Fireside Chat with Lord Arbuthnot
The Army and Navy Club recently hosted a compelling Fireside Chat featuring Lord Arbuthnot, whose tireless advocacy for the wrongly prosecuted sub-postmasters in the Post Office scandal has been instrumental in achieving justice for those affected. The evening provided members with a unique opportunity to hear first-hand about his decade-long campaign, which has been pivotal in uniting a previously isolated group of victims and shining a national spotlight on their plight—an effort vividly brought to life in the ITV docudrama Mr. Bates vs The Post Office.
Lord Arbuthnot shared his personal journey, detailing how the cause became central to his life and discussing the challenges and progress of holding institutions accountable for such a grave miscarriage of justice. Drawing parallels to Nick Wallis’s 2022 Fireside Chat at the Club, where members delved into The Great Post Office Scandal, the evening offered a fresh and updated perspective on the role of Parliament and Government in addressing this ongoing issue.
Following the fireside discussion in the Drawing Room, many members joined Lord Arbuthnot for an informal supper in the Coffee Room, continuing the conversation in an intimate and engaging setting. It was a memorable and thought-provoking evening that reinforced the Club’s tradition of bringing important contemporary issues to the fore, sparking dialogue and reflection amongst its members.