Petts Wood & Orpington

Introduction

Welcome to our webpage where we are pleased to give you details of our courses and Saturday lectures starting in the autumn. Firstly, I am sorry that Anne Stott’s course on European history in the 17^th & 18^th Centuries is now fully booked, but all other courses have vacancies at present.

We have a new tutor, Christine Banks, for our literature course on Monday afternoons, which promises to be very interesting and well supported. Sara Gonzalez returns after her very popular art course last year, to examine the hidden meanings in paintings, which runs for ten weeks on Tuesday afternoons.

The ever popular Toni Mount turns her attention to the rise of the British Empire and how it came about. Vanessa King goes back to the Dark Ages to look at a period of history that is becoming of increasing interest to students. Finally, Robert Vidler explores the lives of a variety of great leaders from the past and re-appraises their impact on history.

We would strongly suggest that if you are interested in any of the courses that you pre-book as soon as possible.

You will also see that we have six Saturday lectures arranged, ranging over a variety of different subjects, from a legendary actress to Grand Opera, from learned ladies of the 17^th & 18^th C to the femme fatale and fallen women of the Dickensian age, and to the art of Degas to the art of tracing ones ancestors.

Again we would request that you pre-book these lectures where possible. Our committee, who have worked so hard to make these courses possible, are very excited by the excellent Tutors and interesting subjects that are on offer and hope you will support this programme as enthusiastically as you did last year. We look forward to meeting you in the Autumn.

Alan Jarvis.
Chair. Petts Wood & Orpington Branch.

Our Courses for 2011/12

'Great' Western Leaders and their Impact on History

Course Poster

Follow the lives, exploits and struggles of twenty Great Leaders ranging in time from Alexander the Great to Margaret Thatcher. The historical interpretations offered will challenge deeply held myths and hopefully encourage a desire to re-examine the conventional wisdom about a whole range of subjects and personalities from the past. Tutor: Robert Vidler Time: Mondays 10:15 to 12:15pm - 20 meetings from 19th ~ September 2011 Fee: £140 Venue:  Petts Wood Memorial Hall (Towncourt Room) 200 Petts Wood Road Petts Wood, Kent BR5 1LA Enroll online: C2415687 - History: ‘Great’ Western Leaders and their Impact on History

 

Repression and Revelation in the Modern Novel

Course Poster

'Before us stands yesterday' : An exploration of the timeless themes of memory, friendship, betrayal and identity, via selected modern fiction by Howard Jacobson, David Abbott, Barbara Pym and three novels by Kazuo Ishiguro; beginning with 'The Remains of the Day'. Tutor: Christine Banks Time: Mondays 1:45 to 3:45pm - 20 meetings from 19th ~ September 2011 Fee: £140 Venue:  Petts Wood Memorial Hall (Towncourt Room) 200 Petts Wood Road Petts Wood, Kent BR5 1LA Enroll online: C2415803 - Modern Literature: Repression and Revelation in the Modern Novel

Hidden Meanings in Paintings

Course Poster

Have you ever looked at a picture in a museum and wondered is there is a hidden meaning in it? If so, this is the course for you. Topics include animal and vegetable symbolism, allegories of time, knowledge, power and evil! Please pre-book to guarantee a place.  Tutor: Sara Gonzalez Time: Tuesdays 2:00 - 4:00pm - 10 Meetings from 20th September 2011 Fee: £70 Venue: St John's United Reform Church (Jameson Room) Orpington, BR6 OBD Enroll online: C2415604 - Art History: Hidden Meanings in Paintings

 

From Oil Lamps to Candles

Course Poster

Illuminating the Dark Ages 400 - 900 Beginning with the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, we will chart the rise of the 'barbarian' kingdoms of the Franks, Anglo Saxons and Visigoths. We will also examine the reasons for the Viking and Arab invasions. Highlighted to include Justinian and Theodora, King Arthur, Queen Fredegund, the Venerable Bede, Charlemagne and Alfred the Great. Tutor: Vanessa King Time: Wednesday 2:00 to 4:00pm - 20 sessions from 28th September 2011 Fee: £140 Venue: St John's United Reform Church (Jameson Room) Orpington, BR6 OBD Enroll online: C2415686 - Medieval History - Illuminating the Dark Ages

C2415605 - Art History: The Portrait in Art

10/01/2012 to 27/03/2012 for 10 sessions, Tue 14:00 in Orpington

 

Tutor: Sara Gonzalez

Course Status: Enrolling

C2415685 - British History: Aspects of the British Empire

23/09/2011 to 30/03/2012 for 20 sessions, Fri 10:00 in Orpington

 

Tutor: Toni Mount

Course Status: Enrolling

C2415688 - European History: War and Change 1600-1789

22/09/2011 to 29/03/2012 for 20 sessions, Thu 14:00 in Orpington

 

Tutor: Anne Stott

Course Status: Enrolling

 

  

Saturday Lectures for 2011/12

To help with our planning please pre-book

To apply for tickets send SAE and a cheque for £8.00 made payable to WEA to: Yvonne Tapper. 8 St Thomas Drive, Orpington, BR5 1HF stating which lecture you would like to attend.

For further details contact Yvonne on: 01689 877372 or Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please contact the Branch to receive a copy of our leaflet giving full details of Saturday lectures.
 

The Art & Influence of Edgar Degas	What Makes Grand Opera Grand?

 

Ellen Terry Uncrowned Queen of England	Who do you Think You Are?

 

Blue Stockings: Learned Ladies of the 17th & 18th Centuries	Dickens and the Image of Persephone

  

Click here to search for a WEA course near you 

Other Information

This branch was founded in 1947 with the aim of bringing interesting and stimulating lecturers to our area. We always welcome ideas from our members on subjects that interest them.

Map


NOTE - If you are coming to St John's Church by train there is a short-cut from Orpington Station via the footpath shown on the map above (click to enlarge).