YEAR 13 student Francis Raynes hosted the last of this year’s History Cafe talks.

Francis, along with some of his classmates, has been one of History Cafe’s most regular customers since its inception in 2014 when he was in Year 9. It was therefore quite fitting that he closed this year’s scheduled proceedings.

Head of History at King’s Ely Senior, Colin Currie, said: “Francis gave an inspiring talk on the British defeat at Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, posing the question was this the British Empire’s greatest defeat. Francis took us through the lead up to the battle, before delivering an inquest into how the British forces were so heavily routed. Not many people know this, but he also even managed to slip in a deadpan Michael Caine quip, in homage to the actor’s starring role in the film Zulu; which depicts the British Defence of the mission station at Rourke’s drift, immediately after the Battle of Isandlwana.

“Overall, his talk was most interesting, well-paced and well-delivered. I would like to thank Francis for his efforts in preparing it and also for all of his support for History Cafe over the years – though History Cafe is always for the people, I am very pleased that it is also, on occasion, by the people too. My thanks are also very much extended to the other Year 13 pupils in attendance who have regularly supported History Cafe from the start. They will all be missed next year!”

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