A quarterly publication from The English-Speaking Union March 2010
– The English-Speaking Union Magazine Discover the latest events, reviews, competitions, updates, and developments. This quarter: Bangladesh launch, 70 years of Bristol, Contemplating Culver and lots more...
About the English-Speaking Union
Editorial
The ESU is a charity using English as a common global language to nurture dialogue, the exchange of ideas and opinions. The ESU brings together and empowers people of different languages and cultures. By building skills and confidence we give young people the opportunity to realise their potential. Worldwide, the members and alumni of the ESU support these objectives.
The English-Speaking Union Dartmouth House 37 Charles Street London W1J 5ED T +44 (0)20 7529 1550 F +44 (0)20 7495 6108 esu@esu.org www.esu.org
Registered Charity No. 273136
DIALOGUE Out of a scattering of tongues Out of Babel’s inheritance How reassemble sense From this gift of rich confusion? How resurrect a rainbow From a tower of ruins? How begin to begin The dance of utterance? In 2003 John Agard wrote a poem entitled dialogue for the celebrations of the 85th anniversary of The English-Speaking Union at Westminster Abbey.
So armed with my hybrid dictionary - a not so concise Oxford-
We have taken its name and its ethos of bridging divides and sharing knowledge for our new members’ magazine. I do hope you enjoy the new format and will contribute to its success by offering your stories and reflections.
Retracing empire’s footsteps Seeking this time not global glory
Mike Lake Director-General
I face the wilderness of the Word Letting English be my bridge To a world harvest – A gathering from continents
But dialogue in the distance John Agard
A quarterly publication from The English-Speaking Union March 2010
FEATURES
04
ESU PROGRAMMES
Bangladesh launch_04
Latest events_18 - 23
70 years of ESU Bristol_08
Green ESU_24
Contemplating Culver_09
From the Archives_25
ON THE HORIZON
11
17
27
BRANCHES
ESU City Lunch Series_12
From Around the Regions_28
ESU Hits the Campaign Trail_14
Regional diary_38
Launches in Malta and Turkey_14 Poetree Workshop_14 Election Night Party_15 International Public Speaking Competition_15 Alumni_16
REVIEW
43
Profile_44 Film_46 Theatre_47
CREDITS Managing Editor Hanna Cevik Editor Roberta Pearce
ESU MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
DIARY DATES
49
50
Design The Click Design Consultants theclickdesign.com DIALOGUE 3
Annette with villagers in a Grameen Bank- sponsored village.Right: Martin and Mike travel in local style.
ESU BANGLADESH LAUNCHES: THE ESU FAMILY REACHES 51 by Annette Fisher Head of International Programmes
In late January Mike Lake, Director-General, Martin Mulloy, Director of Education and I left our Mayfair offices, leaving behind cold, grey London for the beautiful, sunny lands of Bangladesh. Our mission; to launch ESU Bangladesh, build and promote partnerships and start its public speaking competition. DIALOGUE 4
Background to ESU Bangladesh
Meetings and Partnerships
Professor Alan Lee Williams, a former Director-General of the ESU and now Chairman of the Sir William Beveridge Foundation, introduced Asif Chowdhury and Jiban Das from the Foundation in Bangladesh to Valerie Mitchell, the ESU’s former DirectorGeneral. Asif and Jiban undertook the job of developing an ESU in their home country. Asif is now the Chairman of ESU Bangladesh and Jiban, the Secretary-General.
The week’s programme was very successful and we left Dhaka with a real feeling of achievement. Here are some highlights:
The Launch
Connecting Classrooms:
We met with Charles Nuttall and Dominic Regester to discuss a partnership between ESU Bangladesh and the British Council through their ‘Connecting Classrooms’ programme. This initiative builds lasting partnerships between schools in the UK and around the world.
We landed in Dhaka on the afternoon of the launch day, to be greeted by Rashed Suhrawardy of the Sir William Beveridge Foundation and newly recruited-member of ESU Bangladesh who whisked us to the hotel and then straight on to the launch ceremony at the High Commissioner’s residence. In true ESU style, the launch ceremony was a lovely occasion with lots of networking and many contacts made.
(www.britishcouncil.org/learningconnecting-classrooms)
The guests included Charles Nuttall, Director of the British Council, teachers, university lecturers, many of ESU Bangladesh’s corporate partners and of course, the ESU Bangladesh committee. The Dhaka media were also present and Mike recorded an interview with Bangladesh TV network, ATN presenting the background to the launch of an ESU branch and its ambitions.
Grameen Bank:
The plan is that ESU Bangladesh will expand its public speaking competition to all 90 of the British Council schools in the Dhaka region through the established network for the 2011 competition. As a result of this undertaking, the ESU is now exploring a wider, overall relationship through the ‘Connecting Classrooms’ programme.
We met with Nurjahan Begum, Managing Director of Grameen Shikkha and Nobel Peace Prize winner. For those who have not come across Grameen before: ‘Grameen Bank
provides credit to the poorest of the poor [only women] in rural Bangladesh, without any collateral’. (www.grameen.com)
Grameen Shikkha ‘provides financial support to poor meritorious students in the form of scholarships’. (www.grameen-info.org/grameengshikkha)
We discussed possibilities for branches and members to become involved with the education scholarships provided by Grameen. We were also privileged to visit a Borrowers Centre in a Grameen village outside Dhaka and had the opportunity to talk with the borrowers there about how the Grameen loans had changed their lives and the lives of their children. The Grameen Bank has had unbelievable results in terms of development, empowerment and social justice. The model has become so successful that it has been replicated across the world and the founder, Proffessor Muhammad Yunus and his bank were awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. Public Speaking:
The launch in Bangladesh saw the start of an initiative which we hope will
We were also delighted that alumna ‘number one’ of ESU Bangladesh from the 2009 Stratford Study Course was able to attend; we hope that she’ll be the first of many alumni. And so the Memorandum of Understanding was signed and the ESU flag was presented. Thus, the ESU of Bangladesh was born.
