Detailed Programme of Lectures 2023-2024
NEXT LECTURE .
July 17th
AGM 7:30pm
NURSERY RHYMES OF LONDON TOWN: A MISCELLANY OF POEM, PICTURE
AND ANECDOTE
Lecturer: Caroline Walker
"There is an Old Lady in Threadneedle Street Sits threading
of needles so deft and so neat. . ." Eleanor Farjeon
(1881-1965) produced an instant hit for everyone, including
soldiers on the Western Front, with “Nursery Rhymes of
London Town” (1916, 1917), whimsical verses featuring London
locations. Her much-loved children's stories, poetry, and
plays followed soon after. Today, she is mostly remembered
for “Morning has Broken” and her poem “Cats Sleep
Anywhere”. Comic illustrations, by Caroline’s great uncle,
Macdonald “Max” Gill, were crucial to her success. The
lecture is a magical mix of poetry, picture and anecdote
interwoven with tales of the talented Farjeon family, her
friend, poet Edward Thomas and illustrator Max Gill.
Remainder of Lectures 2024
September 18th
A CONCISE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT BRITISH PUBLIC PARKS
Lecturer: Paul
Rabbitts
This fascinating insight into the history of one of our greatest institutions - the Great British Public Park - gives examples of parks across the UK, and their designs and architecture.. We all enjoy them but what do we really know about them? What are their origins? This talk ranges from the great Royal Parks through 18th century Pleasure Gardens, to their Victorian heyday, their decline in the sixties, seventies and eighties, and now a renewed interest in and affection for them. What makes a great park? A combination of many features including lodges, lakes, bandstands, fountains, lidos, palm houses and wonderful floral displays – in short, its ‘parkitecture’.
For the complete years programme click
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