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

15 September, 20 October, 10 November, 8 December

Tutor: Claudette O’Keeffe

Italian Conversation Group: Saturday 10.30am

Come, practise and improve your language skills with tutor Noel Jefferis. To gain most benefit from these sessions you need to have studied basic Italian for at least a year. We meet for five Saturdays in October to December from 10.30am-12pm.

16 & 23 October, 20 & 27 November, 11 December

Cost: Members free, non-members £4

German: Saturday 10.30am

Nicole Diaz-Torres invites 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.

4 September, 2 October, 6 November, 4 December

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.

25 September, 23 October, 27 November

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.

24 September, 1, 8, 15, 22 October, 5, 12, 19, 26 November, 3 December

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

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.

My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk

Monday 20 September 7pm & Thursday 23 September 3pm

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (our classic novel)
Monday 18 October 7pm and Thursday 21 October 3pm

The Dig by John Preston and choosing the next five books
Monday 22November 7pm and Thursday 25 November 3pm

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: T: 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 T: 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 during the winter. Details from Vanessa McClure T: 01483 303417

Guildford Writers: Tuesday

Guildford Writers is a writers' circle, meeting every other Tuesday at 7.30pm. 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 T: 01483 562722, 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 amonthly 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 T: 01483 223707, www.guildfordvox.org.uk

Modern History Group: Tuesday

The Modern History Group meets for seminars and discussion on Tuesdays at 2.30pm. This autumn’s programme will cover the following:

12 October: Margaret Westwood: Why Did Socialism Die in 20th Century Britain?

19 October: Russell Feaver: The Druid, The Louvre and the Woking Crematorium

26 October: L E (Pablo) Haworth: Hamilton and the Fourth Walton-on-Thames Bridge

2 November: Kenneth Matthews: Victorian Ad-venture. How did the Victorians advertise their astonishing technological advances?

9 November: Gordon Bridger: The Belgian Congo

16 November: Professor Peter Newmark: Interpreting Hitler

23 November: David Williams: A Review of the ‘Crimean’ War 1853-1856

30 November: Dr Michael Wheatley: Irish Recruiting in the First World War

For more information please contact Roy Douglas T: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