ALTHOUGH Bradshaw’s Railway Guide crops up more than once in Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, probably most people only got to know about this extraordinary Victorian handbook thanks to Michael Portillo.

The former Conservative MP has explored the railway systems of Britain and continental Europe in a series of BBC television programmes.

He will be at Ilkley’s King’s Hall on March 21, talking about his life and times.

The event starts at 7.30pm. For tickets, ring 01274 432000.