A winter lecture series by prominent speakers will help the work of a local charity at a time when demand for its support is at its highest.
Every year The Upper Room of Shepherds Bush organises a string of evenings when lecturers with strong local bonds deliver talks to raise money for helping disadvantaged people.
Guest speakers in the latest run of lectures are the adventurer Simon Reeve, impressionist Jan Ravens, producer Robert Fox and opera singer Dame Felicity Palmer. Tickets (£15) are available on Eventbrite.
Who's talking
Simon Reeve's evening is on Thursday 11 January at 7.30pm in St Michael and All Angels church, Bath Road, W4, when the award-winning traveller and expert on terrorism, who was born in Hammersmith, will discuss his documentary programme making with journalist Julian Marshall, and take questions.
On Thursday 22 February it's the turn of mezzo-soprano Dame Felicity Palmer, who turns 80 in the spring. The opera singer, who is also a Royal College of Music professor, made her debut with the English National Opera in 1975. She will be interviewed by broadcaster Jonathan Maitland at St Saviour's, Wendell Park, at 8pm.
Robert Fox, 71, baby brother of actors Edward and James, is a theatrical and film producer, best known for the series The Crown, The Hours and Notes on a Scandal. He will be interviewed by former BBC media correspondent Torin Douglas on Thursday 11 April at 8pm at St Michael and All Angels.
The final evening in the series sees Dead Ringer Jan Ravens, acclaimed for her uncanny impressions of Theresa May, Kirsty Walk and Diane Abbott, deliver the Upper Room lecture on Wednesday 24 April at 8pm at St Michael and All Angels.
The series is sponsored by estate agent Finlay Brewer.
Charity
The Upper Room is based at St Saviour's in Cobbold Road, Shepherds Bush.
It began life three decades ago as a soup kitchen, and still supplies hot meals to those in need. But it also assists people into work, counsels, supports homeless people and enables ex-offenders to turn their lives around.