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become a successful part of the International Public Speaking Competition training programme. Jagdish Singh and Roopi Lakhiani, two public speaking mentors who work with ESU Malaysia on their competition, joined Martin and I to give a workshop to teachers and students and to assist ESU Bangladesh in starting up and organising its competition, ready for the IPSC final in May. The workshop took place with the four schools that will compete in the national competition. The passion and humour of Jagdish and Roopi didn’t fail to excite and encourage even the shyest of the students. Supported by their teachers, they will go on to participate with skill and confidence. The winner will travel to London in May to join 80 other students from Malaysia and 45 other countries to compete at the international final. ESU Malaysia has pledged to support the competition in Bangladesh for the next two years and we hope to replicate and expand this initiative to our other emerging ESUs.
What did we learn in Bangladesh?
• Giving people the means to help themselves out of poverty is worth more than you could ever give in handouts. People who can help themselves are confident and empowered and strive to provide the best for their children • People in Bangladesh are incredibly friendly and generous • Never drive, travel in a CNG (tuk-tuk) or take a rickshaw in Dhaka – always walk or you will end up sitting at red lights for up to 15min at a time • Always wear strong anti-mosquito spray • Be happy to let people take photos of you, they’ll do it anyway • Never take directions from Martin • Eat as much food as possible in Dhaka – it’s delicious, especially the Biyriani • The students in Dhaka are soon going to be very good at public speaking, watch out IPSC
Above:Mike and Asif Chowdhury signing the Memorandum of Understanding. Below: A public speaking worshop with Annette
The Daily Star, Dhaka
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INTERVIEW With Jiban Das, Secretary-General, ESU Bangladesh Q. What first interested you in the ESU? A. Rahman Jilani, Executive Director of the Sir William Beveridge Foundation, first introduced the ESU to me. The range of activities and the reach of the ESU are two things that impressed me most at the very first briefing by him. Q. What aspects of the ESU led you to want to open one in Bangladesh? A. The English language was with us in this part of the world for over two hundred years. But over the years, our somewhat misplaced emphasis and interest in maintaining the standard of the language left us way behind. We needed to cover the lost territory especially in the field of communications and understanding. Q. What do you think the ESU can bring to Bangladesh specifically? A. Owing to our past connection with English, the skills of reading and writing English were fairly well spread all over the country but it is in the skill of oral communication that we are greatly handicapped. ESU programmes like the International Public Speaking Competition events will have a significant impact nationwide.
Q. What, if any, were the major challenges which you and the committee encountered in opening an ESU in Bangladesh? A. There were no major challenges that the steering committee had to face initially. We needed some guidance; Alan Lee Williams, Valerie Mitchell and the staff at ESU Dartmouth House were right there to guide and support us. Q. What are your plans for the newly launched member of the ESU family in 2010? A. We are grateful to the ESU family for taking us on board as its 51st member. We are now concentrating on two major aspects: firstly to take steps to raise some funds and secondly to connect with potential partners, schools and colleges, media and others for effective implementation of our programmes
Finally... Mike, Martin and I would like to thank all the staff at the Sir William Beveridge Foundation especially Jiban and Rasheed for taking such good care of us in Bangladesh. We would also like to thank Jagdish and Roopi for taking the time to join us for the public speaking workshop. All that’s left to say is congratulations to ESU Bangladesh; we wish them well and look forward to supporting them in their future work. Thank you to British Airways for allowing Mike, Martin & Annette to fly Business Class to India. Annette Fisher, Head of International Programmes DIALOGUE 7
SEVENTY YEARS OF THE ESU IN BRISTOL Bristol Branch is one of the ESU’s oldest, and members celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2009 with special events such as the address by Michael Portillo and contributions to various charities.
The profit raised from our events is donated to good causes such as the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Appeal and the University of Bristol’s Centenary Fund, which provides scholarships to worthy students.
As part of its celebratory year, a group of members accompanied Chairman Tony Williams on a visit to the Mansion House to present the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Chris Davies with a cheque for £250 towards his Christmas Charity Appeal. Tony was subsequently interviewed by David Clensy of the Bristol Evening Post, who then wrote an excellent article that was published the following week. It described the history of the ESU and led onto the work which the ESU does through international youth exchanges and similar activities.
During its 70-year history, Bristol has twice won the Hardacre Trophy, the last time for its Vanuatu project. “We brought a headmaster from Vanuatu to study education here,” explained Tony, “and also sent some pupils from a number of schools in Bristol to teach in schools in Vanuatu for six-month periods in 1998 and 1999. It all culminated with us opening a branch of the ESU in Vanuatu in 2000.”
Tony explained that we aim to encourage the enjoyment and constructive use of English through educational programmes, and to provide a forum for international friendship through our support of the worldwide network of ESU branches.
We trust that the next 70 years will see Bristol members enjoying many more interesting speakers and events - and we thank the Bristol Evening Post for giving such excellent publicity to the ESU.
Tony with other branch members presents the Lord Mayor of Bristol with a donation.
DIALOGUE 8
At Culver’s Labour Day parade
CONTEMPLATING CULVER Secondary Schools Exchange scholar Jasmine Rahman, from Birmingham, is studying at Culver Academy in Indiana. Here, she gives us a flavour of the SSE experience.
