NORTH STAFFS BRANCH OF THE CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION
Report for the Year 2005/2006
The decision last year to raise subscriptions seems to have had the desired effect - we have reached our target income, and if this level of membership is sustained can anticipate a stable financial position. We now have 47 paying members, 37 at the full rate, and another 10 paying old standing orders.
In the Autumn we had intended to start with a lecture, but because of Bob Roach's unfortunate illness the programme instead got off to a rather quiet start, with a play reading in November of Euripides' Hippolytus. A very successful lecture by David Langslow later in the month (the History of the Latin Language), co-sponsored by the Roman Society, suggested there is an audience for language based studies in the area. This was followed by another Member's Saturnalia social in January, with various excellent contributions of classically inspired food. We are grateful to Keele SCR for free use of the room for both these meetings, which was also provided for the Roach lecture.
The Hellenic Society joint meeting was a lecture in February from Ken Dowden. Billed as a talk on Homer's Iliad, in the event he spoke entertainingly on a new topic (Isis Saves - but what from?). We are grateful also for free use of St Wulstan's School as our packed venue. In March we returned to the theme, first broached in 2005, of church history, with Peter Oakes' lecture at St Wulstan's, on Pompeian housing and the nature of the early House Churches. We were delighted that Bob Roach was able to give his postponed lecture on the destruction and rebirth of Pompeii and Herculaneum) in April. In May we again threw open to other bodies our annual coach trip, to Roman Wales, entertainingly led by Andy Fear. Unfortunately the suggestion of a weekend away in Southern England, for a smaller group to investigate more distant sites with Andy, attracted insufficient positive interest to proceed this year.
Throughout the year, the Latin and Greek reading groups have again continued to run roughly monthly, independently of the core programme, with the Latin group also making excellent progress with its project to transcribe and translate Latin memorial inscriptions in the county. We intend to complete at least that part covering the Borough of Newcastle in the next few months, and are investigating the possibility of publishing our results.
Events 2005/2006
PLAY READING: (in translation) of Euripides' Hippolytus
7.30 p.m., Thursday 3 November 2005,
St Wulstan's Church Hall, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme
LECTURE: Professor David Langslow (University of Manchester)
'THE HISTORY OF THE LATIN LANGUAGE AND THE BIRTH OF THE
ROMANCE LANGUAGES'
7.30 p.m., Tuesday 29 November 2005,
Senior Common Room, Keele Hall, University of Keele
Joint meeting with the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies
MEMBERS' SOCIAL
6.30 p.m. Wednesday 18 January 2006, Senior Common Room, Keele Hall, University of Keele - please bring appropriate Classical food and/or drink. The evening will also feature games, quizzes, and readings from Greek or Roman literature. This event is for members only.
LECTURE: Professor Ken Dowden (University of Birmingham)
"ISIS SAVES - BUT WHAT FROM?" - with Powerpoint
7.30 p.m., Thursday 9 February 2006, St Wulstan's (RC) Primary School Hall, Church Lane, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under -Lyme (talk originally billed as on the Iliad)
Joint meeting with the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
LECTURE: Dr Peter Oakes (Greenwood Lecturer in the New Testament, University of Manchester)
'POMPEIAN HOUSING AND THE NATURE OF THE EARLY HOUSE CHURCHES',
7.30 p.m., Friday 10 March 2006, St Wulstan's (RC) Primary School Hall, Church Lane, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under -Lyme
LECTURE: Dr Bob Roach (formerly of University of Keele, Geology)
'THE DESTRUCTION AND REBIRTH OF POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM:
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED' - Illustrated
7.30 p.m., Thursday 6 April 2006: Re-arranged date, from October 2005
Senior Common Room, Keele Hall, University of Keele
All welcome - all the above events are free of charge
ROMAN WALES COACH TRIP
ANNUAL COACH TRIP, Saturday 20 May 2006, this year to Caerleon Legionary Fortress and Caerwent Roman Town. Led as usual by Dr Andy Fear (University of Manchester).
As usual we depart by coach from Keele, within half an hour of 8.30 a.m., returning late the same evening. This is a very full day to allow us to see all the fascinating sights, and we suggest packed lunches rather than purchasing these in situ. There is as usual a halt for a more leisurely meal on the road home.
For branch members, at 7.30 pm on Friday 16 June 2006, at St Wulstan's Priest's House.
Latin and Greek Reading Groups 2005/06
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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