Category: Workers Educational Association

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Coastal Ecology & Conservation

Signs at Abbotts Hall Farm where coastal ecology is evolving
Coastal Ecology at Abbotts Hall Farm

This autumn the WEA will be running a ten-week course on the subject of ‘Coastal Ecology and Conservation’.  Being really quite close to some of the most recent experimental approaches of coastal management (see picture right), this course has a real local flavour as well.

Fred Boot is a well-known speaker the local WEA have hoped to hear for some time, and he will give an introduction to:

  • the different and contrasting areas of coastal East Anglia;
  • the pre-historic and historical development of the East Anglian coastline;
  • the  current coastal ecology with its rich plant and animal life; and
  • examining the conservation and management challenges it faces in the immediate and longer-term future.

Fred  has an extensive photographic collection of familiar creeks, estuaries, beaches, marshes, towns and ports of East Anglia and the South Coast to illustrate every aspect of this course.

The course starts on Tuesday 24th September at 8.00 pm and is of one and a half hours duration.  As usual the venue is the Methodist Church Hall and the cost is £45.30 for the ten weeks.  Everyone is welcome and you may attend the first evening before committing to the course.

A previous attendee on this course was obviously enthused by it:

Many thanks go to Fred for sharing his local knowledge and enthusiasm developed over many years as a volunteer, Chairman and Trustee of Essex Wildlife Trust.  We now look forward to a field visit to Abbot’s Hall Farm and Abberton Reservoir in July, when Fred will show us some of the coastal features we have discussed first hand, and also some the work being done by Essex Wildlife Trust to conserve our coastline and wildlife for generations to come.

Terri Amory, Little Waltham Branch WEA

For further information ring the local WEA secretary on 01206 240 791 or e-mail: [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] Hope to see you there!

 

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Conflict in the 19th Century Essex Countryside

19th century threshing machine
The type of machinery targeted by the Swing Rioters

This subject of the WEA’s next 10-week course is led by tutor, Ted Woodgate who intends to use Essex newspapers of the time to help investigate such areas as:

  • the drama of the West Bergholt fires,
  • the Swing riots,
  • the formation of a national farm workers’ union, and
  • the birth of political rights for rural workers.
The venue is the Methodist Hall in Chapel Lane CO6 3EF and the course starts on Tuesday 15th January 2013 at
8.00 pm.
Everyone one is welcome and if you’re not sure whether this is for you, why not come along without obligation on the first night before deciding if to enrol?  Cost for the 10 weeks is still £45.  Further information from our Secretary on 01206 240791 or e-mail [antibot mailto=” [email protected]”]
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Islam in the Modern World

The WEA are looking forward to their course in the village this autumn which is to be ‘Islam in the Modern World.’ The tutor, Manwar Ali, says it will be an open and engaging assessment of Islam as a religion and way of life which will establish a sound basis for dialogue with Muslims.

As usual, the venue is the Methodist Hall in Chapel Lane CO6 3EF.  The course starts on Tuesday 25th September at 8.00 pm, all are welcome and if you’re not sure about the course you may attend the first evening before deciding whether to enrol. Cost remains the same as last year which is £45 for the ten weeks.   Further information from our Secretary on 01206 240791 or e-mail [email protected].

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Learn about Venetian Architecture

Detail on Rialto Bridge

The subject of the WEA’s 10-week spring course is ‘Architecture of Venice’ .  The name is enough to conjure up thoughts of romance, intrigue and nostalgia.   Standing at the crosssroads of East and West, its buildings reflect the diverse and many influences which have effected its development.  We will explore its architecture and art from early Christian times to the present day.

The tutor is Brian Adams and the course starts on Tuesday 17th January at 8.00pm in the Methodist Hall.   All are welcome and you may attend the first evening before deciding to enrol on the course.  The cost is £45 for the ten weeks.

