Terry Waite

Terry Waite has worked in conflict situations the world over. As a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury's private staff, he successfully negotiated the release of many hostages during the 1980s. But in 1987, while attempting to secure the release of four men held in Lebanon, he was taken hostage himself. He survived almost five years in strict solitary confinement.

Terry Waite is a co-founder of YCare, Hostage UK, and President of Emmaus for the Homeless. He is involved with many other organisations concerned with prisoners and the vulnerable. He is the recipient of many Honary Doctorates from the UK and overseas and has been awarded the MBE and CBE.

In his talk he will discuss the reasons for his captivity; the conditions under which he was kept; and the way he managed to maintain mental, spiritual and physical health in an extreme situation.

He will refer to his book, Out of the Silence, in which he speaks about the importance of language and memory in maintaining inner cohesion. Signed copies of this book will be available for purchase on the evening.