Alumna Leads Inspiring Billingham Lecture
At the end of the Michaelmas term, we had the pleasure of welcoming Alumna Dr Charlotte Woodhead back to RGS to lead a fascinating Billingham Society Lecture for the pupils.
Charlotte, a trained barrister, provided valuable insights into the diverse career paths within the legal profession, sharing her journey into academia as an Associate Professor at Warwick University.
Her talk focused on the restitution of cultural heritage, particularly examining cases such as the Benin Bronzes and Nazi-looted art. Charlotte explored the complexities of restitution, highlighting specific cases like Dr Feldmann’s drawings and the Koch family’s forced sale of watches and clocks. She discussed efforts since 1990 to return objects to pre-war owners, legal barriers, and the role of the Spoliation Advisory Panel.
While the primary focus was on Nazi-looted art and cultural objects, Charlotte also touched on other contested items in museums, including the Benin Bronzes. Pupils were engaged throughout, offering interesting responses and posing thoughtful questions.
We are very grateful to Charlotte for giving up her precious time to share her expertise with the Billingham Society and for leading such an insightful and engaging lecture.