Lightning Talks No.9
A Sparkling Evening in West London
What a night! On a gloriously sunny April evening, WLAC's ninth Lightning Talks event brought together over 70 guests for an unforgettable evening of ideas, community, and conversation - and raised an impressive £1,500 in the process.
A Stunning Setting
We were incredibly fortunate to be hosted in the beautiful art studio of Amy Shuckburgh, in the Curtis Building overlooking Ravenscourt Park. As the sun set over West London, guests mingled over wine and canapés in the most inspiring of surroundings — the perfect backdrop for an evening celebrating the talent in our community.
Six Speakers. Six Minutes Each. Endless Inspiration.
Our MC for the evening, Angela Ridgeon, introduced the six captivating talks, each just six minutes long. Before each speaker took the floor, Angela shared "three things you didn't know about..." them — sparking curiosity and plenty of lively conversation afterwards!
The topics were as eclectic and engaging as ever:
· The Hidden Rules of Conversation
· Mycenaean Mythology
· YoGo Buggy Rides
· A WLAC Psychotherapist Case Study
· Rabies Research and R₀: A 30-Year Review
· My Portrait of Harold Pinter
A huge thank you to our speakers — Mason, George, Sam, Paul, and Amy — for sharing their expertise with such passion and enthusiasm.
Community at Its Heart
WLAC's Director of Operations, Natalie Burge, presented a powerful case study from one of our therapists, and Chair of Trustees, Meg Kaufman, spoke about our continued work in the community. Meg also reminded the room that everyone has a lightning talk waiting inside them — watch this space!
The £1,500 raised — £700 more than our previous event — will go directly towards our vital work in Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea.
Thank Yous
Evenings like this don't happen without an army of wonderful people. Enormous thanks to:
· Our volunteers who welcomed guests so warmly
· The Hartley family for running the bar
· Angela, Georgina, Sue, Sally, Clare, Meg, and Natalie for donating delicious canapés
· Godolphin & Latymer School for lending us chairs and tables
And of course, the biggest thank you of all to Amy Shuckburgh for opening her beautiful studio to us.
What's Next?
Missed this one? Don't worry — Lightning Talks No. 10 is coming on Wednesday 23rd September 2026, and it's a special one: our 10th anniversary! We'd love to see you there. To explore Amy Shuckburgh's artwork, visit her website: www.amyshuckburgh.com.
For upcoming events, visit our Events Page.