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Hill House Lectures: Inspiring Minds ​​​​​​​

Be inspired and join the conversation.

Since the inception of the Hill House Lectures in 2017, we have been honoured to welcome an array of prestigious thinkers and inspirational leaders to the city of Doncaster.

Our vision is to captivate minds, be they pupils, parents or just those with a love of learning. That is why we are delighted to be able to open these talks up to everybody, for free. They are an opportunity to actively engage with experts and learn from their experience.

The talks are FREE but booking is required.

Dr Phil Hammond 'Staying Alive' - Tuesday 6 October 2026

Dr Phil Hammond explores what health really means and what it means to be healthy, asking how we can make the most of our “one wild and precious life” while nurturing purpose and passion.

Phil will also consider the role of mistakes in our lives, explaining how humans learn through errors, but only when we are willing to acknowledge and share them. Above all, he encourages us to think beyond five portions of fruit and vegetables and aim for five portions of fun each day.

Darren England ‘You’re in Charge: The Premier League Referee Challenge’ - Tuesday 17 November 2026

Darren England will give the audience a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a Premier League referee, from preparing for matches and working as part of a team to reviewing performances and handling high-pressure situations.

He will share stories from his career, including big decisions and memorable moments, before putting the audience to the test with real match clips.

Through this engaging experience, Darren will explore the importance of confidence, communication and decision-making under pressure – and discover whether the audience has what it takes to make the call.

Monty Halls, ‘Rules from the Road - The Five Laws of Life’ - Tuesday 9 February 2027

Monty Halls draws on a lifetime of travel, living alongside different cultures and witnessing people perform to the limits of physical and mental endurance to share five simple rules for life.

Through stories from his extraordinary career, alongside world-class images and video clips from projects large and small, Monty explores the principles that can determine whether a project succeeds or fails, whether a team prospers and whether an individual prevails. Described as a “masterclass in life”, this engaging lecture offers pupils an insight into leadership, resilience, teamwork and dealing with the unexpected.

Maggie Alphonsi, MBE - ‘Creating a Winning Mindset’- Tuesday 16 March 2027

In this lecture, Maggie explores what it takes to develop a winning mindset and become the best version of yourself.

Drawing on her experiences in elite sport and business, she will share lessons on leadership, confidence, resilience and performing under pressure. Maggie will encourage attendees to lead with their strengths, embrace challenges and take the next step towards achieving their goals, leaving them feeling inspired, energised and motivated to make a difference.

 

Rebecca Williams - ‘Can we predict volcanic eruptions?’ - Tuesday 27 April 2027

In this interactive lecture, Rebecca explores why and how scientists study volcanoes, including how volcanic activity is monitored and the challenges of forecasting eruptions.

The audience will take part in a simulated volcanic crisis, making decisions as the situation develops and discovering how scientists assess risk, interpret evidence and respond when a volcano threatens to erupt.