JOHN Julius Norwich visits Malvern Theatres for the first time next Monday when he will give an illustrated talk on the unique cultural and artistic centre of Venice.

After 12 years in the Foreign Office, he resigned to become a writer and has spent more than 40 years researching and writing about the Mediterranean, and is chairman of the Venice in Peril Fund.

The talk starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £8 from the box office on 01684 892277.