Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know

Spend an hour in the company of some of the most interesting, independent, strange, eccentric and sometimes downright criminal people who have been Members of Parliament over the centuries. A talk by Vivian Widgery to raise funds for the TW International Music Competition, a biennial competition for outstanding young musicians at the start of their careers

Vivian Widgery worked in the Official Report (Hansard) for the House of Commons for 32 years, starting as one of the first trainee reporters and ending up as Deputy Editor. Sitting in the press gallery of the House of Commons and watching Members of Parliament in action, while reporting the speeches given by parliamentarians, not to mention getting to meet and see many MPs, Lords, Ministers and important visitors, resulted in a lifelong interest not only in day-to-day politics but in the history of Parliament, both as a building and as an institution.

Since leaving the Official Report, she has continued to do freelance editing work for Select Committees, both House of Lords and House of Commons, and has liaised and taught with international bodies in parliamentary administration. She has sung with the Parliament Choir since 2001, and wrote a book to celebrate the first 20 years of the Choir. She was also a contributor to a recent book on female MPs. She is a trustee of the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition, and is active in local politics.