Brochure 2015 16

Reading Branch
Workers Educational Association
Short Courses and Study Days

Autumn 2015 and Spring / Summer 2016
www.weareading.org.uk
Welcome, fellow students and maybe-students

In this brochure youll find about 40 short courses (2 hours in the
morning or afternoon once a week for a term), and about 20 study
days (5 hours on a single Saturday).
Find a subject that intrigues you, and soon youll be off exploring in
a Reading classroom with a lively group of fellow students, led by a
professional tutor.
This is the seventh year of WEA Reading courses. Our success has
been the new subjects weve opened up year by year, the new tutors
weve found, and the pleasure weve each found in the classes weve
attended.
If this is the first of these brochures youve seen, try reading the whole way through the courses
and study days - all of fifteen or so pages. We hope that youll find at least one thing youll be
pleased to put in your diary.
Thank you to the many people who make these courses happen: our tutors, and our many
volunteers - from those who produce this brochure and our website to those who take
bookings, help with classes, and pay our bills.
As to those bills - in these hard times Im pleased to say that weve been able to hold our prices
so that they remain the same as last year. A ten week course in 2011/12 would have cost you
85; four years later it will cost only 4 more. Excellent value, we hope you will agree.
Your committee will welcome ideas that will help us to do better. If you have ideas for new
courses - tell us. If you know someone who might teach for us - tell us. If you find our
brochure or our booking system hard to use - tell us. Talk to one of us directly, or email
weareadingideas@gmail.com. Here is our committee at the start of 2015:
Anthea Rogers
Barbara Morris
Carole Kingston
Jean Moffat
John Beale
Katrina Parker
David Winchester
Paul Kingston
Rosemary Booth
Graham Thomas
Pauline Smith
Hilary Cocker
Richard Wilson
Even better, consider joining us - you may well have a skill new to us that were pleased to find;
or we may be able to organise a hand-over with a current committee member who would like to
move on.
Paul Kingston
on behalf of your WEA Reading Branch committee
Autumn Daytime Courses

Fairness, Morality and Global Poverty
Mon from 28 Sep
The Early Tudors: Majestic Monarchs and Renaissance Courts
Mon from 28 Sep
Art of the Underground: London and Beyond
Mon from 28 Sep
Singing for Pleasure
Mon from 28 Sep
An Introduction to Archaeology
Tue from 29 Sep
Creative Writing for All: Part 1
Tue from 29 Sep
Giovanni Bellini: Genius of Venetian Painting
Tue from 29 Sep
Enjoying Jazz
Tue from 29 Sep
The British Economy 1945-2015: From State Planning to Free

Markets
Tue from 29 Sep
English Romanticism: Poetry and Prose
Wed from 30 Sep
The Architecture of Spain and Portugal
Wed from 30 Sep
Ancient Egypt: The Cultural Heart of the Middle Kingdom
Wed from 30 Sep
The Music of Friends: Aspects of the String Quartet
Wed from 30 Sep
Distinctive Novels of the 20th Century: The Great Gatsby, The

Leopard, A Room with a View, The Good Soldier, Regeneration
Thu from 1 Oct
The Scenic Streets of London
Thu from 1 Oct
Impressionism: A New Way of Painting
Thu from 1 Oct
A Concise History of British Architecture: From the Dawn of the

Modern Era to the Architecture of Today
Fri from 2 Oct
Autumn Study Days

Sat 3 Oct
Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Final Years
Islamic Art and the West: Cultural Exchange Through the Centuries Sat 10 Oct
Henry V: Agincourt 600 Years On
Sat 17 Oct
Tomas Luis Victoria: 'God's Own Composer'
Sat 7 Nov
Great Houses and the Great War
Sat 14 Nov
A Sense of Place: Landscape Painting Yesterday and Today
Sat 21 Nov
The Pilgrimage Roads
Sat 28 Nov
10
Prime Ministers and Party Leaders: Parliament, Party and

Personality since 1960
Mon from 11 Jan
10
The Gothic Imagination: Novels and Short Stories
Mon from 11 Jan
10
Appreciating Singing Styles
Mon from 11 Jan
10
Christopher Wren and the English Baroque
Mon from 11 Jan
11
Tue from 12 Jan
11
Medicine Through Time: Infection and Disease, Anatomy and

Surgery, Public Health
Tue from 12 Jan
11
Victorian Town Life: Reading in the Nineteenth Century
Tue from 12 Jan
11
Art after 1945
Tue from 12 Jan
11
Spring Daytime Courses
Book and Pay Online at www.weareading.org.uk
Vienna: A Cultural History of the 19th Century
Tue from 12 Jan
12
Art and Patronage: The Royal Collection
Wed from 13 Jan
12
Poetic Voices of the 20th Century: Siegfried Sassoon, Edward

Thomas, Philip Larkin, Elizabeth Jenkins, U A Fanthorpe
Wed from 13 Jan
12
Ancient Egypt and Nubia: From Prehistory to the Black Pharaohs

and Beyond
Wed from 13 Jan
12
J S Bach: the Sacred Music
Wed from 13 Jan
12
Leisure and Pleasure in London: Theatres, Museums, Parks and

More
Thu from 14 Jan
13
The Art of Renaissance Florence
Thu from 14 Jan
13
An Introduction to Psychology: Why Do We Behave as We Do?
Thu from 14 Jan
13
Fossils: the What, Where and Why
Fri from 15 Jan
13
Exploring Greek Myths through Art and Archaeology
Sat 23 Jan
13
Great Opera Singers of the 20th Century
Sat 30 Jan
14
London's East End: Past and Present
Sat 6 Feb
14
The Rijksmuseum Reborn
Sat 27 Feb
14
Brahms: The Vocal and Choral Music
Sat 5 Mar
14
Discovering Ancient Turkey
Sat 12 Mar
15
Modern Italy: Culture and Politics
Mon from 18 Apr
15
Exploring Children's Literature
Mon from 18 Apr
15
The Art of the Poster: A History of Illustrated Posters 1889-1939
Mon from 18 Apr
15
Great Civilizations of the Ancient World: The Minoans and

