1st July 2009
The Consolation of Movement: The sculpture of Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin.

Rodin’s public image is at odds with the sensuality and intimacy of his great public works. Degas, famous for his paintings of ballet dancers and race horses had an abiding concern for the consolation of movement.

Presented by Michael Howard MA Courtald BA (Hons). He is a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, a practising artist painter, sculpture, print maker and a ceramisist. He has exhibited at RA, and is the author of books on Lowry, Goya, Whistler Monet and Cezanne.

2nd September 2009
Iona, Lindisfarne and the Glory of the North.

For more than a century Northumbria and Southern Scotland were at the centre of the European civilisation. Monasteries produced manuscripts; St Columbo founded Iona and St Bede became a scholar to rival the finest minds of any age.

Presented by Patricia Wright BA (Hons) ARICS(rtd). She is the author of many books of fiction and nonfiction; winner of Bodley Head Historical Novel Prize with a First Class Degree in History. She is a qualified and practised as a Chartered Surveyor and Land Agent and lectures on cruises.

7th October 2009
Tate to Tate-Highlights.

The history of the original Tate Gallery opened in 1897, and the founding of Tate Modern in 2000; it is full of controversies and stories of acquisitions. Also the lecture concentrates on appreciating some of the treasured works from both galleries.

Presented by John Iddon who is a lecturer and guide at both Tates. He lectures to the National Trust and the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery in Venice. In 2005 he lectured on the Queen Mary II and in 2008 on a Caribbean cruise liner. He also deals in modern art.

4th November 2009
The Great Twelve

An introduction to the Senior Livery Companies of the City of London, their medieval origins and their role in modern society.
Presented by Fenella Billington BA (Hons) MA, a Liverywoman of the City of London who makes a welcome return with her new lecture. She guides on tours to Rome and Florence for cruise companies and gives freelance talks to art societies including the Art Fund, U3A and National Trust.

2nd December 2009
A Christmas Pie

Explores the evolution of Christmas customs and folk-lore down the ages with musical accompaniment to evoke the spirit of each period. Examines the part played by holly, mistletoe, fir trees, glass balls, robins, reindeer, Yule logs and Christmas pie in the
traditions of Christmas.
Presented by Jeanne Dolmetsch LRMA who studied violin and piano at the Royal Academy of Music and is a specialist in the interpretation and performance of 16th, 17th and 18th Century music. She is Director of Halsemere Festival founded in 1925 by her grandfather Arnold.

As a further attraction there will be music provided by a member of the Bradford Organ Society, played on the recently installed Wurlitzer organ. Light refreshments will be provided by the SaDFAS Committee. Non members of the two societies will be charged the usual entrance fee.

There is no meeting of the Society in January 2010.

3rd February 2010
The impact of Handel and his music on British culture

Handel devoted much of his working life to the British public and his music influenced our native composers. His impact can be seen in sculptures, monuments, paintings, novels and even the Westminster chimes. There will be a performance of works by Linley, Sullivan and Tipett.
Presented by Peter Medhurst GRSM ARCM an experienced lecturer , musician and tour leader he trained as a singer and harpsichordist at the Royal college of Music and at the Mozarteum in Saltzburg.

3rd March 2010
Thomas Moran—The Turner of the American West, (1837 -1926)

Moran emigrated to Philadelphia with his parents but returned to England to study Turner paintings. An explorer as well as an artist his paintings showed the grandeur and colour of the West for the first time.
Presented by Roger Mitchell who has given over 200 lectures to NADFAS societies in the UK. Australia and New Zealand. He lectures at the University of Liverpool and has led a study tour of Virginia.

7th April 2010
Painting and collecting the creation of Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum, housed in a French Chateau, has an important display of art, ceramics, furniture and textiles, mostly collected by John Bowes and his actress wife Josephine. The lecture tells a fascinating story of their lives, their passion for collecting and their building of the remarkable museum.
Presented by Sandra Pollard BA, MA, a part time lecturer for the open University who also lectures to NADFAS, the National Trust and other prestigious societies. She is a trustee of the Bowes Museum and past chairman of North Yorkshire NADFAS.

