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County-wide Courses Of Interest Commencing Autumn 2008 - 13th June 2008 CANONS ASHBY Contact: R Dibben Tel: 01788 890515 Heritage Houses: the house, its history & owners Tutor: Keith Hasted An introduction to the architectural roots which produced buildings such as Canons Ashby and influenced their subsequent styles. There will be opportunities to explore the house during the course. Although part of a longer modular course, new students are welcome as each term looks at a different aspect of the historic house: architecture, furniture, collections, life in the country house and gardens. Information about this course may be obtained from Mr R Dibben (01788 890515). 10 meetings Thursday 10am–noon Canons Ashby House, Nr Daventry Starts 25 September 2008 Fee: £55 (concessions A £49.50, B Free)
LAMPORT HALL Contact: Mrs Jo Stroud Tel: 01604 843284 Plant propagation Tutor: Andrew Mikolajski Autumn is the best time for increasing your stocks of plant. This practical course will instruct how to collect, prepare and store seed, cut up bulbs and take cuttings. The course will be held on 1, 8 and 22 October. Places limited – please ring the branch contact to reserve a place. 3 meetings Wednesday 1–4pm The Old Laundry Room, Lamport Hall Starts 1 October 2008 Fee: £24.75 (concessions A £22.25, B Free)
WESTON Contact: G Jones Tel: 01327 261265 The making of the medieval landscape Tutor:Deborah Hayter The bones of earlier landscapes are all around us, in villages and farms, in the ridge and furrow of medieval fields, in the patterns of parish boundaries. We will learn to recognise the clues, and find and unravel the evidence which will elucidate the making of the landscape and the societies which inhabited and created it. 10 meetings Wednesday 2–3.30pm Weston Community Project, High Street Starts 17 September 2008 Fee: £41.25 (concessions A £37.10, B Free) Venue accessible to wheelchairs This is only a selection of the courses available in Northamptonshire. For other details please contact the secretary, Richard Farquharson.
Music For A June Evening - 27th May 2008 Music for a June Evening A Concert by Concensus Vocalis
7.30 p.m., Friday, 6th June 2008 Weston Community Project, High Street, Weston
The ten-person Northampton-based choir, Concensus Vocalis, is coming to entertain us on June 6th with Music for a Summer Evening. Called “Northampton’s answer to the King’s Singers“ by Northampton Music Appreciation Society they will build their evening’s programme around choral masterpieces from four centuries, varying in style from Monteverdi’s madrigals to pieces in the style of the Swingle Singers.
Between the choral pieces, the individual singers – including local broadcaster Anna Murby – will entertain us with solo pieces in a wide variety of styles.
Concensus Vocalis are already well-known locally for their annual candlelit Christmas concerts at Canons Ashby. June’s concert is sure to win them even more friends.
Tickets £7.50, to include interval drink, available from Phil Mansell (01327 860784) or Glyn Jones (01327 261265) or at the door from 7.00 p.m.
All Proceeds to Africaid
OFSTED Report Confirms A Strong WEA - 23rd May 2008 The publication on May 7th of the Ofsted inspection report on the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) confirms a return to strength for the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult education.
The report describes the overall effectiveness of WEA provision as good and identifies provision in the subject area of Health, Public Services and Care as outstanding. It also confirms that the WEA has strong capacity to improve further.
Click here for a report summary
International Short Story Competition - 1st May 2008 The 2nd Annual Ted Walters International Short Story
Weston Branch WEA Spring Course 2008 - 10th April 2008 Country Lives with tutor Susie Bevan, consisting of six meeting starting on Wednesday 23rd April at 2pm at the Weston Community Project
Cost £22.50 (full) £20.25 ( some concessions)
“There is a long tradition of countryside writing in Britain. We are fortunate to have several of these authors describing our own locality at different times in history. The course studies the lives and work of John Clare, Flora Thompson and HE Bates and through them deepens our knowledge of our countryside and its history.”
For more information about this course the contact is Glyn Jones (01327) 261265.
The Northamptonshire WEA Forum Summer Activities For 2008 - 21st March 2008 Events include:
The Gardens of Lamport Hall on 15th May with Andrew Mikolajski
Behind the Scenes at the Royal & Derngate Theatres on Wednesday and Friday 9th and 11th July
Visit to Priest’s House Easton-on-the-hill with Paul Way and an historical tour of Easton village with Brian Jones on Tuesday 17th June
An Historical Tour of Towcester on Thursday 5th June
For further details of these events contact the Helmdon WEA branch secretary, Richard Farquharson (01295) 760079 or e-mail
For your diary: The Northamptonshire Forum AGM is on 1st November 2008
Gardening Courses For 2008 - 26th January 2008 Run by Andrew Mikolajski who tutored a gardening course at the Helmdon branch in 2006, all at Lamport Hall Northampton NN6 9HD
APRIL Wednesday 16, 10.30-12.30pm
Planting Trees, Shrubs & Hardy Plants
A practical morning in the garden that will show you how to get a range of hardy plants off to a good start. The importance of good root growth is highlighted. Refreshments provided. £10.50 per person
Tutor: Andrew Mikolajski
Tel: 01327 843419
MAY Wednesday 14, 2.00-4.30pm
Planning a Cutting Garden
How to grow a range of annuals from seed that will provide cut flowers for the house within eight weeks – and how to get plants to carry on producing till November! Refreshments provided. £10.50 per person
Tutor: Andrew Mikolajski
Tel: 01327 843419
SEPTEMBER
Wednesday 10, 2.00-4.30pm
Guide to Autumn Planting
Autumn is a great time for planting hardy trees and shrubs. This afternoon course explains how to ensure they will bed down properly for the winter and get off to a flying start next spring. Refreshments provided. £10.50 per person
Tutor: Andrew Mikolajski
Tel: 01327 843419
OCTOBER Wednesday 15, 10.00am-4.00pm
Plants for Free!
