At the end of September, the Edington Fellows visited the likely site of the Battle of Edington in Wiltshire, from which our Fellowship takes its name. The day began with two lectures on the spiritual roots of the nation: Dr. Bijan Omrani discussed the legacy of the Venerable Bede and his centrality to the idea of the English people, and Dr. Ofir Haivry delved into King Alfred’s law codes and their ethical significance.
After lunch, they walked up the hill where the Battle of Edington is thought to have taken place, visiting the famous Westbury White Horse. We then returned to the pub for our final speaker, the Rt Hon Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who highlighted the constitutional legacy of the Anglo-Saxons.
We learned that constitutional restoration, rather than revolution, is central to our national tradition and crucial for building a more prosperous Britain today. The day was rounded off in quintessentially English style with excellent local ale.
You can watch our highlights video on YouTube here. You can also read Dr. Bijan Omrani’s write up on the day in The Critic here.