Their are a number of NCF events coming up to look forward to once we've got through the rain-drenched dog days of August.

The Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Julian Fellowes (right) will be our special guest at an event in the autumn. Julian wrote Gosford Park of course, and his most recent picture was The Young Victoria.

There will also be panel discussions on liberal education, in conjunction with Marc Sidwell's new book The School of Freedom, and the position of science in modern society, with the author and BBC broadcaster Dennis Sewell.

Details will be posted nearer the time.