Mycenaeans
Tue from 19 Apr
16
Behind the Headlines: News as Fact or Fiction?
Tue from 19 Apr
16
The Light Ages: How Islamic Philosophy Shaped Science
Tue from 19 Apr
16
The Life and Times of Hieronymus Bosch
Wed from 20 Apr
16
Introduction to the Maya and Aztecs
Wed from 20 Apr
16
The Classical Era in Western Music
Wed from 27 Apr
17
Privileged London: Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Kensington
Thu from 21 Apr
17
Five New Walks in and Around Reading
Thu from 21 Apr
17
Spring Study Days
Summer Daytime Courses
Summer Study Days

The Genius of Gaudi
Sat 23 Apr
17
Country Houses and the Second World War
Sat 7 May
17
Discovering Chinese Painting and Ceramics
Sat 14 May
18
From Fairy Tale to National Identity
Sat 21 May
18
Sacred and Profane: The Art of Stanley Spencer
Sat 11 Jun
18
Lieder: An Introduction to Art Song from Schubert to Strauss
Sat 18 Jun
18
AUTUMN TERM 2015

Fairness, Morality and Global Poverty
Tutor: Charlotte Newey
Daytime Courses
C3737980
Hamilton Centre MON AM
Whether toddler, politician or poet, most of us appeal to 'fairness' from time to time.
Some philosophers think fairness plays an important part in limiting our obligations to the
global poor. In this course we will consider what fairness is and assess how fairness
should play that special role. Some previous study of philosophy is desirable, but not
essential.
10 meetings on Monday mornings, from 28 September 2015, 10:00 to 12:00
Fee: 89
The Early Tudors: Majestic Monarchs and Renaissance Courts

C3737979
Tutor: Sheila Ephraim
Henry VII established the Tudor dynasty with a bloody victory at Bosworth Field. His son
Henry VIII broke with Rome and embarked on an extraordinary series of marriages,
divorces and executions in order to secure the dynastys survival. Come and explore the
unfolding drama from martial glory to religious division in a story that changed the face of
England.
10 meetings on Monday mornings, from 28 September 2015, 10:00 to 12:00
Art of the Underground: London and Beyond

Tutor: Mike Grundy
Fee: 89
C3737982
Hamilton Centre MON PM
Enjoy travelling with us on a virtual tour of the London Underground to view the rich visual
contributions of leading artists who have captured the fascination of our vibrant capital.
This course will focus on the art of the early cut and cover lines; the Metropolitan, Circle
and District and of the modern deep Tube lines: the Victoria and Jubilee. There will also
be samples from the earlier deep Tube Lines, as well as an overview of the contrasting
delights of Metro art from Paris, Berlin and Moscow.
10 meetings on Monday afternoons, from 28 September 2015, 14:00 to 16:00
Singing for Pleasure

Tutor: Charles Luxford
Fee: 89
C3737981
Join us to learn about vocal technique and to develop the confidence that accompanies
this enhanced level of musical self-expression. Working with vocal material that
stimulates, the aim is to help you find your true voice and contribute to the group
dynamic. No experience is necessary; just an open approach to the vast, exciting world of
vocal music.
10 meetings on Monday afternoons, from 28 September 2015, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 89
An Introduction to Archaeology
Tutor: Diane Davies
C3737984
Hamilton Centre TUE AM
Archaeologists have a variety of ways to answer questions about the past. This class is
designed to give a fundamental understanding of the methods and techniques used in
archaeological investigations to locate and interpret material evidence about past human
activities. Through using the techniques discussed we will discover much and come to
appreciate more fully the lives of our forebears.
10 meetings on Tuesday mornings, from 29 September 2015, 10:00 to 12:00
Fee: 89
C3737985
RISC TUE AM

Tutor: Mike Walker
Everyone has a story, be it a novel, a play or a memoir they want to finally get down on
paper. The course looks at the basic building blocks of telling a story and, using students'
own work, explores the techniques of presenting your story to its best advantage.
Giovanni Bellini: Genius of Venetian Painting

Tutor: Dalila Castelijn
Fee: 89
C3737983
Giovanni Bellini is one of the most important painters of Renaissance Venice. This course
will examine the style and content of his sacred art, his secular images and portraits. We
will assess the way in which his work relates to that of his contemporaries, such as
Mantegna and Vivarini, and influences great successors such as Giorgione and Titian.
We shall also consider the ways in which the appearance of his paintings reflect the
unique physical, cultural and historical context in which they were created.
Enjoying Jazz
Tutor: Robert Carrington
Fee: 89
C3737986
Hamilton Centre TUE PM
From Trad to Avant Garde, we will enjoy music with rhythm and a swing. Jazz standards
and great solos will be featured. Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John
Coltrane and Sun Ra will be just a few of our jazz greats. We also wont forget British jazz
and include some live music!
10 meetings on Tuesday afternoons, from 29 September 2015, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 89
The British Economy 1945-2015: From State Planning to Free Markets

C3737987
Tutor: Dick Smethurst
Join us for a stimulating examination of economic policy and performance from the postSecond World War era of nationalization to the free-market economics of later decades
and on to the Credit Crunch and the uncertainties over Europe. We anticipate lively
discussions as we uncover the ways in which changing economic theories and factors
have influenced key political decisions.
10 meetings on Tuesday afternoons, from 29 September 2015, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 89
English Romanticism: Poetry and Prose

Tutor: Jessica Sage
C3737989
Hamilton Centre WED AM
Exploring some of the key writers of the Romantic period (1783 - 1830), this course will
introduce readers to a revolutionary genre. Through reading poems by Wordsworth,
Blake and Charlotte Smith, as well as prose extracts from Jane Austen and de Quincey,
we will explore the Romantic ideals of nature, the imagination, childhood and the sublime.
10 meetings on Wednesday mornings, from 30 September 2015, 10:00 to 12:00
The Architecture of Spain and Portugal