5th May 2010
Helms, Hatchments and Hedgehogs

A straightforward introduction to Heraldry. It is not only found in country houses, cathedrals and castles but in cities ,towns and villages. Royal arms appear on newspapers, passports, sportsman’s outfits, college uniforms and college gates. Heraldry is all around us.
Presented by Chloe Cockerill MA, Reference and Local History Librarian, Regional Development Manager for the Churches Conservation Trust and a member of Cambridge University Heraldic and Heraldry Society.

2nd June 2010
Paris 1850-1900 The Most Decadent City in the World

This is a fun lecture that looks at the huge changes that took place in art production in this 50 year period – from academic art, through the impressionists, the post impressionists to Picasso’s Desmoiselles d’Avigon – the painting that heralded the beginnings of cubism.
Presented by Linda Collins MA BA(Hons), Dip.Francais a lecturer for the Education Dept af the Historic Royal Palaces. She also lectures for NADFAS, the National Trust, U3A and various UK Universities.

7th July 2010
Sculpture and the Landscape. A Journey round Sculpture Parks in Britain

This lecture examines the phenomenal popularity of sculpture parks today and takes a critical look at the relationship between sculpture and landscape by means of a visual tour of the parks and gardens throughout the UK.
Presented by Mary Yule who was the Assistant Director and the Director of Grants at the Art Funds. She is also an experienced lecturer for the Art Fund, Kingston University, the National Gallery, the Wallace Collection and NASFAS.

3rd September 2010
The Pre-Raphaelite Rebellion

The paintings of the Pre –Raphaelites have remained the most loved of all Victorian images. They are romantic and poetic in theme, dazzlingly colourful and meticulously detailed. The lecture focuses on the work of the original Brotherhood – William Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John Everett Millais.
Presented by Tim Stimson who was a professional painter-ceramicist before returning to university to study Literature and the History of Art. He also lectures at 3 universities, the WEA and NADFAS.

6th October 2010
Designed for Wearing – Jewellery of the 20th Century

Discover how jewellery design has incorporated the delicacies of the Edwardian period, the dramatic contracts of the Deco period, the sculptural creations from the 30’s, the cocktail styles of the 40’s and 50’s, the new age influences of the 60’s and the “bling” culture of the 80’s, to produce an unforgettable period of jewellery design.
Presented by Susan M Rumfitt MPhil, BA(Hons). Following a career as an international jewellery specialist with Christies and Phillips, Susan set up a jewellery business in Harrogate. She regularly lectures for NADFAS and is one of the jewellery experts for the Antiques Road Show.

3rd November 2010
Growing up in a Surrealist Household at Farnley Farm

In 1949 Roland Penrose, the British surrealist artist, friend and biographer of Picasso, and his wife lee Miller, surrealist photographer and war correspondent, bought Farnley Farm in Sussex. The house was frequented by Picasso, Max Ernst, Joan Miro, Man Ray and many other surrealist and modern artists. Seen through the eyes of Anthony Penrose, their son and biographer, this is a poignant story of the lives of Penrose and Miller.
Presented by Anthony Penrose who has lectured at various venues around the world and for the last 25 years has run the Lee Miller Archives and the Penrose Collection.

1st December 2010
The Circus – How Artists have depicted it over the Centuries

The first circus which is thought to have its origins in Ancient Rome, the Circus Maximus, was the only public spectacle in which men and women were not separated. We view the circus through the eyes of the artists Goya, Daumier, Seuret and Degas.
Presented by Harry Fletcher MA in Ed. BA Cert, MLIA(dip) who is a portrait painter a practising artist and freelance lecturer.

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
Dreamtime to Machine Time. Aboriginal Art and Culture

The lecturer traces the genesis of Aboriginal Art. She explains the meaning of Dreamtime, the creation of the Aboriginal universe and how this, the oldest continuous artistic tradition in the world has been revitalised. The meaning of the paintings are explained and how to read the symbol and signs.
Rebecca Hossack was formally the Australian Cultural Attaché in the UK. She has had an art Gallery in Central London for 22 years and writes regularly in the press.

