Talks take place on Thursday afternoons, starting at 2pm, and usually take place in the Lecture Hall, Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JA. These are free for Oxford u3a members but you are welcome to attend as a guest for a donation of £5 (£2 for members of all other U3As).
Most talks are recorded on Zoom for the benefit of those Oxford u3a members who are unable to attend Rewley House.
In the event of adverse weather conditions, please telephone Rewley House (01865 270360), to enquire whether the talk has been cancelled.
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Ruth Harper – The Lighthouse Violin
7th March 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Ruth Harper is a retired research physicist. She grew up on the east coast of Scotland, then after completing her PhD she moved to southern England to pursue her career. As a teenager she played viola in the National Youth Orchestra, and continues to play in various local amateur orchestras and chamber groups, including the Oxford Sinfonia. Since retiring, playing chamber music has become her main occupation!
The Lighthouse violin was made by Ruth’s great-grandfather Robert Clyne while stationed on some of the most remote lighthouses around the Scottish coast and played by her grandmother until it fell to pieces, it eventually came into her care as a “bag of bits”. This is the story of its restoration, which led to exploration of her great-grandfather’s life, uncovering a remarkable multi-talented man who dedicated himself to a way of life now gone forever. The talk will include photos of some of the lighthouses where Robert lived and worked, each of which adds a little adds a little piece to the jigsaw.