Leicester Secular Society

Free Lecture Series
SECULAR HALL
75 HUMBERSTONE GATE,LEICESTER
PHONE 0116 2622250
All welcome — refreshments available

(Sunday afternoon events small charge – Members free)

Sun 7^th January. Dr John Newsinger - "The Dredd Phenomenon." Are comix just kid’s stuff, or are they a guide to the times? Dr Newsinger throws light into these dark places.

Sun 14^th January. "The Membership Document of the Leicester Secular Society." We asked members and interested people to prepare more up-to-date versions. Let’s see if we can make some sense of what we need as a statement of principles.

Sun 21st January. "Disability – the Last Civil Rights." Tony Barron. Tony, a popular speaker and society member, considers whether people with disabilities are going to be the last to be able to join fully in society. How can we improve matters?

Sun January 28^th ( 2.45 p.m. Celtic Harp music recital.)
6.30pm. "How and Why I made The Turin Shroud." Lyn Hurst. This is the real truth of the matter. It was actually The Secular Society President, Lyn Hurst, who, working from a top-secret base in Highfields, managed to make the Turin Shroud and hoodwink the religious world. Lyn confesses and explains all. Come and hear how – bring a sense of humour.

Sun 4^th February : "Gender and Sovereignty." Professor John Hoffman. (University of Leicester). This is the Leicester launch of John’s book on the topic. He looks at the relationship between feminism and the nature of the state.

Sun 11^th February : "Anarchists in the Town Hall! – The Sheffield Democrats in the 1880s." Chris Williams. Things do not always have to stay the same! Come and find out what these people got up to.

Sun 18^th Feb1: "What is Leicester Radical Alliance?" Tristan Hooley. Who are these people? What are they doing? In whose name do they speak? Can Dr Hooley justify their actions?

Sun 25^th Feb: (2.45 – Music event: see separate leaflet) "Permanent Exclusion of Asian Pupils from Secondary Schools." Dr Harish Mehra. So why do Asian pupils often suffer the sanction of permanent exclusion? Dr Mehra presents the objective research drawn from his new book, Racism in Education. Along with the indictments of the system he presents positive recommendations for the future.

Sun 4^th March: "Art and Capitalism." William Morris. William Morris first delivered this talk to Leicester Secular Society in 1880. He feels that his message remains unchanged and, with the help of Simon Carter re-delivers his historic talk.

Sun 11^th March: (2.45 – Music event.)
6.30pm"Discrimination in Higher Education." Mehdi Burghchi. Recently there have been a number of legally proven cases of discrimination in these institutions – which should be paragons of virtue: other cases have been blocked. Examine the awful truth.

Sun 18^th March: "Thomas Paine 200 years of Common Sense." Morrell Thomas – Secretary of The Thomas Paine Society. It is two Hundred Years since Paine’s pamphlet set the world aflame – influencing the American and French Revolutions, and all thereafter. What does it say to us now?

Sun 25^th March "An Evening of Subversive Songs." Synchronicity: John Eaves and Debbie Osborne. Many Traditional Songs are quite disobedient! Won’t join the army/navy, won’t obey the landlord etc. Come and hear these brilliant singers.

Sun 1^st April: Leicester Secular Society "Half" A.G.M. Members and intending members meeting.

Sunday 30th September 2001: — Roy Stuttard — “People with Small Means and High Hopes”
Roy has participated practically in many co-operative movements. He is also a historian of the various strands of co-operativism. Is co-operation, as opposed to competition, essential for human survival?

Sunday 7th October 2001: — John Newsinger — “The Politics of Science Fiction”
John is a popular speaker at Leicester Secular Society. Here he turns his skills as a much published historian, his wit and his erudition (the fruit of being a sci-fi reviewer) on the genre that is more pervasive than most religions.

Sunday 14th October 2001: — Lorna Chessum — “From Immigrants to Ethnic Minority: the making of Black Community in Britain”
Lorna has been examining how a group of people have made a life in a hostile environment. Her recently published book around this topic was critically welcomed.

Mini Series on War and Conflict Resolution — Part 1 Sunday 21st October 2001: — Frank Dobson — “Fighting in Burma during World War II” Frank was there, and was a few miles from the significant ‘Battle of the Tennis Court’ where the British and Japanese were separated by only yards. He tells us what it was like to have to fight in the jungle. Sunday 28th October 2001: — Ron Holm — “Forced Labour as a Prisoner of War” Mr Holm was captured in France early in World War II. He was taken to Poland where he was forced to work in the salt mines in wretched conditions. Now he recounts his experiences of those years.

Sunday 4th November 2001: — Leicester Secular Society Annual General Meeting This is for members, or intending members of the Society (joining before the meeting starts). Motions and topics for discussion should be submitted to the Committee at least two weeks before this date. Wine and cheese will be provided.

Mini Series on War and Conflict Resolution — Part 2 Sunday 11th November 2001: — Tristram Hooley — Literature of World War II” “Dreaming of a New Jerusalem: Secular and religious ideas about post-war reconstruction.” Tristram has spent several years researching this subject: he reveals his findings. Sunday 18th November 2001: — Professor John Hoffman — “Conflict Resolution” John, who has recently published a book on this topic, presents an examination of ways of resolving conflicts without resorting to violence.

Sunday 25th November 2001: — Lucy Faire — “Working-Class Family Life in the Twentieth Century: 1900 to 1960”

Sunday 2nd December 2001: — “Discussion Meeting – On Topics Requested Beforehand for Circulation” Several years a go a speaker was obliged to cancel at short notice and a discussion meeting was held in its place. This was so successful that a request was made for more evenings devoted to the concerns of the members and public.

Sunday 9th December 2001: — Peter Lavender — “The Tomlinson Report and Improvements in the Inclusion of People with Special Needs”
Peter is co-director of NIACE and helped create the report. He charts the changes that arose from it, and the changes in the lives of people with special needs that are taking place currently.

Sunday 16th December 2001: — Michael Hughes — “Readings from Oscar Wilde”
Michael is a man of many parts: scientist, teacher, professional actor as well as being an expert in knots! This night he reads from the works of Oscar Wilde. He includes ‘De Profundis’, ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’, and some lighter works. He has the voice.

MONDAY 31st December 2001: — Members', Families and their Guests: New Year's Eve Ceilidh — with players from the Greenshoots Ceilidh Orchestra, Greenshoots Youth and Offshoots.

A PREVIEW OF THE NEXT SESSION OF MEETINGS The Eric Paine Memorial Lecture and Leicester Secular Society Anniversary Lecture 2002 Sunday 10th February 2002: — Tony Benn — “Thomas Paine Today” (details to be confirmed nearer the date)

As well as the Lecture Series and other events The Society can also make available

(at the discretion of the society)

For details of room hire ‘phone