Mabel Giffard was elected Abbess of Shaftesbury in 1291. She would be one of the most pre-eminent women of her day, as head of the most prosperous Abbey in the south of England, founded in the ninth century by Alfred the Great. Retired diplomat and local resident Sir Sydney Giffard shares the results of his researches into his ancestor at 2.30p.m. on Tuesday 06 March at Gold Hill Museum. This talk by Sir Sydney, formerly the UK’s Ambassador to both Switzerland and Japan, is free to members of The Shaftesbury & District Historical Society, while non-members may pay £3 at the door.