Claire Martinsen explores the extraordinary life of Victorian heiress Annie Amos, whose story reads more like a novel than a conventional biography. Annie spent the majority of her life living at Paston House (now St. Mary’s School). Drawing on spellbinding diaries discovered in the Downing College archive, Claire reveals a life of culture, travel and privilege, before Annie’s burial at Mill Road Cemetery in 1908.
Claire has been a member of the Mill Road Cemetery History Group for a number of years and has given several well received talks to the Mill Road History Society drawn from her research in the cemetery. By day Claire is a successful entrepreneur and runs Breckland Orchard which makes carbonated drinks. She is also a member of the Mill Road WI.
This talk takes place at Ross Street Community Centre which is fully accessible. Doors open at 7pm and the talk starts at 7:30pm. Tea and biscuits provided.
Note as audience numbers are unpredictable we urge people to arrive early so as not to be turned away if we reach capacity.
Date Tuesday 13 October 2026
Time 7:30pm – 9pm
Location Ross St Community Centre, Ross Street, Cambridge CB1 3UZ
Admission £3