Autumn is the best time for increasing your stocks of a range of plants. During this day course, we’ll be taking cuttings, collecting and sowing seed and cutting up bulbs. Lunch included. £45 per person
Tutor: Andrew Mikolajski
Tel: 01327 843419
Letter from the General Secretary of the WEA - 20th January 2008 17th January 2008 Colleagues,
Notice
from Northamptonshire WEA Forum - 5th October 2007
A Meeting of the Northamptonshire WEA Forum will be held on Saturday
3rd November 2007 at Brixworth Village Hall from 10 am to 2 pm (Tea
and coffee on arrival. Meeting starts at 10.30 am).
Courses Available All Over Northants
- May 2007
Antiques and Collectibles Tutor: Peter Edwards This two-day workshop provides an introduction to antiques and collecting. Concentrating mainly on style identification, furniture, ceramics and glass, we'll also look at some of the mysteries of the antiques trade. There will be an opportunity at the second session for learners to bring along objects of their own for discussion. Pre-booking by 28th April 2007 essential; please telephone R Hedges (01280) 702439. 2 meetings Saturday 12.30 - 5 pm Farthinghoe Village Hall 5th and 12th May 2007 Fee 21.60 (concessions A £18, B Free)
Notice from Weston WEA – March 2007 Course on Rural Life in Victorian Times Tutor: David Willis This six week course attempts to illustrate the nature and transition of agricultural and rural life in this crucial period of historical development. 6 meetings, Wednesday 2–3.30pm, starting 18th April 2007 Weston Baptist Chapel Hall, High St, Weston Fee: £21.60, concessions £18 or free. Enrolment is at the first session. For more details tel: G. Jones (01327) 261265 New
Tutors Needed for Northamptonshire – July 2006 Dr Denise Cowley has been appointed to the post of WEA Area Learning Manager for Northamptonshire. This part-time position (previously known as County Organiser) is to oversee the operation of branch courses and the community program within Northamptonshire. To support Denise a part-time administrator will be hired very soon. Denise, who recently moved to the Whittlebury area, has considerable experience in adult education (including with the WEA). Her last post was as a Program Head for the University of Manchester Centre for Continuing Education. With her specialist subject area being Medieval History it is likely that Denise will be able to provide courses for WEA in addition to her management role. WEA members from Helmdon and other local branches met Denise at a recent area meeting in Towcester. The very positive statements with regard to support of branch courses was most welcome. We look forward to working with Denise to promote and enhance the operation of the Helmdon branch.
Resignation of County Organiser - 27th January 2005 Anthony Upton resigned his position before completion of his initial six-month contract. The WEA East Midlands Region were quickly able to hire a new Area Learning Manager for Northamptonshire so we were not unduly inconvenienced by this resignation. Appointment of new County Organiser - 21st September 2004Anthony Upton was recently appointed to the post of County Organiser for Northamptonshire. Anthony lives in Northampton and knows the county well. As in other
counties in the East Midlands Region, it is hoped that a WEA office
will be set up and currently suitable accommodation is being sought.
Anthony has worked as a further education tutor and also has good
experience of the voluntary sector. He taught computing for several
years, but his interests now are environmental and ecological -
he currently organises the Green Festival in Northampton.
