Autumn and Christmas Newsletter 2025

Dear Members

Here is your programme for next year, 2026. The lectures look fantastic and full of interesting topics. ‘Lamorna Artists’ Colony’ in Cornwall will be a great start to the year in January. Hopefully this will make us think of summer holidays although all my visits to Lamorna over the years have been wet, windy and wild with dramatic seas but always exciting and atmospheric! No wonder artists were enticed there. ‘Spanish Art’ in February will be a great contrast to Lamorna and will soon warm us up in spirit if not literally. It’s not surprising that the British are “obsessed” with it! There are two ‘Days of Special Interest’ planned and two outings. A tour of Kent has been arranged in late September.

This has been a successful year with attendance at lectures very high as you will have witnessed. It’s a sign that our society is thriving and members are enjoying the interesting programmes we put on. We welcome visitors but please remember that they must be booked in before you come. We can only accommodate ten visitors at each lecture because of the capacity of the hall. Our membership secretary, Jackie Daly, is the person to contact about this. Her details are on your programme.

Our donation to Sherborne C of E Primary school enabled an after-school art club there. This was a huge success and proved very popular with the children. The talent of children so young was clear as was shown in the exhibition that we put up in the entrance hall at the lecture last October.

The outings this year have been popular and well attended as have the ‘Days of Special Interest’. A lot of work from our great committee has gone into organising these events and I thank them very much for this. Some of us had a lovely afternoon at Rodmarton Manor on one of the last warm days in late September. Here are some words from Anna Parry who organised the trip:

“A group of us were lucky enough to go to Rodmarton Manor on a beautiful sunny September afternoon. It was an escape to another era to this most important Arts and Crafts house created during the early 20th century. We were conducted throughout the house by a guide who was clearly knowledgeable on all aspects of the house and its contents. The current occupants have restored the original layout of the rooms and together with some decorating and additional furnishing, now show the house at its best. The gardens are laid out as a series of ‘rooms’, many with southerly views over uninterrupted countryside. We were welcomed and given tea and cake which were enjoyed before strolling around the gardens in the golden afternoon sun”.

I am unable to report back on the trip to Valencia yet because, as I write, they are still there! I will do so in the next newsletter. However, I have already received some lovely photos from the group.

I hope you all enjoy the festive season ahead. The committee and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year.

Best wishes

Nickie Clarke (Chairman)

Guy Rooker - Illustrated talk on Leonardo da vinci and his depiction of ”Hands”