As I rode the 27 bus home from the Cherry Tree last night I observed that some kindly soul had left behind, whether by accident or intent, a WEA brochure listing the various courses due to start in the coming weeks. These activities ranged from Art Appreciation in Acklington to Beginners' Spanish in Darlington. Closer to home (for me) and more relevant to these pages were the activities of the Newcastle cell of the WEA.
As well as Creative Cakes and Crafts, Italian and Indian Cookery, and Dressmaking I also found an Introduction to West African Drumming, Improvisation for Musicians and Jazz Appreciation!
Oh yes, and at Jesmond Library we have The Inter-war years through the eyes of the Mitford Sisters. This latter event is of particular interest to me having just fallen madly in love with Deborah (Debo) Duchess of Devonshire.
Debo is the youngest of the five sisters and, at 94, the only surviving one. Browsing in Poundland (early Xmas shopping) I came across one of her 12 books All in One Basket (it's actually two books in one - Counting my Chickens and Home to Roost) and, on a whim, bought it. I've since been unable to put it down! What a perceptive lady! What an acerbic wit! Plus a writing style many could only aspire to but rarely achieve.
Not a jazz book by any means although she does refer to Fats Waller as, "of beloved memory". However, music-wise, her idol is Elvis Presley and her favourite book, by a Tennessee mile, is Peter Guralnick's biography of "The King" - Last Train to Memphis.
To find out more about these and other WEA courses visit www.wea.org.uk/courses/information.
Or ask Ann Alex.
Lance.
the wonderful Debo, I think she was/is by far the most attractive of the Mitford Sisters
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