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Monday 2nd June 2025
Houses of Parliament and Spencer House Tours
Tours of Houses of Parliament and Spencer House on June 2nd 2025. Transport not included.
Wednesday 4th June 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Arts and Crafts - Collage
(Hutton Community Centre - Meeting Room 1)
Enjoy a relaxing, creative session designed to boost wellbeing through the simple joy of collage.
Join us for a gentle, guided workshop where you’ll explore colour, texture, and personal expression using a variety of beautiful, recycled materials. We'll start with a short breathing exercise to help you feel grounded and calm, then dive into creating your very own unique piece of art. The aim is to enjoy the process and perhaps continue at home.
Friday 6th June 2025
Marconi Heritage Walk, Chelmsford
Marconi Heritage Walk, Chelmsford on June 6th 2025. Travel not included.
Wednesday 11th June 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
Arts and Crafts - Doodling and Zentangle
(Hutton Community Centre - Meeting Room 1)
All materials provided – no experience needed!
Discover the calming power of pen and paper. This relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop invites you to explore zentangle and mindful doodling—gentle, repetitive drawing techniques that calm the mind and spark creativity. We’ll begin with a short breathing exercise before diving into easy, guided patterns that anyone can enjoy.
Wednesday 18th June 2025
Ipswich: Christchurch Mansion and Orwell River Trip
Book here for the trip to Ipswich: Christchurch Mansion and River Orwell on 18th June 2025
Friday 20th June 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Arts and Crafts - Pottery Painting
(Hutton Community Centre - Small Hall)
All materials provided - no experience needed!
Pottery painting is a unique, fun, creative activity for all ages. You will have the opportunity to create your own unique decoration on a small blossom vase under the guidance of a tutor. Paints are washable but you may want to bring an apron.
Monday 23rd June 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
The Greatest of our Post-War Leaders'
Presented by: Andrew Baker (Adult education centre)
Vivid and amusing portraits can help us see how different post war prime ministers have played the role. What are the characteristics of a great leader and what kind of rank order emerges?
Tuesday 8th July 2025
Highclere Castle
Visit to Highclere Castle (house, gardens and Egypt exhibition) on Juy 8th 2025
Friday 11th July 2025
Historic Harwich
Visit to Harwich on July 11th 2025 including coach travel and driver gratuity, guided walking tour and free time to explore.
Monday 28th July 2025 at 12:00 a.m. for a 2:15 p.m. start
History of Purfleet and Purfleet Royal Gunpowder Magazines.
Presented by: Paul Hounsell (Adult education centre)
A history of the Royal Gunpowder Magazines and Purfleet-onThames, together with an assortment of artefacts on how we use to live.
Tuesday 19th August 2025 at 6:20 p.m. for a 6:30 p.m. start
Cocktail Making Class
(Hutton Community Centre)
Come and join us for a unique and memorable evening where an experienced mixologist will guide you as you make two short and two long delicious cocktails. All ingredients and equipment are provided. The cost is £30 per member.
Monday 22nd September 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Faber & Faber: Ninety Years of Excellence in Cover Design
Presented by: Toby Faber (Adult education centre)
Toby Faber is the grandson of the founder of Faber & Faber, one of London’s most important literary publishing houses. This talk traces its history through its illustrations, covers and designs and looks at some of its most famous artists.
Wednesday 22nd October 2025
Oliver!
Trip to see Oliver! at the Gielgud Theatre, London on October 22nd 2025 (including coach, driver's gratuity and a seat in the dress circle)
Tuesday 28th October 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Brixton - From Riots to Recovery
Presented by: Angela Morgan (Hutton Community Centre)
Brixton - From Riots to Recovery
10th April 1981 is an important date in Black British history. Brixton in South London became the scene of unrest that exposed the realities of the prejudice and discrimination that the Caribbean community had tolerated. The impact of the 'Uprising' still resonates today. But, despite its difficult often challenging past, Brixton is a place of change, opportunities, and celebration.
Our speaker Angela Morgan will take you on an informative and entertaining virtual tour of Brixton with glimpses of its past, the present and potentially the future of this famous residential and shopping area.