Tutor: Keith Hasted
Fee: 89
C3737988
Rich from agriculture in the Middle Ages and with an influx of vast amounts of silver and
gold from their New World empires, the countries of the Iberian peninsula were able to
create some of the finest buildings of their age, distinctive in form and decoration. We will
trace the path from pilgrimage churches of the Romanesque period, via the arrival of High
Gothic in Toledo and Burgos, to the development of local Plateresque and Manueline
styles, and on to the Bilbao effect created by Frank Gehrys Guggenheim Museum.
10 meetings on Wednesday mornings, from 30 September 2015, 10:00 to 12:00
Fee: 89
C3737992
Ancient Egypt: The Cultural Heart of the Middle Kingdom
Hamilton Centre WED PM
Tutor: John Billman
The Middle Kingdom is often seen as the classical period of language and culture in
ancient Egypt, which Egypt was to recall in later eras. This course will combine history
with the art, artefacts and literature of the period. We trace the reunification of Egypt that
forms the Middle Kingdom through to its decline, map the expansion into Nubia, read the
fascinating Story of Sinuhe and study the sculpture, jewellery and tomb scenes of the
period.
10 meetings on Wednesday afternoons, from 30 September 2015, 14:00 to 16:00
The Music of Friends: Aspects of the String Quartet

Tutor: Tony Short
Fee: 89
C3737990
For sheer musical joy and exuberance, nothing has yet beaten the life-affirming qualities
of the string quartet. The players undiluted enjoyment can be immediately sensed by
listeners. This course will trace the history of the quartet from its Classical origins, through
the Romantic era and into the twentieth century, demonstrating why this medium so often
reflects a composers profoundest feelings while simultaneously displaying the most
sophisticated wit. It will also explore the amazing variety of stylistic approaches towards
quartet performance over the past century.
10 meetings on Wednesday afternoons, from 30 September 2015, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 89
C3737994
Distinctive Novels of the 20th Century: The Great Gatsby, The
Leopard, A Room with a View, The Good Soldier, Regeneration
Hamilton Centre THU AM
Tutor: Paul Bodinetz
Examine major issues of life; love, human relationships, death, through these five
distinctive novels of the 20th century. They offer a variety of perspectives and
demonstrate optimism and heartbreak, joy and fear. We will examine and enjoy the
vitality of the writing through close study and group discussions.
10 meetings on Thursday mornings, from 1 October 2015, 10:00 to 12:00
The Scenic Streets of London

Tutor: Val Pretlove
Fee: 89
C3737993
Londons streets have long been enlivened by sculptures and public amenities large and
small, including drinking fountains, water features, clocks and memorials in honour of
distinguished citizens. We shall discover the history of these artefacts, the significance of
their siting, and compare the great variety of design and function.
Two London visits are planned.
7 meetings on Thursday mornings, from 1 October 2015, 10:00 to 12:00
Impressionism: A New Way of Painting

Tutor: Sandra Smith
Fee: 60
C3737995
Hamilton Centre THU PM
Some of the most popular works of Western painting were made in an extraordinary
period in the late 19th century by artists based in Paris. These works began to break all
the rules of classical, grand manner art and gave us pictures of modern life, painted in a
modern way. This course will explore the works of Monet, Renoir, Degas and others,
putting them in the context of a rapidly changing world at the fin de sicle in France.
10 meetings on Thursday afternoons, from 1 October 2015, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 89
C3738000
A Concise History of British Architecture: From the Dawn of the
Modern Era to the Architecture of Today
Hamilton Centre FRI AM
Tutor: Richard Wilson
This course ranges from the confidence exhibited in Victorian architecture, via the Arts
and Crafts movement, to the Festival of Britain and beyond. The development of modern
architecture will be discussed with its exciting contemporary icons, such as the Shard. A
short walking tour in Reading will be included during which a variety of building styles can
be experienced at first hand.
7 meetings on Friday mornings, from 2 October 2015, 10:00 to 12:00
AUTUMN TERM 2015

Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Final Years
Tutor: Gwyn Parry-Jones
Fee: 60
Study Days
C3738001
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
We complete our series of study days on the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams by
looking at his later years, from approximately 1939 until his death in 1958. This is a
period of rich fulfilment, which includes two great wartime symphonies (the 5th and 6th)
and the opera A Pilgrims Progress, as well as numerous other masterworks.
Saturday 3 October 2015, 10:00 to 16:00
Fee: 38
C3738014
Islamic Art and the West: Cultural Exchange Through the Centuries
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
Tutor: Richard Yeomans
Beginning with Islams early dependence on Christian architects and craftsmen, we will
see how trade later allowed greater reciprocity between the two cultures. We will consider
the cultural melting pots of Moorish Spain and Sicily, and then survey the trade in luxury
goods between Venice and the East. Finally we will examine the impact of Islamic art on
19th century British design through the work of Owen Jones, William Morris, William de
Morgans lustre pottery, and the architectural spectacle of Leighton House in
Kensington.
Henry V: Agincourt 600 Years On

Tutor: Marcus Bazley
Fee: 38
C3738015
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
Henry V is often viewed as the great hero of English medieval history, an image
perpetuated by Shakespeares history play bearing his name. 600 years after Henrys
victories over France in 1415, this study day will compare the fact with the fiction in an
attempt to discover his true character.
Tomas Luis Victoria: 'God's Own Composer'

Fee: 38
C3738018
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
The sublime and sometimes sensuous music of Victoria has long been sung and loved.
His Motets, Masses and Requiem will be featured alongside organ and instrumental
music by Cabezon, Diego Ortiz, Narvaez, Mudarra and Luis de Milan. A rich day of
beautiful and varied music is promised to delight the mind and soothe the soul.
Saturday 7 November 2015, 10:00 to 16:00
Great Houses and the Great War

