Hinsley Memorial Lecture 2016 to be given by Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles

The 16th Hinsley Memorial Lecture, held at St John’s, is to be given by Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, and will focus on dealing with terrorism.

The lecture, which will take place on Monday 14 November, is entitled ‘Treating Terrorism’. Drawing on his experience as a diplomat dealing with terrorism in Ireland, the Middle East and Afghanistan, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles will characterise terrorism as a disease and speak about the best means of treating it and its symptoms.

Sherard is the author of two books: Cables from Kabul (2011) and Ever the Diplomat (2012). He spent more than 30 years in HM Diplomatic Service, culminating in ambassadorial appointments in Israel, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. He is an Honorary Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford, and has an honorary DLitt from Westminster University.

The Hinsley Memorial Lecture honours Sir Harry Hinsley, a former student and later Master of St John’s and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Originally a medieval historian, Hinsley worked as a cryptanalyst at Bletchley Park during World War II, where he contributed to the analysis of intercepted German wireless traffic. He returned to St John’s after the conflict, and lectured in History, specialising in the History of International Relations. St John's College hosts the Hinsley Memorial Lecture on an international relations topic every year.

The lecture will take place at 6pm on Monday 14 November in the Main Lecture Theatre at the Old Divinity School, St John’s College, and will be preceded by tea at 5.15pm. Parking will be available in the Playing Fields car park. All University members are welcome to attend.