Wally Oppenheim: How Britain took Cyprus

A lecture on “How Britain took Cyprus” will be given by the History teacher Wally Oppenheim, on Monday, November 14, 7pm at Technopolis 20.

How and Why Britain decided Cyprus would make a useful addition to the British Empire will be the subject of the talk. It will cover the ambitions of Prime Minister Disraeli and Queen Victoria as well as the complications of the Eastern Question. The problem of choosing between an ethical Foreign Policy or protecting the National Interest was as topical in the 19th Century as it is today. The talk will cover the strange conditions that were attached to British control of Cyprus and the problems that these created. I will cover what happened when Sir Garnett Wolseley, the first Governor, landed with a few thousand soldiers in 1878. Finally I will cover Wolseley’s first impressions, the mapping of Cyprus and the first visitor who realised Cyprus would make a good destination for British tourists.

This promises to be a lively and sometimes controversial presentation. The talk will last for about an hour and there will be the opportunity for questions. The talk will be in English.

Wally Oppenheim who is a retired History teacher. He is the leader of the popular Paphos Third Age History Groups and writes a monthly article on History for PALS Magazine.

Entrance: 5 euro
For more information please contact us at 70002420.