Tutor: Adam Smith
Fee: 38
C3738019
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
The First World War brought immense change to all who lived and worked in Englands
country houses through service at the front or the conversion of houses for war use.
Many, such as Hatfield House, became hospitals. Some did not easily recover at the
cessation of hostilities. This study day will survey these dramatic changes and also
assess the longer lasting effects.
Fee: 38
C3738020
A Sense of Place: Landscape Painting Yesterday and Today
Reading Museum SAT STUDY DAY
Tutor: Sandra Smith
This autumn Reading Museum will be showcasing works from the collection in an
exhibition called A Sense of Place. This study day will begin with a general introduction
to the idea of landscape as an artistic genre, with particular concentration on the
development of landscape in modern art. We will explore painted, drawn and printed
examples and look at some of the major artists included in the show as well as at the
work of lesser known specialists in this area. The day will include a guided visit to the
exhibition.
Fee: 32
The Pilgrimage Roads

Tutor: Margaret Knight
C3738021
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
In the Middle Ages thousands of pilgrims took the roads linking the major and minor
shrines of Christendom. The Road to Santiago de Compostela is perhaps the best
known, but there were many more. This is the story of pilgrimage; the routes, the shrines
themselves, the big business they generated and the massive contribution that the act of
pilgrimage made to the spread of medieval culture.
Fee: 38
Daytime Courses
SPRING TERM 2016
C3738022
Prime Ministers and Party Leaders: Parliament, Party and Personality
since 1960
Tutor: Philip Giddings
Examine the powers, accountabilities and achievements of party leaders and Prime
Ministers in recent times. The roll call is Macmillan, Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher,
Blair, Brown and Cameron. In each case, what has shaped them, what has limited their
actions and what is their legacy?
10 meetings on Monday mornings, from 11 January 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
The Gothic Imagination: Novels and Short Stories

Tutor: Jessica Sage
Fee: 89
C3738023
Why is British literature so fascinated with ghosts, haunted houses and misty alleys? This
course will introduce readers to Gothic novels and short stories (including Jekyll and
Hyde, Frankenstein and Sarah Waters The Little Stranger). We will discuss and enjoy
these and other works of the Gothic imagination.
10 meetings on Monday mornings, from 11 January 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
Appreciating Singing Styles

Tutor: Charles Luxford
Fee: 89
C3738024
This course is for students who have participated at the introductory level, but now wish
to examine and take part in vocal music of greater complexity. It will foster understanding
and enjoyment of many musical periods and styles: medieval polyphony and part works,
baroque, classical and romantic compositions, and will finish with attractive vocal works of
the present day.
10 meetings on Monday afternoons, from 11 January 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 89
10
Christopher Wren and the English Baroque

Tutor: Keith Hasted
C3738025
Wren changed the face of London with his post-Great Fire city churches and the
crowning glory of the new St Paul's. Here we shall examine his distinctive career,
including his fine contributions in Oxford (the Sheldonian) and in Cambridge. His most
talented assistant, Nicholas Hawksmoor, worked with Sir John Vanbrugh to take forward
the English Baroque, including the extraordinary Blenheim Palace and at the same time
designed distinctive London churches which still amaze.
Part 4 of the WEA Reading History of British Architecture Series. For details of other
courses in the series see page 19.
7 meetings on Monday afternoons, from 11 January 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 60
C3738028
RISC TUE AM

Tutor: Mike Walker
Continuing from the Autumn term, we will look at developing your story, rewriting and
presentation and some of the many opportunities to publish both in the mainstream and
online.
10 meetings on Tuesday mornings, from 12 January 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
Fee: 89
C3738027
Medicine Through Time: Infection and Disease, Anatomy and Surgery,
Public Health
Tutor: Joss Beattie
Pain, plague, penicillin, dirt, disease, dissection: all part of the fascinating story that is the
history of medicine. Meet the individuals, examine the events, analyse the factors which
have enabled humanity to move, one step at a time, through leaps of progress and
hurdles of disappointment, from trepanning to transfusion and transplants.
Victorian Town Life: Reading in the Nineteenth Century

Tutor: Margaret Simons
Fee: 89
C3738026
From the courts of central Reading to the villa developments of the Oxford and Kings
Roads, here we will examine what life was about in the Victorian town. How did our
Victorian forebears work, rest and play and what were the highs and lows of life in this
expanding, but still largely rural southern market town?
Art after 1945

Tutor: Sandra Smith
Fee: 89
C3738002
The Second World War changed the world and art changed with it. This course will
explore the major art movements in the last 70 years, notably Abstract Expressionism,
Minimalism, Pop Art and Post Modernism. British art will play a significant role. We shall
seek to appreciate and understand the work of key artists such as Bacon, Hockney,
Riley, Caro, Gormley; and the younger generation, including Damien Hirst and Tracey
Emin.
10 meetings on Tuesday afternoons, from 12 January 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 89
11
Vienna: A Cultural History of the 19th Century

Tutor: Peter Gieler
C3738003
In the 19th century Vienna was the centre of turbulent changes in politics, social
structure, fine and decorative arts as well as music. The rise of the middle classes
challenged the prevailing styles of the old order. The construction of the Ringstrasse was
to change the city forever and leave a legacy which still exists today. We shall examine
the rich cultural ferment of the age.
10 meetings on Tuesday afternoons, from 12 January 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Art and Patronage: The Royal Collection

Fee: 89
C3738004
The Royal Collection reflects the personal tastes of individual monarchs, their relatives
and advisors. This course traces the origins and the development of the collection from
Tudor times to the present day focussing on the works commissioned and acquired by
patrons such as Charles I, George IV and Queen Victoria.
10 meetings on Wednesday mornings, from 13 January 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
Fee: 89
C3738005
Poetic Voices of the 20th Century: Siegfried Sassoon, Edward
Thomas, Philip Larkin, Elizabeth Jenkins, U A Fanthorpe
Tutor: Paul Bodinetz
These five poets span the 20th century and provide a multiplicity of approaches to life
and death, war and peace. We will find a humorous perspective ranging from gentle to
bitter, maudlin to broad and examine the distinctive narrative voice of each poet to help
us appreciate their poetic achievements.
10 meetings on Wednesday mornings, from 13 January 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
Fee: 89
C3738007
Ancient Egypt and Nubia: From Prehistory to the Black Pharaohs and
Beyond
Tutor: John Billman
Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt yet Nubia is often underestimated as the underdog
subjugated by its powerful northern neighbour. We unravel this narrative to discover that
ancient Nubia was home to important early cultures: the incredible native kingdom of
Kerma; the Pharaohs that reunited Egypt to form the 25th Dynasty; and to the Meroe
kingdom that held back Rome. This course studies the native cultures of Nubia but also
the Egyptian presence in Nubia which evolves from Egyptian political domination and
exploitation of local resources to an Egyptianization of Nubians who become the
transmitters of Egyptian religion and tradition.
10 meetings on Wednesday afternoons, from 13 January 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
J S Bach: the Sacred Music

