During World War II Briggens House, an 18th century mansion in Roydon, Hertfordshire, was requisitioned by the MOD and used for training the Polish army in exile. Becoming Section XVI of the Special Operations Executive, the unit produced forged documents needed by agents working in Europe as well as bank notes, stamps and other propaganda materials. Charles Pithers' historical novel Ipseity draws on extensive research into Briggens House and his talk will reveal the activities of this fascinating but little-known operation. Ipseity is populated with real life characters, and situations the brilliant team at Briggens would have encountered, so his talk will include a couple of readings to enhance the sense of place.

Charles Pither grew up in Hertfordshire and attended medical school at St Thomas' Hospital in London. He trained as a physician and anaesthetist where he developed an interest in the management of chronic pain. He subsequently worked in the field for over thirty years pioneering the multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme INPUT at St Thomas'. During this time, he published numerous research papers and contributed chapters to textbooks and monographs.

However, throughout his medical career he continued to write creatively, poetry as well as humour and essays, short stories and a novel. Having retired from clinical medicine he has been able to concentrate more on his writing with a regular travel blog and a recently completed second novel.