ARTS AND CRAFTS
ART OUT OF DOORS
Robin Sharp -
Weekly,
Thursdays 10.00 till early afternoon (weather permitting) May to September.
Meets
at different venues throughout the summer. This pleasant summer activity is for members
interested in sketching or painting. A break for a picnic lunch allows would-
Janette Redmond
-
Pat Edwards -
Twice monthly 1st and
3rd Thursdays am and/or pm October -
This group learns about artists and their
work through looking at paintings in permanent collections, exhibitions, slides and
videos.
Costs: Travel and some entry fees
May Bowie -
Thursdays 2.00 -
Venue: Longniddry
Community Centre
Members share their interest in needle and craft work and are hopeful
of attracting members with new skills to share with us. Before Christmas we tend
to concentrate on making cards, small gifts and some decorations. We would also encourage
anyone who has a skill to come and demonstrate this to us.
PHOTOFORUM
Richard Morton
-
Monthly, 3rd Mondays 2.00 -
Venue:
Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper Hall)
A forum for viewing and discussing photographs
and photographic techniques and reviewing some of the more advanced procedures used
in both digital and conventional photography.
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COMPUTING
APPLE MAC USERS
David
Elder -
Monthly, 2nd Friday of the month,
2.00 – 4.00
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington (Upper Hall)
Members learn how to use
their Apple Macs for many and varied purposes such as digital photography, word processing
and surfing the internet. Mutual self-
Mondays: Margaret Gordon -
10.30 -
Wednesdays: Helen Robertson -
10.30 -
Venue: Members’ homes
The aim is to encourage members to develop an interest in computing
and begin to use their PC with more confidence. Coffee time allows us to share ideas,
queries and problems. Then we see what our host has used the PC for (and what they
have had fun with if possible). Members are encouraged to note things they would
particularly like to learn to do. The cardinal rule is ‘there is no such thing as
a stupid question’. Any stage of beginners welcome.
Maximum number 6
PC PALS
Grace Wood
(Contact person) -
1st Tuesday of the month, 10.30
-
Venue: Members’ homes
Members have either been in a Beginner’s Group or feel
they are now reasonably confident and competent on the PC. They meet once a month
to talk over any PC issues that have arisen for them. This may be a difficulty, a
discovery, a useful tip, a query, a piece of advice etc. – almost anything to do
with computing. The host/hostess usually demonstrates something on their computer.
Special sessions on a particular topic may be arranged at a member’s request.
PC FORUM
Ann
Keppie (Contact person) -
1st Monday of the
month, 2.00 -
Venue: The Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper Hall)
The format of
this group consists of a general discussion on computer issues followed by a computer
demonstration of something requested. There is then further discussion with the possibility
of matching up members looking for particular help.
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GAMES
BASIC BRIDGE I
Marian
Chambers -
Beryl Robinson -
Weekly, Thursdays 2.00 -
Venue: Lammerview House, Main St, Gullane
A relaxed
and friendly approach to bridge -
Maximum number 8.
BRIDGE FOR IMPROVERS
Nigel Booth -
Weekly,
Thursdays 2.00 -
Venue: Nungate and Haddington Community Centre, Haddington
If
you have played Bridge for years or have been attending lessons for beginners and
are ready to move on, this may be the group for you. We attempt to improve our bidding
and play in a relaxed atmosphere by using a variety of hand evaluation methods and
improving our knowledge of playing techniques. This is a fun group for folk who want
to play better Bridge.
New Members welcome
MAH JONG
Sheelagh Stone-
Twice monthly, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
Venue: Members’ homes
Come
and enjoy this ancient game.
Maximum number 12
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GET PHYSICAL
CEILIDH DANCING AND
MORE
Sheila Sergeant -
Weekly, Tuesdays 11.30
-
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Alistair Grant Hall)
This group will begin
in the autumn and continue during the winter months. All you will need to bring are
comfortable/soft shoes for dancing in. No previous experience is necessary. Come
along to benefit from the exercise, have some fun in good company and enjoy the music.
Waiting
list: Contact Sheila
INTERMEDIATE WALKING
Bill Balfour -
Fortnightly,
Friday mornings (Alternate weeks from ‘Simply Strolling’)
Four to six mile walks in
and around the East Lothian area. Members are encouraged to socialise over a cup
of coffee/tea at the end of each walk where and when possible.
SIMPLY STROLLING
Rosemary
Brannan -
Fortnightly, Fridays, meet
10.15 for 10.30 start (Alternate weeks from ‘Intermediate Walking’)
A walking group
which offers less demanding routes than the Wednesday Walkers.
Walks are around 3
miles on easy terrain, usually followed by coffee or lunch at one of the excellent
cafés in the area. Dogs welcome.
TAI CHI
Claire East -
Weekly, Thursdays 10-
Venue: Bridge Centre,.Haddington
Loose, comfortable clothing advised and flat shoes.