Fee: 89
C3738006
The genius of J S Bach will be revealed in this examination of his glorious sacred music.
We will listen to and enjoy the fantastic variety of the church cantatas and motets,
stunning organ music, the profound B Minor Mass, and the two great Passions. This will
be a feast of glorious music with superlative performances.
10 meetings on Wednesday afternoons, from 13 January 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 89
12
C3738008
Leisure and Pleasure in London: Theatres, Museums, Parks and More
Tutor: Val Pretlove
Join us to explore the wide variety of ways in which Londoners amuse themselves and
refresh their lives. We will examine museums and picture galleries, theatres and music
halls, and places of refreshment such as pubs, taverns, cafes and restaurants. We will
also look at shopping places and parks and gardens. 2 London visits are planned.
7 meetings on Thursday mornings, from 14 January 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
The Art of Renaissance Florence

Tutor: Diana Matthews
Fee: 60
C3738009
Florence is not only one of the most beautiful and artistically endowed cities in Europe but
is claimed by many to be the epicentre of the 'Italian Renaissance'. In this course we aim
to re-examine this view through a study of the leading painters, sculptors, and architects
of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. These will include Giotto, Masaccio, Fra
Angelico, Donatello, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo.
10 meetings on Thursday mornings, from 14 January 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
Fee: 89
C3738010
An Introduction to Psychology: Why Do We Behave as We Do?
Hamilton Centre THU PM
Tutor: Marie Hughes
Is our behaviour determined by our genetic inheritance, or by the environment in which
we live? This course aims to unravel the mysteries of human behaviour, seeking to
examine the part played by nature and nurture and helping us to understand the
complexities both of our own behaviour and of the behaviour of those around us.
10 meetings on Thursday afternoons, from 14 January 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fossils: the What, Where and Why

Tutor: Jill Eyers
Fee: 89
C3738011
Hamilton Centre FRI AM
What was the first life on Earth and how does life start on a desolate planet? What are
fossils and how do they form? What are the main types and how do you go about
identifying them? You can obtain hands-on answers to these questions by assessing
many different kinds of fossil from a vast collection belonging to the tutor. There will also
be a field trip to find fossils of your own site to be students choice.
7 meetings on Friday mornings, from 15 January 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
SPRING TERM 2016

Exploring Greek Myths through Art and Archaeology
Tutor: Anna Simandiraki-Grimshaw
Fee: 60
Study Days
C3738012
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
We are fascinated by Ancient Greek tales of Theseus and the Minotaur, the Trojan War,
the Olympian Gods and Jason and the Argonauts. But do they have a historical core?
And what is their significance throughout the ages? Join us as we explore the Greek
myths and their heroes in a visually rich course, with evidence from art and archaeology.
Saturday 23 January 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
Fee: 38
13
Great Opera Singers of the 20th Century

Tutor: Robin John
C3738013
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
The invention of sound recording in the early years of the 20th century has allowed us to
hear what opera singers over many decades actually sound like. Recordings made by
Enrico Caruso in a Milan hotel room in 1902 were an early experiment which proved to be
hugely successful. Others featured soprano Louisa Tetrazzini and bass Fyodor Chaliapin.
Starting with these early recordings, this study day will feature well-known names such as
Callas, Sutherland and Pavarotti along with some less well-known. We will enjoy audio
and video excerpts along with brief biographies.
Saturday 30 January 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
London's East End: Past and Present

Tutor: Dan Renshaw
Fee: 38
C3738029
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
Join us to explore the history of the East End of London, an area which has been a
source of fascination and fear for wider society across the years. It is a canvas on to
which ideas of identity and belonging could be projected, from the Gordon Riots of 1780,
through to the Ripper murders, Oswald Mosley at Cable Street, the Blitz and on to the
2012 Olympics.
Saturday 6 February 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
The Rijksmuseum Reborn

Fee: 38
C3738030
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
Explore the riches of the newly reopened Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, displaying a

wealth of art produced in Flanders and Holland from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
We will study the origins and development of the museum and then examine
masterpieces such as Rembrandts The Nightwatch, Vermeers Milkmaid and Van
Goghs penetrating Self-Portrait. The content, style and technique of landscapes and
images of daily life, still life and portraiture will be explored within the cultural context in
which they were created.
Saturday 27 February 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
Brahms: The Vocal and Choral Music

Tutor: Gwyn Parry-Jones
Fee: 38
C3738031
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
Most famous for his many instrumental masterpieces, it is less well-known that Johannes
Brahms (1833-97) was also an important choral conductor in his day. He wrote superbly
for the human voice, and we shall explore examples of the choral music, including the
great German Requiem, and the music for solo voice.
Saturday 5 March 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
Fee: 38
14
Discovering Ancient Turkey

Tutor: Steve Rathgay
C3738032
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
Here is a journey through varied ancient civilisations of Anatolian origin, beginning with
Catalhoyuk and moving north, east and west from there. These include Urartu, Assyrias
greatest rival; the Hittites, a little-known great power of the Ancient Near East, and the
fiercely independent Lycians, an ally of the Trojans. This will be a day of fascinating
discoveries.
Saturday 12 March 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
Fee: 38
Daytime Courses
SUMMER TERM 2016

Modern Italy: Culture and Politics
Tutor: Geoff Andrews
C3738033
What are we to make of modern Italy? A country rich in history, culture and intellectual
life, yet beset by political inertia, economic decline and corruption. This course will
provide an introduction to modern Italy through cinema, literature and food as well as
politics, terrorism and the mafia, to delve into the dark as well as enlightening corners of
Italy's history and culture.
5 meetings on Monday mornings, from 18 April 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
Exploring Children's Literature

