THE ARTS SOCIETY YORK

Supporting Decorative & Fine Arts                                                                                                                    

President: Mrs Julia Charlton-Weedy
Vice-Presidents:
Ms H S Byard
Mrs P N Crookenden
Mrs R F B Wivell

From: The Chair
Mrs Jane Ashby

6 Usher Park Road
Haxby, York.
YO32 3RY

Tel: 07949 012 694
email: chair.tasy@gmail.com

Dear Friends

Well, I hope you have all recovered from the barnstorming Lecture from Lars Tharp - as one of our members emailed me after the Lecture said, she could not easily get out of her mind the sight of the fluorescent condoms' hanging up in one of Hogarth's picturesl I think I can honestly say we do have a lively mixture of Talks on a variety of different subjectsl So, to our next Lecture, which might be just as entertaining. I am sure we shall learn something new.

The Lecturer in.October is lmogen Corrigan - She'll be Lecturing on Jan Van Eyck. I understand this painting is just one of many famous paintings by Jan Van Eyck, which he painted in 1434. Apparently, no one is quite sure if it represents a Wedding or a Betrothal. His images are filled with symbolism. lmogen Corrigan will no doubt enlighten us as to its history and the story behind it.

I understand lmogen has studied Anglo Saxon and Medieval History and Art. She has also written a book entitled 'Stone on Stone', which is about the men who built Cathedrals, perhaps another subject for a future lecture.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH 7TH DECEMBER

We now have a date for our Christmas Lunch and I think it sounds very good. lt is to be hetd at the Marriott. As mentioned in my last Newsletter - The menu will be: A Glass of Bubbly, A Starter, A Festive Main Course and a Dessert. Cost £45 per head.

I already have a few names, however if you would like to attend, please let me or one of the Committee know. Please bring your partner, husband or friend. They will be very welcome.

ldeally the Marriott staff would like to know by the end of October. I attach a menu for you to choose what you would like. Choose two options from each course. 

Please note: I am away for the next Lecture, so if you would like to let any of the Committee know if you would like to attend or send me an email and l will pick this up on my return.

DISCOUNT AT THE MARRIOTT

As we have been talking about food, I don't know if you have noticed, but if you are ordering anything from the Bar there does appear to be a discount, 10% I think, it isn't a fortune, but if you are able to give your postcode, they will apply it to your order.

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

As our last Raffle was a great success, we are holding a bumper Christmas one. This will be drawn at our last meeting before Christmas in November. Already we have several prizes donated and I expect more nearer the time. The Raffle Tickets will be sold at the meeting in October and November.

DAY OUT AT CHATSWORTH

Anthony Hammersley tells me all is set fair for the trip on the 10th November. I am sure there are seats if you would like to go, but of course for booking purposes it would be good to advise Anthony as soon as possible. He tells me he will be in touch with further details to those who have said they want to go.

I think that's all for the moment. I shall be thinking of you all at the next meeting and will perhaps find something suitable in Sicily for our Christmas Raffle.

Best wishes

Jane Ashby

Chair.

 THE ARTS SOCIETY YORK

Supporting Decorative & Fine Arts                                                                                                                     

President: Mrs Julia Charlton-Weedy
Vice-Presidents:
Ms H S Byard
Mrs P N Crookenden
Mrs R F B Wivell

From: The Chair
Mrs Jane Ashby

6 Usher Park Road
Haxby, York.
YO32 3RY

Tel: 07949 012 694
email: chair.tasy@gmail.com

September 2026

Dear Friends

September already, I don't know about you, but I do wonder where this year has gone? At least it is cooler to sleep at night! When my husband and I were living in Hong Kong some years ago, the humidity was one thing, but the heat was another! In the last month or two we have been wondering if we were back there.

However, I do hope after our break you haven't forgotten the Arts Society and are looking forward to lots of wonderful Lectures. September as you may know is when we start our new session and I do hope you all have the new Programme cards to hand.

