at HALESOWEN COLLEGE PROGRAMME SEPTEMBER 2017 - SUMMER 2018
CONTACT DETAILS JILL HUGHES - COMMUNITY AND O5OS CO-ORDINATOR jhughes@halesowen.ac.uk Tel: 0121 602 7769 Halesowen College, Whittingham Road, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 3NA FIND US ON COMMITTEE MEETINGS 2017/2018 www.halesowen.ac.uk 2.00 3.00pm SEMINAR ROOM Tuesday 7 November 2017 Wednesday 14 February 2018 Thursday 17 May 2018 Further dates will be added if required
WELCOME A WARM WELCOME TO ALL OUR MEMBERS. We would like to thank you for your continued support and hope you enjoy the talks and visits planned for 2017/2018. We also look forward to welcoming new members throughout the year. 10.15 am 10.45 am 10.45 am 12.00 pm 12.00 pm 13.30 pm Morning Coffee Talk by Various Speakers Lunch in College Restaurant Joining Fee 10.00 Talk & Morning Coffee 6.00 Lunch To be advised Please note: You can now pay contactless where possible please pay by credit/ debit card
TUESDAY GROUP C DATE SPEAKER SUBJECT 2017 19 September Patricia Boyd What The Butler Saw A New Powerpoint Presentation 3 October Chris Smith Strange Laws 17 October Melvyn Thompson Woven in Kidderminster Half Term All Groups Monday 23 Friday 27 October 7 November Rosemary Winnall Canal Adventure (Cycling the Midlands Canal Towpath Network) 21 November John Billingham Images of Shropshire Part II 5 December Adrian Holmes History and Art of Town Crying Allegedly Christmas All Groups Monday 18 December Friday 5 January 2018 9 January Kate Round The Magic of Glass 23 January Nigel Metcalfe The Willing Servant The History of Electricity in the Home 6 February Alan Hill The Great Fire of London 1666 Half Term All Groups Monday 19 Friday 23 February 27 February Anthony Collis 175 Not Out 13 March Max Keen The History of Dudley Castle 1071-1933 Easter All Groups Friday 30 March Friday 13 April 17 April George Hook Mother of Pearl 1 May Mike Pearson The Black Country in the Great War 15 May Brian Draper Hidden Wildlife of a City Spring Bank Holiday All Groups Monday 28 May Friday 1 June 5 June Danielle Saxon Reeves Early Romantic Guitar 26 June Hilary Bills Halesowen in Bloom
TUESDAY GROUP D DATE SPEAKER SUBJECT 2017 26 September Patricia Boyd What the Butler Saw A New Powerpoint Presentation 10 October Chris Smith Strange Laws Half Term All Groups Monday 23 Friday 27 October 31 October Melvyn Thompson Woven in Kidderminster 14 November Rosemary Winnall Canal Adventure (Cycling the Midlands Canal Towpath Network) 28 November John Billingham Images of Shropshire Part II 12 December Adrian Holmes History and Art of Town Crying Allegedly Christmas All Groups Monday 18 December Friday 5 January 2018 16 January Kate Round The Magic of Glass 30 January Nigel Metcalfe The Willing Servant The History of Electricity in the Home 13 February Alan Hill The Great Fire of London 1666 Half Term All Groups Monday 19 Friday 23 February 6 March Anthony Collis 175 Not Out 20 March Max Keen The History of Dudley Castle 1071-1933 Easter All Groups Friday 30 March Friday 13 April 24 April George Hook Mother of Pearl 8 May Mike Pearson The Black Country in the Great War 22 May Brian Draper Hidden Wildlife of a City Spring Bank Holiday All Groups Monday 28 May Friday 1 June 19 June Danielle Saxon Reeves Early Romantic Guitar 3 July Hilary Bills Halesowen in Bloom
WEDNESDAY GROUP E DATE SPEAKER SUBJECT 2017 20 September Patricia Boyd What The Butler Saw A New Powerpoint Presentation 4 October Chris Smith Strange Laws 18 October Melvyn Thompson Woven in Kidderminster Half Term All Groups Monday 23 Friday 27 October 8 November Rosemary Winnall Canal Adventure (Cycling the Midlands ` Canal Towpath Network) 22 November John Billingham Images of Shropshire Part II 6 December Adrian Holmes History and Art of Town Crying Allegedly Christmas All Groups Monday 18 December Friday 5 January 2018 10 January Kate Round The Magic of Glass 24 January Nigel Metcalfe The Willing Servant The History of Electricity in the Home 7 February Alan Hill The Great Fire of London 1666 Half Term All Groups Monday 19 Friday 23 February 28 February Anthony Collis 175 Not Out 14 March Max Keen The History of Dudley Castle 1071-1933 Easter All Groups Friday 30 March Friday 13 April 18 April George Hook Mother of Pearl 2 May Mike Pearson The Black Country in the Great War 16 May Brian Draper Hidden Wildlife of a City Spring Bank Holiday All Groups Monday 28 May Friday 1 June 6 June Danielle Saxon Reeves Early Romantic Guitar 27 June Hilary Bills Halesowen in Bloom
