An Evening with David Lascelles: Earl of Harewood

Prepare for the astonishing true story of the high-profile hostages who survived Colditz.

We are delighted to welcome David Lascelles to The Old Woollen to tell us about his gripping, new book, Out of Colditz; the true story of the Prominente of the British establishment, held at Colditz Castle, and the extraordinary decision of an SS officer to disobey orders and spare their lives.

A FARSLEY LIT FEST 2026 EVENT

We are looking forward to hearing from this prominent Leeds figure and delving into his book, his life and his experiences. Out of Colditz offers a never-before-told perspective on the British experience at Colditz – one of the most infamous sites in Nazi Germany.

The event will include a book signing. Doors at 7pm.

About David Lascelles

David, first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II, and Honorary President of Leeds United is known as the owner of Harwood House and is a founder member of the campaign group Heirs of Slavery. Lascelles has been credited for his openness in confronting his family’s past, moving away from concealment and discussing the estate’s historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade honestly.

David is also a BAFTA-winning film and television producer. Inspector Morse won both a BAFTA and a Royal Television Society award for Best Drama Series under his watch. His cinema credits include The Wedding Gift (with Julie Walters and Jim Broadbent), The Wisdom of Crocodiles (with Jude Law) and the film Shakespeare’s Richard III starring Ian McKellen.

About the Book

‘A gripping, unsettling journey into the strange moral fog of the war’s last days -and the shadows we inherit long after.’ – Iain MacGregor, author of The Lighthouse of Stalingrad

The grandson of a King. The son of the Viceroy of India. Churchill’s nephew. Held captive at the notorious Colditz prisoner of war camp, they were the Prominente of the British establishment, and pawns in the hands of Nazi leaders.

As a German defeat loomed, the SS head of the POW camps Gottlob Berger made a pivotal decision: he would disobey direct orders and spare their lives.

‘Please remember what I have done for you when the war ends,’ he asked. This Nazi overseer, who would later be convicted of war crimes, held their future in his hands.

Eighty years later, David Lascelles – the son of George, Earl of Harewood, who would never have been born if his father had been executed – traces the Prominentes’ extraordinary journey and wonders who Gottlob Berger was and what motivated his fateful decision: compassion? Remorse? Or self-interest?