To start off our new session we have Lars Tharp who will be Lecturing on Hogarth: Harlots, Rakes and Crashing China. An intriguing title if ever there was one - Lars Tharp the Danish-born historian, lecturer and broadcaster. Some of you may have seen him on Antiques Roadshow, where he first appeared in 1986. He has also been an auctioneer at Sotherby's where he specialised in European and Chinese ceramics. Lars Tharp is a William Hogarth enthusiast and in particular Hogarth's theatrical use of ceramics in his paintings and prints.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

We are considering a Christmas Lunch at the Marriott in the second or third week in December. It would comprise the following: - Glass of fizz on arrival, a 3 course festive meal, tea, coffee and mince pies. Cost would be £45 per person. Perhaps you could let us know if this would be of interest to you.

CHATSWORTH DAY TRIP

This'sounds very good and will get us in the mood for Christmas. Please refer to details on the visits page of this website.

The trip is booked provisionally for 10th November. Let us know soonish if this is something you would like to do.

With kind Regards, 

Jane Ashby

Chair

'     .

Chairman’s Report

It hardly seems a year since Helen Gregory handed me the baton to become your Chair. It has certainly been a learning curve and thank you all for your patience, particularly if I have forgotten your name! I think you will agree it has been an interesting year for Lectures. When I took over, we had Mark Meredith and William Randolph Hearst, then Mary Sharp and Jane Austen. Brian Healey was to follow in June then July we went all Spanish with Isabelle Kent. September we were into science and the English Garden, then who could forget Jamie Hayes and the sound of opera from Wagner, Verdi and Puccini. It was certainly a favourite of mine. Simon Whitehouse was wild about Oscar then because Lars Tharp had to cancel, we had Suzanne Fagence Cooper, who stepped in at short notice and we were introduced to Pioneering Women Photographers, many of whom I was not aware of. Then in February Paula Nuttall surprised us with Michelangelo as one of the Titans of the art world. Finally last month Harry Venning. I have never laughed so much at a lecture! So far it has been a whirlwind of interesting lectures and there is so much more to come. I am indebted to Carolyn Haynes who spends a lot of time organising these Lectures and Lecturers. Recently she told me, on f irst meeting Harry at York station, he gave her an unexpected hug, I wonder if we should we be talking about Brief Encounters!

That brings me to the Committee, without whom we could not as a Society exist. They work t irelessly to help you all enjoy the Lectures and Visits or whatever we plan for the coming year. Joanna Finlay as my Vice Chair is always knowledgeable and keeps me on the straight and narrow and as you know she also organises our Visits, which she has done for many years. Many of you will remember the Guernsey Trip, which was a great success. Anthony Hammersley equally keeps us on the right side of the money, without which we would certainly be up a creek without a paddle! Alistair and Elisabeth Haldane are a great partnership with membership. I am sure they look after you well. May Townsend’s connection with Danesgate school was immeasurable and I know she is looking around for other projects. The artwork the pupils produced and displayed at another recent exhibition in York was extremely good. Carolyn Haynes as Lecture Secretary is a key pin for the Society, and as I have said works very hard to find the best speakers. We are also very grateful for John Finn, who keeps our website up to date and produces the rolling slides for our meetings. His expertise on the technical side is very welcome. We are indeed very fortunate to have such talented and dedicated Committee members, but we are always looking out for others to join us. As I have paid tribute to the Committee, I also would like to thank the Vice Presidents, who also contribute to the smooth running of the Society. Helen Byard in particular is always on hand to lend any help we might need, for which I am very grateful. I hope you agree with me, that we are now very comfortable in the Marriott. Of course there are some problems from time to time, but on the whole, I think we are very well served by the staff. From technical help to First Aid, they have proved to be excellent. That brings me rather nicely to mention that our costs are going up and I don’t think we are alone in this. Our excellent Treasurer Anthony makes sure every penny is accounted for, and there isn’t sadly much left over, and so we are including in the AGM Agenda this year the proviso that next year we are to raise subscriptions to £75, which will be an increase of £10. however, I do hope you will agree with me, that to enjoy the ambiance of the Marriott and f irst-class speakers we do not have a choice. Please note we are not increasing the subscription for this year. It will stay at £65.

