NORTH STAFFS BRANCH OF THE CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION
Report for the Year 2004/2005
In the Autumn we had a very successful lecture by Clemence Schultze (Latin Literature and Detective Fiction), also advertised through the Dorothy L Sayers Society, and co-sponsored by the Roman Society, followed by a reading of Plautus' Miles Gloriosus. In January we held a Saturnalia party with various food and quiz contributions, plus 2 members in costume, for which we are grateful to Keele SCR for free use of the room. This was followed by our Chairman's talk in his parish, to which we were kindly invited, on "Prudentius made simple", in February. Later in the month we had another play reading, of Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus, and in March Emma Griffiths gave a talk on Children in Greek Tragedy, co-sponsored by the Hellenic Society.
Fr Bill Richmond's talk on the New Testament Canon was very well received, in a new venture for us in April, and in May we again threw open our coach trip, to Roman Gloucestershire, as usual led by Andy Fear in his inimitable style. Finally, Andy also generously gave of his time to make a very special occasion of the trip to Roman Barcelona and Tarragona, over the weekend of 3 - 7 June, for those members who made the flight - see record of visit to Tarragona.
Throughout the year, the Latin and Greek reading groups continued to run roughly monthly, independently of the core programme, with the Latin group also beginning a project to transcribe and translate Latin memorial inscriptions in the county.
Events 2004/2005
Lecture: Dr Clemence Schultze (University of Durham)
'DOROTHY L SAYERS: LATIN LITERATURE AND DETECTIVE FICTION'
7.30 p.m. Tuesday 26 October 2004, Room 126 Keele Hall, University of Keele
Joint meeting with the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies
PLAY READING: (in translation) of Plautus' Miles Gloriosus
(The Swaggering Soldier)
7.30 p.m. Thursday 25 November 2004, St Wulstan's Church Hall, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Copies of the play available, but members are also asked to bring the Penguin Classics edition, if possible
This play is of course also the basis of the story told in the Sondheim musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, featuring a swaggering soldier called Miles Gloriosus.
SATURNALIA PARTY
For members - Tuesday 18 January 2005, Senior Common Room, Keele Hall
FR TONY DYKES on 'PRUDENTIUS MADE SIMPLE'
(Passages from Hamartigenia and Genesis)
7.30 p.m. Tuesday 1 February, St Wulstan's School, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Members are most welcome to attend a talk to his parishioners by our Chairman, following his recent return from sabbatical in Valladolid.
PLAY READING: (in translation) of Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus
7.30 p.m. Thursday 17 February 2005, St Wulstan's Church Hall, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Copies of the play available, but members are also asked to bring the Penguin Classics edition, if possible
Lecture: Dr Emma Griffiths (University of Manchester)
'CHILDREN IN GREEK TRAGEDY'
7.30 p.m. Tuesday 8 March 2005, Room 126 Keele Hall, University of Keele
Joint meeting with the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
Lecture: Fr Bill Redmond (formerly of the University of Durham)
'THE FORMATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON'
7.30 p.m., Monday 4 April 2005, St Wulstan's School Hall, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme - behind the Church Hall building we generally use
All welcome - all above events are free of charge
ROMAN GLOUCESTERSHIRE COACH TRIP
ANNUAL TRIP, Saturday 21 May 2005, this year to Gloucestershire - Chedworth Villa Site and Cirencester Museum. Led as usual by Dr Andy Fear (University of Manchester) and departing by coach from Keele University at 8.30 a.m., returning late the same evening. We visit the recently reopened Corinium Museum, Cirencester and the Roman Villa site at Chedworth [NT], which both feature well preserved mosaics among other remains, before a meal and our return.
Mosaic floor with image of Hare.
ROMAN SPAIN
3 - 7 June 2005: Barcelona and Tarragona - travel independent, expert guidance in Catalonia from Andy Fear - see record of visit to Tarragona.
Annual General Meeting
For branch members, at 7.30 pm on Thursday 9 June 2005, at St Wulstan's.
Latin and Greek Reading Groups 2004/05
The Latin and Greek reading groups continue to meet every 3 - 4 weeks at 7.30 p.m., independently of the general programme, for those who wish to read ancient (and medieval Latin) literature in the original, and to work together on deciphering the meaning, in a relaxed atmosphere. The Latin group is also working on transcribing and translating local Latin memorial inscriptions
Previous year's programme
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