Ted Hughes: the early years
After a writing career which spanned over 40 years, Hughes’ literary heritage is not only vast, but covers most genres, including not only poetry, but translations of the works of other poets and prose writers, short stories for children and … More details …
Maths for the Terrified
Were you bored by maths at school? Did you ever have an interesting maths lesson? Does algebra make you anxious? Are you puzzled by probability? Did you never get the measure of geometry? Do prime numbers perplex you? How can … More details …
Craft: Making fabric boxes
We will be learning how to design and make fabric covered boxes using a simple technique based on 19th Century French Cartonnage. No sewing is required and it is suitable for absolute beginners. During the class you will be able … More details …
Craft: Bead and Wire Jewellery
Learn how to make a necklace and a pair of earrings. Some examples are shown below. We will look at different ideas and techniques for you to create your own unique pieces. No experience needed. All materials provided. Approx £5 … More details …
Reading Paintings: Great Collections
This course explores some of the great collections in art history, from the Stuart kings to the Hugh Lane Collection of impressionist paintings. Contains a case study of Evelyn Waugh – his art collection as well as his taste in … More details …
Craft: Quilt-as-you-go
Learn many different P&Q techniques while making this Sampler lap quilt. Taught using a Quilt-As-You-Go method so that each of the blocks is ‘finished’ by the time they are joined together. Relaxing hand sewing (but can be machined at home!). … More details …
The Enthralling Chamber Music of Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Schubert’s contribution to the 19th century is unparalleled, with many of his works revered as absolute masterpieces. This six week course will explore Schubert’s huge contribution to chamber music, including his Lieder (secular songs for solo voice), his solo piano … More details …
The Small House at Allington: Trollope
The fifth novel of the Barchester Chronicles is The Small House at Allington. This novel introduces us to a new range of characters whilst still maintaining contacts with established favourites. The story concentrates around Lily Dale a character about whom … More details …
The Coen Brothers: from Blood Simple to Buster Scruggs
From their 1984 debut, Blood Simple, to their latest film, the Netflix funded The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Joel and Ethan Coen have established themselves as a unique creative force in modern cinema. The day will examine how, with films … More details …
Discussing Burmese Days by George Orwell
Join us on this day course to share your thoughts about Orwell’s depiction of Colonial Burma, in general and by looking closely at the characters, settings and scenes. There will be some background on the author and his legacy, … More details …
An Introduction to Latin
This 5 week ‘taster’ using the Cambridge Latin course, gently introduces some of the fundamentals of the language together with aspects of Roman life as seen through the eyes of Caecilius and his family in Pompeii. Participants will need … More details …
Beginners Patchwork and Quilting
This is the first half of a hand sewing course. Starting with a basic Nine Patch Block then adding and building on skills each week, including applique, curved piecing, creating a three D effect, inset seams and hand quilting. The … More details …
What is a Revolution?
Join Dr Jo Edwards for an exploration of historical revolutions. What is a revolution compared to a rebellion or a revolt? What do we mean by the term, and when is it misused? Was there an ‘Age of … More details …
Two Novels by Kazuo Ishiguro
Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2017, Kazuo Ishiguro has written many fine novels. We shall be looking at two of these, The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, exploring their distinctive styles and … More details …
A Century of Irish Poetry
Over the last hundred years, Ireland has produced an astonishingly rich range of poets from Yeats to Seamus Heaney and up to the present day. In this day course we will explore the works of men and women poets and … More details …