Further information can be obtained from the WEA Secretary on 01206 240791 or e-mail [email protected] Hope to see you there.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Art in East Anglia – an evening course

Mousehold Heath, Norwich by John Crome
(Founder of Norwich School)

This autumn, the W.E.A. is running a ten-evening course in the Methodist Hall on ‘Art in East Anglia’. The tutor is John Parker and he says it will be an informative course focusing on paintings connected with East Anglia.

The course will be looking at a range of artists, their lives, techniques, motives and influences.   Artists include Gainsborough, Constable, The Norwich School, Munnings, Seago and others.

Starting on Tuesday 27th September at 8.00p.m. the course runs until 6th December, with the WEA AGM on the Tuesday of half-term.  All are welcome and you may attend the first evening before deciding to enrol on the course. The cost is £45 for the ten weeks. Further information from the WEA Secretary on 01206 240791 or e-mail [email protected]

Hope to see you there!

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Not all Pharaohs & Slaves

The WEA’s Spring course tells a different story about Ancient Egytpt to the one we think we know. Frances Boardman, the course presenter writes:

“Ancient Egypt could not have flourished without the people who farmed, fished and built all those monuments. Meet some of these ordinary men and women as well as kings and queens.”

The course takes the form of a series of illustrated talks starting on Tuesday 11 January 2011 at 8.00 p.m. and runs for eight weeks, instead of the usual ten, due to other commitments of the tutor. The plus side to this is that the course fee is only £35.00. The talks last for an hour and a half, with a coffee break in the middle, when there is a chance to look at and borrow books on the subject.

We meet in the Methodist Hall in Chapel Lane CO6 3EF.

If you are not sure whether this is for you, why not come along and sample the first evening for free? For more details, or queries, ring the Secretary on 01206 240791.

Hope to see you there!

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Autumn events season under-way

As everybody gets back from summer two clubs’ events are introducing the autumn season.

The Colne Valley Flower Club start their season on 15th September with a demonstration by Joyce Furssdonn with her arrangements based on the title ‘Inspire and Enjoy’. For further information ‘phone Clare on 01206 241145 or visit the club’s page on the village website.

The WEA introduce a 10-week series of talks by Graham Slimming on the subject of “Art in the Age of William Morris” on 21st September in the Methodist Church Hall. You can read more about this on our newsfeed here or contact the WEA on 01206 240791 or visit their page on the village website.

Don’t forget that these and many other events are listed on the homepage of the village website. If you have an event to list, contact the webmaster.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Art in the age of William Morris

“We will evaluate Morris’s contribution to the development of the concept of design in the social, aesthetic and ideological context of his times” – so writes Graham Slimming about the series of ten illustrated talks about to be given by him on this subject.

Graham is a popular lecturer and the WEA course starts on Tuesday 21st September 2010 at 8.00 p.m. and all are welcome. The talks last for an hour and a half, with a coffee break in the middle, when there is a chance to look at and borrow books on the subject.

The course will meet in the Methodist Hall in Chapel Lane, and the standard fee for the course has only risen by 50p this year, to £44.00.

If you are not sure whether this is for you, why not come along and sample the first evening for free? For more details, or queries, ring the Secretary on 01206 240791.

Hope to see you there!

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Brunel: An Engineers Life

All are welcome to a series of ten illustrated talks given by Roger Mannion on ‘Brunel: an Engineer’s Life’. Isambard Kingdom Brunel is certainly one of our most famous and controversial engineers – producing outstanding designs far ahead of his time. We’ll look at the man; his success & failures; all within the economic and political situation of the day.

The course, which is organised by the WEA, starts on Tuesday 19th January 2010 and the lectures begin at 8.00 p.m. and last an hour and a half, with a coffee break in the middle, when there is a chance to look at and borrow books on the subject.

Venue is the Methodist Hall in Chapel Lane. The standard fee is £43.50 for the ten evenings.

If you are not sure whether this is for you, why not come and sample the first evening for free? Any queries or for more details ring the WEA Secretary on 01206 240791. Hope to see you there!

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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