Cutting into the cake at my farewell party, tears began to stream down my face. My best friend turned to me and asked why the excited girl who had eagerly been counting down the days until her departure no longer wanted to head Stateside? But as I looked around at a room full of friends – faces who I would be leaving behind; I began to
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doubt myself. I was to uproot myself from everything I knew and make myself a completely new life at Culver. A new country. A new school. A new beginning. From the day I first heard about the English-Speaking Union’s Secondary School Exchange I knew it was what I wanted to do in my gap year. After being invited to interview I didn’t know what to expect – Dartmouth House can be a daunting prospect to a seventeen-year old who had just about managed to navigate the London Underground! But when that day in April came when I discovered I would be attending The Culver Academies, I couldn’t wait to start at a school that others can only dream of attending. Words can’t describe what a life-changing experience SSE is. From attending my first football game to cheerleader try-outs, Halloween parties to Fall Ball; my time in America has been a whirlwind of new experiences. Moving to Indiana, staying in a
dormitory, being a part of the senior class and joining the Culver community is something that has had a remarkable impact on my life as a whole. And so I will share with you some of my most memorable moments thus far. Sitting in the departure lounge at Birmingham International Airport, I made a list of all the things I wanted to accomplish during my year abroad. I planned to make the most of every opportunity available to me at Culver and so when contemplating the options available for after-school activities I came across theatre. A group of people, a bit of acting... How hard could it be? After auditioning and getting cast in the school’s shows, I struggled with learning my lines and wondered whether giving up my part was the answer. Alas, my new-found friends were there to help me run lines and I realized giving up was not an option. The buzz of adrenaline that rushed through my body during production nights is what made the whole experience so worthwhile,
Jasmine shows us the pumpkin-making skills that got her an SSE place!
DIALOGUE 10
signifying all the hard work and long hours the cast and crew had put in. During the cast party after the winter show, the infamous awarding of Varsity letters recognising outstanding performance and commitment to Culver Theatre, took place. When my name was read out I was moved beyond words. It was then something struck a chord deep within me. In one year I could have done a plethora of other things. I could have been at university, travelling the world, working or completing an internship. But instead I had been chosen to become a Culver Grad and I am honoured to have received such an amazing opportunity for which I will be eternally grateful. Thank you ESU.
ON THE HORIZON – Inside We bring you details of events that are due to happen as we are about to go to press. A full report will appear in our next issue, and will be available online, but we want to share the excitement of the moment with you now. Politics Talks at ESU City Lunch Series_10
Lord Mandelson, Vince Cable and Andrew Mitchell come to DH to share their hopes for the general election ESU Hits the Campaign Trail_14
A new programme to get 16-18 year olds involved in the election campaign Launches in Malta and Turkey_14
May and June launches of brand new ESUs Poetree Workshop_14
Our Green ESU schools’ competition Election Night Party_15
Continuing with the election theme International Public Speaking Competition 2010: ‘Speculating on Our Future’_15
Announcing the 2010 competition Alumni_16
News and events from the Alumni Association
DIALOGUE 11
POLITICS TALKS AT ESU CITY LUNCH SERIES
Lord Mandelson, Vince Cable and Andrew Mitchell - speakers at Dartmouth House
An intriguing series of speaker sessions entitled ‘The ESU City Lunch Series’ has been launched by Head of Fundraising & Partnerships, Jo Wedderspoon. Around 50 guests will join our speaker for lunch at Dartmouth House and will be invited to submit a question to be put at a Q&A session following the lunch. This will be conducted under Dartmouth House rules to ensure discretion and respect for all opinions. In this election year, we are especially thrilled to have three political big hitters as our guest speakers. And, in the spirit of impartiality, we are giving each of the three main parties a chance to have their say. Lord Mandelson was our guest on 24 February. Vince Cable appeared on 11 March and Andrew Mitchell on 16 March.
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Lord Mandelson
Peter Mandelson was appointed Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) following the creation of the new Department in June 2009, when he was also appointed First Secretary of State, and Lord President of the Council. Born in 1953, he read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. As a young man he lived in Tanzania for a year, an experience which formed life-long impressions of Africa and the challenges of fighting poverty. A life-long pro-European, he led the British delegation to the first ever meeting of the European Communities Youth Forum in Strasbourg in 1979. After working as an economist at the Trades Union Congress and as a current affairs TV producer, Peter was later appointed Labour Party Director for Campaigns and Communications in 1985. In 1992, he was elected as Member
of Parliament for Hartlepool. He served until his appointment to the European Commission in 2004. He was appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in 1998, where he was responsible for the introduction of the National Minimum Wage and overseeing new measures to strengthen regional development through the creation of Regional Development Agencies. During his tenure, he also published the Government’s Competitiveness White Paper – Building the Knowledge-Driven Economy. In 1999, he was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Between 1999 and 2001, he negotiated the creation of Northern Ireland’s power sharing government and the IRA’s announcement that they planned to put their arms beyond use. He also introduced the radical overhaul of the police service in Northern Ireland. He is honorary Chair of Policy Network, a European and international think tank whose journal and conferences promote the exchange and debate of centre-left policy ideas and European social democratic thinking. He was UK chairman of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group, which brings together leading academics, politicians and business people. He has travelled widely and has lectured throughout Europe, in Asia and the United States. From 2004 to 2008, he was EU Commissioner for Trade and was appointed Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform on 3 October 2008. Vince Cable
John Vincent Cable read Natural Science and Economics at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he was President of the Cambridge Union (the famous debating society), followed by a PhD at Glasgow University. He was Treasury Finance Officer for the Kenya Government between 1966 and 1968. After lecturing in Economics at Glasgow University, he worked as a first Secretary in the Diplomatic Service in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1974-1976). He was Deputy Director of the Overseas Development Institute, which included a period working for the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, John Smith MP, as a Special Advisor. From 1983 to 1990, Vince was Special Advisor on Economic Affairs for the Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir Sonny Ramphal. In 1990, Vince joined Shell International becoming its Chief Economist in 1995. He was made head of the economics programme at Chatham House and after becoming an MP, was appointed a fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford and a visiting research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Global Governance at the LSE, for a three-year period until 2004.
