4th November 2026
The UKLA Annual Dinner will be held on Wednesday 4th November 2026 at Sheraton Grand, Park Lane, London.
Thank you to our sponsors Brenntag Lubricants & Performance Fluids, IMCD, Infineum, UM Terminals, for their support.
Speaker – John Humphrys
John Humphrys joined the BBC in 1966 as the district reporter for Liverpool and the Northwest, where he reported the dock strikes of that time. He then worked as a foreign correspondent and his reports included the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1973 on television by satellite from the United States and in 1977 when based in South Africa he covered the transformation of Rhodesia into Zimbabwe.
John Humphrys returned to London in 1980 to take up the post of BBC Diplomatic Correspondent. In 1981 he became the main presenter of the BBC’s flagship Nine O’Clock News – a role he held until 1987. This appointment marked a significant change in the BBC’s approach to news broadcasting; with the appointment of Humphrys and John Simpson, the presenters of the news became part of the process of producing the broadcast, rather than just reading a prepared script as with previous presenters.
John Humphrys has also presented the BBC’s investigative journalism programme Panorama and BBC2 television quiz show Mastermind from 2003 to 2021, for a total of 735 episodes during 18 years.
He has won many industry awards, including being named Journalist of the Year in February 2000 at an awards ceremony organised by The House Magazine and Channel 4; the Gold Sony Radio Award in 2003; and a silver platter for Crystal Clear Broadcasting from the Plain English Campaign.
John Humphrys has written several books, including Lost for Words, in which he criticises what he sees as the widespread misuse of the English language, plus ‘Devil’s Advocate’, ‘Beyond Words’ and ‘The Great Food Gamble’.
He currently presents a regular show on Classic FM.
Booking
To book a place, please contact Megan Humphreys at events@ukla.org.uk or call +44 (0) 1442 861081.
Timings
Drinks Reception 6.30pm
Dinner 7.30pm
Formalities End 10.30pm
Lounge Bar 10.30pm onwards
Carriages 1.00am
Dress Code
Black Tie/Formal wear