WEDNESDAY GROUP F DATE SPEAKER SUBJECT 2017 27 September Patricia Boyd What the Butler Saw A New Powerpoint Presentation 11 October Chris Smith Strange Laws Half Term All Groups Monday 23 Friday 27 October 1 November Melvyn Thompson Woven in Kidderminster 15 November Rosemary Winnall Canal Adventure (Cycling the Midlands Canal Towpath Network) 29 November John Billingham Images of Shropshire Part II 13 December Adrian Holmes History and Art of Town Crying Allegedly Christmas All Groups Monday 18 December Friday 5 January 2018 17 January Kate Round The Magic of Glass 31 January Nigel Metcalfe The Willing Servant The History of Electricity in the Home 14 February Alan Hill The Great Fire of London 1666 Half Term All Groups Monday 19 Friday 23 February 7 March Anthony Collis 175 Not Out 21 March Max Keen The History of Dudley Castle 1071-1933 Easter All Groups Friday 30 March Friday 13 April 25 April George Hook Mother of Pearl 9 May Mike Pearson The Black Country in the Great War 23 May Brian Draper Hidden Wildlife of a City Spring Bank Holiday All Groups Monday 28 May Friday 1 June 20 June Danielle Saxon Reeves Early Romantic Guitar 4 July Hilary Bills Halesowen in Bloom
THURSDAY GROUP G DATE SPEAKER SUBJECT 2017 21 September Patricia Boyd What The Butler Saw A New Powerpoint Presentation 5 October Chris Smith Strange Laws 19 October Melvyn Thompson Woven in Kidderminster Half Term All Groups Monday 23 Friday 27 October 9 November Rosemary Winnall Canal Adventure (Cycling the Midlands ` Canal Towpath Network) 23 November John Billingham Images of Shropshire Part II 7 December Adrian Holmes History and Art of Town Crying Allegedly Christmas All Groups Monday 18 December Friday 5 January 2018 11 January Kate Round The Magic of Glass 25 January Nigel Metcalfe The Willing Servant The History of Electricity in the Home 8 February Alan Hill The Great Fire of London 1666 Half Term All Groups Monday 19 Friday 23 February 1 March Anthony Collis 175 Not Out 15 March Max Keen The History of Dudley Castle 1071-1933 Easter All Groups Friday 30 March Friday 13 April 19 April George Hook Mother of Pearl 3 May Mike Pearson The Black Country in the Great War 17 May Brian Draper Hidden Wildlife of a City Spring Bank Holiday All Groups Monday 28 May Friday 1 June 7 June Danielle Saxon Reeves Early Romantic Guitar 28 June Hilary Bills Halesowen in Bloom
THURSDAY GROUP H DATE SPEAKER SUBJECT 2017 28 September Patricia Boyd What the Butler Saw A New Powerpoint Presentation 12 October Chris Smith Strange Laws Half Term All Groups Monday 23 Friday 27 October 2 November Melvyn Thompson Woven in Kidderminster 16 November Rosemary Winnall Canal Adventure (Cycling the Midlands Canal Towpath Network) 30 November John Billingham Images of Shropshire Part II 14 December Adrian Holmes History and Art of Town Crying Allegedly Christmas All Groups Monday 18 December Friday 5 January 2018 18 January Kate Round The Magic of Glass 1 February Nigel Metcalfe The Willing Servant The History of Electricity in the Home 15 February Alan Hill The Great Fire of London 1666 Half Term All Groups Monday 19 Friday 23 February 8 March Anthony Collis 175 Not Out 22 March Max Keen The History of Dudley Castle 1071-1933 Easter All Groups Friday 30 March Friday 13 April 26 April George Hook Mother of Pearl 10 May Mike Pearson The Black Country in the Great War 24 May Brian Draper Hidden Wildlife of a City Spring Bank Holiday All Groups Monday 28 May Friday 1 June 21 June Danielle Saxon Reeves Early Romantic Guitar 5 July Hilary Bills Halesowen in Bloom
SUMMARY OF SPEAKERS TALKS 2017-18 PATRICIA BOYD WHAT THE BUTLER SAW A new powerpoint presentation a naughty but nice look at life Upstairs and Downstairs in a large Victorian household. With true stories of how the two halves got on (or not!) and how they helped (or hindered!) each other. A way of life which was fascinating and amazing, but so very successful. CHRIS SMITH STRANGE LAWS A light hearted, amusing look at some of our strange laws. MELVYN THOMPSON WOVEN IN KIDDERMINSTER The history of the development of the carpet industry in the Kidderminster area, including Stourport, Bewdley and Bridgnorth. An illustrated talk with samples, pictures, artefacts and audience participation. ROSEMARY WINNALL CYCLING THE MIDLANDS CANAL TOWPATH NETWORK Rosemary Winnall was a teacher by profession but a naturalist by inclination. Prior to retirement she worked as Edcuation Manager with the Forestry Commission running the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre a day centre for children and adults of all ages. She was awarded the MBE in the 2015 New Years Honours List for the contribution to the Natural Environment in the Wyre Forest. She returns this year to share her experiences cycling the canal towpaths of the Midlands. JOHN BILLINGHAM IMAGES OF SHROPSHIRE PART II