He joined the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet in October 1999 as Spokesman on Trade and Industry after a spell as a junior Treasury spokesman. He has been the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor since November 2003 and is currently Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. He founded and, until recently, chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group on Victims of Crime and is involved in several others groups formed to discuss issues such as policing, pulmonary hypertension, overseas development, warm homes, primary care and public health and insurance, and financial services. Andrew Mitchell
Andrew Mitchell MP is Member of Parliament for Sutton Coldfield and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, as well as the Shadow Cabinet Member with responsibility for Birmingham. He is also a Governor of the ESU. Married with two daughters, Andrew was educated at Rugby School and Cambridge, where he read History and was elected as President of the Cambridge Union in 1978. He served in the Army (Royal Tank Regiment) before joining Lazard where he worked with British companies seeking large-scale overseas contracts. He was MP for Gedling from 1987 to 1997. During this period he held office as a Government Whip and as Minister for Social Security. He also served as a Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1992 to 1993. In 2001, he was re-elected to Parliament as MP for Sutton Coldfield. In November 2003, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Economic Affairs. From September 2004, until the end of the Parliamentary term, he was Shadow Minister for Home Affairs. Following the General Election in May 2005, Andrew joined the Shadow Cabinet and was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for International Development. An experienced and highly effective MP and former Government Minister, he is committed to serving the people of Sutton Coldfield. Andrew is currently campaigning on a number of important local issues for his constituency including those that affect the local environment and the general well-being of the resident community. He actively supports a number of local charities. Since becoming Sutton Coldfield’s MP he is particularly pleased to have achieved the reinstatement of the Sutton Coldfield Civic Service and established the Sutton Coldfield Inter-Schools Debating Competition. We look forward to bringing you some inside news on the views of these three political giants in the June issue.
Serving as a Labour Councillor in Glasgow between 1971 and 1974, Vince Cable joined the Social Democrat Party and in 1997, was elected to Parliament for Twickenham. DIALOGUE 13
ESU HITS THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
LAUNCHES IN MALTA AND TURKEY
When the country goes to the polling booths this summer, the decisions made will dictate the political landscape for the next four years. The outcome will affect everyone, young and old, rich and poor, those who cast their vote, those who didn’t, and those who couldn’t. With so much at stake in this election, the ESU has decided to find out the views of those who can’t vote, but know the implications the results will have on their future.
That’s right folks, by June 2010, the ESU will officially be in 53 countries! We want you to be part of the launch programmes for our two newest members, Malta and Turkey. Launches are fantastic opportunities not only to support a new ESU and our education programmes in that country; they are also great ways to experience a country and make friends.
In April, we are taking to the road on “The ESU Campaign Trail”, visiting five cities across the country to hear what the teenagers of today would do if they had the vote. “The Campaign Trail” will be a national road show, involving schools from across the country. Taking the style of a political hustings, school pupils will take the roles of party leaders, MPs for health, education and the environment, as well as the media, NGOs and charities. They will debate the issues that matter to them. At the end of each evening, everyone will have the chance to vote on the issues debated and the political party they would want to see leading the country in this new decade. By the end of the road show, we’ll all know who would be in power tomorrow if school pupils could decide today. “The ESU Campaign Trail” runs from 26 - 30 April. To find out more about the road show as it happens, go to www.britishdebate.com
POETREE WORKSHOP Feedback from the workshop day with the winners of our Poetree Competition, together with photographs, will feature on our website where you will also be able to see more entries to the competition. To whet your appetite, here is a selection of comments already received from the children of Albion Primary School, Southwark.
As part of its celebratory programme, ESU Malta will also launch its first branch on the island of Gozo, so you get two launches for the price of one! Malta’s itinerary includes a public speaking event by local school children and a cultural tour of the main island as well as Gozo. ESU Turkey will be delighting delegates with a boat trip on the Bosphorus, a walking tour in old Istanbul and of course, a visit to the famous Hagia Sophia. The launch ceremony will be hosted by the British Consul-General. In order to enable as many delegates as possible to attend, these two launches have been planned back-to-back with Malta launching during 27-31 May and Turkey from 2-6 June. For more information on these or any other international events or programmes, please contact Annette Fisher.
“The tree poem has now showed me that without trees it means I can’t breathe and animals may lose their habitats” Ivana
“It’s great to have won the tree competition it was fun writing it and drawing it!” Shamya “I like writing the tree poems because it makes me think and it is powerful.” A’mani “It’s amazing how Albion won out of all those schools that participated in the activity.” Stacie “I am thrilled that our school won out of loads...” Ross “It’s amazing that my school has won the competition, I never thought we would have.” Jason Please see page 24 for more information on the winners.
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Last year’s delegation at the HSBC headquarters – 2010 will beat the previous year’s record number of participant countries with Ghana, Italy, Iceland and Bangladesh joining for the first time
INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION 2010: ‘SPECULATING ON OUR FUTURE’ Do you enjoy public speaking? Would you be interested in watching 80 students from across the world speak competitively on a huge variety of topics? If this sounds like your kind of event then come along and join us for the 29th International Public Speaking Competition. This is the ESU’s flagship speech and debate competition and involves more than 40,000 students in over 40 countries. Every year, the national winners travel to London to enjoy a week of special events culminating in the international final.
This year’s participants will also enjoy a tour of BBC Television Centre and the National Gallery, training from our expert mentors and a ‘Constitutional Experience’ at Kensington Palace. ESU members and guests are invited to come and watch the students compete in the heats from 9am to midday at Dartmouth House on 21 May. For more information on this or any other international events or programmes, contact Annette Fisher. This competition is generously funded in the UK and in countries where HSBC has a presence by the HSBC Education Trust.
ELECTION NIGHT PARTY
We will offer live election news coverage in every room, a panel game with a celebrity host, a grand raffle, dancing to The Big Swing, one of the UK’s top swing bands and themed games all evening.
The ESU will celebrate British democracy with an Election Night Party (on whatever the eventual date turns out to be).