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
The Festival of Britain 1951 and its Design Legacy

The Festive was held over five months on 27 acres of bomb damaged land. It was dedicated to showcasing the very best of new British Industry and was visited by eight million people. The lecture tells the story of the Festive and its lasting legacy.
Sally Hoban is an arts, design and antiques consultant. She lectures extensively on the Decorative Arts and writes for national and international press.

Wednesday 6th April 2011
King George 111. Patron of the Arts, Art Collector, Friend of America and Family Man

George 111 is unjustly remembered as having been mad and having lost the American colonies. This lecture corrects this impression and describes his life, his wide interests, his important additions to the Royal Collection and his relationship with America.
Oliver Everett  was Assistant Private Secretary to Prince Charles and Private Secretary to Diane Princess of Wales. He was librarian in the Royal Library at Windsor castle and is now Librarian Emeritus following his retirement in 2002.

Wednesday 4th May 2011
“Thick Green Moss, all Pure and Sunny Warm” the setting for the Art of the Tea Ceremony.

The title is a quote from the most important of Japan’s early tea masters. The lecture looks at the idea of the ceremony itself through paintings and photos, tracing the nature and origins of the setting of an art at the very heart of Japan’s artistic and aesthetic identity. It will also look at the changing styles of garden and the utensils used for the ceremony itself.
Keir Davidson studied at Leeds University and became a landscape designer. Whilst living in Kyoto pursued an interest in Japanese gardens and the art of the Japanese ceremony.

Wednesday 1st June 2011
Libya Uncovered - The Magnificence of Laptis Magna, Sabratha and Cyrene

Closed for many years, Libya is slowly exposing its ancient Phoenician, Greek and Roman cultures. The 3rd Century AD is the golden age of the finest examples of Roman mosaic and art recently uncovered in private villas of the wealthy. The Phoenicians developed the early trading posts of Sabratha and Leptis Magna, whilst the Greeks built the magnificent city of Cyrene.
Christopher Bradley, a civil engineer worked in Saudi Arabia as a consultant, travelling widely in the country. He is a university lecturer, author, travel photographer and author of Berlitz Guides to Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Libya and more.

Wednesday 6th July 2011
Two Queens of the Desert: Lady Hester Stanhope and Zenobia of Palmyra

The story of two extraordinary women: Lady Hester Stanhope, niece to William Pitt, who travelled extensively in the Orient, and Zenobia, Queen of the splendid oasis city and trading emporium of Palmyra in the Syrian desert during the 3rd Century.
Ruth Rollin works as a freelance interpreter for the E.U., the United Nations and other international organisations. Formally a tutor and lecturer at the University of London and has worked as a archaeologist.

Wednesday 5th October 2011
Lost on the Titanic: the story of the most expensive book ever made

The great Omar Binding, created in 1912, was the most elaborate and opulent binding ever made. It was embellished with over one thousand jewels, five thousand leather inlays and one hundred square feet of gold leaf. It went down with the Titanic. This lecture tells the story of the renowned bookbinders Sangorski and Sutcliffe, known for their fabulous jewelled bindings. It also tells the moving story of one young man in particular, who decided to recreate the binding.

Dominic Riley is a bookbinder with his works in collections worldwide. He travels across the UK teaching master classes and is also a film maker.

Wednesday 2nd November 2011
William Hunter: pioneer obstetrician, collector extraordinary and the Queen’s Nightman

Born just outside Glasgow in the early 18th Century William Hunter became a remarkable figure in the European Enlightenment in the practice of anatomy and medical teaching. He was the first Professor of Anatomy at the Royal Academy of Art, a great collector and a friend of Joshua Reynolds and George Stubbs. The talk is illustrated with many superb examples from Hunter’s collection and images of 18th Century London life.

Dr Evelyn Silber was Director of the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery (2001- 2006) and Director of Leeds Museum and Galleries. Currently is chair of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society.

Wednesday 7th December 2011
Beneath the City Streets - London’s unseen History

This lecture is an interesting and somewhat amusing sojourn into the historic and secret world under the streets of London. We may become privy to what happens “under” the seat of government and the government buildings. Some, if not all, will be revealed!

Peter Lawrence is now retired from the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Service.  He is an adult education tutor of architectural history and social studies, a Freeman of the City of London, author and broadcaster.