TALKS PROGRAMME

One of the perks I value most about having a bookshop is that our talks series, such as it is (roughly a speaker a month between September – June) enables me to meet professionals in every field (the arts, sciences, even sports) who I would otherwise never have had the opportunity to meet. Some few are well-known to the public - hey! It’s a long way up here, the fee is risible, and the Old Waiting Room wherein the talks take place only holds 50 people tops (60 if they’re skinny).

Still, some serious names (serious names with big hearts) have been willing to make the perilous journey above Watford, eg, Joanna Trollope, David Aaronovitch, Richard Ingrams, Anne Stevenson, James Fleming, Tony Harrison, and the late (loved) (missed!) Miles Kington.

But forget famous; all our speakers are well-known within their field and have given some of the most spell-binding talks of all, enough to have created their very own fan club. (Just try dropping the name ‘Richard Lomas’ around these parts – Dick’s the Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Durham - and wait for the absolutely slavering response.) Anyway, all the talks begin at 7.30 and cost £3 (and that includes a glass of plonk no less.)

If you’d like, send us your email address and we’ll put your name on our mailing list.

FORTHCOMING TALKS

Monday 15^th March 2010 at 7.30 pm

Michael McNay - Hidden Treasures of the North

Michael McNay spent the best part of his career in journalism at the Guardian, where he moved from copy editing news to becoming the paper’s first arts editor, producing the pages but also writing extensively on fine art and cinema. Later he became assistant editor and took charge of the design of the paper before moving on to laying out and editing the front page nightly.

Michael McNay’s books include a study of the St Ives painter Patrick Heron; Artists and their Studios for which he wrote text to support the images by photographer Eamonn McCabe; and just out last year, Hidden Treasures of England, a beautifully written and produced book which belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in discovering brilliant, even astonishing, works of art overlooked throughout England. (But then I would say that, wouldn’t I?, as McNay included as a hidden treasure Barter Books’ own wonderful Writers Mural by Peter Dodd. What a hero!)

Finally, as if all that weren’t credentials enough, McNay’s own family comes from Northumberland (his father was born in Bedlington) and he, himself, attended for many years the former Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Darlington. Do join us both to welcome him back and to enjoy the ride as he talks us through the hidden treasures in a part of the world that was once his own. (Booksigning afterwards.)

Entrance: £3 to include a glass of wine.

ALN VALLEY RAILWAY SOCIETY

The most recent programme is shown below. If you require further information, please contact Roger Jermy on 01665 606168.

Meetings of the society are held in the Waiting Room, Alnwick Station at 7.00 pm for 7.15pm. They are open to members, their guests and visitors for a small donation towards costs. Refreshments will be available.

INDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME : WINTER 2009 - 2010

Thursday 17^th September 2009

Former BR and NCB footplateman Ken Middlemist presents the second part of his local railway reminiscences when he relates to us some 'Tales of the NCB Railway at Whittle Colliery'. If you enjoyed Ken's 'part1' talk then you won't want to miss this!

Thursday 15^th October 2009

This evening we welcome Gordon Hodgson from Haughton, Carlisle. Gordon is a driver of steam locomotives on the main lines in the north and he will give us an illustrated talk entitled '' Driving Preserved Stream on the Settle and Carlisle Line''.

Thursday 19^th November 2009

Graham Jellet makes a very welcome return to Alnwick to update our knowledge of the French Tramway and Light Railway situation in his latest talk: ''Light Rail in France – The Current Scene.''

Thursday 17^th December 2009

''The Members Entertain: a Christmas Social Evening''. This evening is a chance for members, their guests & friends to give a short presentation on a railway-linked topic of their own choice. Please volunteer. Slide projector, DVD & video player are available.

Thursday 21^st January 2010

Two years ago we enjoyed a talk about the A4 locomotive 'Sir Nigel Gresley'. Chris Nettleton, Secretary of 'The Gresley Society', comes to Alnwick to give us a talk on the engine's designer: ''Nigel Gresley: the man and his achievements''. A treat in store!

Thursday 18^th February 2010

Rob Gavan, Secretary of the Gunnerton Railway Circle, visits us for the first time to give his talk on ''A Bass Brewery Works Railway Outing from Burton - on- Trent to Scarborough in the early 1900s''. A fascinating and very different talk!

Thursday 18^th March 2010

'Sir Thomas Bouch – Railway Engineer' is the subject of this evening's talk by Professor Iain Moffat RD DL. Bouch is best remembered for the collapse of his Tay Bridge but otherwise he was a respected and successful engineer. Don't miss this talk!

Thursday 16^th April 2010

Following the publication of his book on the subject, our member Roger Darsley, comes back to Alnwick to tell us about the ''Newcastle and Carlisle Railway''.

Thursday 15^th May 2010

'Annual Quiz v Gunnerton Railway Circle'. This year it is the turn of the AVRS to host this annual event as the two teams compete for the 'Flat – bottom trophy'.

THE BARTER BOOKS BOOKGROUP

The Barter Books Book Group meets once a month, 7-9, at the bookshop, and has actually grown into two groups, the Monday and Tuesday night groups, both of which read the same material.

Its year is divided into two sessions, the Autumn session (September to December) and the Spring session (January to the end of May), with the reading for both sessions ranging over a wide range of choices, both classic and modern, fiction and nonfiction. The specific books to be read within that range are chosen by the leader (with an ear to suggestions from the group) according to a theme.

The Book Club is led by Rosemary Hartill, a former BBC correspondent, who has reported from some thirty countries (including BBC World Service broadcasts). Among the radio series Rosemary has presented for the BBC are: Meridian Books (World Service books programme), Writers Revealed (fourteen interviews on Radio 4 with authors ranging from Iris Murdoch to Anthony Burgess), and Immortal Diamonds (a Radio 4 series about poets). The recipient of two honorary doctorates in literature, Rosemary has also written for the Guardian and the Times Educational Supplement and is the author of several books.

Unfortunately (or fortunately!), both the Monday and Tuesday night groups are often fully subscribed. However, if you wish to check on vacancies or are interested in being added to the waiting list, please contact John Walsh at Barter Books either by telephone (01665 604888) or by sending an email to bb.johnwalsh@gmail.com, with 'Book Club' in the subject field.