St Mary's Street Shops - Wallingford
Programme
Please note that presentations from September 2020 until June 2021 inclusive will be via a videoconferencing facility (Zoom) as we are not able to meet physically as a group.
If you would like to suggest a speaker, please complete this form and send to the Programme Secretary : prog.wtlp@gmail.com
May 5th, 2021 'The Meaning of Life' - A. C. Grayling
A. C. Grayling CBE MA DPhil (Oxon) FRSA FRSL is the Founder and Principal of New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University, and its Professor of Philosophy. He is also a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He is the author of over thirty books of philosophy, biography, history of ideas, and essays. He was for a number of years a columnist on the Guardian, the Times, and Prospect magazine. He has contributed to many leading newspapers in the UK, US and Australia, and to BBC radios 4, 3 and the World Service, for which he did the annual 'Exchanges at the Frontier' series; and he has often appeared on television. He has twice been a judge on the Booker Prize, in 2014 serving as the Chair of the judging panel. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a Vice President of Humanists UK, Patron of the Defence Humanists, Honorary Associate of the Secular Society, and a Patron of Dignity in Dying.
A. C. Grayling CBE MA DPhil (Oxon) FRSA FRSL is the Founder and Principal of New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University, and its Professor of Philosophy. He is also a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He is the author of over thirty books of philosophy, biography, history of ideas, and essays. He was for a number of years a columnist on the Guardian, the Times, and Prospect magazine. He has contributed to many leading newspapers in the UK, US and Australia, and to BBC radios 4, 3 and the World Service, for which he did the annual 'Exchanges at the Frontier' series; and he has often appeared on television. He has twice been a judge on the Booker Prize, in 2014 serving as the Chair of the judging panel. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a Vice President of Humanists UK, Patron of the Defence Humanists, Honorary Associate of the Secular Society, and a Patron of Dignity in Dying.
June 2nd 2021 'Paper Cutting' - Christine Green
Christine Green has been practising and teaching paper cutting, patchworking and creative textiles for many years. She designs and produces a range of eye-catching and quirky prints, cards, bags and tea towels – all using her unique typographic paper-cut designs.
Christine Green has been practising and teaching paper cutting, patchworking and creative textiles for many years. She designs and produces a range of eye-catching and quirky prints, cards, bags and tea towels – all using her unique typographic paper-cut designs.
July 7th, 2021 'Scandal in High Society Oxfordshire' - Julie Ann Godson
Julie Ann Godson studied Modern History at the University of Oxford and worked for twenty years in publishing and design. Her latest book, Scandal in High Society Oxfordshire, tells twenty tales of the upper classes in trouble, involving secret love affairs, blackmail, murder and extortion! She will be offering signed copies of her book for sale on the day at the discounted price of £10.
Julie Ann Godson studied Modern History at the University of Oxford and worked for twenty years in publishing and design. Her latest book, Scandal in High Society Oxfordshire, tells twenty tales of the upper classes in trouble, involving secret love affairs, blackmail, murder and extortion! She will be offering signed copies of her book for sale on the day at the discounted price of £10.
August 4th, 2021 'The Romance of Railways: Childhood Dreams and Beauty Queens' - Susan Kaufman
We’re delighted to welcome back Lt. Col. Susan J. Kaufman, former US Air Force Commander RAF Welford. Susan's talk will explore the roots of the modern-day heritage railway movement. Its development will be tracked from the earliest days of steam to the present day, taking in aspects of art and popular culture. It is not necessary to be a train-spotter to enjoy this, but you may feel strangely attracted ... so beware.
We’re delighted to welcome back Lt. Col. Susan J. Kaufman, former US Air Force Commander RAF Welford. Susan's talk will explore the roots of the modern-day heritage railway movement. Its development will be tracked from the earliest days of steam to the present day, taking in aspects of art and popular culture. It is not necessary to be a train-spotter to enjoy this, but you may feel strangely attracted ... so beware.
September 1st, 2021 ‘The Sky at Night’ – Gordon Rogers
Gordon Rogers is a keen amateur astronomer who has built a state of the art observatory adjoining his house – the Crendon Observatory – where Sir Patrick Moore filmed a whole programme of ‘The Sky at Night’. A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, he has a passion for deep space imaging and will talk about astronomical topics of contemporary interest both amateur and professional – a staggering subject but one in which, he says, ‘there is plenty of room for humour’.
Gordon Rogers is a keen amateur astronomer who has built a state of the art observatory adjoining his house – the Crendon Observatory – where Sir Patrick Moore filmed a whole programme of ‘The Sky at Night’. A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, he has a passion for deep space imaging and will talk about astronomical topics of contemporary interest both amateur and professional – a staggering subject but one in which, he says, ‘there is plenty of room for humour’.
October 6th, 2021 ‘Paul Nash and the Wittenham Clumps’ – Christopher Baines
The Wittenham Clumps were a major source of inspiration for Paul Nash (1889-1946), one of the finest British artists of the 20th century. The talk explores Nash’s unique and enduring connection with this landscape, showing his Wittenham Clumps work alongside his war art, Surrealism, illustration, photography and design. Christopher Baines runs the Paul Nash and the Wittenham Clumps website with artist Anna Dillon. He regularly lectures on Nash and has been interviewed about him for the BBC TV programmes Countryfile and Andrew Graham Dixon’s Paul Nash: The Ghosts of War.
The Wittenham Clumps were a major source of inspiration for Paul Nash (1889-1946), one of the finest British artists of the 20th century. The talk explores Nash’s unique and enduring connection with this landscape, showing his Wittenham Clumps work alongside his war art, Surrealism, illustration, photography and design. Christopher Baines runs the Paul Nash and the Wittenham Clumps website with artist Anna Dillon. He regularly lectures on Nash and has been interviewed about him for the BBC TV programmes Countryfile and Andrew Graham Dixon’s Paul Nash: The Ghosts of War.
November 3rd, 2021 ‘Sustainable Farming’ – Julian Gold
Julian Gold has been Farm Manager of the 800-hectare Hendred Estate since 1992. He describes his aim to transition away from "the industrial bandwagon" of piling inputs into crops, lots of fertilisers, lots of chemicals, and being part of the problem, to being part of the solution - and farming in a way that is less harmful to the environment and biodiversity.
Julian Gold has been Farm Manager of the 800-hectare Hendred Estate since 1992. He describes his aim to transition away from "the industrial bandwagon" of piling inputs into crops, lots of fertilisers, lots of chemicals, and being part of the problem, to being part of the solution - and farming in a way that is less harmful to the environment and biodiversity.
December 1st, 2021 ‘The Wonderful World of Cheese: History, Facts and Stories’ – Steve Parker
Steve Parker (award winning cheesemonger, World Cheese Awards judge, author of British Cheese on Toast) will give a fascinating and entertaining talk about the varied and interesting world of cheese:
- Why is cow’s cheese yellow and goat’s cheese white?
- How was blue cheese accidentally discovered?
- Why are Brie and Camembert so similar?
- What makes Cheddar unique?
These and many other questions will be answered by Steve as he explains how cheese is made.
Steve Parker (award winning cheesemonger, World Cheese Awards judge, author of British Cheese on Toast) will give a fascinating and entertaining talk about the varied and interesting world of cheese:
- Why is cow’s cheese yellow and goat’s cheese white?
- How was blue cheese accidentally discovered?
- Why are Brie and Camembert so similar?
- What makes Cheddar unique?
These and many other questions will be answered by Steve as he explains how cheese is made.