Courses 2023/24
For our new 2023/24 courses, see list below:
NEW The colourful life of Cleopatra and her times
A two part course looking at the life and times of Cleopatra
Wednesday 10am to 12.30pm Richard Stride
2 sessions from 17 April £40/£24 HSR13 Stoke Lodge
NEW An introduction to the Early Stuarts: Britain 1603-49
A one-off ‘taster session’ in advance of a longer course that will be offered in the Spring of 2025 – This two hour course outlines the main events and themes of this often overlooked period.
Wednesday 6pm to 8pm Richard Stride
1 session on 24 April £16/£10 HSR12 Stoke Lodge
NEW The Cousins’ War – an introduction to the Wars of the Roses
A one-off ‘taster session’ in advance of a longer course next Autumn – an overview of the events and characters of late 15th century Britain.
Tuesday 10am to 12noon Richard Stride
1 session on 30th April £16/£10 HSR11 Stoke Lodge
French History
NEW The French Revolution & Napoleon – an Introduction
A one-off ‘taster session’ in advance of a longer course that will be offered in the Spring of 2025. This two hour course outlines the main events and themes of this exciting period.
Tuesday 10am to 12noon Richard Stride
1 session on 23 April £16/£10 HSR10 Stoke Lodge
Ancient Greek and Roman History
NEW An Introduction to Greek Theatre
This short course outlines the origins of Greek theatre as a religious ritual, and how it emerged as ‘comedy’ and ‘tragedy’. We will look at plots, staging and the experience of the audience.
Tuesday 1pm to 3pm Richard Stride
4 sessions from 31 October £60/£36 HSR3 Stoke Lodge
NEW Homer’s Iliad
This course will introduce the learner to the story and context of Homer’s famous poem. Week by week we will uncover different aspects and themes of the work by looking at progressive extracts of the text.
Tuesday 10am to 12noon Richard Stride
10 sessions from 9 January £150/£90 HSR4 Stoke Lodge
Alexander the Great
Have you ever wondered who Alexander the Great was, or what made him ‘Great’? This course will give an overview of his life, achievements and legacy.
Wednesday 10am to 12noon Richard Stride
10 sessions from 10 January £150/£90 HSR5 Stoke Lodge
And
Wednesday 6pm to 8pm Richard Stride
10 sessions from 10 January £150/£90 HSR8 Stoke lodge
NEW Ancient Sparta
Who were the Spartans? This short course outlines how Spartan society was organised, including their unique family and education systems, and explains why they became feared for their military skill at the same time as being admired for their ‘laconic’ sense of humour.
Tuesday 1pm to 3pm Richard Stride
6 sessions from 23 January £90/£54 HSR6 Stoke Lodge
English History
Twelve more Prime Ministers, 1865-1940
Lives of the Prime Ministers of the period, set against the political and social background.
Thursdays 1pm to 3pm John Stevens
10 sessions from 18 January £150/ £90 HMP2 Stoke Lodge
British Titans of the Nineteenth Century
This course will look at eight of the most significant figures of the Victorian age.
Thursdays 1pm to 3pm John Stevens
8 sessions from 18 April £120/ £72 HMP3 Stoke Lodge
Spanish History
Franco’s dictatorship and the transition to democracy
This course aims to explore and understand the nature of Franco’s dictatorship and how
the transition to democracy in Spain evolved.
Taking a historical approach, we will use films, documentaries, literature and history texts to illustrate the issues.
Fridays 12.45pm to 2.45pm Gorka Diaz
6 sessions from 3 November £90 / £54 HGD2 Stoke Lodge