Archive lectures and events

For World Book Night we organised a poetry reading event. WEA tutor Dr Mark Crees recited and discussed: 

The Trees by Philip Larkin

Long Distance by Tony Harrison

Bothwell Castle by William Wordsworth

Started Early, Took My Dog by Emily Dickenson

The Girt Woak Tree by William Barnes

The Turnstile by William Barnes 

Public debate, especially on social media, often contains more personal attacks than arguments. In this lecture, WEA tutor Bettina Lange looks at which attitudes and behaviours can contribute to a more civilized moral and political culture.

The humble men’s suit might not receive as much attention as women's attire when it comes to costume design. Yet in the hands of skilled tailors and costumiers they can be just as iconic. Join WEA tutor Christopher Budd for a journey through the glory days of men’s tailoring in films from the 1940s to the 1970s. 

This month's Creativity for Wellbeing session is an art workshop with WEA tutor Nicky Tarlton-Weatherall.

WEA tutor Ione Harris delivers a lecture about the history of yoga poses: from meditation seat to global movement.

When many think of yoga, they picture flowing sequences and impressive poses — but for much of its history, yoga had very few postures at all. In this session, we’ll explore how yoga moved from a meditative seat in early texts like the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali Yoga Sutras, through medieval Haṭha traditions, to the rise of modern postural yoga in colonial India and its global spread today.

It’s a fascinating story of philosophy, embodiment, nationalism, and global exchange.

WEA tutor Dr Mark Crees talks about the life and work of poet William Wordsworth. Many people know Wordsworth though learning 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' at school, but Mark encourages us to delve deeper by reading 'The Prelude', an autobiographical work in blank verse.

Join WEA tutor Robert-Louis Abrahamson for a look at the life and work of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns. The lecture includes readings of poems including 'To a Mouse', 'To a Louse' and 'A Man's a Man for a'That'.

WEA Tutor Nicky Torode delivers a second member workshop about journaling. The start of a new year is often a time for reflection as well as looking ahead to make plans for the future. In this session, Nicky will be talking to us about the benefits of journaling, as well as guiding us through some practical prompts and tips to help us get creative. 

Join WEA tutor Dr Abbie Cairns for a workshop exploring how to design and create your own DIY festive wrapping paper.

Charles Dickens recited A Christmas Carol, in public, approximately one hundred and thirty times. And he didn’t just save it up for Christmas time; it featured on his reading tours throughout the year, even in the height of summer.

In this special Christmas lecture, WEA tutor Dr Mark Crees will investigate the background to this extraordinary story, explore a few of the secrets hidden away in this slim volume, and recite some of his favourite passages for us, in as many different voices as he can muster.

Join WEA tutor and calligrapher Fiona Mitchell for a talk about the process of creating a calligraphy family tree. Creating a family tree in calligraphy isn’t just about writing names — it’s about designing a piece of art that tells a story. If you’ve ever thought about creating your own family tree, this could be the perfect starting point.

WEA tutor Catherine Wilcock delivers a member lecture about the gut biome, what it is, why it matters and how to ensure it stays healthy.