Welcome to Region 03 – South West

Welcome to South West, which covers Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol. This is a very large geographical area and we would love to have at least three Local Contacts to organise events across the Region. We are fortunate that the former Executive Representative is remaining as the Local Contact for Cornwall who arranges a Book Club, morning gatherings and Coffee mornings.

Since the pandemic many people have continued reading after having been been encouraged to read more while in Lockdown and you can always share your views and recommendations on line with your Local Contact. AOUG members from any part of our Region, along with members from different Regions or Nations have been able to join us through the newly found benefits of Zoom.

We already have a member joining us from as far away as the North Region but it would be great if we were able to organise these Zoom events on a broader geographical scale.

As members become confident again in mixing on a face-to-face basis, more activities should be able to start up again. Some are already available in other Regions and so if you live close enough to travel, you are very welcome to attend these. However, it is advisable to contact the organiser so they can look out to welcome you.

If you would like to get something going within your immediate area, please contact the Development Officer to find out about the role of being a Local Contact.

Please send any suggestions to AOUG@open.ac.uk.

Previous Events

In February ‘The Bhutto Dynasty’ by Owen Bennett-Jones was the book of the month. Although another story of a family, this time it is a study looking at a very important family’s influence in Pakistan throughout history. It draws on both original research and previously unpublished documents which have been gathered over a twenty-year period to explore the family’s volatile relationship with the United States, British Colonialists and the Pakistani armed forces. A much more intensive concentrated read and a complete contrast to that of January’s choice

The South West has for several years now hosted a monthly Zoom Book Club and in January the group chose ‘The Heart’s Invisible Furies’ by John Bayne for their monthly discussion. This book covered several topics of conflicts such as love versus obsession, openness versus bigotry and individual integrity versus cultural influences but is reported to have tackled each of these in an amusing way.

 Set in Ireland, the story tells of Cyril, born out of wedlock to a teenage girl who is adopted by an affluent eccentric couple in Dublin but who is told that he isn’t really a true member of the ‘Avery’ family and that he never will be. Then throughout his life he struggles to discover an identity whilst the connection between mother and son is ever present throughout.

Honiton Lunch

The Exeter lunch group started off the New Year by meeting at the Zest Cafe in Honiton. This was their second visit to this cafe as members have previously enjoyed the venue. The group of aproximately twelve local members meet  most months in cafes and restaurants around the Exeter area  for a lunch and a chance to socialise. Venues are various, as members like to explore and savour a variety of foods and environments. New additions to the group are always welcome so if you would like to join them, please get in touch  for more details.

Elizabeth Mount – Local Contact