May 1st, 2021

 

Dear Members,

 

Hello, and I hope you are all well, on what is now a beautiful if not especially warm, May Day.  I should start by saying that I am sorry this was not ready to appear on our website in better time. I can only say that I was so excited by having my vaccination yesterday that it completely eluded me.

 

We remain on YouTube, as of course you know, though looking forward to a time when we can resume our meetings in real life. Please be assured that as soon as we know for certain what we may do, and when, the news will be sent to all members.

 

Our April lecture, “Turner v Constable: The Great British Paint-Off” by Nicola Moorby went out on a delightful, hot Spring day. Despite the understandable attractions of the great outdoors, we had a very gratifying number of members watching, and enjoying her splendid talk. A number of you were kind enough to send messages, either to Julia Leary or to me, expressing your enjoyment of the lecture, and the clever format. It is a pleasure to see your comments, and to be able to send them on to the lecturer. 

 

Meanwhile we continue with our Zoom Committee meetings and the work that flows from them. Our Programme Secretaries, Judith Wheat and Daphne Amlot have been extremely busy, adapting to watching all the speakers online, instead of seeing them live at Directory Day.  They have been making a selection of speakers and arranging dates with them for future lectures. I feel sure that we will all find much to enjoy and learn from the programme they select and balance so carefully.

 

The Arts Society AGM is this year also being held online, later this month, and I have registered to attend on behalf of Wirral. I’ll report back, of course.

 

In other areas The Athenaeum is opening, in a limited way. As I am sure many of you know, we have long had groups working in the Library there, carrying out very necessary book conservation.  Our Vice President, Suzanne Cook is contacting the volunteers and making preliminary arrangements for a return. It is fascinating work and one of the main problems for the volunteers is becoming totally distracted by the books themselves.  

 

Our next lecture is on 17th May, when Caroline Knight will speak to us about “English Towns in the 18th Century, Society, Art and Architecture” a vast, and I am sure enjoyable and informative subject.

 

My very best wishes to you all, please stay safe and well, and I’m sure we are all looking forward to being able to meet, once more, in 3D and without mute buttons. 

 

Yvonne Woodhead 

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The Arts Society Wirral members meet monthly to hear, from a varied programme of inspiring lectures given by top experts in their fields. Regular tours, outings and visits throughout the year complement the lectures.

In addition, the Volunteer programme, open to all members of our society, includes Church Recording, involvement with local young people by way of the Young Arts Group, Archiving for a number of organisations together with the development of Church Trails for children