Events

Visits
The Society organises several day visits during the year; some are linked to the lecture programme whilst others take the opportunity to go to a special exhibition or to a country house with an art collection. A new idea in 2007 was to do a local visit in January to Chawton House. It proved to be an ideal venue and it may be a model for future local winter visits.

The first major outing of the season was to London for a guided tour of The Guildhall, giving an insight into its significance in the life of the City, a look at the excavated Roman Amphitheatre and, in the afternoon, a tour of the Guildhall Art Collection.

In June, private visits to two delightful country houses in Oxfordshire, Rousham House and Kingston Bagpuize House, were enhanced by being shown round by the owners. One of the advantages of NADFAS membership is the access which is often not generally available to the public.

Finally, in September, another visit to London afforded an entertaining conducted tour of the Royal Albert Hall and an exploration of the Jameel Gallery of the V & A guided by an authority on its exquisite Middle Eastern art and artifacts.

Short Breaks
In some years, the Society organise visits away for several days, so as to look more closely at a particular area and its cultural treasures. Knowledgeable local guides are engaged who can give access to aspects that may not be normally available and enhance the value of the experience. In recent years, members have enjoyed trips to Cardiff, Exeter, Liverpool and to Prague and Southern Bohemia which provided a memorable week among the historical and cultural riches of the area.

Study Days
Study days are arranged once or twice a year to give the opportunity to examine a particular topic or theme in detail. In past years, study days have covered the influence of Art Deco, the goldsmith Faberge, Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni, Royal Doulton china, and Monet and the Impressionists. In 2007, the development of English lead crystal in the 18th and 19th centuries was studied and items of glass brought in by the members were examined and their provenance explored.

One study day this year is for lovers of classical music. Terry Barfoot will be taking us through Three Symphonies - Mozart's Symphony No 40 in G Minor, Beethoven's Symphony No 5 in c Minor and Elgar's Symphony No 1 in A Flat Major.

June Press Release: An Amazing Woman (144kb PDF file to download)

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