Tutor: Jessica Sage
Fee: 45
C3738036
Often dismissed as trivial or too easy to warrant studying, this course will look at five well
known childrens novels (from authors such as Roald Dahl, Lewis Carroll and Edith
Nesbit) to ask what we can learn from childrens literature and whether it really is as
straightforward as it first seems. We shall see that there is much going on below the
surface.
5 meetings on Monday afternoons, from 18 April 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 45
C3738035
The Art of the Poster: A History of Illustrated Posters 1889-1939
Tutor: Graham Twemlow
This course will celebrate the illustrated poster that had its beginnings in Paris during the
last quarter of the nineteenth century. Works of the leading poster artists of the time,
including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Bonnard, and Alphonse Mucha will be
investigated. We will also examine ground-breaking travel posters produced in Britain in
the inter-war period including the modernist works produced for Shell-Mex. The poster as
a collectors item will be explored and examples will be made available for students to
view and discuss.
5 meetings on Monday afternoons, from 18 April 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 45
15
C3738038
Great Civilizations of the Ancient World: The Minoans and
Mycenaeans
Tutor: Sandra Smith
This course will explore the art and archaeology of the great Bronze Age civilizations of
ancient Greece: the Minoans and Mycenaeans. We will look in detail at the palaces of
Knossos and of Mycenae and at the extraordinary wall paintings at Thera (Santorini). We
will also investigate the effects of the volcanic eruption at Thera which changed life in the
region which had such a profound effect on these major civilizations.
5 meetings on Tuesday mornings, from 19 April 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
Behind the Headlines: News as Fact or Fiction?

Tutor: Ian Mulholland
Fee: 45
C3738040
In 1921 C P Scott of The Manchester Guardian wrote the famous sentence 'comment is
free, but facts are sacred'. In this course we will investigate how 'facts' are presented in
the news and how the selective use of words and images can influence our perceptions.
Through close analysis of print, online and broadcast items we will discuss whether the
news stories presented can ever be truly factual.
5 meetings on Tuesday afternoons, from 19 April 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 45
C3738051
The Light Ages: How Islamic Philosophy Shaped Science
Tutor: Paul Ranford
Join us to explore how scientific knowledge was transferred from Ancient Greece to
Medieval Europe via Islamic (Arabic) philosophers, who held the torch of learning and
scholarship while the light of European intellectual activity was almost extinguished. The
course will introduce new understandings of how civilizations and science particularly
Western science have developed and progressed.
5 meetings on Tuesday afternoons, from 19 April 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
The Life and Times of Hieronymus Bosch

Fee: 45
C3738045
2016 marks the 500th anniversary of the death of the Netherlandish painter Hieronymus
Bosch. His images of hell and punishment, sin and corruption will be studied in detail,
assessing the sources of his imagery, the reasons for its popularity with his
contemporaries and the huge influence it had on later generations of artists. Boschs work
will be examined alongside that of contemporary European artists in order to appreciate
its unique features.
5 meetings on Wednesday mornings, from 20 April 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
Introduction to the Maya and Aztecs

Tutor: Diane Davies
Fee: 45
C3738043
Join us to discover two great civilizations of Central America: the Maya, with their large,
spectacular cities whose ruins can still be visited and the Aztecs, who subsequently
became the dominant civilization of the region. We will survey their art, architecture, belief
systems and writings, discussing how they came about, and then review how these
civilizations were affected by the consequences of the Spanish conquest.
6 meetings on Wednesday afternoons, from 20 April 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 52
16
C3738054
Randolph College WED PM
The Classical Era in Western Music

Music of the late 18th and early 19th century is at the heart of the Western canon.
Favourite classical greats like Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert will be explored
with distinctive performances to give us a fresh perspective on their quartets,
symphonies, operas, church music and solo piano works.
Part 4 of the WEA Reading History of Western Music Series. For details of other
courses in the series see page 19.
7 meetings on Wednesday afternoons, from 27 April 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 60
C3738056
Privileged London: Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Kensington
Tutor: Val Pretlove
From a small riverside fishing village Chelsea became the place for artists, while
Kensington grew in importance when a royal residence was developed there.
Knightsbridge was once an area of inns, taverns and duels but has since gone up in the
world. We will explore the history and development of these finely endowed places.
Three London visits are planned
7 meetings on Thursday mornings, from 21 April 2016, 10:00 to 12:00
Fee: 60
C3738059
Various Assembly Points THU PM
Five New Walks in and Around Reading

Tutor: Richard Wilson
Discover some interesting, varied and sometimes unexpected places in this new series of
Reading walks, discussing the local history and architecture at several stops along the
way. Each walk will be approximately two miles in length and of two hours duration. Your
tutor, Richard Wilson, is an experienced 'Blue Badge' tourist guide.
5 meetings on Thursday afternoons, from 21 April 2016, 14:00 to 16:00
Fee: 45
Study Days
SUMMER TERM 2016
C3738065
RISC SAT STUDY DAY
The Genius of Gaudi

Tutor: Keith Hasted
As Barcelona expanded rapidly around 1900, the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi was
creating extraordinary buildings. In houses like the Casa Batllo, and in outdoor settings
like the Park Guell, he brought new thinking to every aspect of design. Many will
recognise the Temple de la Sagrada Familia as his most fascinating project. Gaudi made
an exceptional and highly original contribution to European architecture.
Saturday 23 April 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
Country Houses and the Second World War

Tutor: Adam Smith
Fee: 38
C3738068
Randolph College SAT STUDY DAY
Englands great houses were an important resource in the struggle against Hitler,
providing sites for military bases, secret establishments and homes for displaced schools.
We look at how these houses were used, such as Woburn Abbey which survived war use
by military intelligence; and reflect on the damage inflicted on many of them, such as
Castle Howard which caught fire while occupied by a girls school.
Saturday 7 May 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
Fee: 38
17
Discovering Chinese Painting and Ceramics