This is a new group starting on Thursday 12 January 2012
WEDNESDAY WALKERS
Ken Stirling -
Weekly, Wednesdays
The
group, founded in 1999, celebrated its 400th walk early in 2011. Programmes of walks
in the Lothians, the Borders and Fife of from 6 to 10 miles, moderately demanding,
with few steep gradients, are drawn up three times a year. In addition excursions
have been organised to the Geneva area, Mallorca and Jersey. A number of members
take it in turns to lead walks, but there is no pressure to do so. Others prefer
to be led! Walkers assemble normally at 9.00 a.m. in Haddington or, occasionally,
in East Linton. Because numbers now exceed 50 a small committee has been elected
to support the Group Leader.
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LANGUAGES
FRENCH CONVERSATION
WEDNESDAYS: Fortnightly
-
Marie-
Robin MacEwen
-
MONDAYS: Fortnightly -
Hazel Buck
-
Venue: Members’ homes
Members of this group
have some experience of speaking French and have decided on various enjoyable means
to encourage fearlessness in communication! Maximum practice and a little preparation
are encouraged. The aim is to have more vocabulary and more confidence when speaking
to French people.
PARLIAMO ITALIANO
Rosemary Brannan -
1st
and 3rd Thursdays of the month 2.00 -
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper
Hall)
The aim is to provide members with the basic communication skills for simple
conversations in e.g. holiday situations. Good pronunciation and fluency take precedence
over grammatical accuracy. New members are welcome, but some previous knowledge of
Italian is necessary. We have no teacher, but use CDs and varied passages for translation,
with members contributing accounts of their experiences.
SPANISH CONVERSATION
Sue Robinson
-
Fortnightly, Tuesdays 2.00 -
Venue:
Members’ homes
This group provides members, who should already have a basic grasp
of spoken Spanish , the opportunity to practice their conversational skills and extend
their vocabulary. New members are welcome.
GERMAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Isobel Brown
-
Fortnightly, Mondays 10.00 – 11.30
Venue:
Tutor’s home, Haddington
Concentrating on listening and speaking skills, the group’s
aim is to build up confidence in communication. Varied methods are used to increase
members’ knowledge of vocabulary and structures.
RUSSIAN
Rosemary Brannan -
Fortnightly, Wednesdays 10.30 -
Venue: Members’ homes
Using a Book and CD course, we are
progressing quite slowly with this difficult language. Therefore it would be possible
for a dedicated beginner to join us.
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LITERATURE
BOOKWORMS
Kath Rose -
Janet Beaton -
Monthly,
except August & December, Tuesdays 10.30 -
Venue: Members' homes
Each year Bookworms
select a reading programme drawn from Fiction -
CONTEMPORARY FICTION
Liz Strachan
-
Monthly, last Tuesdays 2.30 -
Venue: Pencaitland
Members
read and discuss a wide range of literary novels published mainly, though not exclusively,
in the last twenty years. Books are chosen with the aim of stimulating thought and
debate as well as entertainment. The group reads and discusses one book a month.
Waiting
list: Contact Liz
READING SHAKESPEARE
Elizabeth Lockwood -
Fortnightly,
Thursdays 2.00 -
Venue: Various, members’ homes, usually Haddington
Why is Shakespeare
considered the greatest writer ever of English drama? Through our readings we are
beginning to understand and marvel at his dramatic skills and wonderful poetry. We
also try whenever possible to see his plays in Edinburgh and East Lothian.
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MUSIC
FOLK
MUSIC
Robert Russel -
Second
Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month, September -
2.00 -
Venue:
Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper hall)
This group plays and sings folk music from
Scotland and around the world. If you would like to have some relaxing fun creating
music with others on your flute, fiddle, whistle, guitar, concertina, clarsach, bodhran,
chanter, etc. or with your voice, (or just come and listen), then phone Robert.
JAZZ
APPRECIATION
Glen Gibb -
Every four weeks, Tuesday
afternoons October -
Venue: Spott
The Jazz group is studying the history of this
important music, from its roots in the fields and towns of the Southern states of
North America, with its early prominence based in New Orleans, up to the present
day. It is hoped to cover all aspects from ragtime, the swing era, bebop, the Avant
Garde and the improvised music of today. It will pose the question 'What is Jazz?'
which has been asked ever since the music left New Orleans and will explore the highways
and byways en route with interesting diversions and amusements, all with good music
and discussion and with enough variety to hopefully satisfy all (musical) tastes.
MATTERS
MUSICAL
Philip Taylor -
Monthly, Thursday afternoons
Venue: Whittingehame
and performance venues
Meets on eight to ten occasions during autumn and spring to
discuss classical works (operas, symphonies, concertos, etc.) that are being performed
in Haddington or Edinburgh. Group visits are arranged as and when thought helpful.
