Photo: Theo Wild

Geoffrey Bond OBE, DL, FSA

I have had a diverse career spanning law, business, heritage, television and radio broadcasting and, more recently, writing and publishing books about Lord Byron. The interlocking strands in my life have been a passion for heritage and for helping young people in the world of education. My law career has led me to become co-founder of the National Justice Museum, founder of the Rolls Building Art & Education Trust in London, and founder of the Arts Scholars Livery Company Arts Scholarship Scheme. Arising from my business life I have created two engineering apprentice schemes and an international scholarship which is awarded annually between the top business school in Oslo, Norway, and the Bayes City of London Business School.

Over many years I have given pro bono service to a wide variety of national and regional organisations including the Acceptance in Lieu Panel, and holding the position of Chairman of Museums, Libraries & Archives for London and for the Group for Education in Museums. I have built an extensive network in the City of London having served as a Sheriff to the Lord Mayor of London during 2003-04 and I travelled abroad to many countries promoting the City financial. I also have a well-established association with London City Livery Companies having been Master of two Companies and Chairman of the Livery Committee.

In the world of broadcasting I had my own show on BBC Radio Nottingham and my own commissioned 70-episode television series about heritage shown on ITV in the 1980s called Something to Treasure. I was also one of the first experts to appear on the BBC’s flagship television programme The Antiques Roadshow.  These broadcasting experiences led me to becoming an Assistant Producer on a number of films for television in collaboration with producer, publisher, and artist, Nick McCann.

I have written three books about the world-famous poet Lord Byron. My latest book – Byron’s Manor: Birthplace of his poetry – was written in 2024 to mark the bicentenary of Byron’s death. Byron’s Manor explores Byron’s early poetry and letters and reveals that the birthplace of Byron’s published poetry is Burgage Manor in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, where Byron lived as a teenager and where I also have lived for over 30 years. My second book – Dangerous to Show: Byron and his portraits (2020) – co-authored with the Byron scholar Dr Christine Kenyon-Jones – examines the many portraits of Lord Byron. This is the only known book on the subject and it has become the ‘go to’ book for Byron and his portrayal through art. It was awarded the 2021 Prize for the best book on Byron by an International Literary Committee. The first book I wrote about Byron – Lord Byron’s Best Friends (2013) – sheds light on the poet’s canine love affairs from bulldogs to Boatswain and beyond. It has been a rare privilege to write about Byron whilst living in a Byron house in the very room where Byron wrote much of his early poetry.

I am always happy to hear from anyone who would like to find out more about my work; do please get in touch using the email address on my contact page.

Geoffrey C Bond OBE, DL, FSA
Southwell, Nottinghamshire

Byron’s Manor

Renowned and passionate Byronist, Geoffrey Bond, takes us behind the closed doors of his beautiful home of Burgage Manor – formerly the home of the great Romantic poet Lord Byron. From his early days in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, Byron went on to become one of the most famous men in the world and his cultural influence has resonated ever since. Illustrated with some stunning new images, this book is a must for anyone who knows Byron well or would like to get to know him better.
Order online from Amazon

Dangerous to Show

‘Don’t look at him. He is dangerous to look at,’ said Lady Liddell to her daughter in 1817. Handsome, charismatic, aristocratic and allegedly ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’ Lord Byron (1788-1824) is one of the most captivating and recognisable figures of the Romantic Age.

This book explores Byron’s life through the intriguing stories behind his many portraits. His face, figure, and appearance, added greatly to the appeal of his poetry and the wide range of portraits created during his lifetime helped to create the myth and to immortalise him after his death.
Order online from Amazon

Lord Byron’s Best Friends

Byron. The very name conjures up an image of reckless romance, scandal, adventure, wild emotions, foreign lands, poetry and glamour. But dogs? It is not widely known that man’s best friend held a precious place in Byron’s affections.

This book sheds new light on the poet’s canine love affairs from bulldogs to Boatswain and beyond – there are Newfoundlands, Mastiffs, Terriers, Greyhounds and even a Poodle!
Order online from Amazon