Tutor: Charles Tyzack
C3738071
Very different from the Western tradition, Chinese painting offers distinctive and subtle
pleasures. Starting with a look at the formats, materials and methods of Chinese painting,
we will then look at examples of paintings over the various dynasties, concentrating on
the two main genres of landscape, and bird-and-flower, which demonstrate the Chinese
concern with the natural world. Ceramic art is one of Chinas greatest contributions to
world culture. We will trace developments through the key periods of the Song, Yuan and
Ming dynasties and on up to the 18th century.
Saturday 14 May 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
From Fairy Tale to National Identity

Tutor: Lars Franke
Fee: 38
C3738073
From 'Hansel and Gretel' to the Ring Cycle, romantic opera draws heavily on Germanic
folk narratives. Using familiar as well as rarely heard operas, this study day will explore
the centrality of folk stories to the formation of a national German operatic language, and
will situate these works within the broader cultural project of evolving national identity in
Germany.
Saturday 21 May 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
Fee: 38
C3738075
Sacred and Profane: The Art of Stanley Spencer
Tutor: Ann Danks
Join us to explore the works of Stanley Spencer, one of the most original artists of the
20th century. Famous for portrayals of biblical events taking place in his native village of
Cookham, Berkshire, he was also an official war artist and a fine painter of landscapes
and portraits. His colourful personal life inspired a revolution in the painting of the nude.
During this study day we will explore the immensely varied work of this intriguing artist
whose paintings are both life affirming and strangely moving.
Saturday 11 June 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
Fee: 38
Lieder: An Introduction to Art Song from Schubert to Strauss

C3738078
Tutor: Lars Franke
At a time of momentous political, social and artistic change, the Lied (German art song)
became an intimate platform for the exploration of topics fundamental to romanticism.
From Beethoven and Schubert to Schumann and Strauss, we will explore the themes,
beauty and enduring appeal of this most romantic of genres.
Saturday 18 June 2016, 10:00 to 16:00
Fee: 38
18
WEA Reading History of British Architecture Series

Tutors: Keith Hasted and Richard Wilson
Trace the fascinating development of our built heritage, covering all styles and building types
including churches, castles, cathedrals, great houses and, in more modern times,
town halls, railway stations, art galleries and iconic office blocks.
1. Our Early Heritage: Anglo-Saxon & Norman Architecture - Completed
2. The Flowering of English Architecture: the Great Age of the Gothic Cathedrals - Completed
3. The English Renaissance: Tudor and Jacobean - Completed
4. Christopher Wren and the English Baroque - Spring 2016: See page 11
5. Robert Adam and the Georgian Era
6. Battle of the Styles: Victorian and Edwardian Architecture
7. A New Era: from the 1930s to the Festival of Britain
8. Break with the Past: Modernism and Post-Modernism
9. Contemporary Architecture: from the New Millennium to the Present Day
Each course is 5, 7 or 10 weeks long depending on content and can be studied on a stand-alone basis,
or as part of a complete sequence from year to year. If you would like to receive further updates please
email: weareading@gmail.com with Architecture Series in the email subject box.
WEA Reading History of Western Music Series

Tutors:
Robert Carrington and Glyn Parry-Jones

Experience the pleasure and beauty of western music, from early times up to the present day.
Each course will provide historical context and an appreciation of the distinctive musical works of the most
significant composers of each period.
1. A Concise History of Western Music - Completed
2. Early Music from the Courts, Church and Street - Completed
3. Music of the Baroque Era - Completed
4. The Classical Era in Western Music - Summer 2016: See page 17
5. The Romantic Era: The Triumph of Fantasy and Imagination
6. What on Earth is that NOISE? Music in the 20th Century
Each course is 5 , 7 or 10 weeks long and can be studied on a stand-alone basis, or as
part of a complete sequence from year to year. If you would like to receive further updates please email:
weareading@gmail.com with Music Series in the email subject box.
Book
19
How to book for WEA Reading courses

Bookings for all courses in this brochure start on Monday 11 May 2015.
No bookings are accepted without payment.
To book online and pay by debit/credit card visit www.weareading.org.uk.
To book by post and pay by cheque: make cheques payable to WEA Reading Branch
- separate cheque for each short course and study day please - and send with completed
booking form to WEA Reading, 27 Derby Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 5HE.
Website bookings help us to keep our administration costs to a minimum. Hand written
forms with cheques are acceptable, but if you can book online we would appreciate it.
Class numbers are limited. To guarantee your place and ensure there are no unnecessary
course cancellations we ask to you to book at least four weeks before the start date of
each course.
We will send joining information by email or post approximately two weeks before your course
is due to start.
Additional information
Visits
Where tutors have pre-planned a visit as part of the course, this is indicated in the text. Visits
may necessitate extra expenses for travel, entrance fees and the like.
Financial Assistance / Learning Support
If you are in receipt of income-related benefits you may be entitled to fee waiver on courses
supported by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). Please contact us to find out more. Courses
not supported by the SFA do not have fee waiver but concessions may be available - contact
the Branch for further details. A detailed leaflet: Services to Students is available to view or
download at www.wea.org.uk/courses/financialhelp
Courses which are under-subscribed may be cancelled and fees refunded
Refunds will not be made for individual sessions cancelled due to unavoidable adverse events
such as bad weather or sickness. However, every effort will be made to reschedule these
sessions or maintain the advertised tutor hours by extending remaining sessions.
Ten week courses
The first and last sessions of each 10 week course will be 30 minutes longer than the standard
two hours to facilitate an introduction and summing up.
Half Term Breaks (week beginning)
Autumn: 26 October 2015 Spring: 15 February 2016 Summer: 30 May 2016

May Day Bank Holiday: 2 May 2016
For further information visit our website at www.weareading.org.uk

