Dear Mr Cornwell,
I have read all your historical fiction with great interest, my favourite series being the Saxon stories of Uhtred. Once you revealed your descent from the family which held Bebbanburg, I was VERY intrigued. As a former registrar of births, deaths and marriages on Tyneside with a deep interest in genealogy, I asked myself “How can he know that?” since records are so very scarce for that period. I am also keenly interested in local history and the Norse period – I even have Norwegian relatives – and love the Icelandic sagas.

“Will he ever get to the point?” I hear you asking. Well, yes, hear it is. I am a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (SANT) and the March 2014 public lecture is on 26 Mar, 2014 at 6 pm, “The Anglo-Saxon Fortress of Bamburgh: the Archaeological Evidence by Graeme Young”, SANT is 200 years old and a highly respected society in the field of history and archaeology. Maybe, just maybe we will hear something of Uhtred’s time in Bebbanburg. Perhaps someone has found Uhtred’s remains. Roll on the 26th March.

If you can’t make the lecture, I’ll try to send an update.

Best wishes from Brian Reeds