To register your interest, please contact Jo Wedderspoon, jo_wedderspoon@esu.org 020 7529 1576, and keep an eye on the website! DIALOGUE 15
ALUMNI ALL-ALUMNI REUNION 2010 The All-Alumni Reunion took place on 18 March. We hope that past scholars of ESU programmes found the event to be an excellent opportunity to meet and catch-up with fellow alumni and form new friendships. Every year, we
attract alumni from an increasing number of ESU scholarships. If you are an alumna/us please get in touch with your ideas and suggestions for future events. Look out for a full report with photos from the All-Alumni Reunion in June’s dialogue.
CRISTEL BIDS FAREWELL
ALUMNI EVENTS FOR THE DIARY
ESU Alumni Officer, Cristel Guajardo will be leaving the ESU on 26 March. During her time with us, she has organised many successful reunions for alumni including initiating the first Young SSE reunion, and getting the Harvard-Westlake scholars back together to celebrate the link between the two Californian schools and the ESU. She expanded the alumni database and reconnected with past scholars, especially those who now live abroad. Cristel will be returning to her homeland of Chile in April to pursue her career and spend more time with her husband.
50th Anniversary of the Public Speaking Competition
Cristel says, “I am sad to leave such a wonderful group of people, who have been so supportive of the Alumni Association. I wish the new Alumni Officer all the best for the exciting plans and events that lay ahead. I am confident the alumni network will only grow stronger!” She hopes alumni will continue to support the work of the ESU. We cannot thank Cristel enough for the vigour and personable approach she brought to the ESU Alumni Association – she will be sadly missed. Any communications for the Alumni Association can be addressed to the Alumni Officer – who will be appointed shortly. Meet them in the June issue of dialogue.
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On 23 April, the ESU will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Schools Public Speaking Competition with a dinner at Dartmouth House. Alumni from different years and schools will meet again to remember their time competing to win this prestigious award. International Public Speaking Competition 10 Year Reunion
In 2000, a group of international youngsters met and competed in the ESU International Public Speaking Competition. Many of them stayed in touch and now will reunite, 10 years later, in the same place that saw their friendships flourish. Alumni will mentor this year’s participants between 17 May and finals day on 21 May 2010. Capitol Hill Alumni Reunion
The Alumni department is planning to hold the annual Capitol Hill Alumni Reunion in October. Further details will follow. SSE and Harvard-Westlake Alumni Reunion
After the success of last November’s Thanksgiving dinner organised for SSE scholars who attended Harvard-Westlake School, there has been great enthusiasm for making this an annual event. The next reunion therefore, will take place in November 2010.
PROGRAMMES – Inside News and reports from the educational, cultural and international programmes that the ESU runs from Dartmouth House.
Alison Wakefield to Teach in Canterbury_18 British Debate Squad selected_18 Public Speaking in Africa_18 Great Debates are Getting Greater_19 Great Shakespeare Debate Auditions Online_20 Hong Kong Squad Tour_20 World Schools 2010_21 4 Nations – part of the preparation_22 Schools Mace Update_22 The Race is on for Public Speaking Prestige_23 International at Home_23 Green ESU_24 From the Archives_26
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ALISON WAKEFIELD TO TEACH IN CANTERBURY
BRITISH DEBATE SQUAD SELECTED
After almost a year and a half working in the International and Cultural Programmes departments, Alison Wakefield is moving on to pastures new. Following in her parents’ teaching footsteps, Alison is leaving the ESU to take up a placement in a primary school in her home town of Canterbury.
In early January, members of the ESU Centre Committee and ESU staff gave up their Saturday and had the unenviable task of interviewing the shortlist of university students who had applied to be members of the ESU British Debate Squad 2010. Those who want to be selected must send a detailed CV and then take part in a day of interviews.
Alison has been a valued member of the International and Cultural Programmes teams and while at the ESU, has worked on some exciting and successful initiatives, including the International Public Speaking Competition, Attingham lecture series, International Relations Conference and House of Lords Tea Party. She will be sorely missed and we wish her all the best of luck in her new job.
Each year, overseas ESUs put together a programme of events and find the money to bid to have UK debate mentors travel abroad and teach debating and public speaking skills. The squad members have to be good enough to work with everyone from 12 year-old children through to teachers and ESU members. Our panels had to select a total of fourteen students to go to Japan, Mexico, Lebanon, Chile and Argentina, Estonia and Denmark. The Chile-Argentina tour is especially exciting as it is one of the first examples of a multi-national regional bid for a squad visit.
PUBLIC SPEAKING IN AFRICA In early March, Annette Fisher, Head of International Programmes, and Bryn Gough, one of the ESU’s Discover Your Voice Mentors, travelled out to Ghana for a week to kick-start the International Public Speaking Competition in the capital, Accra. Partnering with Essence Communications, a media and education organisation, we are excited to run the first ESU national competition in sub-Saharan Africa. Annette and Bryn ran training workshops for teachers and students and conducted a seminar with competition organisers. Ghana, along with Iceland, Italy and Bangladesh will compete for the first time in the 2010 competition. The ESU is also interested in working with Essence Communications on their Spelling Bee competition and is hoping to link with ESUs in Mauritius and Malaysia to work towards an international spelling bee contest. Look out for the full article on the Ghana trip in the next edition of dialogue.
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Each tour is different and the selection process is not an easy one. In Japan (one of the longest running tours), four mentors work with university students at several leading Japanese universities and provide a number of training sessions for teachers of school-age children. The aim of this work is to promote the use of debate as a way of developing English language skills alongside critical thinking and logic. The culmination of the tour is to help judge the Japanese national debating championship which is organised and run by ESU Japan. In Mexico, by contrast, the squad works primarily with school children and is often involved in the coaching of the Mexican World Schools team. Chile and Argentina will see an emphasis on public speaking and helping to prepare for the International Public Speaking Competition. As well as training and coaching, the debate squad members get the chance to learn more about the country they visit. Overseas ESU members often go to great lengths to ensure that the squad gets experiences that would be impossible for normal tourists. Former squad members always have fond memories of their time on tour and are some of our most dedicated alumni.
