New group – Classic prog rock

A group to explore classic prog rock music from the 1960s to the 1980s, to include music from groups such as ELP, Focus, Yes, King Crimson, Alquin, Caravan, Van de Graaf Generator, Jethro Tull, Gong, Aphrodite's Child and The Nice. Members are encouraged to contribute tracks to the sessions and the group leaders will create playlists to listen to and discuss. Themes for the sessions will be decided by the group.

Second Tuesday of the month 10-11.30 am

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The players, the courts and equipment, the grand slams, the Davies and the Billie Jean King Cups and other tournaments of note around the world – how long will Djokovic reign supreme have Sinner and Alcaraz knocked him off his top billing – What’s happened to Radacanu? - join now in time for the Slam down under.

Our first meeting is scheduled for 2 pm 11th May and thereafter 2 pm on the second Monday of the month.

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For those with little or no French. Our first meeting is at 19.00 hours on 8th May and thereafter on the 1st and the 3rd Thursday of the month, 7:00 to 8:30 pm.

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Around 12,000 years ago agriculture changed human history forever and ushered in the social institutions of patriarchy, domination culture and private property. This new discussion group will explore how our modern world has been shaped by the development and impact of patriarchy:

• Power and conflict: has patriarchy been a cause of war, crime, and social inequality?

• Religion: has patriarchy been a cause of organised religion?

• Class politics: has patriarchy been a cause and effect of slavery, feudalism, capitalism and socialism?

• Identity politics: has patriarchy been challenged by social movements for civil rights, gay rights and women’s rights?

• The future: patriarchy and gender ideology, transhumanism, artificial intelligence and space travel

• Our environment: is patriarchy bound up with human supremacism, domination and dominion over our environment and non-human creatures, as opposed to stewardship of or cohabitation with our environment and non-human creatures?

Meetings will be a mix of pre-planned topics and discussions based on history and on current news. This is a collaborative discussion group that welcomes all points of view.

Tuesday pm TBC

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If you like big band and swing jazz, join group leader Diana on Zoom to watch YouTube videos and listen to Spotify together and chat about the music informally. We will focus on a different big band or singer each month, taking turns to choose. A great opportunity to enjoy uplifting music and spend an hour with people who like the same kind of music.
First Saturday of the month at 7:30 pm.
Thanks and best wishes – Diana

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A discussion around available and affordable fashion items, including fabrics, make-up, hair products – plus a monthly special sewing bee, including recycling clothes, outfits for children, evening outfits and casual wear. First Monday of the month to be arranged…

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Potential groups provide an opportunity for members to help set up a group which is not currently included in our active groups or where existing groups are full. When there enough members in the Potential group, we organise a meeting so you can decide between you how the group will work and how it will be run.

The group will be for people with little or no knowledge of Irish.

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Swallows and Amazons – IGO intermediate recorders

Occasionally, the music for the recorder group follows a theme.  Recently, at least one piece each session has been following Arthur Ransome’s description in “Swallows and Amazons” of the party on Captain Flint’s Houseboat.  Ransome gives clues to the music, such as “Spanish Ladies”, “The Whale”, “Amsterdam”, “Blow the Man Down” and “Away to Rio”.  We would claim that we’ve played what he might have meant, even if it wasn’t exactly what he did mean.  Captain Flint played a sailor’s hornpipe and that gave an excuse to play three hornpipes.  One was by Purcell, one by Handel, and one you might recognise from “The Last Night of the Proms”.

We’re also working our way through a Bach Orchestral Suite, and we’ve marked Good Friday by playing  music by Pergolesi and the Spring Equinox with music by, of course, Vivaldi.

All in all, a key factor in choice of our music is variety.

Peter - Intermediate Recorders Group Leader

Quiz time

1. What is the birthstone for May?
2. Who was born in May 1820 and later in life they introduced procedures reducing hospital death rates in the Crimean War from 42% to 2%?
3. Which 1958 book written by H. E. Bates first introduced us to the Larkins?
4. What is the name of the man who was the first to run a mile under 4 minutes – in May 1954?
5. Hawthorn is one of the two flowers associated with May – do you know the other?
6. Which royal opened the Manchester Ship Canal in May 1894?

Answers at the end

Quiz Answers

1. Emerald
2. Florence Nightingale
3. The Darling Buds of May
4. Roger Bannister
5. Lily of the Valley
6. Queen Victoria