When Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, Canterbury was a small, quiet, market town. This last talk in a series on the history of Canterbury charts how local residents witnessed the building of vast housing estates, an influx of students to new centres of higher education, and the growth of tourism.

The city hit pop music headlines with the 'Canterbury Sound' in the 1960s; a few years later, Bagpuss and The Clangers were created in Blean, and Canterbury attracted national attention when the Pope prayed in the Cathedral in 1982. Since then, World Heritage status, big new glass-fronted buildings, the high-speed train, and a growing multi-ethnic population, have helped transform the city from what it was at the start of the late Queen's 70-year reign.

Doreen Rosman taught history at the University of Kent and she returns to offer Friends the final talk in her series about the history of Canterbury. Doreen’s publications include, Canterbury a History since 1500, the story of a city and its people.

This event is organised by and in support of The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral (Registered Charity No 1210093).