A member of The Arts Society
Programme 2025
Tuesday 9th December 2025
A Very Ceremonial Christmas
Presented by Graham Jones
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This very light-hearted lecture, looks at the various ceremonial events that take place around Christmas time. Carol services, concerts and even Changing
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Programme 2026
Tuesday 13th January 2026
The Virgins of the National Gallery
Presented by Anthony Russell
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The National Gallery has an extraordinarily rich collection of images of the Virgin Mary, especially for a nation that formally broke the ties with the Church in Rome. It is sometimes
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This lecture will be held at Wessex Arts Centre at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Tuesday 10th February 2026
The Art of Courtly Love
Presented by Sally Dormer
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“Love is a certain inborn suffering, derived from the sight of and excessive meditation upon the beauty of the opposite sex”.
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Tuesday 10th March 2026
Brett Whiteley's Lavender Bay
Presented by Paul Chapmen
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Brett Whiteley is one of Australia’s most admired painters. After spending the 1960s in London and New York, Whiteley returned to Sydney in 1970 and made Lavender Bay...
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Thursday 26th March 2026
Special Interest Day
The Magic of Oil Painting & Frame Restoration
Followed by a review of Guests own pieces of Art.
Presented by Julia Korner​
Further details and Booking Form will be available in the new year.
This special interest day will be held at Beech Village Hall commencing at 10:30am (doors open 10:00am for coffee) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Tuesday 14th April 2026
In the National Interest:
Art, The Sun King and the Academic Revolution
Presented by Richard Whincop
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​The Academie Royale de peinture et de Sculpture was founded in 1648 under Louis XIV of France, the 'Sun King', and placed the visual arts under direct royal control.
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Thursday 23rd April 2026
Visit to:
The Guildhall, City of London & Guildhall Art Gallery
A morning tour of The Guildhall, City of London. And an afternoon tour of the Guildhall art gallery.
Travel individually by train plus bus, tube or taxi for a prompt 11:00 a.m. start.
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Further details and Booking Form will be available in the new year.
Tuesday 12th May 2026
Wonderful Things - Tutankhamun's Tombs and Treasurers
Presented by Lucia Gahlin
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The unearthing of Tutankhamun’s tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 was arguably the greatest of all archaeological discoveries. The name of this boy-king...
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Thursday 21st May 2026
Visit to:
The Royal Pavilion Brighton & Art Gallery/Brighton Museum
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A morning tour of the Pavillion followed by an optional visit to the Art gallery/Brighton Museum, adjacent to the Pavilion.
You may take the time to wander around the Brighton ‘Lanes’ – antique shops etc.
Travel by Coach from Alton.
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Further details and Booking Form will be available in the new year.
Tuesday 9th June 2026
What really happened at the Yellow House in Arles in 1888?
Presented by Julian Halsby
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In October 1888 Paul Gauguin arrived in Arles to stay at the Yellow House with Vincent van Gogh. At first the friendship worked well...
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
July/August 2026
Visit to:
Guided tour Stratfield Saye house, gardens & funeral carriage
A guided tour of Stratfield Saye, the 9th Duke of Wellington’s house and garden. The house contains many of the First Duke’s possessions and cast iron bronze funeral carriage made from melted down French cannons captured after the Battle.
Self-drive or car share. – around 40 mins.
Further details and Booking Form will be available in the new year.
Saturday 5th September 2026
Visit to:
The Purcell Club, Westminster. Choral music & guided tour of the Abbey.
Tour and music by the male voice choir formed predominantly from the Westminster Abbey Old Choristors Association.
A combination of choral music and a guided tour of The Abbey.
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Further details and Booking Form will be available in the new year.
Tuesday 8th September 2026
AGM followed by:
Banksy - Fraud or Genius
Presented by Pepe Martinez
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The lecture will trace the story of Banksy’s humble beginnings as a tagger on the streets of Bristol in the 1980’s to one of the most recognisable names in the art world.
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Tuesday 13th October 2026
She Loves You, Music of the 60s
Presented by Steve King
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By 1960 interest in rock ‘n’ roll had started to fade, its biggest star was moving on and a new generation of teenagers were seeking something different.
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Tuesday 29th October 2026
Special Interest Day
The History, Art,Theatre & Scandal of Covent Garden
Presented by Simon Whitehouse​
Further details and Booking Form will be available in the new year.
This special interest day will be held at Beech Village Hall commencing at 10:30am (doors open 10:00am for coffee) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Tuesday 10th November 2026
Osborne, Pinter and Co; Post War British Theatre
Presented by Giles Ramsey
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In 1956 British theatre audiences heard a harsh new voice in John Osborne's play "Look Back in Anger". Within two years Pinter's extraordinary play "The Birthday Party"....
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
Tuesday 8th December 2026
Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
The story of the world-renowned Christmas carol
Presented by Peter Medhurst
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The Austrian carol Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht - Silent Night, Holy Night - came into being just over 1800 years after the birth of Christ, and....
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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.
