Alston Hall

PLACES ARE REMAINING ON THE FOLLOWING VISUAL ARTS COURSES HERE AT ALSTON HALL IN THE SUMMER

• SKETCHING - THE KEY TO ART
• DRAWING FOR THE TERRIFIED cont. WITH PAINT
• THE LANDSCAPE PAINTER
• BOTANICAL SUBJECTS IN WATERCOLOUR
• LANDSCAPES IN PASTELS
• PORTRAIT & FIGURE DRAWING
• BOTANICAL STUDIES OF VEGETABLES IN GRAPHITE
• CHINESE BRUSH PAINTING
• CALLIGRAPHY SUMMER SCHOOL
• LET'S JUST PAINT WITH NORMA WHEATLEY
• ENCAUSTIC EXCHANGE
• WILDLIFE ILLUSTRATION USING GOUACHE
• GOUACHE WORKSHOP FOLLOW ON

 

SIGNIFICANT VICTORIAN VILLAGES
Wednesday - Friday, 20th - 24th March
Fee £173 in standard accommodation

Most urban housing in early 19th century Britain was described by Friedrick Engels as mean, unplanned and squalid.  However, some Victorian entrepreneurs with a social conscience built model community villages.  Using slides, we will examine these enlightened experiments and how they led to the Garden City Movement and development in 20th century planning.  Minibus visits to two of the best of these utopian villages – Port Sunlight and Saltaire are planned.   (Fee includes excursion transport but not entrance fees)
Tutor Mike Pearson

JAPANESE REIKI - THE HEALING TOUCH - USUI LEVEL I
Friday to Sunday, 16th - 18th May 2008
Fee £138 (standard accommodation)

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method for stress reduction that promotes healing.  It is a skill that everyone can learn.  Reiki energy is administered through your hands and works in conjunction with other therapies to relieve side effects and promote recovery.  As Reiki treats the whole person, body, emotions, mind and spirit, experience a sense of wellbeing through its use.
Tutor - Erica Heaps

FAMILY HISTORY - FIRST STEPS
Wednesday to Friday, 16th - 18th April 2008
Fee £143 (standard accommodation)

Have you always wanted to research your family tree but been uncertain how or where to begin?  Using copies of original documents this course will introduce you to the basic sources such as civil registration certificates, census returns and church registers.  You will learn about finding aids and indexes and discover the usefulness of various books and websites.  To reinforce research techniques we will visit the Lancashire Record Office. (Fee includes minibus transport).
Tutor Ann Jepson

SPECIAL SPRINGTIME MOTHS & EARLY BUTTERFLIES
Monday - Wednesday, 14th - 16th April 2008
Fee £153 (standard accommodation)

This fascinating course on lepidoptera will be introduced with colour slides to illustrate the diversity of Springtime species found in Lancashire.  Outdoors we will study moths found in the college grounds and visit a coastal habitat to study the nationally scarce Belted Beauty and learn about its unique ecology. There will be help with identification and classification.  Suitable for all levels of experience.  (Fee includes excursion transport)
Tutor  David Brown

 

SPECIAL FOCUS ON HEALTH WEEK

A week of short introduction courses with a focus on 'Health & Personal Well-being'. Many of these courses feature in our main programme so there will be the opportunity to progress in the topic should you become interested and motivated to learn more. All sessions are £21.50 and include lunch and refreshments. Full details can be found here.

 

SPRING/SUMMER 2008 The Alston Hall Spring/Summer 2008 brochure is now available and can be downloaded from the website here.  If you would like a printed copy you can contact the College via the contact page.  Please note that courses are still running from the Autumn/Winter 2007/2008 brochure until the end of April 2008.

 

POPULAR ALSTON PROGRAMME CONTINUES……

AN EVENING WITH JOE WILSON
Sunday 4th May 6.30pm
£18

A second opportunity to spend an evening with Joe Wilson.
Spend a fun evening with BBC Radio Lancashire’s Joe Wilson as he recounts his thirty years of broadcasts that include Westminster, Wogan and well over one hundred walks in Lancashire.  There are tales too of the microphone moments not meant to be heard and what it's like to have a grandstand view of cup finals, papal visits and Des O’Connor’s underwear.

OUT AND ABOUT WITH DON AUSTIN
Sunday 24th February 6.30pm
£18

After some fifty years of mountain wanderings and lecturing up and down the country Don Austin embarks on a biography of his life with recollections of experiences in Lakeland, Highlands of Scotland, Snowdonia and the Himalayas, sprinkled with the odd visit to the South of England.

GOOD EYE: A VISIT TO AUSTRALIA
Sunday 9th March 6.30pm
£18

Travel journalist and photographer Terry Marsh takes you on an eclectic journey around most (but not quite all) corners of Australia, visiting tropical rainforests and arid desert, coastal locations and some weird and wonderful places far away from anywhere. Come with him in search of ‘creepy crawlies’ and things that go bite in the night, as well as some of the more affable creatures you meet Down Under.

ST PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION
Sunday 16th March 6.30pm
£19

Enjoy a typical Irish meal and then be entertained with some Traditional Irish Music, singing and dancing   provided by members of the Preston Comhaltas Group.  A lively evening guaranteed – come along and join in the celebration!

THE COLOSSUS IN THE WEST – The rise and rise of USA 1800 – 1914
Thursday – Monday 20th – 24th March
£300

What awaited those who crossed the Atlantic, often via Liverpool, to make a new and better life?  This course will explore some aspects of 19th century America, especially migration, westward expansion, and economic growth.  History, literature, architecture and scenery will all be there and a full day visit to Liverpool to look at those transatlantic links is also included.

Course Co-ordinator Roger Mitchell with contributions from Malcolm Tranter, Colin Dickinson, & Steuart & Anita Kellington.

 

CORPORATE TRAINING AND CONFERENCE FACILITIES

Whether providing staff training, planning a team building event or preparing your next strategic plan, Alston Hall offers excellent facilities and warm personal service.

• Easily accessible from motorway networks
• A unique rural setting conducive to achieving effective results
  Individualised hospitality
• A range of presentation equipment available
• Good health and recreational facilities locally
• Bespoke training packages – see our Training Section for examples of the range of courses we are able to offer

See the Training Courses section of the web site for more details.

GROUP SOCIAL SECRETARIES!

Are you struggling to complete your events programme for 2007 – why not include a visit to Alston Hall?

Your group/society can enjoy a three course evening meal followed by a presentation from one of our guest speakers.

For further details and a list of travel talks, recitals and lectures Tel: 01772 784661.