GREAT DEBATES ARE GETTING GREATER One of the most important areas of ESU work over the years has been our debate and public speaking programmes, from the national competitions to the Discover Your Voice teaching initiative. In recent years, we have promoted a new programme for schools called ‘Great Debates’. These one-day workshops, with an expert partner organisation, give young people the chance to learn about a particular area or subject at the same time as developing their debating skills. The day culminates in a debating tournament, after advice, coaching and workshops on the topic have been delivered by the ESU’s team of coaches, mentors and experts from our partner organisation. The first of these programmes was the hugely successful Great Shakespeare Debate, now in its 5th year. Run in association with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, it is always generously supported by members and branches. Last year, we worked with the Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (MRPSGB) and
2009 Great Shakespeare Debate winners, Parrs Wood High School, receive their certificates from Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace
London’s Transport Museum. The aim of these days is to attract students with a passion for a particular subject, to see new ways to learn in their subject area, and introduce them to debating and communication skills. Whilst learning from experts and handling exhibits relating to the subject they care about, the Great Debates series aims to promote the essential life skills of elucidating your point of view on any topic. While acquainting new schools and organisations with the work of the ESU, we are also able to demonstrate the universality of the skills we teach and how they can be applied across the entire school curriculum. Several new projects are under development. Soon, we hope to offer Great History, Sports, Faith and Environment Debates. The generosity of the Garfield Weston Foundation has made this rapid expansion in our suite of programmes possible and the response from teachers and students has been very enthusiastic. Please check online under Speech and Debate > Great Debates for more information as it develops!
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GREAT SHAKESPEARE DEBATE AUDITIONS ONLINE
HONG KONG SQUAD TOUR
The Great Shakespeare Debate is now well established and attracts interest and entries from schools across the country. The two-day event, held on 3 and 4 March, gives teams of A-level students the opportunity to visit the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford and engage in a series of stimulating debates about the Bard and his works as well as having talks with experts like Professor Stanley Wells.
The first squad tour of 2010 was a five-person team to Hong Kong. The team consisted of Rachael Whitbread (University of York PhD), Kiera Healy (Trinity College Dublin), Rosie Unwin (former ESU programmes officer), Fred Cowell (Birkbeck PhD) and Fletch Williams (University of Durham).
Academically stimulating and useful for students with coursework and upcoming exams, the discussions also tend to range across topics and give young people a chance to immerse themselves in a subject. The students watch a Royal Shakespeare Company play on the evening of their stay in Stratford and get to look at a range of the archive material held by the Trust. This year, for the first time, teams wanting to take part had to create an online video discussing one of four themes; love, ambition, appearance versus reality, or fate. 2009’s winner was Parrs Wood School from Manchester. The three-strong team received their certificates from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace before Christmas (see photo on page 19). A full report on the 2010 competition will appear in June’s issue.
They spent just over two weeks in Hong Kong teaching in schools on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and in the New Territories. A standard group was 30 or more children each morning and afternoon and whilst very tiring, one group member said; “things were hard-going – but it was impossible not to remain enthusiastic as the kids were eager to learn and very interested in what we had to say.” The Hong Kong tour has run for several years now and remains popular with 3-4 applications per place. Enthusiasm from the schools in Hong Kong matches this. It is a brilliant opportunity to get to teach in a different environment and work with some incredibly driven and hard working young people. The team uses a range of games and activities to get all the children up and speaking, working with them to improve their confidence and presentation skills. By the end of the tour all the squad members were understandably tired but had enjoyed the experience immensely.
Fletch teaching a workshop
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Hasan, Edward, Matt and Greg make up Team England
WORLD SCHOOLS 2010 This year the World School Debating Championship was held in Doha in Qatar. It was the largest ever with 57 countries represented at the competition. Each team of four or five students faced eight rounds of debating in their bid to be one of the top sixteen ranked teams. Teams competed to get into the quarter, semi and ultimately the grand final for a chance to be world champion schools debating team. The England team this year were all new to the competition as the entire team from last year (who made the final in Athens) are now at university. Despite their inexperience, there was still a lot of pressure on the team to live up to the outstanding record which team England has set in the past, with nine appearances in the grand final and three wins. After the first eight rounds team England was ranked 5th. The team faced India in the octo-final and won 4 - 1, Pakistan in the quarter final and won 6 - 1, and Wales in the semi final and won 9 - 0. In the grand final, the team faced Canada (who have hosted the competition four times and won it once) in what was described as, “a tough case to debate and a tough
debate to judge”. The final decision was Canada 8 - England 3 with England opposing the motion ‘This House Believes That governments should never bail out big companies’. The team, consisting of Matt Handley, Hasan Dindjer, Edward Schwitzer and Greg Farquhar gave up most of their weekends between mid-November and the start of February to train for the competition (on top of their school work) and they all put in impressive performances. The team coach, Nicholas Pacheco, who coaches on a voluntary basis while also practicing law for a major international firm said of the team; “they should all be really pleased with how well they’ve done - all the teams in the competition work hard to be competitive on an international level and these results are a testament to how hard the boys have worked.”
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4 NATIONS – PART OF THE PREPARATION In preparation for the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) 2010, Dartmouth House played host to the ‘4 Nations’ competition. 4 Nations is a friendly event with an emphasis on training. It is hosted, in turn, by England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Unfortunately, the Irish national team was unable to attend this year and so its place was taken up by a team from Greece. Over 16-17 January, the teams took part in three rounds of debate, culminating in a final between team England and team Wales. In a 3 – 2 split, the judges awarded the win to England opposing the motion: ‘This House would ban all forms of pornography’. As well as an opportunity for the team members to get some practice and feedback from the judges, it was also a chance for the three full-time teachers to get some practice before heading to Qatar to judge. Clare Boughey (St Francis Xavier, Liverpool), Ivan Baird (Pimlico Academy, London) and Beverly Johnstone (Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School, Kent) added to the pool of judges who came from all over the world. England last hosted the championship in 1999. Since then, international ESUs have supported their teams in Mexico and Mongolia with visits from ESU staff and student mentors on
SCHOOLS MACE UPDATE With the first rounds of this year’s Schools Mace complete, 400 schools have become 80. Victors from the first rounds were preparing for the regional finals in February and March as dialogue went to press. The evidence is that the competition is getting tougher. The second round and regional finals are running on the same day this year. Teams will receive their motions an hour before they are due to debate the topic – a far cry from the two week preparation time they have enjoyed in earlier stages of the competition.
