| home | search | back |
helmdon.com®
 
home > wea > county and regional activities
 

WEA County & Regional Activities

 

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
and Poetry Competition 2008

 
The University of Liverpool Creative Writing Society for Lifelong Learning, is to Commemorate "The 2nd Annual Ted Walters International Short Story and Poetry Competition 2008"  in Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture.' International entries welcome!
 
1st prize Short Story Category: Competition Winner £200, Runner up will receive £50
1st Prize Poetry Category: Competition Winner £200, Runner up will receive £50.
 
Click for Competition Entry Form and Rules
The deadline for all categories is 31st May 2008.
 
The University of Liverpool Creative Writing Society for Lifelong Learning will donate £1 from each and every poem and short story entered to the Macmillan Cancer Support, which is once again our chosen charity for the second year running. This email is from the Workers' Educational Association (WEA).

Workers' Educational Association
70 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4HB
Website: www.wea.org.uk
Registered Charity Number 1112775

 

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,

On Tuesday of this week John Denham, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills launched the Government's consultation on the future of adult education, "Informal Adult Learning - Shaping the Way Ahead". The consultation document can be accessed through the following weblink
http://www.adultlearningconsultation.org.uk/.

The launch was hosted by the Social Market Foundation and the Chair of WEA Trustees Dick Taylor both introduced proceedings and commented throughout the discussion which followed the presentation by John Denham.

For once I'm impressed with the way the government is setting about this consultation. I can commend the document which is clear, easy to read and invites comments on a range of issues. The scope and breadth of the consultation are wide, just as we would expect, and there are clear signs that the Secretary of State and the DIUS are genuinely listening. There are plenty of references to the WEA and our sister organisations, to RH Tawney, Rochdale and North Staffordshire, as well as to the Swarthmore settlement in Leeds, all of which resonate with us in the WEA. At the same time, there is also much about how developments affecting demography, society and in particular technology and the internet have also contributed significantly in recent years to changing adults' expectations, attitudes and access to learning opportunities.

These are really important and fundamental issues, and the WEA should welcome the opportunity to contribute to such a wide-ranging debate about the future of adult learning in this country, and in particular the framework which has been established by the Secretary of State for the consultation between now and May.

It was also clear from listening to John Denham that he wants the consultation to "get past" organisations and institutional boundaries and for the voices and views of students, tutors and the public to be heard. I believe the WEA can significantly help him achieve those goals, and that this is an opportunity which the WEA can apply to its advantage.

We have until 15th May to respond, and I want a "bottom up" consultation within the WEA, in which we encourage groups of students (from all of our curriculum strands) and tutors to respond to the questions posed in the document before we invite members and Trustees to approve any response. I shall also be talking with other organisations which are likely to share our aims and values, and have a similarly wide learner base and/or membership, about areas of common ground we share. Maria Flemmer and Graham Marsh will support me and they will also facilitate and coordinate that process, involving people from Regions in it.

Our response, among other things, needs to recognise that learning and access to it through non-traditional channels, like the internet and TV, are now very much part of adults' lives, and they will not diminish. But it should also emphasise the importance of structure and more traditional models of teaching and learning, recognising that face to face learning, in groups, as well as fundamental to enhancing and transforming people's lives, is also a force for creating a more inclusive, civilised and, in Tawney's own words "tolerable" society.

The above weblink will also shortly include access to an online form that people can complete and submit as part of the consultation, so anyone who wishes can make an individual response as well as contribute to the WEA's response through the process I have described above and about which you will receive further details in due course.

If you know of anyone, inside or outside the WEA, who will not receive this communication, but who would welcome the chance to be included in the process I am setting up, then please feel free to copy this message to them.

Richard Bolsin
General Secretary

Tel : 020 7426 3455
Fax: 020 7426 3451
Mobile: 07771 807217
Email: rbolsin@wea.org.uk

Workers' Educational Association
Registered office: 70 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4HB
Website: www.wea.org.uk
Company limited by guarantee registered in England No: 02806910
Registered Charity Number: 1112775

 

Notice from Northamptonshire WEA Forum - 5th October 2007

Brixworth Church.
Brixworth Church.

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).

Bridget Chapman, County Organiser, will give A VIEW OF THE WEA IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE followed by the AGM of the Northamptonshire Forum. (There will be an opportunity to discuss the future activities of the Forum, so bring your ideas along to the meeting.)

