FROME Community Education courses make a welcome return next week with a much-increased line up of day and evening courses, one-day weekend workshops and three new tutors.
For the uninitiated, Frome Comm Ed is a not-for-profit, Community Interest Company, founded in 2011 to provide classes for adults who like to learn for pleasure. This autumn term it is seeking to run 45 weekly courses and seven one-day workshops – some from as little as £18.
New courses this term reflect an increased focus on culture and words and literature. Local author and historian, David Lassman, presents ‘Celebrated Women of Frome’, a 10-week course highlighting pioneering women of our town such as Christina Rosetti and Elizabeth Singer Rowe. David is also running his extremely popular ‘Local History’ course, in addition to another new course, ‘British Politics in the 20th Century’. Each week will cover a decade looking at the major events, political issues (and scandals) of the day…
‘Money: A Global History’ will explore how world history has been shaped by the changing nature of money. The course starts with the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamiams who managed without, then turns to the simultaneous invention of coinage in India, China and the Mediterranean, examines the greed of the Conquistadores and continues right up to the Global Financial Crisis.
New tutor Graham Burgess will introduce Philosophy to the Frome Community Education list of courses, with ‘Philosophy – As If It Mattered’. This will explore a range of exciting new philosophical and scientific hypotheses loosely based on the work of Dr. Iain McGilchrist (no prior reading required). Places are selling fast so if this appeals, book now!
Alison Clink, local novelist and creative writing teacher, will lead an analytical discussion into ‘Five Contemporary Novels’ with a different novel being considered each week. The authors under review include Helen Dunmore, Jane Gardam, Sebastian Faulks, Jeanine Cummins and Lionel Shriver. For more information on which novels are to be considered, visit the Frome CommEd website or pick up a brochure in town.
Moving back in time, David Lassman is to take a look at the life and times of Jane Austen, as well as looking in depth at each of her novels, adaptations for film and tv, her juvenilia and unfinished writings.
Malcolm Lloyd, chair of Frome Community Education, says “We are delighted with the expansion of our autumn programme, and with our students’ response to it! Some classes have completely sold out, most others are filling fast. There is still time to book, but with courses starting next week, you will need to be quick!”
For details of the full programme and to book, visit www. frome commed.org.uk or call the Cheese & Grain Box Office on 01373 455420.
