All Friday meetings begin at 7.45. You are welcome to arrive at anytime from 7.15 onwards. We meet at the Unitarian Church on the Holyhead Road, Coventry CV1 3AE

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FRIDAY 12TH APRIL

 BEING A CREATIVE BUTTERFLY                                              MH

Helen Cooper a teacher and artist talks about her move into teaching and demonstrating creative crafts involving glass fusion, needle felting and many more exciting projects. She will also describe the art of glass fusion in particular and show us what can be produced.

 

WEDNESDAY 17TH APRIL

THEATRE VISIT – ‘ON GOLDEN POND’

AT PRIORY THEATRE, KENILWORTH AT 7.00 FOR 7.30 BC

A touching, funny and warmly perceptive study of a spirited and lovely elderly couple facing their twilight years. Ethel and Norman Thayer return to their summer home to be visited by their divorced daughter and her dentist fiance, who go off on a holiday to Europe leaving his teenage son for the summer. Will the boy become the grandchild the elderly couple have longed for? Join us to find out the outcome. Tickets are £13 payable by 12th April to Bob Clemons.

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FRIDAY 19TH APRIL

GREYFRIARS DINNER AT THE UNITARIAN CHURCH HALL        EH

At 6.45 for 7PM – Please note this earlier than usual time! Price is £18.95 including tip.

This will be a 3 course carvery meal plus tea or coffee included. We have outside caterers (Greenaways Catering, Fillongley) to prepare and serve this meal. A £5 deposit is required to secure your place, with final payment due by Friday 5th April. Further details including menu are on the notice board.

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FRIDAY 26TH APRIL

WHERE THERE’S A QUILL, THERE’S A PLAY                                MI

Our speaker tonight is Christine Farmer, and as it is so near to Shakespeare’s birthday, we thought it would be a good opportunity to have an entertaining talk about the famous bard. This is not a serious talk, but as the title suggests, a light-hearted look at his work, so I’m sure there will be many quotes and laughs. So come along and prepare to be amused.

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FRIDAY 3RD MAY 2024 GT

THE HISTORY OF JAGUAR AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR IN THE WORLD. Our speaker Bob Beecham, says about his talk, ’I will cover the origins of Jaguar in Blackpool then Coventry. I will tell you about the early Jaguar models, a little on the racing history, then the origin of the immortal E type and the different models including the very last lightweight E Type Race Car. Finally - what Jaguar means to me.’

 

FRIDAY 10TH MAY 2024

KEEPING FAITH AT THE FRONT DURING WW1 CJ

Tonight Helen Frost presents the extraordinary and unusual true stories of the unarmed chaplains, padres and reverends who took and delivered ministry and faith to soldiers and nurses at the front line during the Great War. These are some accounts of their selflessness. bravery and acts of kindness, which gave reassurance to many during the horrors of that time.

 

 

FRIDAY 17TH MAY 2024

ST PAUL’S MUST BE SAVED KGT

“St Paul’s must be saved at all costs!” (Sir Winston Churchill)

This was the rallying cry that went out. The St Paul’s Watch, a group of men and women dedicated to saving the Cathedral during the darkest days of WW2, was already in place to do their bit. David Morse will tell us how this all evolved, and how one of his heroes fought to save the Cathedral from incendiaries.

 

FRIDAY 24TH MAY 2024

FROM REGIMENTAL TO ORNAMENTAL – (My career so far) CJ

Although from a farming background, Jenny Barnes’ route into horticulture was not straightforward. Tonight she tells us how through academia, the military, and a stint with analytics, preceded what has been an interesting and varied horticultural career. As head gardener at some of the most beautiful gardens in England, she will talk of the influence they have had on her gardening style, and why she is now known as ‘The Rose Queen.’

 

FRIDAY 31ST MAY 2024

MARY QUANT DESIGNER MH

Ruth Lowe will share with us her collection of Mary Quant clothes and will give us a talk about the 1960s, centring on Mary Quant’s upbringing, and career, detailing her influence on fashion and design from the 1950’s to the 2000s.

 

FRIDAY 7TH JUNE 2024

GREYFRIARS 55TH AGM / D-DAY 80TH ANNIVERSARY REMEMBERED EH

Notice is hereby given that the 55th Annual General Meeting of Greyfriars Arts and Recreation Society will be held at 7.45 on Friday 7th June 2024.

There are 2 vacancies on the Committee and forms for the nominations of of candidates to fill the posts will be available on the Welcome desk in May. We would particularly welcome nominations for people who have not served on the committee previously to bring in some new ideas. Items for inclusion on the agenda should be given in writing to Eunice Harrison or Gill Thomas by Friday 24th May. EH Chairman

Following the AGM, we will be remembering the events of D-Day 80 years ago and raising a glass to the servicemen and women who participated in this event.

 

FRIDAY 14TH JUNE 2024

HISTORY OF PLAYING CARDS MI

We have all played games with playing cards, but have you ever wondered how and where they originated. Our speaker Mike Lister will tell us all about their history, the ’Worshipful Company of the Makers of Playing Cards’, where the Joker comes from and many other interesting facts. He will also bring along a table-top display of playing cards and associated items.

 

FRIDAY 21ST JUNE 2024

‘YOU BE THE JUDGE’ JS

Tonight’s speaker is Sue Tonks who has been a magistrate for 21 years. She will give us an insight into the Magistracy, with amazing anecdotes. There will be a practical opportunity for us to be the judge in a special case study, with some members playing parts and making vital decisions.

 

FRIDAY 28TH JUNE 2024

THE DEVIL’S PORRIDGE

Everyone has heard of Gretna Green yet few people have heard of HM Factory Gretna. In 1915, a huge and top-secret factory was constructed to provide ammunition for the war effort. Designed and built in a matter of months, it was staffed by women and girls from all over the UK and beyond. Two new towns, Gretna and Eastriggs, were built to accommodate the workers. This amazing achievement was vital in helping the British Army to final victory in World War One. In this fully illustrated talk, David Skillen will examine the fascinating story of the people who lived and worked at Gretna making the very dangerous "Devils Porridge".

 

ADVANCE NOTICE

TUESDAY,16TH JULY

DEAD SIMPLE BC

AT THE PRIORY THEATRE, KENILWORTH AT 7.00 FOR 7.30

This Peter James best selling novel features the famous Detective Roy Grace. Michael Harrison thinks he has it all, great career, good friends and a beautiful fiancée. But when his stag night prank goes horribly wrong, Michael finds himself alone, buried alive and staring death in the face. As time runs out and the terror grows, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace tries to solve his mysterious disappearance. Tickets are £13 payable by 12th July to Bob Clemons.

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