News and Events, January 2018

Last 2017 meeting: On 8 January a much-appreciated speaker returned to talk about "Jane Austen". John Davison (for it was he) has enlightened us on several previous occasions and his talks are always keenly anticipated. After his first talk to us some years ago, the discussion was started by someone saying "I wish I'd had an English teacher like you". This sums up his appeal. "Jane Austen" was up to our great expectations (yes, I know that was Dickens, not Jane Austen), and we look forward to John's next visit. His friend, and former colleague at Berkhamsted School, Jonty Driver, was unable to be with us for John's talk, as he had recently undergone major surgery. Jonty is now making a good recovery and I'm sure all members will wish him well. We hope he will be able to get to the next meeting on 19 January when we can thank him at the AGM for all the great speakers he has persuaded to visit us over the years.



Our next meeting: on Friday 19 January, will be a talk, illustrated by music recordings, by Bryce Morrison, a distinguished music critic. You can find out more about him by visiting his web site CLICK HERE  On the subject of his talk, he writes: "The topic of my talk is 'A Question of Music Criticism.' Behind this is the assumption that there is always a question regarding criticism whether literary, musical etc. Much of this is autobiographical, much of it hilarious, (well, in retrospect). To end, we can listen to three short recordings of truly great piano playing. A reminder that in the long term you cannot really talk or write about music(something I have been doing as long as I can remember!), you can create it, play it and listen to it."

Reminder: On 20 January, local author and Winchelsea Literary Society member Guy Fraser-Sampson will be signing copies of his books, including his latest novel 'A Death in the Night', at the Rye Bookshop.

The Book Group has now been going for 10 years, and has read, or at least discussed, over a hundred books in many different categories, including fiction, biography, poetry, etc. To mark the anniversary, Howard Norton put together a booklet listing all the books that have been discussed, and all the individuals who have contributed by choosing books and leading discussions. To mark the occasion, it was proposed by Howard, and enthusiastically agreed by the members present at our last meeting in 2017, to call the group "The Robert Hargreaves Book Group" in honour of his contribution to the founding of the Winchelsea Literary Society and its associated Book Group. Here is a link to Robert's obituary from the Guardian in 2010: CLICK HERE
The provisional 2018 programme appears on the right.