Huntingdon Area Lifelong Learners (HALL)

Course Description: Forty-six men have held the office of President of the United States, the highest executive office in the country. From the burgeoning new nation in the aftermath of the War of Independence from Britain, through the trials of the Civil War, and on into the modern age, each one of them has tried (with varying degrees of success) to steer the US through the challenges and opportunities of their own specific era. And each has been shaped by their age, as much as they in turn have shaped it. In this series of lectures, Simon will explore the life, times and legacy of the first six Presidents, from George Washington to John Quincy Adams, charting the formation of a land that would later become one of the superpowers of the modern world. He will examine not just their time as President, but their wider biography as well, charting the events which moulded the men who in turn sought to mould their nation. Note: this course will run for 6 sessions, the final session running after the half term break.

Course Description: Jonah Wilson, an apothecary, set up his surgery in Huntingdon market square in 1821. This illustrated talk is a collection of stories and memories gathered by the Patients' Forum of the Charles Hicks practice. We have traced the lives of the doctors, nurses, midwives and patients as local medical and health provision has developed over the past 200 years. Join this session and help add to the story!

Course Description: Two major charitable endowments gave opportunities to disadvantaged youngsters in Huntingdon in the years before welfare state provision - that of Richard Fishbourne in 1625 and Lionel Walden in 1719. These two sessions look at what they provided and how effective they were. The surviving administration records are incomplete but provide fascinating, surprising and sometimes amusing snapshots of life in the town. They illustrate how attitudes, opinions and practices have changed - although some seem strangely modern and familiar today.

Course Description: Fairtrade has been with us a long while now, but how does it work? With the help of two giant bananas Mary will take us on a journey through the story of Fairtrade since it began, nearly 40 years ago, with a bar of chocolate in a supermarket. This session will be followed by HALL's short AGM.

Course Description: From his iconic design work to delicate flower studies and graphic landscapes we will take an overview of this Scottish artist and designer. Note: this will be 'live' session with the tutor on zoom and the class members in the library.

Course Description: Full Title: 'What is strange about Twelfth Night and Why Did Shakespeare Write It?' We will explore the focus upon twins, same-sex attraction and why it is a problem comedy. Exact times and fee to be confirmed