In the Loop – 29 April 2025
Hello everyone and welcome to the latest ‘in the loop’.
This time we are bringing you lots of summer term courses, some upcoming Saturday workshops, VE day commemorations happening in Bristol over the next couple of weeks and all the Summer Schools planned here at Bristol Adult Learning…
Summer term courses coming up …
Garden styles – Not just nettles
1 session 9 May, Fri 10am-3pm with Christine
Improve Your Computer Skills
5 weeks from 12 may, Mon 10am-12noon with Carmel
Willow Craft: Make a Catalan Tension Tray
1 session 9 May, Fri 10am-1pm With Sarah
Cookery: A Taste of Thailand
1 session 13 May, Tue 10.30am-12.30pm with Sarah
Palestinian Films – Online
5 weeks from 12 May, 4.30pm-6pm with Davide
Stained Glass Beginners
6 weeks from 4 June, Wed 4.30-7pm with Ruth
Drawing Figures and Faces from Life – Mixed Ability
6 weeks from 6 June, Fri 9.45am-12.15pm with Bill
Just Charcoal
7 weeks from 5 June, Thu 10am-12.30pm with Jenny
Garden Styles: Naturalistic Planting
1 session 23 May 10am-3pm with Christine
Acrylic Beginners
6 weeks from 3 June Tue 1pm-4pm with Mary
Printmaking: Dry Point Etching
6 weeks from 3 June, Tue 1pm-4pm with Rebecca
Art History: Masters of the Italian Renaissance
6 weeks form 3 June, Tue 10am-12.30pm with Kaitlin
Printmaking: Lino Print Introduction
6 weeks from 4 June, Wed 9.30am-12.30pm with Rebecca
Saturday 17 May
How to write a Novel in a day
10am-4pm with Carolyn
Watercolour Workshop
10am-4pm with Ellie
How to use your Sewing Machine
10am-4pm with Ann
Stained Glass Copper Foil Dragonfly or Butterfly
10am-4pm with Ruth
Meraviglie d’Italia – Parte 1
11am-4pm with Marika
Philosophy: Exploring Philosophical ‘thought experiments’
10am-3pm with Jim
Saturday 14 June
Philosophy: ‘What does it mean to be selfish?’
10am-3pm with Jim
Paint with Coffee
10am-4pm with Ellie
French day – La Bretagne
10am-4pm with Albane
Willow Craft: Berry Basket Workshop
10am-4pm with Sarah
Landscapes in Oil
10am-4pm with Warren
Upholstery on Saturday
10am-4pm with Nicky
VE day commemorations
Thursday 8 May 2025 marks 80 years since VE (Victory in Europe) Day when the Second World War came to an end in Europe.
Although there will be plenty of street parties and festivities happening, for me it is also a chance for to remember that we are commemorating a moment eighty years ago of peace and liberation for all of Europe. Remembering how important it is for us to defend democracy and to understand that happy, supported and integrated people and communities are less likely to be drawn into extreme views and hateful ideologies.
We have a few ideas in mind to mark the moment here at Stoke Lodge so keep an eye on our social media and in the foyer, week beginning Tuesday 6th May.
Whilst researching events locally I came across an open letter penned by 10 surviving Second World war veterans and released through the Together coalition, an organisation working towards building strong communities and made up of charities and community organisations from across the country.
I thought the letter was very beautifully written and definitely worth sharing in full with you all.
Almost 80 years ago, something remarkable happened.
It was the culmination of years of sacrifice, collective action and hardship. Together with our allies around the world and across the Commonwealth, we defeated the scourge of fascism and defended our country, our democracy and our way of life. Few of us who fought in that war are still with us today. But those of us who are ask only one thing.
That you remember.
Remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Remember the danger of authoritarianism and fascism.
Remember how it took all of us coming together across classes, religions, nations and races to prevail.
Remember that peace and democracy don’t just happen, they need to be maintained.
So please join us in celebrating this VE Day and VJ Day later this summer. Please join in community celebrations on the 5th of May, the ongoing work in schools and the formal commemorations on the 8th of May.