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Debate Squad coaching tours. In addition to supporting the English national team, ESU Speech and Debate staff are involved in coaching two other national teams. Kallina Basli (Debate Education Manager) is the coach of the Greek team and Sayeqa Islam (Debate Education Officer) has recently taken over coaching the Indian team. Team Greece:
Team Greece have participated in the competition since 1999. They reached the semi-finals on three occasions (2004, 2008, 2009) and have been consistently ranked in the top 16 teams, which makes them one of the most successful English as a Second Language (ESL) teams in the competition. Following the team’s competitive success, Greece hosted the WSDC last February in Athens, where the England team reached the final. This year, the Greek team was ranked 4th after the eight preliminary rounds but was defeated in the octo-finals by Pakistan on the motion ‘THBT we should have no laws which restrict free speech.’ Team India:
India first got involved with World Schools following a successful ESU Squad tour in 2008. Since then they have been coached by Andrew Fitch (former ESU Debate Education Officer), and currently by Sayeqa Islam. Team India was ranked 12th after the preliminary rounds and so took part in the octo-finals where it was beaten by England. This is an amazing achievement for what is a very young team from a country which has only recently started to take part in World Schools. We look forward to their success in the future. In 2011 World Schools will be held in Dundee and we look forward to another attempt at the title from team England.
‘Short prep’ debates require the teams to draw on their general knowledge and ability to think creatively about complex and important issues without any outside help or research. This makes it a real test of team work and the students’ oratorical and debating skills. Short prep rounds also provide a fantastic way to practise real-life skills helping to give students the confidence to face tough questions in high pressure situations in the future. This is the first year we have used the short prep debate in a Schools Mace round, but it is nothing new to the world of debating and it will add a new and exciting dimension to this most prestigious of competitions. The winners of the regional finals will compete in the England national final at Dartmouth House on 23 April.
THE RACE IS ON FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING PRESTIGE Branches have been busy over the last few months preparing and organising National Schools Public Speaking Competition heats. The build-up differs from branch to branch with some schools only having to win one heat while others have a first round and a branch final. Branch rounds are now completed and the schools are preparing for the regional finals. Those already through include The Red Maid’s School in Bristol, Bourne Grammar School in Lincolnshire, St Mary’s Convent School, Worcester and Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. Other winning schools are Edgbaston High School for Girls in Birmingham, St Paul’s School in London, Ilford County High School in Redbridge and West Buckland School in Exeter. Pupils who take part in the competition gain in self-confidence and assurance and this can only stand them in good stead in later life. Research has shown that the most common form of social phobia is public speaking anxiety. By taking part in the competition, students learn that good preparation is the key to speaking with authority in front of an audience – a skill which can be put to good use through their university life and future careers.
INTERNATIONAL AT HOME Three times a year, the ESU opens its doors to members of the organisation and the international community in order to make links, friendships and new and positive connections with others. At an International at Home Coffee Morning on 10 February, we welcomed Ambassadors and High Commissioners from The Republic of Macedonia, El Salvador, Montenegro, and Antigua and Barbuda, along with representatives from the High Consulate for Turkey, Panama Embassy, Embassy of Bosnia & Herzegovina and Embassies of Poland and the Philippines. The February International at Home was the first to be themed, with the guest of honour, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, His Excellency Dr M Sayeedur Rahman Khan paving the way for consecutive events. Dr Khan gave a touching speech noting both the similarities and differences between Bangladesh and the UK, and emphasising how important the use of English is in today’s global context. The next International at Home will take Turkey as its theme to tie in with the launch of ESU Turkey in June. October’s International at Home will be themed on Mexico. For more information or to reserve your place, please contact Annette Fisher, 0207 529 1565 or email annf@esu.org
The winning schools’ speakers have spoken on diverse topics such as ‘Public figures should not be judged by their private lives’, ‘Education today puts learning before living’, ‘Voting should be compulsory’, ‘Democracy is a failure’ and ‘Referendums do not represent public opinion’. These topics are deliberately chosen to ensure lively questions from both the questioner and the audience. The ability to hold one’s own in a discussion is a useful life-skill and many speakers have shown their willingness to voice controversial opinions, such as a speaker in a London heat arguing how ‘in the battle of the sexes, man will always win’. With only eight spaces available for the national final and a total of 350 schools taking part, competition is fierce. The UK final takes place at Lincoln’s Inn on Friday 23 April, when we expect an exhilarating and hard fought contest in front of a supportive audience and an expert panel of judges. A full report will appear in June’s issue.