Tuesday 25th November 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Thomas Becket
Presented by: Imogen Corrigan (Hutton Community Centre)
This talk charts Becket’s rise from being a reluctant scholar who loved sports to being one of the most powerful men in the land. It follows his disputes with Henry II culminating in his shocking end and it tries to find the man behind the robes of office he loved so much. It is a story of great drama, but a human one, nonetheless.
Tuesday 27th January 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
The sculpture heritage of Harlow
Presented by: Peter Aylmer (Hutton Community Centre)
Harlow is rightly known as 'Sculpture Town', thanks to a growing collection of around 100 public works of art on continual display in its streets and public places. But how did this come about? Peter will trace how the new town's master planner, the renowned architect Frederick Gibberd, saw public art as integral to his conception of the town, and how that legacy has been developed since. He will also look at how the very plan of Harlow is itself something of a work of art, based on Gibberd's close understanding of the Essex landscape.
Monday 23rd February 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
Secrets, Scandal and Salacious Gossip of the Royal Court, 1660 to 1830
Presented by: Sarah Slater (Adult education centre)
Sarah will talk about all the naughty bits of history that we probably didn’t learn about at school! She will reveal some royal scandals and secrets including a look at the role of royal mistresses. We all enjoyed Sarah’s previous talk on kirtles and corsets and this one sounds as though it will be equally entertaining.
Monday 23rd March 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
Inn Signia
Presented by: John Ericson (Adult education centre)
The art work and stories behind peculiar pub names.Have you ever wondered why we have so many pubs called 'The Red Lion' or 'The Crown'? Have you ever heard of 'The Bucket of Blood' or 'The Cow and Snuffers'? Come along and John will enlighten us.
Monday 27th April 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
Hitchcock: the Hollywood Years
Presented by: Gary Lewis (Adult education centre)
In March 1939, Alfred Hitchcock left England for the lure of Hollywood. Over the next 36 years, he would direct 36 movies, Find about the documentary he made with Sidney Bernstein during World War II as well as the Oscar nominations he received. Do you recall The Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV series which spanned 10 years and starred many unknown up and coming actors? After all this finally became Sir Alfred Hitchcock, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, in January 1980.
Monday 18th May 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
The House of Romanov
Presented by: Siobhan Clarke
During 1917 violent revolutions tore Russia apart and set in place a communist regime. The murder of the Imperial family at Ekaterinburg in 1918 shook the world and still inspires a terrible fascination today. The beauty and innocence of the Romanov children would become emblems of a world that vanished forever.
Monday 22nd June 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
A Solo Walk Across Africa
Presented by: Fran Sandham (Adult education centre)
A very experienced public speaker, Fran Sandham is a critically acclaimed author and former Rough Guides editor. He is the first person on record to have made a journey across Africa from the Atlantic on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean near Zanzibar. This trek of well over three thousand miles was made alone and entirely on foot. Fran will relate the experiences he encountered during this challenging journey.
Monday 27th July 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
Fleeing Hitler - the Civian stories
Presented by: David Worsfold (Adult education centre)
Who were the 20,000? David will speak about the exodus of civilians to the Atlantic ports as well as the SS Madura's famous passengers. He will tell the stories of individuals from that of a 10 year old girl to the plight of the world's richest man.
Monday 28th September 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
A lifetime with my head in the clouds
Presented by: Peter Hewitt (Adult education centre)
Peter tells the complete story of his dreams as a fourteen-year-old schoolboy to his first airline job, gaining his first jet command at the age of twenty-nine and finishing on the mighty B747-400 ‘Jumbo Jet’. Peter’s story is poignant and funny, indeed sometimes hysterical
Monday 26th October 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
The Folklore of Fungus
Presented by: Sandra Lawrence (Adult education centre)
A return of Sandra Lawrence who previously spoke to us about Warley Place. She warns us that this talk has some gruesome photos with some rather rude looking fungi. Thsi makes her talk sound even more intriguing.
Monday 23rd November 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
History in the Landscape
Presented by: Julian Whybra (Adult education centre)
How does history shape our landscape? Essex is particularly fortunate in this respect in that its settlement patterns can be traced back to the fifth century and its place names reveal the hidden origins and nature of the landscape around us. We will also discover what remains of our East Saxon origins today.