On 30 September, members gathered again at The Valentines for an engaging morning with Kenneth W. Park, Melbourne curator, lecturer, and travel expert. In his fascinating presentation, Kenneth explored the life and journeys of Agatha Christie, revealing how her adventures shaped her enduring detective stories.
Born in 1890 in Torquay, England, Agatha Christie’s travels through Europe and the Middle East deeply influenced her writing. Journeys with her archaeologist husband Max Mallowan inspired classics such as Murder in Mesopotamia, Death on the Nile, and They Came to Baghdad.
Kenneth explained how her real-life experiences, from working as a nurse and pharmacist during the wars to travelling on the Orient Express, gave her stories authenticity and atmosphere, turning her settings into characters.
If you would like to learn more about the 1881 Bequest Society and how to leave a gift in your will to support the school’s future, please contact Andrew Cole or Debra Stiebel in the Philanthropy Team.
