June AGM Weekend 2009

Today, June 5, begins the June Annual General Weekend of the Brontë Society. This is the programme that contains, as usual, very interesting talks:

Friday 5 June
11.00-12.00 Morning Coffee with Pastries (West Lane Baptist Centre)

3.30 PM The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë
To coincide with the museum's new exhibition focusing of Branwell Brontë, Juliet Barker and Justine Picardie discuss the life and creative legacy of the Brontë brother. (West Lane Baptist Centre)

7.00 PM Presentation by Andrew McCarthy, director of the Brontë Parsonage Museum, who will speak about the work undertaken this year at the Museum during the closed period. This is the first major project at the Parsonage for many years and the Museum will be opening this evening especially for a private and privileged viewing of the fabulous new Exhibition Room. (West Lane Baptist Centre / Visit to the Parsonage)

Saturday 6 June

11.00 AM Annual Lecture: Dr. Juliet Barker, author of The Brontës. (West Lane Baptist Centre)

2.00 PM Annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving in The Parish Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Haworth, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the arrival in Yorkshire of the Reverend Patrick Brontë. Address by Dudley Green, author of Patrick Brontë: Father of Genius.

3.00 PM Afternoon Tea.

4.30 PM Annual General Meeting of the Brontë Society (West Lane Baptist Centre)

8.00 PM The Brontës and Romance
The Brontës' novels are often described as being amongst the greatest love stories of English Literature. This panel discussion, chaired by Justine Picardie, examines the influence of the Brontës' works on the romance genre. The contributors will be writers Joanne Harris, Amanda Craig, Jude Morgan and Kate Walker. (West Lane Baptist Centre)

Sunday 7 June

10.30 AM A Choice of Walks:
Walk 1: Short walk led by Hedley Hickling
Walk 2: Longer walk led by Alf East (Ponden Reservoir, Ponden Hall, Ponden Kirk)

3.30 PM Concert and literary quiz
Veronica Metz, from Anois, will perform her superb arrangements of Emily Brontë's poems set in the style of Celtic airs. Inspired by the Brontës, Veronica is donating her performance to the Society, and all monies raised by the concert this afternoon will go to the Brontë Society. After a brief interval, a 30 minute literary quiz in a light-hearted event to be hosted by Peter Morrison, Society Administrator. (West Lane Baptist Centre)
To close the afternoon: Three entries will be chosen among the members participating. The subject is Reverend Patrick Brontë's arrival in Yorkshire.

Monday 8 June

8.30 AM A whole day coach excursion to Scarborough.
Including visit to Shandy Hall, one home to Laurence Sterne, in Coxwold.
Lunch at The Royal Hotel.
Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at Anne's grave in St. Mary's Church.
Visit to The Mercer Gallery, Harrogate. Jane Sellars leads a visit to Victoria Brookland's exhibition The Singular Property of Seeing in the Night-Time inspired by Charlotte Brontë.

More information in The Telegraph & Argus.

Categories: Brontë Society, Talks