TALKS PROGRAMME : AUTUMN 2007

This annual series, beginning in September, comprises talks by professionals in a wide variety of fields.

All talks begin at 7.30, with doors opening at 7pm. (The better to secure a seat inside the Waiting Room, we suggest you arrive early. If an overflow audience is indicated in advance, we will install speakers so that those sitting outside the Waiting Room will be able to hear. So please don't be deterred!)

£3 entrance fee includes a glass of wine. (All proceeds, after expenses, go to the charity or project of the speaker's choice.)

BEGINNING PHILOSOPHY: AUTUMN 2007

Ten-week course being given under the auspices of the invaluable Centre for Lifelong Learning (in partnership with the Universities of Sunderland & Newcastle).

One of the great advantages of modern life is the wonderful easy access to continual learning courses - this one under the tutelage of Michael Bavidge and using our very own old Waiting Room as one of their many venues around the North East. Discussing controversial issues, reading classic and contemporary texts, and encountering the outstanding personalities of our philosophical tradition guarantee a stimulating introduction to the philosophical ideas that shape the way we live and think. The tutor, Michael Bavidge, was Head of the CLL and has taught philosophy to mature students for many years, as well as written several books on the subject.

Time: Thursdays 7-9, beginning October 4th – Dec. 13th. (No meeting Oct. 18th)
Venue: Barter Books

To join the Beginning Philosophy course please contact the Centre for Lifelong Learning, tel: 0191 – 515 2800, or email lifelong.learning@sunderland.ac.uk. Cost: £70 / £55 (OAPs) / £32 (claimants) payable to the CLL. Brochure available.

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 theme for this year's Autumn session reading will be 'Diaries, Letters, and Memoirs'.

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, both the Monday and Tuesday night groups are already fully subscribed at this time - at least until the end of the first session at Christmas.

If you are interested in being added to the Book Group waiting list, please contact John Walsh at Barter Books either by telephone (01665 604888) or by sending an email to bb@barterbooks.co.uk, with 'Book Club' in the subject field.

ALN VALLEY RAILWAY SOCIETY

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

INDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME : WINTER 2007-8

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 are provided from 7.00pm.

Thursday 20th September 2007
Sir Nigel Gresley
Mel Haigh, the Education Officer of the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Preservation Trust, begins our season with a talk and slide show on this LNER Class A4 Locomotive and the Trust's work keeping it in main line condition.

Thursday 18th October 2007
Railways in the Isle of Man
Ian Hastie makes the long journey down from Edinburgh to Alnwick to give us his slide presentation on the island's fascinating railways.

Friday 16th November 2007
Alnwick Station
David Champion will describe to us the history of Alnwick Station and give us a special guided tour 'behind the scenes'. Keep your eyes open to spot the unexpected!

Tuesday 11th December 2007
Christmas Social and Members' Evening
This evening is a chance for members, their guests and friends to give a short presentation on a railway-linked topic of their own choice! Do volunteer! A slide projector, DVD and video player will be available. Seasonal refreshments as well!

Thursday 17th January 2008
Over here and over there
Roger Jermy will present an evening of slides illustrating some of the industrial and passenger-carrying narrow gauge railways of the British Isles and Europe from 1957-2007.

Thursday 21st February 2008
An evening with Ken Middlemist
AVRS member Ken will entertain us with an evening of pictures and anecdotes from the days when he worked on the local railways.

Thursday 20th March 2008
Rail freight in the 1980s
AVRS member Brian Rogers makes the short journey down from Belford to give us this presentation of his own slides.

Thursday 17th April 2008 (provisional)
The Tanfield Railway
Alan Thompson returns to Alnwick to tell us the story of the railway from the days of the NCB to the present day.