Join us on Wednesday 16 September 2026 in the U3A Main Room at 11.00am for the next episode of Mario’s presentation of the Seven Ages of Britain series.
The Age of Ambition
Episode 7 moves into the extraordinary period from 1914 to 2010 — an age of world wars, technological transformation, social revolution and remarkable cultural change.
The 20th century saw Britain transformed in ways that would have been difficult to imagine in 1914. New medical discoveries and technologies changed how people lived, worked and communicated, while two world wars reshaped Britain and the world.
A century of change
The episode begins by looking at the medical and technological advances of the 20th century, including some of the landmark inventions that transformed everyday life.
The First World War brought unprecedented industrialised warfare. Mario will examine World War I and the opposing powers, including the work of British artist Paul Nash, whose powerful paintings captured the devastation of the Western Front.
From radio to the Blitz
The age of mass communication was also born. The programme looks at the first radio transmission of the BBC and the emergence of broadcasting as a major part of British life.
During the Second World War, Britain faced the London Blitz, with civilians seeking protection in the city’s extensive network of deep-level air-raid shelters.
A new Britain
The post-war years brought another profound change with the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS), transforming access to healthcare across Britain.
By the 1960s, Britain was experiencing another kind of revolution. The Swinging Sixties brought dramatic changes in popular culture, music, fashion and social attitudes — changes whose influence continues to be felt today.
Art, diamonds and the modern age
The episode concludes by moving into contemporary Britain, including the extraordinary story of the Skull Star Diamond and the controversial work of artist Damien Hirst.
From the trenches of the First World War to the cultural revolution of the 1960s and the art world of the 21st century, The Age of Ambition explores a century in which Britain changed almost beyond recognition.
Wednesday 16 September 2026 · 11.00am
U3A Main Room · Art and History Class
Come along for Episode 7 of Seven Ages of Britain.