THE Old Farnhamians’ Association combined with Farnham College on Sunday to present the lecture ‘The Magna Carta project – uncovering the charter and its world’ by one of the UK’s foremost experts on the subject.

More than 100 people attended the Performance Hall at the college to listen to Dr Sophie Ambler, from the School of History at the University of East Anglia, covering the early days of the charter and some new developments from a small group of top historians in this country.

She began by saying that King John has been described as a cruel and evil king in the 13th Century, but in fact was much worse than his reputation.

He subjected the people of this country to harsh treatment and bled them dry via taxation to fund his army and his desire to retain his control over France.

He did win one battle, but was defeated finally and lost this important part of his kingdom. Findings show that his treatment of enemy prisoners and people who plotted against him was often locking them away and letting them starve to death.

Eventually the barons of the realm could not accept this treatment and teamed up to force the king to agree and sign a new set of laws for all, including royalty. This was the first sign of Magna Carta and John was forced to sign it at Runnymede in 1215.

The charter was amended a few times over the next few years and a final version emerged when Simon de Montfort led the barons. Battles took place across the south of England and the speaker incorporated Farnham Castle, Shere Church, Guildford and Odiham into her talk. Much of the information was new to the listeners.

There were originally 14 copies of the charter, but only four are known to survive today. One was recently found in a scrapbook owned by a man living in Kent. Are there any more?

Cyril Trust of the Old Farnhamians’ Association said: “The story was fascinating and the speaker clear, concise and very knowledgeable. This was a lecture of the highest order.”

The receipts for the event will be presented to the Nepal Earthquake Appeal and it is hoped that more than £1,000 will have been raised.

The afternoon was begun with a welcome and introduction from Mike Potter, Guildford College Group principal, and finished with thanks to the speaker and all who helped arrange the event by Ian Sargeant, the current president of the Old Farnhamian’s Association.

Some former pupils of the former grammar school were in the audience and were taken for a tour of the school by Jason Jones, the new director of Farnham College.

Mr Trust added it was encouraging to see all of the Farnham College student council helping with the event.