Explore local and social history with new courses

A tutor for Frome Community Education is running a series of local and social history courses and sessions this autumn.

David Lassman has run a local history course for Frome Community Education since 2012, but has now created additional courses based on subjects he has researched for his own interest.

David said, “The course on the town’s history has become very popular over the years and has now established itself as a major part of the heritage landscape. Over the years, many of those who have participated in the course have gone on to secure key positions within Frome’s thriving historical scene.

“But when I was creating my programme for Frome Community Education this term, I felt there was enough research material on other subjects that are close to my heart.”

David has created courses that cover social history, law and order, popular music, rebellion, literary hoaxes and the odd myth or two.

‘Forgotten By History’ explores a number of extraordinary people whose achievements barely register in the footnotes of history and are normally overshadowed by others.

“My favourite is Mozart’s more talented sister,” said David.

“Another is ‘A History of Modern Britain in 20 Songs’, which looks at British society from the post-war period onwards by focusing on different songs that reflect each era.

“Ghost Town by The Specials topped the charts in 1981 and reflected the social upheaval and rioting taking place that shook the country to its core.”

All the above courses are ten weeks long, as is ‘Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece’, which was run as a shorter course last year but proved so popular it has been expanded.

Meanwhile, the five-week ‘History of the Detective Branch’ course originated from three local murders – at Nunney, Frome and Rode – which were all investigated.

“Many know of Mr Whicher’s Suspicions and my own book about Sarah Watts’ murder, which are both covered in the course, but the entire branch history is just as fascinating.”

There are also five one-off Saturday morning workshops, covering several other subjects David has been researching in his spare time.

These include ‘A History of Literary Hoaxes’, ‘Frome and the Monmouth Rebellion’ and ‘Frome and Non-Conformity’.

“There is also ‘In Search of Atlantis’, which, although most people dismiss as just a myth, will be shown to reside in fact, historically belonging to the Greek Bronze Age,” David added.

And finally, ‘Secret Histories: Poisoning the Public’ reveals several experiments the British Government secretly undertook on the nation’s public during the Cold War.

For more details on the courses and one-off sessions visit the website

https://shorturl.at/K6PY8  or to enrol, contact the Cheese and Grain on 01373  455420.

Pictured: David Lassman, course tutor