Issue 30
Summer 2008
Group News cont’d
outdoor site with a fascinating collection of historic buildings brought together from many parts of Yorkshire and ranging in age from a replica of an Iron Age Roundhouse to World War II. A superb buffet lunch was served by the Aislaby W I.
The finale of the summer was another outing, this time to Richmond, one of Britain’s most beautiful market towns. Alfred Wainwright described it as “a town unlike others, a place unique, rich in relics of the past. It is too good to be passed by”. Who could disagree with the master’s judgment? Richmond was followed by the charms of nearby Kiplin Hall, a jewel of Jacobean architecture with a largely Victorian interior. Here we found many fine paintings, artefacts of the 19th Century Arts and Crafts movement and even part of the wooden block on which Charles the First was beheaded! We did not fail to take in the gardens, the lakeside views and, of course, the Tea Shop.
So what happened between these two bookend events? Well, a large party of our members took themselves off for a few days in Bournemouth, some for painting others for mere sightseeing. Another group are planning a painting holiday in Nice and of course our other weeks were not wasted, being devoted to painting still life, portraits and a study of “Water – Midday Heat”.
Perhaps the highlight of the year was a buffet lunch to celebrate the first 10 years of our group’s existence. This was accompanied by a (kind) critique of members’ work by our Group Leader, Peter. The group members made a small presentation to Peter to mark his 10 years of leadership and inspiration. He told us that his reasons for starting the group were to introduce more people to the joy of painting and to widen his circle of friends. The members can confirm his outstanding success in both of these aims.
We meet weekly on Tuesdays throughout the year. If you want more information contact Peter Kearney.
Bill Mallinson
During the academic year we have looked at a range of major philosophers of the 20th century. This has included several women and most of the main movements of the period.
The subject of the last meeting was Isaiah Berlin, who came to England with his family as a 12-year-old; in due course he studied at Oxford and spent most of his life there. That was at the time of the dominance of the linguistic and mathematically based, Logical Positivism and the Vienna Circle of which at one time Bertrand Russell was considered the leading figure. Time spent away from Oxford during the second war opened Isaiah Berlin’s eyes to other ideas and he turned away from Logical Positivism and for the rest of his life concentrated his thoughts and work, on the subject of personal freedom and oppressive governments.
After the rise of Wittgenstein, Bertrand Russell seemed to lose interest in Logical Positivism although another leading figure A.J. Ayres remained wedded to it for the rest of his life. Wittgenstein told Bertrand Russell that he (Russell) was not clever enough to solve its problems. Wittgenstein subsequently wrote his own work on the subject and then abandoned
philosophy as he had now solved all of its problems and so there was nothing further anyone could do. However some years later he condemned his first work as wrong and published another that he declared did now close the subject. It is said that when, in the 20th century, Albert Einstein published his theory of Relativity, only three or four people in the world could understand it, when Bertrand Russell published his main work Principia Mathematica, only half a dozen people in the world could understand it, when Wittgenstein published his work nobody else in the world could understand it.
Our next and last meeting for this academic year is an ethical discussion on Human Rights to be led by Janet Coatman. If you are interested in joining us next year contact me.
David Broadley
We had a very successful exhibition at St Peter's church which proved to be a good venue as over 400 people came in to see our photographs. We also learnt a lot about presentation for future exhibitions. Our group was very supportive in their efforts to show their photographs, and by manning the exhibition on an hourly basis. This proved to be interesting as we met people from Australia, New Zealand, USA, and France.
Just recently we had a fun day out at Monk Park Farm near Thirsk; the object was to take animal photos. We were not sure who got more out of our visit, the animals or us! One of the rheas took the leaders camera strap and finger, both were retrieved without too much pain. We took a nice woodland walk before lunch and the sun came out in the afternoon. This must have stimulated certain members as they had a mad half hour Go-Karting and on the swings. A lovely day out that was very relaxing for the thirteen photographers after all the hard work that had been done at in house meetings.
We are planning for the AGM in September as another display will hopefully show the themes we have been considering.
Carolyn Watson
After the visit to the Thackray Medical Museum on 16th July, we have a break in August. The Autumn program starts on 17th September.
17th September Plate Tectonics - Dr. Denise Crook
15th October My Career as Radio Astronomer - Rod Hine
19th November Science of Sound - Bill Mallinson
17th December Video discussion
21st January Science of Historic Iron Smelting - Jim Brophy
We meet third Wednesday in the month at St. Roberts Centre at 2pm.
21st January Science of Historic Iron Smelting -
John Kendal