Clubs and Societies

Language Events

N.B. It may be helpful to check dates and times with Reception before attending any of the language groups.

Café Causette: Wednesday 11am

Come, practise and improve your French language skills within a group. Meets on Wednesday once a month from 11am-12pm

25 January, 22 February, 21 March.

Tutor: Claudette O’Keeffe

German: Saturday 10.30am

Pam Cribbin and Ellen Babbs invite participants to join informal sessions aimed at speakers who would enjoy talking about either preset topics or any spontaneous issues they would like to suggest.

7 January, 4 February, 3 March.

Cost: Members free, non-members £3

Spanish Conversation: Saturday, 10.30am

Come, practise and improve your Spanish language skills within a group. We meet for coffee at 10.30am and begin at 11am until12.30pm.

28 January, 25 February, 24 March.

Cost: Members free, non-members £3. Tutor: Rosemary Woodcock

Brush Up Your Spanish: Friday 10.15am-12.15pm

Maybe you’ve studied Spanish but have trouble speaking, or maybe your conversation is OK but you would like to be more accurate? This could be just the class for you.

20, 27 January; 3, 10, 17, 24 February; 2, 9, 16, 23 March.

Cost: £80. Tutor: Rosemary Woodcock. To book please contact Guildford Institute Reception Telephone 01483 562142

Italian Conversation: Saturday 10.30am-12.00pm

Come, practise and improve your language skills with tutor Noel Jefferis. To gain most benefit from these sessions you will need to have studied basic Italian for at least a year.

21 January; 4, 18 February; 3, 17 March.

Cost: Members free, non-members £4.

Guildford Institute Book Club

We are a small friendly group of avid readers of all ages who are lucky enough to meet in the Institute’s historic Library. You do not have to be a member of the Institute and don’t have to book a place. We look forward to welcoming you.

• January: Monday 23 at 7pm and Thursday 26 at 3.15pm - Discussing 'Death at Intervals' by Jose Saramango
• February: Monday 20 at 7pm and Thursday 23 at 3.15pm - Discussing 'The Vinter's Luck' by Elizabeth Knox
• March: Monday 26 at 7pm and Thursday 29 at 3.15pm - Discussing 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene (our classic choice)
• April: Monday 23 at 7pm and Thursday 26 at 3.15pm - Discussing 'Remainder' by Tom McCarthy
• May: Monday 28 at 7pm and Thursday 31 at 3.15pm - Discussing 'The Help' by Katherine Stockett
  

For book titles please contact the Institute on 01483 562142 or by e-mail at info@guildford-institute.org.uk.

The Book in You – a Memoir Group

Terrie Rintoul, Member of the Society of Authors
Thursdays 3.15pm

12 January, 16 February, 15 March.
Members £3, non-members £5

Many of us are being encouraged by friends and family to write down our precious memories making the idea of writing your life story no longer the preserve of the famous. Terrie Rintoul leads this group and members are encouraged to bring in work with feedback being offered in a mutually supportive environment. Please call Reception to book a place.

Bridge Club: Saturday

The Bridge Club meets weekly for duplicate bridge at 7.30pm. We will try to arrange partners if needed. For more information call 01932 400141 or e-mail: mail@gibridge.co.uk .

Chess Club: Monday

Guildford Chess Club has been meeting at the Institute since being formed in 1896. We are a friendly club and welcome players of all standards. Club nights are Mondays from 7-10.30pm. (Our Junior section meets beforehand 6-7pm). Our teams play in local and national leagues. For further details please contact: Mike Adams, Club Secretary Telephone 01483 233324, www.guildfordchess.fsnet.co.uk

Guildford Natural History Society: Thursday

Guildford Natural History Society meets for talks covering all aspects of wildlife from insects and badgers to elephants, flowers and birds, plus one or two travellers’ tales from around the world. Usually two Thursday afternoons a month at 2.45pm during the winter. Details from Vanessa McClure, telephone 01483 303417

Guildford Writers: Tuesday

Guildford Writers is a writers' circle, meeting every other Tuesday at 7.15pm. New members are always welcomed because we value writing variety, different views and additional comments. We try to attain a high standard. Many of us are writing novels but we also have keen short story writers and poets. Each meeting we bring work to read aloud to the group. Advice, constructive criticism and general comments are given. For more information please contact Jennifer Margrave, telephone 01483 562722

10, 24 January; 7, 21 February; 6, 20 March.

www.guildfordwriters.net

Guildford Speakers Club

The Guildford Speakers Club (www.guildfordspeakers.org) meets in the evening on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Guests are always welcome free of charge and will not be required to speak unless they really wish to do so.

If you decide to join Guildford Speakers there will be an initial fee of £12, which covers the cost of the basic Toastmasters manual on public speaking and various other educational materials. We also charge a half-yearly fee of £30, which covers the running costs of the club and a monthly magazine from Toastmasters International.

Guildford Vox Community Choir

Guildford Vox Community Choir is directed by the talented and effervescent singer Anna Tabbush. The only thing all the members have in common is an enthusiasm for singing. Songs are taught by ear and there are no auditions. Our repertoire consists of contemporary and traditional songs. We meet every Monday from 7pm. For more information please contact Kate, telephone 01483 223707, www.guildfordvox.org.uk

Modern History Group: Tuesday

The Modern History Group meets for seminars and discussion on Tuesdays at 2.30pm.

The spring programme will cover the following:

• 14 February 'The Industries of Tillingbourne Valley' - Professor Alan Crocker
• 21 February 'What Happened to the House of Stuart' - Barry Lenz
• 28 February 'It's All Been Done Before: The Austro-Hungarian Empire and the European Union' - Robert, Baron Symes-Schtzmann von Schutzmanndorf
• 6 March 'What's the Point of the Olympics' - Margaret Westwood
• 13 March 'Enemies or Kin? The Irish Party and the Easter Rebels' - Michael Wheatley
• 20 March 'Scramble for the Arctic' - Norman Price
• 27 March 'History of Afghanistan' - Don Barton

For more information please contact Dr Roy Douglas, telephone: 01323 484594

Cost: members £1, non-members £3 per seminar

When you arrive at the Institute, please check which room the meeting is in.

The Music Institute Folk Club

The Music Institute, although only 5 years old, can trace its roots back through 50 years of folk music clubs in the centre of Guildford. It meets twice a month, at 7pm on Friday nights, during the winter and autumn.

The club’s main emphasis is on the traditional tunes and songs of the British Isles and books, not only some of the finest established artistes on the national folk scene, but also many of the exciting young performers currently coming to the fore. It also provides a warm and friendly atmosphere for local singers and musicians to perform. Everyone welcome.  

For a list of performers and dates see www.themusicinstitute.org.uk.