But however you take part – please take a moment to remember as well.
To remember what happened isn’t just about honouring the fallen – to remember is also our best hope of avoiding it ever happening again.
You can find a You Tube video reading of the letter here VE80 – Open letter. Also available to watch below:
There are lots of celebrations and commemorations planned from Monday 5th May to VE day itself on the 8th. On bank holiday Monday there will be a procession and flypast in London which will be shown on the BBC and on Thursday 8th a service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, also on the BBC.
Closer to home…
Clifton Village are planning commemorations on Saturday and Sunday (10/11th May) including free vintage bus rides, wartime songs, musical performances you can see more details on the events here VE Day 2025 Celebrations weekend in Clifton Village
Aerospace Bristol are hosting ‘spirit of 45’ activities on Sunday 4th and Monday 5th including the opportunity to experience a WW2 air raid shelter, to see the recently restored Bolingbroke Bomber as well as cream teas and 40s themed games and activities. You can find out more here Spirit of ’45: Aerospace Bristol celebrates 80 years since VE Day — Aerospace Bristol
Bristol Cathedral have a special Evensong service on Sunday 11 May at 3.30pm everyone is welcome to a service to honour and remember the sacrifices made during world war II, in what promised to be a moving and reflective experience. Full details are at Special Evensong Service to Mark VE Day – Bristol Cathedral.
Summer Schools – available to book now.
Drawing:
Drawing Figures In Mixed Media: Intermediates & Advanced Summer School from 14 July Mon Tue Wed 10:00-13:00 with Bill B31C
Drawing Outdoors With Mixed Media: Intermediates Summer School from 21 July Mon Tue Wed 10:00-13:00 with Bill B30C
Portraiture From Life: Summer Workshop on 25 July Fri 10:00-15:00 with Bill B39C
I Wish I Could Draw People! Beginners & Intermediates Summer School: from 26 Aug Tue Wed 10:00-13:00 with Bill B39D
Painting and Printmaking:
Space For Creativity: Summer School from 21 July Mon Tue Wed Thu 10:00-16:00 with Laurel B75G
Watercolours Summer School. All Levels from 28 July Full time – all week 09:30-13:30 with Ellie B82E
Printmaking & Surface Design Summer School @ St Paul’s from 28 July Full time – all week 10:00-16:00 with Barbara T80G
Exploring Printmaking: Summer School from 4 Aug Mon Tue Wed 10:00-14:00 with Rebecca B81G
Oil Painting Mixed Ability: Summer School from 6 Aug Wed Thu Fri 13:30-16:00 with Warren B69E
Oil Painting Improvers: Summer School from 6 Aug Wed Thu Fri 10:00-12:30 with Warren B70G
Sewing and Upholstery:
High Summer Sewing Workshop on 8 Aug Fri 10:00-15:00 with Marilyn T77G
High Summer Sewing Workshop on 15 Aug Fri 10:00-15:00 with Marilyn T77H
Upholstery Summer School from 11 Aug Full time – all week 09:30-15:30 with Nicky T48F
Stained Glass:
Stained-Glass Summer School 2025 from 28 July Full time – all week 10:00-16:00 with Ruth P42E
Art Exhibition
Despite the (not insignificant) practical challenges of finding enough wall space to hang all the fantastic learners’ work, preparing the learner exhibition is a task I always volunteer to be part of.
This year, once again, our learners have surpassed our expectations and treated us to a dazzling array of pieces. We have over 150 pieces on display in the foyer and corridors.
The exhibition will be up until we become a venue for the BS9 Arts Trail on the weekend of 7 and 8 June.
You can find out more about the trail at www.bs9arts.co.uk
Please do find some time over the coming month to explore all the artwork on display and take in the astounding talent on show.
Lots to come in 2025/26
We are currently busy putting together our programme for the 25/26 academic year and are looking forward to bringing you lots of exciting courses including …back by popular demand… Jewellery Making courses.
I hope that you are enjoying the sunshine and hope to see many of you here at Stoke Lodge over the coming summer months
Kindest regards
Jenny