The Northamptonshire Federation chairman, Terry Strickland, vocalized what we all know - Bob's enthusiasm, hard work and unfailing support will be much missed when he retires at the end of June. Bob responded in typical fashion, outlining some of the highlights of his time with the WEA. The county is being absorbed into the East Midlands district in the summer and it will be difficult for everyone without Bob being on the scene to smooth over the changes which are sure to come, but we wish him well in his retirement and hope he has a good rest after a job well done. All Change At WEA - 4th February 2004 Announced At WEA Northants AGM On 31st January 2004: • from 2/2/2004 new General Secretary appointed to National Headquarters • WEA branches to be inspected starting in March • Wea Districts to become larger WEA Divisions • Northants to transfer to a new East Midlands Division, HQ at Nottingham • Mike Attwell will be Divisional Director • Northants WEA County Organiser retires July 2004 • Replacement may not be full-time post • Course fees to be increased with 10% retained by local branch District Boundary Changes - 28th December 2003 There are proposed boundary changes which will have a direct impact on WEA branches in Northamptonshire. A New National forward Plan was agreed this autumn by the National executive Committee as part of the WEA's recovery strategy to rebuild the organization after the serious leadership, management and financial crises which came to a head during 2002-2003. One of the aspects of this plan, which is designed to improve the operational efficiency of the WEA, is to change District boundaries by 1 August 2004 to match those of the Government Regions, resulting in Twelve Districts becoming nine regions. In some cases this will result in the merger of two Districts into one; in others it means the transfer of some territory to another District. In our District the biggest change - and one which we all regret - is the loss of Northamptonshire to East Midlands District. We will take over the southern bits of Essex and Hertfordshire which are currently in London District. The WEA has appointed John Williams, District Secretary of London District, to lead this national regionalisation project. In Eastern District the Management Team is overseeing the changes in the context of its planning for 2004 - 2005. We will work closely with Bob Chapman in supporting the transfer of the Community and General Programmes to East Midlands District. We expect that Bob will work with branches as usual to 'tie-up' as much of the 2004- 2005 programme as possible before the end of July 2004. The District Secretary of East Midlands District is Mike Attwell who took over from Russell Gent who retired last year. He is a very able manager who has been employed by the District for many years in other roles. Mike made it very clear to me that he hoped that Bob would carry on in a similar role with his District. Bob, however, has decided to retire at the end of July. In the meantime he will be conferring with East Midlands District on all the details which will be of concern to you. I am certain that this will be an important topic of discussion at the Northamptonshire Federation AGM on 31st January 2004. From a letter to branch secretaries from Carolyn Daines, Secretary
of the Eastern District WEA, Cambridge. The topics from the Northamptonshire Summer Programme were many and varied, and were sampled with much pleasure by Helmdon branch members. Here is just a flavour of some of our excursions into the county…… Centenary Picnic/Merry Wives of Windsor
The centenary picnic was held at the Prebendal Manor at Nassington, near Fotheringhay, in the north of the county. As at the same event last year, it was a lovely evening and the setting was outstanding. Fifty WEA members arrived early, and were entertained by Dan Evans. Dan is reckoned to be the best dulcimer player this side of the Atlantic, and his playing was amazing, beautifully setting the scene for what was to come later in the evening. Then came the picnic, for which we were joined by around 250 members of the public (complete with elaborate picnic hampers and candelabra!), to be followed by the play for the evening "The Merry Wives of Windsor". Heartbreak Productions produced a lively and very funny production
This is, uniquely for Shakespeare, a comedy based in Middle England,
and aimed at an English audience. It highlights Shakespeare's brilliance
in being able to use his theatrical experience and originality to
produce a great crowd-pleaser. The eight actors each had two or
three parts to play and I was intrigued by the slickness of costume
changing, and the excellence of the acting when actors changed characters.
All in all a memorable evening, and we shall be back next year!
Buildings of Northamptonshire Tutor: Peter Hill
Around 35 of us, from all parts of the county, met in the recently
completed and well equipped village hall to hear Peter Hill outline
just how much of Northamptonshire's architecture has been lost.
Figures given included 80 churches, chapels and other religious
institutions, over 300 inns and public houses; farmsteads, windmills
and cottages. Illustrations showed how changes to roads and the
decline in some industries had changed the size of towns and villages.
The fortunes of Fotheringhay were cited as an example of how politics
and religion has affected the castle and, one huge, monastic settlement
there. After an alfresco lunch with wine about 25 of us motored
the four miles over to the once important town of King's Cliffe.
Here we visited the large parish church, strolled through the narrow
passageways and along the once busy main street, stopping frequently
for excellent descriptions and explanations from our excellent and
well-informed tutor. The Dome that worked: The Great Exhibition of 1851 Tutor: Joanna Rodgers On a warm sunny afternoon in June, Joanna Rogers gave a very lively
and well-researched talk comparing the Great Exhibition of 1851
with the Millennium dome of 2000. A Church Walk Tutor: Robin Rowe
In case you are wondering how we summoned the enthusiasm to drive
from Sulgrave to within a couple of miles of Uppingham let us say
at once that we made this occasion and afternoon and evening out!
This particular session was the last in a series of six, evening,
church walks in the north and east of the county. We chose to do
this one because we have long been delighted by the topography and
architecture of the Welland Valley and Rutland; and we knew that
Lyddington boasts a beautiful large church and bishop's lodging
house - a reminder of the days when the village was in the diocese
of Lincoln. Our tutor drew our attention to the many unusual and
well preserved architectural features including the choir screen,
wall paintings, and the mass or communion rail surrounding all four
sides of the altar table. After this our group of 30 drove the mile
or so to Stoke Dry for another fascinating walk around the church
which, after the Reformation, continued to secretly celebrate the
catholic mass in a side chapel for the Digby family. Most of our
group had attended all six of these walks and were fulsome in their
regard for Robin Rowe's well informed lectures. |
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