Delivering Engaging Talks on British History, Heritage, and the Human Story
Engaging talks for historical groups and community audiences
Stonehenge & Avebury
Stonehenge and Avebury have watched over Wiltshire for more than five thousand years. This talk brings their story to life — the builders, the beliefs, the rituals and the remarkable landscape they created.
A blend of archaeology, folklore and the human stories behind Britain’s most iconic monuments.
British Prehistory:
The Deep Time That Shaped Us
From the first humans who walked across a land bridge to Britain nearly a million years ago, to the builders of stone circles and Bronze Age barrows, the story of our island stretches far beyond recorded history.
Robin explores the deep time of British prehistory, uncovering how climate, landscape and human ingenuity shaped the earliest communities.
A thoughtful and richly illustrated journey into the world our ancestors inhabited long before kings, chronicles or kingdoms.
Scotland Yard Historical Casebook
Step into the shadowed world of Scotland Yard at the height of its power, where gaslit streets, whispered suspicions and painstaking detective work brought some of Britain’s most compelling criminal cases to light.
Drawing on a remarkable collection of Victorian and Edwardian investigations derived direct form the publications of the time, this talk explores stories from over thirty real cases handled by Scotland Yard — from baffling murders and audacious frauds to the everyday realities of policing a rapidly changing society.
Through original newspaper reports, court records and firsthand accounts, these cases reveal not only the crimes themselves, but the methods, limitations and occasional brilliance of early detectives navigating a world before modern forensic certainty.
A vivid journey through the triumphs, missteps and human stories behind one of the most famous police institutions in the world — and the cases that defined it.
Georgian / Victorian / Edwardian
True Crime
Behind the polite façade of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian Britain lay a world of intrigue, scandal and crime.
Robin shares stories uncovered during years of research into period newspapers and court archives, revealing extraordinary true cases and the shifting world of early forensic science, policing and everyday justice.
A rich tapestry of characters, motives and social change — all drawn from the words of those who lived it.
The Camino de Santiago
A thousand-year pilgrimage walked by millions — and walked by Robin himself. This talk weaves together the history, legends and architectural heritage of the Camino de Santiago with Robin’s own experience on the trail. A reflective and gently humorous journey through landscapes, traditions and the people who keep this medieval route alive today.
Mysterious Britain
From ancient rituals and pre-Christian beliefs to the folk-magic that lingered for centuries, Britain’s past is filled with stories of sacred landscapes, protective charms and the unseen forces people once lived alongside.
This talk uncovers the traditions, symbols and quiet enchantments that shaped everyday life long before modern faiths and sciences took hold.
A richly evocative journey into Britain’s oldest supernatural heritage.
Wiltshire & Somerset Historical Casebook
Beneath the quiet lanes, market towns and rolling countryside of Wiltshire and Somerset lies a history far darker — and far more intriguing — than first appears.
This talk uncovers a series of real Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian crimes drawn from the region, revealing stories of murder, deception, jealousy and justice played out in familiar villages and long-forgotten corners of the West Country.
Through contemporary newspaper reports, inquest testimony and court proceedings, these cases bring to life the people, places and tensions that shaped local communities — from isolated farmhouses and coaching inns to bustling town centres.
Rich in atmosphere and historical detail, this is a journey into the hidden past of counties we think we know — and the extraordinary events that unfolded just beyond the doorstep.
Victorians: Behind the Parlour Door
Step beyond the crime and cluttered cobblestones, and into the gentler world of the Victorian home. This talk uncovers the daily rituals, curious beliefs and small domestic dramas that shaped everyday life — from parlour etiquette and household remedies to the superstitions, fashions and social niceties that governed an entire age.
Period newspapers, diaries and forgotten handbooks bring to life the warmth, humour and extraordinary details of an era we think we know.
A Passion for the Past
About Robin
After many years working in the British theatre, Robin Coles developed a lifelong passion for communication. His career later took him into the world of corporate events, where he produced staged presentations for international clients including Microsoft, IBM and McLaren.
Following forty years in London, Robin stepped away from corporate life and returned to the subjects that had always fascinated him: Britain’s deep past, its landscapes, and the stories of the people who shaped our islands.
A move to Wiltshire opened the door to volunteer work at both Stonehenge and Avebury, giving him an exceptional, hands-on insight into the archaeology and folklore of these extraordinary sites.
Alongside this, Robin and his wife — a psychologist and writer — launched a historical true-crime YouTube channel, News of the Times, drawing entirely on original Victorian and Edwardian newspapers. Their work now spans over 800 documentary-style episodes, each bringing long-forgotten voices of the past back into the present.
Between research projects and heritage work, Robin walked the Camino de Santiago, adding a personal pilgrimage to his growing tapestry of historical interests.
Today, Robin shares these passions with audiences across the country. His talks blend clear storytelling, gentle humour and well-researched history, offering an engaging journey through the people, places and events that built Britain.
Historical Media & Documentary Work
Alongside his speaking engagements, Robin also presents News of the Times —
a documentary-style YouTube series exploring Victorian and Edwardian true crime, social history, and the evolution of forensic investigation.
Each episode is drawn from original archives, offering audiences an engaging and educational window into Britain’s past.
Watch News of the Times here: