Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture

Re-Launch Meeting

This group may cover such topics as history of art, galleries, museums, exhibitions, industrial design, architecture, ceramics, modern art, decorative arts, costume and crafts.

Film Appreciation

We generally meet at 35 Broadwater Dale from 8.00 to 9.30 pm to discuss a particlar film, usually available on DVD.

For details of our next topic please see the Events section or contact Peter Griffiths.

George Orwell

The first George Orwell Festival is taking place in Letchworth and Wallington from 9 - 18 September 2011.

We have an amazing programme of events and hope to see you at one or more of them. You can view the programme, and print a copy of it if you wish, by clicking on this link:

http://georgeorwellfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Programme-brochure.pdf

Additional information about the festival, and about George Orwell, is also available on the festival website

http://georgeorwellfestival.org

Also, it's not too late to get involved! if you would like to help with all those last minute organisational bits and bobs then please do contact us, either via email (info@georgeorwellfestival.org ) or leave your name and phone number at David's Bookshop.

Guided Village & Town Walks

Over 100 members took part in our 2011 programme that involved visits to 4 locations,namely Buntingford, Gamlingay, Old Stevenage and Wallington. Feedback from participants was very positive. We are very grateful to the local residents who acted as our guides.

This year’s (2012) programme is taking shape and we hope to include trips to Potton, Lemsford, Hinxworth, Codicote and possibly Ashwell during the year

Suggestions for locations and, if possible, potential guides, would be much appreciated.

We ask the guides to point out buildings and places of historic or local interest, giving a flavour of past and present life of the village and challenges for the future during a tour of up to 2 hours.

Check the 'Events' panel to the right to see if we have any immediate outings planned.

History 1

Study of history through the ages. Includes talks and visits related to the era at present being studied.

As a group we are full, but see our various 'Group Events' (to the right) many interesting excursions are open to non-group members as well as non LALG members.

History 2

We arrange Trips to places of Historical interest. If you have any ideas for outings, please let our Group Contact know.

Letchworth Writers Group

We are a friendly,informal group whose aim is to improve our writing through encouraging each other, and by regularly entering competitions.

Local History Group

New members are still needed to join our research team into the 1911 census.

An hour or two a week is all that's needed! You might well discover more about the goings-on in your street or even about the people in your house.

London Villages

Our group meets quarterly to visit a less-well-known part of London with its own special character, looking at the area’s history and architecture. We use public transport and time the walks to allow use of off-peak tickets, usually buying Travelcards or using the “4 for the price of 2” offer. Our walks can be up to 5 miles long and may contain hills, so participants need a reasonable level of fitness, as well as suitable clothing and footwear. These are not professionally guided walks; the leaders do their best and are glad for you to add comments from your own knowledge as we go along. You are responsible for your own safety, including sometimes finding your own way home. Despite this there is a £2.00 contribution to the leader’s research costs. Depending on the local facilities there may be a coffee stop, but there will always be an opportunity to buy lunch. Some walks continue after lunch, but that is optional, and members may prefer to head off to enjoy other attractions elsewhere in London.

ADVANCE NOTICE
Trip to Stratford in the planning stage. See next month’s newsletter for further information.

New Testament Appreciation

The group is suspended until later in the New Year

Opera Group

See the 'Events' box to the right for details of our 2012 meetings.

We meet at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of each month. The venue is Mrs Howard Hall, Norton Way South, Letchworth (Please use the MAIN entrance, the door in the small porch facing into Hillshott car park is out of use for security reasons).

In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere (including refreshments), the group watches and discusses an opera at most meetings with regular choice evenings when members bring along and share selections of their operatic favourites.

Play Reading for Pleasure

This group meets on the last Monday of the month. During the year we read an eclectic mix of plays from farce, tragedy, comedy and serious plays. Sadly, as the group is currently full, no new members can be accepted at present.

Readers Group

The Readers' Group has grown so much that reluctantly we are unable to accept any new members at present but please email me if you would like to put your name on our waiting list. The Literature Group welcomes new members and/or why not follow the example of some other groups and start Readers' Group 2? Please send your name to Megan to be added to the waiting list.

At our meetings we discuss one book a month, in a relaxed atmosphere.

Singing for Pleasure

2012 began with the sad and sudden death in December of our organ player, Alan . He will be sorely missed by the group, not least for his ability to accompany us on many varied instruments, but also his immense musical knowledge, his lively wit and endearing personality. We will continue to sing in his memory.

We meet on alternate Thursdays at the Howard Garden Social Centre, Norton Way South 7.30pm - 9.30pm.

A contribution of £2 is required. No refreshments are provided, please bring your own.

Free parking available at the Centre.

Meetings this month:

Thursday 9 February

Thursday 23 February

We regret we are unable to accept new members at this present time.

The 'Fat' Book Club

The format this year will be a 'fat' book - a classic of its genre - and a book of choice on the chosen theme.

The Group explores a new format whereby members discuss a book they have all read and hear from fellow members about a book each has chosen on a similar theme. The chosen work can be in any form - poetry, play, fiction or non-fiction.

If you would like to know more why not come along and listen. Don‟t worry if you have not read the book.

Theatres and Excursions

Visits to a varied range of theatre productions, both local and afar, excursions to places of interest. Most visits are by coach.

Sunday 4 March - BRITISH 2012 OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS
Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park, London.

NOW FULL - PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DEPARTURE TIME TO 4.00 PM

To book all visits - phone Malcolm King (01462 678337)

Cheque for full amount to be made out to ‘LALG’ and sent to:

Talinca Interiors, PO Box 172, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3ZJ

BOOKING OF FOLLOWING FROM MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY 9.30 AM

THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE GALA

Royal Albert Hall, London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sian Edwards.

A star studded evening of classical music perfomed by UK's leading female artists:

Lesley Garrett - Presenter for the eveing and Soprano will be singiing well-loved operatic arias and popular songs.

Alison Balson - Trumpet

Nicola Benedetti - Violin

Emma Johnson - Clarinet

Cost £30 (£31 non LALG) which includes coach, good seat and programme.

Coach leaves Letchworth Station Bus Stop opp Barclays Bank at 5.00 pm.

STILL BOOKING:

Wednesday 29 February (Afternoon Performance) "TRAVELLING LIGHT" – by Nicholas Wright
National Theatre (Lyttelton), South Bank, London.

Cast includes the award-winning actor Antony Sher.

In a remote village in Eastern Europe, around 1900, a young man is entranced by the flickering silent images on his father’s cinematograph. Forty years on, and now a famed American film director, he looks back on his early life and confronts the cost of fulfilling his dreams. Nicholas Wright’s new play is a funny and fascinating tribute to the Eastern European immigrants who became major players in Hollywood’s golden age.

Cost £35 (£36 Non-LALG), which includes coach and top price seat. (Normal price of top price seat alone is £45).

Coach leaves Letchworth Station Bus Stop, opposite Barclays Bank at 12.00 noon.

Friday 9 March (Afternoon Performance) - "NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH" by Alan Ayckbourn
Watford Palace Theatre, Watford.

Things are not right on The Bluebell Hill Development - petty crime is increasing! Newcomers Martin and his sister Hilda are the crimewave’s latest victims and resolve to take action. But what starts out as a well intentioned neighbourhood watch scheme, soon develops into something altogether more sinister.

Alan Ayckbourn’s hilarious cautionary tale of the dangers of taking the law into your own hands is his seventy-fifth play.

This critically acclaimed production comes to Watford direct from a New York run.

Cost £20 (£21 Non-LALG), which includes coach and good seat.

Coach leaves Letchworth Station Bus Stop, opposite Barclays Bank at 1.00pm.

This event is organized by Kate Thompson.

Suggestions for future events welcomed.

Visiting Churches

At our initial meeting (Sept 2011) It was clear that most people would find exploring local churches in and around Letchworth of great interest and we will endeavour to find the experts and arrange these visits.

We would like to make contact with anyone out there who would be prepared to give us a guided tour of their local church - Letchworth, Hitchin, Baldock, Ashwell or any of the local villages. If you would be prepared to help us in this way, please contact Barbara as below.

LALG members visiting St John the Baptist, Thaxted and listening to retired architect, Jim Boutwood, talking about the Christian Socialist vicar Conrad Noel.