Armistice Talk with Major General James Cowan CBE DSO, CEO The HALO Trust
Thursday 5th November 2026
7pm - 8:15pm (doors from 6:30pm)
Stansted House, North Entrance PO9 6DX
'On the Frontline: Life as a Solider and Humanitarian'
by Major General (Ret’d) James M Cowan CBE DSO
Join us for our annual Armistice Talk at Stansted House which will last approximately 40 minutes followed by a question and answer session.
There will be refreshments on arrival and the chance to speak with James after the Q&A.
Biography
James Cowan is one of only a few leaders to have worked in both the defence and aid sectors. From a military family, he joined The Black Watch after Oxford. His early military career took him to Berlin, Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Hong Kong. He led the military planning for the 1999 liberation of Kosovo.
The youngest lieutenant colonel in the Army, he was assistant to the Chief of the General Staff from before 9/11 to the invasion of Iraq. He commanded The Black Watch during the battle for Fallujah, served later in Basra, commanded Task Force Helmand, led the military Olympics security operation and commanded the 3rd Division, the UK’s warfighting formation.
Since 2015 he has led The HALO Trust, the world’s largest organisation clearing landmines, IEDs and other weapons. HALO has 10,000 staff in 30 countries. He has led HALO through some of the most significant crises of recent years in Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza.
He is married to Minnie who is a doctor. They have three children.
You can find out more about the Halo Trust at www.halotrust.org
or make a donation via the below button.
Ticket Prices
Adult - £20
FOSP - £15
Parking
North Entrance
FAQ
Q. How are tickets delivered?
A. Secure barcoded e-tickets are delivered immediately by e-mail for you to print at home or just save them to your smartphone/tablet to be scanned on screen. Please enter your e-mail address carefully when booking.
Q. Where can I purchase tickets?
A. Tickets are available online and only via our website - we use the ticketing platform www.tickettailor.com, you will be directed to their website via our event page to purchase your tickets.
As long as there is still availability you will also be able to buy tickets on the door.
Q. Is there disabled car parking available?
A. Yes, car parking is on the forecourt directly in front of the House.
Q. Can I show my ticket on my smartphone/tablet rather than printing it out?
A. Yes, as long as you are able to fully download and save the ticket to the device, and open it on the screen, the scanners will be able to verify it. Please ensure that you have downloaded the document before you arrive on site, as we cannot guarantee enough coverage to do so once you arrive.
Q. I am buying tickets under my details but intend to give them to somebody as a gift – will this be ok?
A. Yes. This is no problem - we suggest adding the gift recipients name to the order but your email address in case of any issues. You will however not be able to change the email address on this order at a later date.
Q: Are dogs allowed inside Stansted House?
A: Unfortunately only assistance dogs are allowed inside Stansted House
Accessibility
Step-free access to this event is available. Please note however that the lift is not able to accommodate some motorised wheelchairs or mobility scooters. Please contact us on enquiry@stanstedpark.co.uk or by calling 02392 412 265 (opt 5) to discuss accessibility for this event further.
If you need to bring a carer to this event, please visit the following link and go to the Accessibility section 'Bringing a Carer' - www.stanstedpark.co.uk/visit