I ATTENDED my first ever Wharf lecture on May 18 and the people I spoke to were very enthusiastic about the upcoming topic of Storm Jameson. Initially, I thought the lecture would be very intimidating and hard going — I couldn't of been anymore wrong! The speaker, Elizabeth Malsen, was so enriching. It was obvious to understand how much time and effort had gone into her research and work. The Wharf Lectures are not only engagingly knowledgable but they can also bring out confidence on a personal level. It is difficult to fight the urge to want to be in the speaker's position. It becomes a sort of ambition. Perhaps if you had a topic or interest you could organise your own lecture! I can promise you the audience are easy going, unless you have me, frantically scribbling down notes. That's the beauty of it — you can make the most of lectures for fun to learn or for a quaint afternoon out. Sarah Smith, aged 17