A free event to celebrate the life, career, and legacy of the crime writer Margery Allingham, at the University of Essex, Colchester.

Friday 27th October, 6.00pm

Tickets: Free, but booking essential – book via the Lakeside Theatre website

Come celebrate the life, career, and legacy of crime writer Margery Allingham, who was one of the Queens of Crime during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, and who spent most of her life in Essex. The University of Essex’s library has held the Margery Allingham archive for a number of decades.

The evening also celebrates the 100th anniversary since the publication of Allingham’s first novel: a story of pirates and smuggling set on Mersea Island.

This free event will feature talks from historians, the Margery Allingham Society, and a crime novelist from 6 pm in the Lakeside Theatre at the University of Essex’s Colchester campus. Afterwards, from 7:30 pm, you can view an exhibition of items from the Margery Allingham archive in the Special Collections room of the University Library.

There will also be a chance to view the exhibition between 5 and 5:45pm as part of an early bird viewing session before the talks.

Tickets are free but are required, and can be booked via the Lakeside Theatre website. Do book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment, as there is no guarantee tickets will be available on the night.

It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a local literary talent: whether you are already an Allingham fan, a crime fiction fan, or are just curious to learn more about a local notable figure.