Email: weareading@gmail.com or Answerphone: 0118 946 4137
Detailed venue information can be found on pages 22 and 23, and will be sent out to students
prior to start of the class.
20
Booking forms
BOOKING FORM (Please print)
Course Title (s)
Fee(s)
Name
Address
Postcode
Telephone
Mobile
Email
Please contact me with information about upcoming courses and news (tick as appropriate)
By email
By post
We will not use these details for any other purpose or disclose them to third parties.
If you are not already assisting the committee with practical tasks associated with running
the courses and would be prepared to do so, please tick this box
BOOKING FORM (Please print)
Course Title (s)
Fee(s)
Name
Address
Postcode
Telephone
Mobile
Email
Please contact me with information about upcoming courses and news (tick as appropriate)
By email
By post
We will not use these details for any other purpose or disclose them to third parties.
If you are not already assisting the committee with practical tasks associated with running
the courses and would be prepared to do so, please tick this box
Book
21
Other Study Opportunities

To find more learning opportunities with WEA:
Visit www.southern.wea.org.uk or call Freephone 0800 328 1060
WEA branches nearby:
Maidenhead WEA - Liz Crathorne 01628 632208 - weamaidenhead@hotmail.co.uk
Slough WEA - Alan Madge 01753 534493 - alanmadgeslough@aol.com
Windsor WEA - Malcolm Lock 01753 863753 - mlweawindsor@gmail.com
Wokingham & District WEA - Ray Gibson 07530 948670 - weawokingham@live.co.uk
Oxford University Department for Continuing Education Evening Classes in Reading
The Oxford University Department for Continuing Education offers a wide range of
evening courses at the refurbished London Road site of Reading University, including 7 modern
languages.
With free parking available, this gives people in the Reading area easy access to Oxford
Universitys continuing education programme.
For details of this new programme visit the website at www.conted.ox.ac.uk
WEA Reading Venues - Hamilton Centre
Hamilton Centre
The site is at the junction of Hamilton and Bulmershe Roads
22
WEA Reading Venues

Most of our short courses of between 5 and 10 weeks take place at the Hamilton Centre,
135 Bulmershe Road, Reading RG1 5SG.
The site is at the junction of Hamilton and Bulmershe Roads. Buses serve the Wokingham and
Whiteknights Roads nearby. More information about venues can be found on our website and
will be supplied with your booking confirmation.
Our Saturday study days take place at three locations. Most are at RISC, 35-39 London Street,
Reading RG1 4PS, with occasional use of Friends Meeting House, 2 Church Street, Reading
RG1 2SB. Both are near the town centre. In the summer term we frequently use Randolph
College, 141 Whiteknights Park, Reading, RG6 7BD. This is near the Earley Gate entrance of
Reading University.
All our venues have facilities and parking for people with disabilities.
WEA Reading Venues - RISC, Randolph College,

Friends Meeting House
RISC - 35 to 39 London Street, Reading RG1 4PS
RISC is situated at the north end of London Street.
The nearest public car parks are in the Oracle Centre and
Queens Road
Friends Meeting House, 2 Church Street, Reading RG1 2SB

The meeting House is located behind black iron gate.
Public car parks are as for RISC (above).
Randolph College
Randolph College
Located where Whitenights Road becomes a cul-de-sac
parallel with Wilderness Road. On-street parking is available
and buses serve Wokingham and Whitenights Roads.
23
About the WEA

The Workers Educational Association (WEA) is Britains largest voluntary sector provider
of adult education.
We offer high quality adult education which challenges and inspires.
Classes are informal and open to all.
WEA has no political or religious ties and is committed to equality of opportunity and
inclusive learning.
To book our courses
Visit our website at www.weareading.org.uk
Workers Educational Association
WEA Reading
27 Derby Road, Caversham, Reading, Berks RG4 5HE

Online: www.weareading.org.uk
Email: weareading@gmail.com
Answerphone: 0118 946 4137
The Workers Educational Association (WEA) is a charity registered in England and Wales (number 1112775) and in
Scotland (number SCO39239) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 2806910).
Registered Office: Workers Educational Association, 4 Luke Street, London, EC2A 4XW.

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Reading Branch

Workers Educational Association

Short Courses and Study Days

Welcome, fellow students and maybe-students

on behalf of your WEA Reading Branch committee

Autumn Daytime Courses

Mon from 28 Sep

The Early Tudors: Majestic Monarchs and Renaissance Courts

Mon from 28 Sep

Art of the Underground: London and Beyond

Mon from 28 Sep

Singing for Pleasure

Mon from 28 Sep

Tue from 29 Sep

Creative Writing for All: Part 1

Tue from 29 Sep

Giovanni Bellini: Genius of Venetian Painting

Tue from 29 Sep

Tue from 29 Sep

The British Economy 1945-2015: From State Planning to Free

Tue from 29 Sep

English Romanticism: Poetry and Prose

Wed from 30 Sep

The Architecture of Spain and Portugal

Wed from 30 Sep

Ancient Egypt: The Cultural Heart of the Middle Kingdom

Wed from 30 Sep

The Music of Friends: Aspects of the String Quartet

Wed from 30 Sep

Distinctive Novels of the 20th Century: The Great Gatsby, The

Thu from 1 Oct

The Scenic Streets of London

Thu from 1 Oct

Impressionism: A New Way of Painting

Thu from 1 Oct

A Concise History of British Architecture: From the Dawn of the

Fri from 2 Oct

Autumn Study Days

Henry V: Agincourt 600 Years On

Tomas Luis Victoria: 'God's Own Composer'

Great Houses and the Great War

A Sense of Place: Landscape Painting Yesterday and Today

The Pilgrimage Roads

Prime Ministers and Party Leaders: Parliament, Party and

Mon from 11 Jan

The Gothic Imagination: Novels and Short Stories

Mon from 11 Jan

Appreciating Singing Styles

Mon from 11 Jan

Christopher Wren and the English Baroque

Mon from 11 Jan

Creative Writing for All: Part 2

Tue from 12 Jan

Medicine Through Time: Infection and Disease, Anatomy and

Tue from 12 Jan

Victorian Town Life: Reading in the Nineteenth Century

Tue from 12 Jan

Art after 1945

Tue from 12 Jan

Spring Daytime Courses

Book and Pay Online at www.weareading.org.uk

Vienna: A Cultural History of the 19th Century

Tue from 12 Jan