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Lecture

Alan Silman
Antony Eden and Suez: A Botched Operation Caused by a Botched Operation

Thursday 18.06.2026

How to watch

This lecture starts on 18 June at 7:00pm (UK).

Summary

The Anglo-French invasion of Suez in 1956 is considered by historians to have been a military failure and was the last nail in the coffin of Britain’s’ attempt to remain a world power. How much was Antony Eden’s poor health responsible for his major errors in judgement?

Alan Silman

An image of Alan Silman
After graduating as a doctor, Alan Silman trained in epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene. He then took up an academic role in the Department of Epidemiology at the London Hospital where he also trained in rheumatology. He was appointed as Director of Arthritis Research UK’s Epidemiology Research Unit, Manchester University in 1988. In 2007 he changed role and became the first medical director of the Arthritis Research UK charity. In 2015 he left ARUK to return to academic research in epidemiology and took up the role of Professor of Musculoskeletal Health at Oxford University. He has advised the UK government on the safety of medicines including vaccines and is currently part of the national panel reviewing the quality of epidemiological research in UK Universities. He has written a number of books and numerous articles. During the Covid-19 pandemic he wrote a blog for lay audience aimed at explaining the emerging data, which reached 100 countries. He has a passionate interest in Jewish history and culture and for 20 years has lead tours to many countries in Europe and Asia.