THE fifth Chalke Valley History Festival is underway with the brightest minds in history gathering at Ebbesbourne Wake along with academics, MPs, journalists, broadcasters, authors and people who have all played their own part in history.

With the first day on Monday, audiences have already enjoyed talks on British First World War generals, sensation and pleasure in 18th century France, Gandhi and the Spanish Civil War.

On Wednesday David Owen, a doctor and former foreign secretary, was due to consider how illness has affected the decision-making of heads of government and generals since 1900.

Today talks range from the Head of the Naval Historical Branch of the Naval Staff Stephen Prince on Gallipoli and historian Roger Moorhouse on the German-Soviet pact to historian Matthew Parker on Ian Fleming’s Jamaica and Sir Ranulph Fiennes on Agincourt.

On Friday, Professor Jeremy Black will be discussing past, present and future warfare, Tom Holland will discuss the rise and fall of the House of Caesar and journalist Mark Ellen who was at the heart of rock and roll for decades will give an insight into its evolution and key figures.

There will be a chance to meet Jeremy Hutchinson, the greatest criminal barrister of his generation, when he appears in conversation with Jon Snow at the age of 100 on Saturday.

Nicholas Soames will be talking about his grandfather Churchill and Antony Beevor on Hitler while Wing Commander Tom Neil, a double-ace of the Battle of Britain, will be also be attending as well as an entire seven-man Lancaster crew.

In addition to many more speakers – for full details see cvhf.org.uk – there is an air show on Saturday and Sunday with a pair of Spitfires also flying over the site on Friday evening.

There is also a chance to experience life in the trenches, take part in a sword school and enjoy a through-the-ages encampment with living historians providing a large number of interactive demonstrations and historical narratives.