From Whores to Virgins: Writing the lives of Harriet Wilson & Dorothy Wordsworth
Speaker: Frances Wilson

Frances’ first biography in 2003, ‘The Courtesan’s Revenge,’ was followed by her acclaimed life of Dorothy Wordsworth in 2008. She will talk about the difference between writing the two lives: public & private. She is now working on a biography of the man who owned the Titanic. She’s also a book reviewer & a Booker Prize Judge.

Food Growing in the Lea Valley: Its Heritage & Future
Speaker:

In the 19th & 20th centuries, the Lea Valley was the breadbasket of London, its market gardens & glasshouses at one point producing over half the agricultural output of the UK. OrganicLea have been working to ‘sustainably rehabilitate’ this heritage for the last eight years, here in Waltham Forest. They will chart the rise & fall of food growing in the Lea Valley, describe the renaissance in food growing in local communities, & assess how the latter is helping to address critical social & environmental problems of our age. This event marks the launch of an updated version of their popular pamphlet ‘The Lea Valley Food Growing Puzzle’. It will be available to take away.

Will We Ever Have a Strong Local News Network in the UK?
Speaker: Pat Stannard

Local newspapers have been in decline for several years. The depression has accelerated the process with more than 1,000 editorial jobs axed in the space of a year. Instant news on the web has replaced in-depth reporting & investigation. Pat will talk about what has been lost & what the future may hold. Pat was editor the Waltham Forest Guardian for many years.

Cornelius Cardew: A Disorderly Mode of Procedure
Speaker: James Bull

Cornelius Cardew was a musician & composer, a leading light in the British Avant-garde scene in the 1960's.  This talk investigates Cardew's life & work from his childhood as the son of an influential studio potter, through a traditional musical upbringing & training, followed by experimental music making culminating in the founding of the Scratch Orchestra & on to his involvement with Maoist politics, which may eventually have played its part in his tragic early death.  The talk will also feature an introduction to Cardew's music, including 'The Great Learning', performed at last year's Leytonstone Festival.

Palestinian Classical Music
Speaker/performer: Ellie Merton

Ellie, chair of Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign, runs Adhoc Humanitarians Orchestra & is UK Coordinator for the Holy Land Trust, Bethlehem. An amateur musician since childhood, she plays viola in orchestras. She’s organised fundraising concerts for Palestinian charities involving UK classical musicians & Palestinian musicians. Counteracting people’s short-sighted perceptions of Palestine, she’s found a vibrant classical music scene flourishing in the West Bank, Gaza & the Diaspora, despite the appalling oppression under which Palestinians live. She’ll provide a survey of the Palestinian music scene & look closely at today’s current music stars of Palestinian origin.

What is Transcendental Meditation?
Speaker: Michael Pierce

Transcendental Meditation (TM) brings about a deep inner tranquillity that is both relaxing & revitalising. This dissolves stress & fatigue, promoting happiness, health, creativity & clear thinking. First popularised in the West by the Beatles in the 60’s, TM is in fact thousands of years old & comes from the distinguished Vedic tradition of India. In the last 50 years TM has been subjected to considerable scientific research with benefits for mind & body confirmed by more than 300 independently published research studies & reviews of research. It is easy to learn & can be practised by anyone. Perhaps this is why 5 million people worldwide & 200,000 in the UK have learned the technique. Michael, a TM teacher since 1980, is author of Bland Ambition & Other Poems (David Paul Press.)

Jazz in Transition 1950 - 1975
Speaker: Mike Edmonds

Mike, a bassist, teacher, composer & photographer, lives in Forest Gate, started playing guitar in 1979 switching to bass in 1982 & played lots of jazz gigs in the 1980's. He studied guitar with Cedric West & attended the Guildhall of Music Post Graduate Jazz Course. He is a total fan of jazz, saw Miles Davis live in 1984 & 1985, has taken photos at gigs & released a 7 inch vinyl single in 2006 & a critically acclaimed CD album in 2008. He will be linking the work of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, who is a central figure in this talk, Charlie Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Bud Powell & Jimi Hendrix. He will also touch on some fusion music from the early 70's. His talk will be supported with samples of live music.

Dignity in Dying
Speaker: Peter Vlieland

The 1961 Suicide Act laid down that anyone assisting a person to commit suicide can be sentenced to 14 years in prison - the subject of heated debate as the clamour grows for people nearing the end of life through incurable illness & in pain should be allowed help to end their lives under strict rules. Dignity in Dying has been campaigning for this change in the law for many years, with overwhelming public support -- though not from religious groups & the far right. Pieter Vlieland is a long-standing freelance speaker for DiD & will describe the current legal position in the national & indeed international debate on this subject under the title  "Reforming the law on Assisted Suicide"  He will strongly support what he regards as an essential freedom for  sufferers  when the quality of life has come into question. Pieter is a retired journalist formerly on the Daily Telegraph Evening Standard & Financial Times & lives in Sussex.

A Question of Youth
Speaker: Gregory Hale

Greg lived in Cathall Road including the former high rise Cathall Road Estate till he was 23.  He trained as a photographer.  His photo essay of Cathall Road Estate recorded (1975) is deemed to be the most comprehensive study of a housing estate in the country.  He won the prestigious Kodak Bursary to make a photographic study of youth.  From this he got involved in youth work.  Himself a disaffected & troubled youngster, he could see the function of informal education/person-centred learning.  As a youth worker with a post-graduate qualification in Community & Youth Work at Birmingham University, he became Youth Coordinator at Click Cybercentre Leytonstone, using new technology to enhance future employability & ran the Summer University for 14-16 year olds, accrediting 120 students with Open College Network qualification (the highest in London at the time). Greg will introduce his approach to sustaining young people through the transition from childhood to adulthood & how it can be supported by techniques having a fundamental impact upon their lives.

Rebels & Infidels at the City’s Village Hall: The life, times & contents of Bishopsgate Library
Speaker: Stefan Dickers, Bishopsgate, Library Special Collections Manager

What was the ‘battle of the books’ & why did Bishopsgate Institute lock away one of its archive items, fearing it may cause a revolution? What was the best way to get jailed for blasphemy or imprisoned in the Tower of London in the 19th century? Find out this & far more in this talk on the fascinating & colourful history of Bishopsgate & its collections. Stefan looks after its extensive special collections on London, labour history, free thought, humanism & co-operation. He started at Bishopsgate in 2005. Previously, he worked with the archives of Labour politicians at the LSE & of ghost hunters & graphologists at Senate House Library.

The Radical Jewish East End
Speaker: David Rosenberg

London's East End has been transformed several times over by waves of immigrants. This talk focuses on the Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe from the 1880s to World War One. Radical political movements emerged that enabled the Jewish immigrants to the East End to face up to challenges in the workplace, in housing & education, & on the streets.  David is a teacher, writer & educationalist who leads guided walks of London's radical history in the East End & in Islington. www.eastendwalks.com

Dance in Schools
Speakers: Jacqueline Pert & Mary Dunne

Dance inspires, encourages imagination, creativity, self-discipline & self-esteem. It allows all children to express themselves by developing skills & unique talents, while encouraging co-operative relationships. Lessons are structured so students can understand & learn the technical & creative demands of dance while exploring use of rhythm & music. The classes introduce elements of jazz, ballet, contemporary & tap, in order for children to develop the foundation for interpretive dance., & combine fun & hard work. A professional dancer for 25 years, Jacqueline has taught in many theatre schools & dance studios in London & abroad. She is passionate about the benefits of dance for all ages & wants to see a much higher profile given to all forms of dance in our schools & wider community.