Tutor expands historical courses

A tutor for Frome Community Education is expanding the number of historical courses he is offering this autumn due to popular demand. 

David Lassman has been running a local history course for the organisation in Frome since 2012 but has now created several others on more general historical subjects. 

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. 

“And over the years many of those who have participated on the course have gone on to play a part in Frome’s thriving heritage scene, which includes several who have published books on the town’s history and also taken key roles in organisations such as Frome Society for Local Study and Frome Museum.” 

The Local History course, which only has a few places left, runs on a Monday afternoon and this year started on 23rd September.     

“As popular as local history has become, there have been several requests to Frome Community Education for courses on other wider historical subjects, as well,” explained David. 

With this in mind, David created courses that cover social history, radicalism, revolution, popular music and myths of Britain and Greece. 

‘Radicalism, Reform & Revolution’ explores many of the events and movements, along with the men and women involved in them, which have helped shape Britain throughout the centuries. This ten-week course runs on a Monday morning.   

Another is ‘Popular Music – A Social History’, on a Tuesday morning. “Popular music is part of the very fabric of our everyday lives but it is far more than just something to listen to,” says David. “From the various ways it has been created through the decades and the seismic changes in how it has been consumed, this course will chart and explore how music has reflected social and economic changes since the 1950s onwards.” 

Meanwhile, ‘A Social History of Britain in the 1960s and ‘70s’ explores one of the most turbulent and dramatic periods in the history of Britain: from the Summer of Love to the Winter of Discontent. The course will explore various aspects of this revolutionary time, including fashion, television and cinema and the social and economic changes that altered the lives of men and women forever. This runs on a Tuesday afternoon. 

There are also two five-week courses about myths on a Thursday morning. The first, ‘Myths and Legends of Ancient Britain’, covers such figures as Robin Hood, King Bladud and King Arthur. It will explore their origins and why they continue to be so popular. 

This will be followed by ‘Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece’, where participants will journey back to the land of the Gods to explore stories that still resonate with us today, including the Trojan War, the Odyssey, Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece and Theseus’ descent into the labyrinth to fight the Minotaur. The course will also look at the fabled women who play key roles in the tales, such as Helen, Ariadne, Penelope and Medea. 

There are also two one-off Saturday workshops and these are ‘In the Footsteps of Christina Rossetti’ and ‘Famous Frome – Film and TV Locations.’ The first explores the famous Victorian poet and her year-long stay in the town during the 1850s, while the other reveals the several major productions that have used Frome as a backdrop. These will take place in October and November, respectively. 

For more information on all of these courses see www.fromecommed.org.uk or to enrol, contact the Cheese and Grain on 01373 455420.