There will also be an illustrated talk: STONE IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE & ITS USES by Diana Sutherland (author of the book Northamptonshire Stone).

There will be an opportunity to visit Brixworth Church in the afternoon. Buffet Lunch provided £6 per person for meal. More information from the WEA secretary Richard Farquharson.



Notice from Weston WEA – August 2007

Autumn Term
The Great Central Railway - Tutor: Martin Bloxsam
Commences Wednesday 19th September 2007 at 2:00 p.m. and runs for 10 weeks.

Spring Term
The Victorian Underworld - Tutor: David Willis
Commences in January 2008. Dates to be announced. Runs for 10 weeks.

Summer Term
Local Authors - Tutor: Susie Bevin
Dates to be announced. Runs for 6 weeks.

All enquiries to Glynn Jones - 01327 261265.



Courses Available All Over Northants - May 2007

We have a complete list of all the WEA courses taking place in Northamptonshire.



Notice from Farthinghoe WEA
– April 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

The WEA is actively seeking part-time tutors to provide courses on: Local or general history; music, art or design appreciation; architectural studies; literature; creative writing; sciences; natural history; religious studies; anthropology; social studies; garden design/history; languages; or any other relevant area of expertise.

If you are an adult education tutor and would like more information please contact Bridget Chapman, Northamptonshire Tutor Organiser. Email: bchapman@wea.org.uk or telephone: 01604 813445. Note that there is no closing date - applications can be made at any time.

Appointment of Northamptonshire Tutor Organiser – July 2006

Bridget Chapman has taken over the role of Northamptonshire Tutor Organiser. Bridget lives in Earls Barton and has 14 years experience of working in adult education in Northamptonshire, having been previously employed by Northamptonshire County Council Adult Education Department.

This position of Tutor Organiser was previously known as Area Learning Manager. Denise Cowley decided not to renew her contract for this position, at the end of the first six-month period, but will continue to be a tutor for the WEA.

Appointment of new Area Learning Manager - 1st February 2005

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 2004

Anthony 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.

Good Send-off for WEA Organiser for Northamptonshire - 17th April 2004

Bob Chapman with WEA Tutor Geoffrey Starmer in the background.
Bob Chapman with WEA Tutor
Geoffrey Starmer in the background.
Although, as he said himself, he still has around 100 days to go, Dr Bob Chapman, WEA organiser for Northamptonshire, was given a rousing send-off on Saturday, 17th April, when 135 members from branches all over the county (including a party from Helmdon) met for lunch at Yardley Hastings village hall. The large turnout indicated the esteem that everyone who has met him holds for him.

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.

WEA Summer Programme for Northamptonshire 2003

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

Date: Saturday, 19th July 2003 Venue: Prebendal Manor, Nassington

Visit the Nassington Prebendal Manor web site.
Nassington Prebendal Manor - click to
visit web site.

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!

Audrey Forgham

Buildings of Northamptonshire

Tutor: Peter Hill
Date: Saturday 21st June 2003 Venue: Fotheringhay Village Hall

Dr Bob Chapman, County Organiser, at Fotheringay.
Dr Bob Chapman, County Organiser,
at Fotheringhay

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.

Peter and Ann Mackness

The Dome that worked: The Great Exhibition of 1851

Tutor: Joanna Rodgers
Date: Saturday 7th June Venue: Blakesley Reading Room

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.
The early exhibition was housed in the spectacular Crystal Palace, constructed of glass and designed by Joseph Paxton. In the 1850s Britain was changing from a nation mainly employed in agriculture to one where manufacture was of prime importance. Prince Albert considered there was a need for a showcase for industries of all nations at this time. In fact it glorified British manufacture, over half of the 100,000 exhibits were from Britain or the British Empire. More than 6 million people came to see the displays, many of them travelling to London for the first time.
Not only was the Great Exhibition a popular success but it also made money. The Albert Hall, South Kensington Museums and the whole area round Exhibition Road were developed with proceeds from the 1851 fair. In fact there is still money available for industrial projects from funds set up at that time.
Joanna contrasted this very successful project to the Millennium Dome, which had such a different history.

Valerie Moir

A Church Walk

Tutor: Robin Rowe
Date: Thursday 3rd July Time: 7- 9pm Venue: Lyddington and Stoke Dry

WEA members on the Lyddington Church Walk.
WEA members on the
Lyddington Church Walk.

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.

Peter and Ann Mackness

 
home > wea > county and regional activities
| home | search | back | top
helmdon.com®