The topics for discussion are suggested by the members. Normally meetings are illustrated
by piano, CD or video and take the form of an informed but informal talk prepared
and presented by the leader. Enlightened and informal discussion is the hallmark
of our approach. Refreshments provided.
OPERA
Estelle Morton -
Anne
Rarity -
Monthly, Fridays 2.00 -
Venue:
Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper Hall)
The opera group meets to view DVDs of forthcoming
operas in the SO season and to hear talks from professionals involved in opera production.
Members get together to attend live performances and to arrange transport.
RECORDER PLAYING 1
Nicola Bolton -
Fortnightly,
Fridays 3.00 -
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper Hall)
For moderately
competent players of descant, treble, tenor and bass recorders. Ability to read
music essential. We play prepared music chosen the previous time, as well as some
sight-
Celia Coulson -
Fortnightly on Fridays
at 1.30pm
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper Hall)
We are a small group of
post-
SCIENCES AND PHILOSOPHY
ARCHAEOLOGY
& HISTORY
Graeme Bettison -
Monthly, usually
the third Monday at 11.00. *
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington (Upper Hall)
*or other
locations as detailed in our programme.
If you think history is “bunk” and archaeology
is “junk” then this group is not for you. But think again, maybe it is exactly what
you want! Our guest speakers, site visits, projects and taking advantage of other
opportunities support us in pursuing our own interests in researching national, local,
social and family history. Working in partnership with other like-
BIOLOGY AS THOUGH LIFE MATTERS
Ulrich Loening -
Monthly,
2nd Mondays 3.00 -
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper Hall)
There
is much confusion in public and political discussions due to a misunderstanding of
the biological basis of life. By looking at the underlying biology this group endeavours
to distinguish certainty from the unknown and uncertain and thereby gain some new
perspectives on matters related to health, the environment and farming, and distinguish
where it is good to tread and where it is unwise to meddle. It will question what
biological science is about, and marvel yet more at life around us.
EXPLORING PHILOSOPHY
Edna
Milne -
Monthly, last Tuesday 2.00 -
Venue:
Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper Hall)
A wide range of methods are used within this
group to facilitate discussion, including DVDs, podcasts, books and members introducing
topics of interest. Group members have the opportunity to participate in the advance
planning of the programme.
GEOLOGY
David McAdam -
1st
and/or 3rd Tuesdays am and/or pm
Venue: Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper Hall)
Geology
is 'the science which deals with the physical structure and substance of the earth'.
How, when and what are the questions the group is asking. The answers come by way
of illustrated talks, videos and guided museum visits in the winter months, but mainly
by short field trips in the summer months to places of particular geological interest
in and beyond East Lothian.
PSYCHOLOGY Understanding ourselves and others
Margaret
Gordon -
Wednesdays -
Venue : The Bridge Centre, Haddington. (Upper Hall)
Learning about
personality, behaviour and relationships by means of one particular ‘user friendly’
psychological theory, Transactional Analysis.
This is a discussion group for members
who already have some knowledge of TA.
SCOTTISH GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY
Rosemary
Bigwood -
Joy Dodd -
Monthly, as
arranged
Venue: Members’ homes and outside visits
Members of the group are encouraged
to discover not only their own ancestry but to build up knowledge of their communities
and those in which their families lived in the past – what they did and where they
lived. The year’s programme is planned round the particular interests of members.
Discussions and shared practical experience in undertaking research expand horizons
and help is always at hand when solving ancestral problems, dealing with Old Scots
handwriting or understanding Scots law. Visits to archives and libraries open new
doors to opportunities available.
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VISITS
GARDENING
Nicola McNeill -
Fortnightly,
Mondays 10.30 -
Winter meetings approx. monthly
Spring and
summer events are usually visits to a member’s garden or to a public/private garden
or nursery . These are mostly in East Lothian, but can be a bit further afield. Plants,
information and questions are exchanged throughout the year using email.
Over the
winter, we meet less frequently, approximately monthly. We use the sessions to view
DVD’s, practical demonstrations, discuss books and have brought in speakers. We aim
to share our own knowledge and ideas within the group.
Maximum number 25. Waiting
list: Contact Nicola
LUNCH CLUB
Elsie Oliver -
Monthly
on consecutive weekdays.
Venue: various
The Lunch Club has been running since 1999.
Between 15 and 20 members attend once a month at various venues within East Lothian.
New
members are welcome.
MUSEUMS AND PLACES OF INTEREST
Julia Murphy -
Monthly,
2nd Thursdays, am and/or pm, February -
Suggestions from group members for
museums, galleries and places of interest to visit are listed. Volunteers then take
turns to arrange one visit each per year, collecting all the information required
and organising a guide to take our group if possible. A programme is arranged for
the year.
Costs: Entry fees if applicable and travel