SEPTEMBER 2026
LONDON.
Tony Tuckwell.
5 THURSDAYS at 10am - 12 noon
10/9 LONDON’S POOR
17/9 SUBURBIA IN LONDON
24/9 LONDON IN WW1
1/10 GREAT MANUFACTURING CENTRE
8/10 LONDON IN WW11
All sessions in this course are independent. Feel free to attend some or all the sessions!
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2026
Platforms, Pirates and Pornography!
Thursday October 15th at 10am to 12 noon.
Andy Beharrel
What connects Screaming Lord Sutch, Gianni Versace, the actor Ralf Little (Death in Paradise) and Doctor Who? While this sounds like a question from Only Connect, the answer actually lies in local east coast waters - the Maunsell Forts.
These are a series of army and navy forts which were built in the second world war offshore in the North Sea to protect us from enemy airforce and naval incursions. These forts played a crucial role in early warning for air and sea raids. Abandoned after the war their history was then varied and, as you can see from the characters mentioned, at times unexpected.
Some were occupied by Pirate Radio stations while others were used as film locations. One even became a micronation.
This talk looks at this unique history and the mixed cast of characters involved with these platforms. The talk examines what is left of them and the unique legacy which they have left behind.
5 consecutive Thursdays at 10am - 12 noon
29th OCTOBER
5th, 12th, 19th and 26th NOVEMBER
MIRROR IMAGE: Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun in Paint & Prose.
Dr Alison Barker
Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun was an 18th century artist, painting the aristocracy of France during the Revolution, and in the shadow of the guillotine. She created portraits for the nobility of Europe, and travelled to England. She also paited over 25 self-portraits, and wrote her memoirs. Each week the course will focus on a different aspect of Elizabeth's life illustrating her story with her art and her own words. The search for Elizabeth will take us to France, Italy and England during the exhilarating and dangerous time of the French Revolution.
29th OCTOBER Week 1: Self-Portraitist.
5th NOVEMBER Week 2: Mother
12th NOVEMBER Week 3: Royal Artist
19th NOVEMBER Week 4: Traveller
26th NOVEMBER Week 5: Heoine
DECEMBER 2026
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