Following on from his 2016/2017 talk. ADRIAN HOLMES TOWN CRIER HIM WHO RINGS THAT BELL The history and art of Town Crying dressed in full livery, Adrian answers the most frequently asked questions Why? How? When? KATE ROUND THE MAGIC OF GLASS Kate takes a look at the chemistry behind the making of glass a new talk she prepared as part of the 2017 Glass Festival programme. NIGEL METCALFE THE WILLING SERVANT THE HISTORY OF ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME We take the instant availability of electricity in our homes for granted, and the many electric-powered domestic appliances make our lives easier. Yet do we know how long electricity has been available and how domestic appliances have developed? This talk firstly looks at the origins of electrical generation, the building of the National Grid in the 1920s and 30s, and changes in the electricity supply industry over time. The history of a wide range of electrical appliances is then explored. These include domestic lighting, cooking, cleaning, laundry and heating. The inspiration for this talk was his father s career as Exhibitions Manager of the Electrical Development Association (later the Electricity Council). The talk includes many contemporary illustrations.
SUMMARY OF SPEAKERS TALKS 2017-18 ALAN HILL THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON 1666 The Great Fire of 1666 would be the worst fire in Europe since Rome burned under Nero. London was recovering from the ravages of the plague and England was at war with the Dutch. Fire was a constant hazard and the rapid expansion of London in the 17th century only added to this danger. Aided by a hot and dry summer, a strong easterly wind and the lack of a coordinated and rapid response the fire raged for four days before it was put out. The damage was almost unimaginable and 100,000 people were made homeless this is the story of the Great Fire of London and its aftermath. ANTHONY COLLIS 175 NOT OUT Apart from reference to the cricket club s 175th anniversary in 2017, this talk will include a number of interesting pictures of Stourbridge (and Halesowen!) people and places of yesteryear. MAX KEEN THE HISTORY OF DUDLEY CASTLE 1071-1933 A fortress since 1087, Dudley has seen its fair share of sieges, political derring do and royal visits - not to mention illegal mints, ghosts and great fires. Featuring a quick change from medieval to civil war costume & weapons during the talk! A revealing talk, in more ways than one! GEORGE HOOK MOTHER OF PEARL The Hook family have been associated with the Mother of Pearl trade since 1824. The original factory was situated in the Hockley area of Birmingham and was one of many companies years ago that worked with Mother of Pearl. Most of the trade in those days was button making and this was how the family business came about. Over the years buttons were to become only part of the range of items that were to be produced. The arrival of shells from Australia started a trade of Mother of Pearl workers, and not just button makers. The Hook family soon realized that there was more outlets to be reached with the working of the shell than with just buttons. Buttons still played an important part in the business but now they were handmade and not mass produced like the majority of the trade. Handles for cutlery and side handles for revolvers where produced from the large shells along with items for jewellery and inlays for furniture. With the introduction of plastic buttons into the market place sadly a lot of the Pearl button factories closed down. George s business is now the last of the Birmingham Pearl button trade. He still produces his own items although working on his own limits the amount of work he makes. MIKE PEARSON THE BLACK COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR An illustrated talk with particular emphasis on the year 1918. BRIAN DRAPER THE HIDDEN WILDLIFE OF A CITY This lecture looks at what wildlife can be seen in a city and the way it has adapted to coexist with man. DANIELLE SAXON REEVES THE EARLY ROMANTIC GUITAR Danielle is a 19th century fretted instrument specialist, a devotee of the Classic Fingerstyle Banjo, Early Romantic Guitar and the Mandolin. She graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire in June 2001 and now performs both as a soloist and in a number of ensembles. As well as her performing career, she also runs a busy private teaching practice. She will be bringing along her 200 year old guitars which she will play during her talk. HILARY BILLS HALESOWEN IN BLOOM Councillor Hilary Bills talks about her Halesowen in Bloom involvement.
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