We’re delighted to have a new Autumn programme of talks and recitals to offer. You can find the dates in the calendar, with full details shown below or to download HERE. All events are held at St Augustine’s Church and Community Centre in Richmond Road and are open to all. Entry is normally free, although a small charge or retiring collection may be held where fees are requested by speakers or performers. A complimentary glass of wine or fruit juice and nibbles are served at most events.


SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER 7 – 10pm ‘QUIZ NIGHT’
All are welcome to take part in Richmond Rd Residents’ Association’s Annual Quiz Night. Teams of up to 6 people compete for the prestigious trophy awarded to the winning team. Supper and drinks are included in the £10 (adult) and £5 (children) entrance fee. Book your place now: JR.Footitt@gmail.com or 01223 364929. Further details to follow.

FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER 6 – 7pm ‘CAMBRIDGE per diem’
Rosie Zanders is a recently retired Cambridge Blue Badge tourist guide, and author of Cambridge per diem, a book which contains an eclectic mix of Cambridge anniversaries, at least one for every day of the year. Rosie has long been fascinated by Cambridge time, and the personalities of those who passed through it, and will share some personal reflections on the passing of time, whilst focusing on some notable Cambridge stories. There will be a special mention of Cambridge connections on 14 October, the day of this talk. Her book can be found on www.cambridgebookshop.co.uk/products/cambridge-per-diem

FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER 6 –7pm CONVOY TO CALAIS – “WHY WE CHOOSE TO SUPPORT REFUGEES”
How we treat people seeking refuge and asylum in the UK has seldom been out of the news over recent years, and opinions are clearly divided as to what should be done. Climate change and wars in far-flung parts of the globe impact us all, but some areas and peoples are particularly vulnerable. Calais Light is a weekend-only refugee charity convoy that takes ordinary people to volunteer and support asylum seekers in Calais, and has first-hand experience of what it is to be a refugee. Mary Stretch, its founder, explains what is really going on over there and why her convoy is always fully booked. And in doing so, Mary will also want to hear your views on the issues highlighted.

FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER 6 – 7pm ‘VAUGHAN WILLIAMS AND THE PARADOX OF THE ENGLISH HYMNAL’
Ralph Vaughan Williams, a self-confessed agnostic, played a key role in selecting and arranging the music for The English Hymnal, first published by OUP in 1906 and containing over 700 hymns. Philip Mead discusses that role, and the apparent paradox which it reveals.

SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 6 – 7pm REMEMBRANCE DAY CONCERT
To celebrate 150 years since his birth, St Augustine’s Singers perform works by Ralph Vaughan Williams (Towards the Unknown Region and Five Mystical Songs), together with the world premiere of Simone Spagnolo’s new work specially written for this concert. Conducted by Paul Jackson, with Philip Mead on the piano and Alistair Bamford (bass).

FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER 6 – 7pm ‘DIPPERS OF THE MONGOLIAN ALTAI’
In the course of his work as a biologist in Mongolia, Andrew Laurie followed up on a childhood fascination with dippers by finding out more about their lives in the Altai of Mongolia, where White Throated Dippers are found in unpolluted streams and rivers, providing a good indicator of water quality. Andrew will describe his findings in the context of biodiversity in Mongolia, and illustrate them with photographs and films.

FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER 6 – 7pm ‘A TOUR OF EUROPE IN SONG’
With the onset of winter, Tim Palmer (tenor) and Hugh Taylor (piano) will take us on a tour of Europe in song, looking forward to next summer with lovely weather, beautiful scenery and peace. Their recital will also explore some of the pitfalls of extensive travelling – even the possibility of finding love! Starting and ending in the UK, the tour will take in 14 countries with songs by Ireland, Godard, Faure, Diepenbrock, Eisler, Nielsen, Grieg, Stenhammar, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Dvorak, Schubert, di Capua, Schumann and Vaughan Williams. A feast of song!

FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER 6 – 7pm ‘GIORGIONE IN VENICE’
The Fondaco dei Tedeschi, a handsome Renaissance building on the Grand Canal in Venice, was originally decorated on the outside with frescos by Giorgione and Titian, the two great young artists of their age. Fragments of Giorgione’s work survived into the 19th century, fascinating the Victorian writer John Ruskin. Clive Wilmer, Emeritus Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, who has written on Ruskin and lived in Venice, will tease out some implications of these facts.

…………. and don’t forget on SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER, SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER, and SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER to come and share a COMMUNITY LUNCH at St Augustine’s starting at 1 pm : two courses with wine or fruit juice for only £8.00 ph.
And why not enjoy a coffee and cake at Café@99? Open every Monday and Friday from 10.45am to 12.15 pm at St Augustine’s in Richmond Road – a café run by and for the local community. Come to meet neighbours, share conversation, read a paper, or simply relax. Hosted by RRRA and St Augustine’s.