Igor Kennaway, graduated in History from Cambridge before studying piano, conducting and composition at the Royal Academy of Music, completing his studies at the Salzburg ‘Mozarteum’. An international career involved holding many conducting posts in Germany and France, with appearances at international festivals, broadcasting and recording, both as conductor and pianist. He has also taught at many conservatoires and universities in the UK and overseas, as well has being active as a guest speaker.

His talk will discuss how music may affect us, both as performers and as listeners and its impact on the brain, although he is not a neuro-scientist! He does not guarantee to arrive at any definite conclusions but hopes instead to open this to a dialogue with the audience.

Part of the Palmers' Talk and Tea series. Tickets (limited seating): £5.50 on the door (tea and cake included).

Janet Manifold is a sculptor working primarily in alabaster. She completed an MA in Fine Art at Birmingham School of Art in 2019 and has recently exhibited work as part of the John Ruskin Biennial at the Museum of the Near Future, Lancaster University and the Hive, Birmingham.

Alabaster is a form of calcium and the concepts underpinning Janet's work have their origin in the influence of calcium on the rhythms and cycles of both the natural world and ourselves. The notion of ‘time unfolding’ extends from geological timescales at one extreme to the speed of a firing neuron at the other, and alabaster is a uniquely transient material through which to interpret these concepts.

Part of the Palmers' Talk and Tea series. Tickets (limited seating): £5.50 on the door (tea and cake included).

This is a gathering of people for a morning of vinous miscellany, it will not be a 'tutorial'.

Anyone with an interest, curiously appreciative, with or without knowledge, will, we feel sure, enjoy this social event which is an opportunity to enjoy some great wines in good company.

On offer will be a selection of red wines primarily from Pomerol, the millennium vintage of 2000. We shall see how this vintage has developed over the past 20 years, compare it with a Saint Emilion 2005 together with 1er Cru Burgundy also from 2005, and have some fun putting a name to a mystery wine.

Among topics for discussion will be: When will that special bottle be at its best? And should it be aerated? Is there always a 'message in a bottle' and how can we understand it with the help of a Riedel glass?

Wines and nibbles donated, all proceeds to Ludlow Palmers.

Tickets: £50.00 per person.

Please book directly with Roy Thwaites:
40 Broad Street
Ludlow
SY8 1NL
01584 874458
allthwaites@gmail.com

We will visit Oscott College Chapel, Birmingham with its Pugin Architecture and Hardman glass. It should provide plenty of interest and is not generally open to the public. After lunch we will drive the short distance to St Chad's Birmingham to visit the Roman Catholic cathedral which was also designed Pugin, which was consecrated on 21 June 1841.

St Chad's is highlighted as one of Birmingham's most significant buildings in the recent Pevsner Architectural Guide to Birmingham. The Cathedral is especially proud of its unique collection of stained glass, metalwork and vestments made to Pugin's designs by John Hardman and Co. Hardman was a close friend of Pugin.