In the early seventh century a great ship was dragged ashore from the River Deben in Suffolk.  It became the burial place of a powerful Anglo-Saxon warlord, buried with a mound of treasures from all over the known world.  Fine weaponry, gold coins and exquisitely crafted jewellery revealed levels of sophistication which were a revelation.  The aim of the lecture is, with reference to later excavations at Sutton Hoo, to examine the finds in turn, partly to appreciate them in their own right and partly to explore what insights they offer and what questions they pose about their world.
Mark Cottle was born on the Isles of Scilly, educated at Truro School in Cornwall and graduated from Birmingham University with an MA in Late Medieval Society and Culture. Mark has spent his whole career, at home and abroad, teaching and lecturing in Further and Higher Education. Mark joined the Arts Society in 2007 and has lectured extensively throughout the British Isles and abroad, most recently in Germany and Australia (Arts National). He has been invited back to Australia for another month’s lecturing tour in 2026 along with another tour in New Zealand. His main subjects tend to focus on the English medieval and the sixteenth century periods, but he also lectures on two twentieth century topics - Ernest Shackleton and Winston Churchill.

In this lecture we focus on one of the most extraordinary Spanish artists from Valencia; Joaquin Sorollahas become better known more recently. He lived from 1863 to 1923 and created a world full of light and colour which delights the senses. Sometimes a social painter he was more concerned with capturing light falling on bodies and sea-scapes and his wonderful technique will be considered in this colourful lecture. His final Visions of Spain now in New York will also be show

Illustrated : Horse Bathing 1909

Jacqueline Cockburn is Managing Director of Art and Culture Travel, running residential courses in Andalucia, Southern Spain in the art and culture of the region as well as curated tours to Madrid, Tangiers, Barcelona, Paris and Venice. Jacqueline is a course director and lecturer at the V&A and also lectures at The Royal Academy. She has toured New Zealand and Australia for The Arts Society. Her specialist field is Spanish Art, but she also lectures on European Art 1790-1950. She is currently working on a Monograph on Goya (Prestel, Spring 2024).

In this lecture, we look back at the creation of the BBC.  We investigate the invention and use of radio at the start of the 20th century and explore how the medium was first used as a form of mass communication. We look at the early days of the BBC, and some of the people who were vital to the success of the new company. We explore its relationship with the Government and the worries about the power of this radical new form of communication. 

Nick Salmond is a London Blue Badge Guide and a lecturer in History and the Arts. He qualified as a London Blue Badge Guide in 2019, winning the award as Guide of the Year. In 2021 he gave the annual Katrine Prince Lecture to members of the Institute of Tourist Guiding. Before guiding he joined the BBC where he worked for over 30 years in both television and radio. He helped cover some of the great events of History from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the terrible events of 9/11, from the fall of the Thatcher Government to the celebrations of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

It’s said in our theatrical history that there was a Golden Age of British Comedy. It ran from the 1970’s to the 1980’s and occurred as we started to drift away from theatres and radios, and found ourselves living through a wonderfully rich period of television comedy. Some say this period has never been bettered.

In this unashamedly affectionate and entertaining lecture, and sharing my personal, family connection with this world, I will go back and revisit those wonderful comedy programmes and the people who were in them. 

I will unravel the formula for tv comedy success, and how it made us laugh like we did.

And I’ll look at how the world of Variety was kept alive by the comedians and the double acts who managed to leap successfully from the stage into our televisions. 

This is a lecture that will bring back many fond memories as we revisit a key part of our country’s theatrical heritage.            illustrated :   Dad's Arm

  Tyler Butterworth grew up in a theatrical family and spent twenty-five years as an actor working extensively in film, television, theatre and radio. He then worked as a development producer in television documentaries. Now he produces walking audio guides to cities across Europe for private clients. He lives in Sussex where he walks on the South Downs and the South Coast.