WEA DOVER HIGHLIGHTS

In the second year our new group researched the LOCAL HISTORY OF UPPER DEAL and mounted an exhibition at the end of the 20 week course. This comprised 25 panels (size A1) on various aspects of the history of the area mounted on display frames covering the entire hall booked for the event. This was at St Leonard's Church Social Centre 6th June and with good publicity we attracted 150 people along during the one day presentation. We were able to help many visitors with specific queries. The associated groups we invited along also had a good outing with many queries being dealt with. Our tutor Maureen Criddle has guided us through the many pitfalls of doing primary research, and we as a group have achieved something we thought was not possible. We are greatly proud of this and wish to continue studying and researching.

GEOLOGY

Our tutor Steve Freidrich is a local expert and consultant on fossils. Our local area includes most of the chalk sequence - the Weald of Kent, the Warren, the chalk cliffs at Folkestone, Beachy Head and those around the rest of East Kent.

Previous classes have covered "Fossils of the Chalk", "Local Geology: 100 Million years BC" and the multi-discipline class covering Geology and Archaeology. We have been on many field trips looking at various aspects of Geology / Archaeology / History of the area. (Eastbourne, Folkestone, Dover, Samphire Hoe, Langdon Cliffs, Lullingstone Roman Villa). The class a a WEA class finished in 2006 but the group is still meeting monthly - we are a very cohesive group, friendly and welcome all new comers, now called the "Dover Rockhounds".

Class practicals have been something else! We have grappled with flint knapping, fossil identification, early metal working, copper work, weaving, Roman period cooking, sequence identification of an assemblage of objects etc.

Neolithic finds from a local field.	Copper work made in class	Coiled pots made by class members using Wealden clay

ARCHAEOLOGY

We had Alan Ward MA for many years investigating various aspects of archaeology and history of the local area. We are fortunate to be on the main trade route from England to the Continent in early times and the archaeology of trade and conflict is particularly strong around us.

Alan is a professional archaeologist with the Canterbury Archaeological Trust. He brings a unique style to his lectures / demonstrations. Of particular interest has been his detective work using documentary evidence available from a wide variety of sources, and the discussion of the interpretations that must be used when using particular sources.

We covered the whole gamut of historical and pre-historical periods in some detail giving us a very good grounding for the understanding of the growth and development of the British people.

SOLO SINGING

Long running Solo Singing class has always been very popular and is fulfilling a need for people of all ages and abilities who love to sing. Some of our singers enter competitive musuc festivals with great success and some give concert performances within their church or community. One is now well known and has sung at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. We now own a piano located at the Discover Centre, Dover.

BRIDGE THAT GAP

This class was an innovative venture between a local secondary school and ourselves to provide a 5 subject, 25 week class across the curriculum for parents of children going through the education system. It gave a flavour of current teaching methods and topics to parents in order to 'bridge that gap'. It attracted a large number of parents who had never been to Adult Education classes and has 'opened their eyes'. We are very proud that some of the class members have gone on to greater Educational achievements, such as taking 'A' levels.