An Evening with Terry Waite

Terry Waite has led an extraordinary life.   As an advisor to the Archbishop of Uganda he had dealings with General Idi Amin and later, whilst a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s private staff, was successful in negotiating the release of many hostages.  Terry was captured in Beirut and spent almost five years in strict solitary confinement.

During this special evening in Southwark Cathedral he will discuss some of his experiences, especially his years in captivity and how he was able to keep mentally and spiritually alive, including discussing his first book Taken on Trust, written in his head during those years. Terry will also draw upon thoughts from Out of the Silence, a recent book of his own poems and recollections, and Solitude in which Terry tells of his visits to solitary people and places, reflecting on the negative and positive aspects of solitude. His latest publication, Travels with a Primate, humorously tells of some of the amusing events that took place as he travelled the world with Archbishop Runcie.

Terry Waite MBE, CBE is a British Quaker, Anglican, humanitarian and author. In the 1980s, he worked as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s special envoy, travelling to the Middle East and negotiating the release of many hostages in Iran, Libya and Lebanoon. His first book, Taken on Trust, was written in his head when he was denied pen or paper during his captivity. He is also the author of Out of the Silence: Memories, poems, reflections (SPCK, 2016) and Solitude: Memories, Peoples, Places (SPCK 2017) in which he recalls the highs and lows of his life, both during his ordeal as a hostage and in the happier years of humanitarian work that have followed.