ireland’, its history, and why it was such a bone of contention for London and Brussels as the UK attempted to untangle itself from the EU.

To say the history of Northern Ireland is complicated would be an understatement. The talk covers the political developments producing Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists, the Troubles, the Peace Process, and Good Friday Agreement. Most relevantly, it explains the ‘Back-stop’, ‘Protocol’, and ‘Windsor Framework’: what they meant for the UK, why they have been problematic, and where we are today. Understanding the historical background is essential to grasping the complexities of the Northern Ireland issue as the UK and the EU seek a workable relationship and try to move forward.


'This is the room from which I will direct the war': Churchill and the Cabinet War Rooms
In 1938 Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain gave the go ahead for the creation of ‘Central War Rooms’ – a top secret bunker from which the Government could safely fight another war should it come. On a tour of the bunker shortly after becoming Prime Minister, Winston Churchill stepped into the War Cabinet’s meeting room and said, 'this is the room from which I will direct the war'.


Hear how a collection of basement rooms under the Treasury building served as the centre of Britain’s war effort. What came to be known as the Cabinet War Rooms was occupied by leading government ministers, military strategists and Churchill. The talk takes you around the top-secret corridors of the War Rooms and provides an insight into what life was like in the bunker, the vital work carried out there, and Churchill – the man and war-time leader.


From Domesday Book to listening in for doomsday: Caversham Park’s 930 years at the centre of history
First recorded in the post-Norman invasion Domesday Book, Caversham Park has played a surprisingly central role in English, British and international history for nearly a millennium.

It was the seat of the so-called ‘best knight whoever lived’, who was related to the man who brought about the English conquest of Ireland. The Manor of Caversham was embroiled in the Reformation, was owned by cousins of Elizabeth I – who not only gave their name to current streets in Reading – but guarded Mary, Queen of Scots. Caversham Park both entertained the first two Stuart Kings and became a prison for Charles I. Learn about its role in the Glorious Revolution, and its connexions to the American War of Independence.

The estate became a refuge in the First World War, and was taken over by the BBC during the Second. Hear how it became a centre for intelligence throughout the Second World War, the Cold War and the ‘War on Terror’. This talk reveals how an estate on the north bank of the Thames was a surprising tour de force in global events from the Norman Conquest to the threat of Soviet annihilation.


The war that no one wanted: the origins of the First World War
We have now marked the centenary of the outbreak and conclusion of one of the most shattering conflicts of the Twentieth Century.

This talk outlines the international developments that resulted in the First World War. It covers the unification of both Italy and Germany, the domestic situations in the great powers and key European players, the impact of empire-building and the situation in the Balkans. The intricacies of international relations in the period are explained for an understanding of why Europe was plunged into such a devastating war. Weaving these considerations together, it will put the First World War in context and explain why a dispute in south-eastern Europe was so quickly transformed into a fight to the death for the Continent’s great empires and powers.


‘This is not a peace. It is an armistice for twenty years’: the origins of the Second World War
Supreme Allied Commander Marshal Ferdinand Foch accepted the German surrender in November 1918. The peace terms he advocated were so punitive that German would not have posed a threat to France again. According to Churchill, when he heard the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Foch responded: ‘this is not a peace. It is an armistice for twenty years’. He was proved right.

This talk covers the international and domestic chaos into which the once Great Powers were thrown by the First World War. It addresses the grievances of the defeated powers which led to the rise of extreme left and right-wing regimes. It outlines the political state of the victorious nations in the inter-war period, the impact of the Great Depression, the failure of the League of Nations, as well as the origins and effect of appeasement.

The Great War was supposed to be the war to end all wars. This talk explains why the most devastating conflict the world has ever known occurred a mere two decades later.