About this Event
An Illustrated Talk on Stephen Tennant with Hugo Vickers
Hugo Vickers invoke the world of Stephen Tennant in an illustrated talk for the exhibition Lascar - The Art & Ephemera of Stephen Tennant at The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
Hugo Vickers met Stephen Tennant in 1980 when he was researching his biography of Cecil Beaton. He visited him many times at Wilford Manor, notably between 1980 and 1981 and again in 1985. Meanwhile a lengthy correspondence developed between them. After Stephen’s death Hugo bought a large collection of Stephen’s papers which he kept for many years and which are now in the Beinecke Library at Yale.
Hugo played an influential role in bringing Stephen back into the public domain. Philip Hoare described him as ’the godfather’ of his brilliant biography - Serious Pleasures, which drew heavily on those papers.
Hugo will recall these meetings and will invoke the world of Stephen Tennant and Wilsford Manor.
Hugo Vickers
Hugo Vickers is a biographer and lecturer, and known as a renowned expert on the Royal Family. He was chosen by Cecil Beaton to be his authorised biographer in 1979, very soon before his death in January 1980. Hugo set off on his journey to meet Cecil’s friends, and it soon became clear that Stephen Tennant was one of the most vital to meet. By then he was a recluse in bed in the almost haunted domain of Wilsford Manor near Amesbury and known to be reluctant to allow visitors in. But Hugo managed to meet him and become a friend. In this illustrated talk, he will relate his encounters with the celebrated recluse and his part in bringing Stephen Tennant to a wider audience.
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This talk is in conjunction with The Last Tuesday Society's exhibition: Lascar - The Art & Ephemera of Stephen Tennant - The Man Who Stayed in Bed. The exhibition of paintings, drawings, scrapbooks and ephemera from our extensive collections will be on view from Nov 12th 2026 - February 28, 2027.
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Event is suitable for 18+ over only. Please contact [email protected] with any questions, allergies or dietary requirements. Refunds for in-person events are only possible up to 7 days prior to the event date.
Event venue & nearby stays
The Last Tuesday Society / Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, London, United Kingdom
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