I must now mention George Smith MBE, who has been a stalwart champion of the York Art Society and has been our President for many more years than I care to mention. Always cheerful and positive, George is to step down at the AGM. His interest in all our activities and always ready to offer advice when needed. He will be a hard act to follow. However, I am grateful to announce that Mrs Julia Charlton-Weedy will be stepping into the breach and I am sure will be an asset to the Society. We look forward to welcoming her to her new position. I feel very positive for the Arts Society here in York and hope this year will see our membership grow to enable more people to enjoy what we have to offer.

Jane Ashby 

Information about our move to the Delta Marriott Hotel York

Many members will remember the Marriott as The Swallow Chase with the saddle in earlier days. It is on Tadcaster Road (A1036); when leaving the City Centre along Tadcaster Road the entrance is immediately past the greenery of the Racecourse opposite Ainsty Grove.

Parking

There is a large car park but obviously spaces depend on the number of guests who are at the hotel. (Disabled spaces are on the left as you enter the hotel grounds)

For this reason until we know how it works it would be easier if possible you could “Car Share”. This would certainly help and also there are frequent buses which stop outside the hotel.

No 4 Bus Clifford Street (via the Railway Station and The Mount) to Acomb

every 16 minutes. Journey time 10 mins from Clifford Street

No 12 Bus Monks Cross (The Stonebow, the Railway Station, Askham Bar, Tesco)

every hour takes 16 mins from The Stonebow

Coastliner 843/840 from Scarborough/Whitby to Leeds every 30 minutes,

takes 15 mins from The Stonebow

Askham Bar Park and Ride does not stop outside the Marriott but goes to the Station

Obviously these buses also run in the opposite direction and if you check the stops you will know which is most convenient.

Parking at the hotel

This is free for the first 3 hours and then £1.50 for extra 2 hours and £3 for 3 hours.

Any excess payment must be paid to Hotel Reception before you leave.

YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER YOUR CAR NUMBER ON A COMPUTER AT OUR CHECKING- IN DESK ON ARRIVAL. IT MAY HELP TO RECORD THIS ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND BRING IT WITH YOU AS I AM AFRAID MANY OF US FORGET OUR REGISTRATION NUMBERS!

Lunch Arrangements

A selection of sandwiches will be available with tea or coffee.

The choices offered will change at subsequent meetings.

Sandwiches are £8.00 per person and coffee/ tea £3.75

These will be served in a very pleasant room with round tables next to the lecture room.

WE HAVE TO GIVE THE HOTEL APPROXIMATE NUMBERS FOR LUNCH TEN DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING (i.e 13th April for our meeting on 23rd April)

YOU MUST CONTACT JOANNA FINLAY on joannafinlay1@btinternet.com

to confirm that you plan to have the sandwich lunch to be eaten in the booked room

Payment should be made when ordered by BACS to:

The Arts Society sort code 40-52-40 a/c 00016815 ref: Lunch

Alternatively, if you would like to eat in the bar area you pay separately. However this does seem to take quite a time but if you just want a coffee/tea and a light snack that is possible. This doesn’t need to be pre-booked but as mentioned service can be a bit slow. You could always have something after the meeting and even relax on the terrace in good weather.

IF YOU STAY AFTER THE MEETING DO NOT FORGET TO PAY ANY EXTRA PARKING CHARGES AT RECEPTION AFTER THE 3 HOUR COMPLIMENTARY TIME.

THE AGM WILL COMMENCE AT 12.00 AND THE LECTURE WILL BE AS BEFORE 1.10pm – about 2.15pm