Director-General Mike welcomes the High Commissioners for Antigua and Barbuda and for Bangladesh
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GREEN ESU
HUMAN SECURITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE On 24 February, as part of the ESU’s ongoing season on ‘Climate Change’, we hosted a lecture in partnership with the Atlantic Council, UK featuring Dan Smith OBE, Director-General of International Alert. His topic was ‘Human Security and Climate Change’. International Alert is an independent peace-building organisation that has worked for over 20 years to lay the foundations for lasting peace and security in communities affected by violent conflict. Its multi-faceted approach focuses both in and across various regions; aiming to shape policies and practices that affect peace-building; and help build skills and capacity through training. ‘As climate change unfolds, one of its effects is a heightened risk of violent conflict. This risk is at its sharpest in poor, badly governed countries, many of which have a recent history of armed conflict. This both adds to the burdens faced by deprived and vulnerable communities and makes it harder to reduce their vulnerability by adapting to climate change.’(Climate Change, Conflict and Fragility: Understanding the linkages, shaping effective responses by Dan Smith & Janani Vivekananda, International Alert, London 2009) ‘Hardest hit by climate change will be people living in poverty, in under-developed and unstable states, under poor governance. The effect of the physical consequences – such as more frequent extreme weather, melting glaciers, and shorter growing seasons – will add to the pressures under which those societies already live. The background of poverty and bad governance means many of these communities both have a low capacity to adapt to climate change and face a high risk of violent conflict. To understand how the effects of climate change will interact with socio-economic and political problems in poorer countries means tracing the consequences of consequences. This process highlights four key elements of risk – political instability, economic weakness, food insecurity and large-scale migration.’ (A Climate of Conflict: The links between climate change, peace and war by Dan Smith & Janani Vivekananda, International Alert, London 2007) For more information on this or the ESU Climate Change season email green@esu.org
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NUCLEAR ENERGY – A BLOW-UP ISSUE We decided to poll the views of students, parents and teachers who attended the first rounds of the Schools Mace on one of the big environmental questions of the day; ‘Is nuclear energy a price worth paying to reduce our carbon footprint?’ Over half of the respondents were prepared to accept nuclear power to reduce the amount of carbon we produce and 9 percent abstained.
YES 58%
NO – 33%
9% – IN ABSTENTION
If you have an issue which you think we should poll during next year’s schools competitions, send your suggestion to alaw@esu.org
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALBION PRIMARY SCHOOL: WINNER OF THE ESU POETREE COMPETITION! We wanted to know what London primary school children thought about the impact climate change could have on our environment. London is one of the most polluted cities in the UK, fortunately the Capital’s many green spaces and parks provide a welcome break from its often congested roads. We invited schools to enter our Poetree competition by submitting poems based on the theme ‘Imagine a World Without Trees.’ Everyone at the ESU was delighted with the hundreds of entries we received which all clearly showed just how knowledgeable and passionate school children are about one of the largest issues they will face in the future. After a tough judging process, we are pleased to announce that Albion Primary School in Southwark was chosen as the winning school. Albion’s entries really got to grips with the
many issues surrounding the importance of trees and the natural world. Their poems were very engaging and readable and were all illustrated beautifully. It was clear to all the judges that the pupils had put a lot of work and enthusiasm into their poems. In March award-winning author Sarah Ardizzone will deliver workshops for the children at Albion Primary and they will receive copies of Toby Alone courtesy of Walker Books. Toby Alone is an adventure of heroism, friendship and survival – with a powerful ecological message – set in a captivating miniature world. Thank you to ESU London region for sponsoring Poetree.
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FROM THE ARCHIVE Every issue, we hope to bring you a topical and fascinating piece of journalism from the past. This quarter, our dip into the ESU archive reveals a facet of American life that was yet to hit our shores and one that stirs up old rivalries. THE ‘HELP YOURSELF’ RESTAURANT Ninety years ago, the ESU’s founder, Sir Evelyn Wrench visited Pittsburgh and was sufficiently impressed by his first visit to a cafeteria to extol its virtues to readers of the ESU journal The Landmark. ‘One enters a huge, well-lighted, spotlessly clean dining-hall with a long counter, behind which stand young ladies, dressed in white, chewing gum and of a singularly independent disposition, from whom only the bravest male would dare to elicit any information. But why waste words? The dishes are before you, invitingly displayed. One make’s one’s selection – a steaming hot ragout, rolls and butter, vegetables in separate little dishes, ice-cream and apple pie, iced water and paper napkin - and one slowly passes the toll-gate behind which sits the mathematical genius who in the space of about one second after passing her eye across one’s tray, informs one of the amount of the bill for one’s repast. I was lost in admiration at the lightening speed with which this young lady, endowed with attributes which were surely worthy of the realms of high finance in Wall Street, informed me that my meal cost $1.35. Having paid the sum, I proudly marched off with my tray to enjoy my repast. Certainly, the Cafeteria is a great institution.’ DIALOGUE 26
THE ‘FARCE’ OF ENGLAND VERSUS AMERICA In 2010, we possibly do not appreciate the distance we have travelled in terms of Anglo-American relations, though even now some might argue that the ‘special relationship’ is more widely appreciated on this side of the Atlantic than the other. When Sir Evelyn Wrench visited Pittsburgh in 1920, anti-British feeling was running high, due to the Ireland issue and the coming election. One old American friend informed him ‘to admit ever having drunk afternoon tea was considered locally as treason to the American Constitution’. In another article in The Landmark, the ESU journal, titled “Our Gushing Attitude”, it is reported that an anonymous writer to the Daily Sketch recently returned from America suggested, ‘America is getting suspicious of all this British gush, and enquiring minds across the Atlantic want to know what is behind this repeated talk of hands across the sea’- guessing that the need of a loan might be behind it all. In yet another article, W K Kelsey, London correspondent of the Detroit News, reported that Mr Hearst, an American newspaper magnate was preaching hatred against England day after day – though Scotland, Wales and Ireland remained unscathed. Kelsey suggested that he was ‘appealing to brains that do not function.... talking to the blotter-minded, who absorb and do not analyze.’ The blame he laid partly at the US education system, with grammar schools teaching no history other than that of the US, with scant mention of two wars against England. Classical history was taught in high schools ‘but the nineteenth century remains a sealed book to many of these students because so much time is wasted in cramming them with the date of the fall or Corinth and such like unimportant trifles that the school year is ended while the class is still talking about Napoleon.’ Colleges and universities concentrated mainly on the Middle Ages so that the student ‘becomes so absorbed in architecture that he spends the rest of his college life digging up ancient ruins and solving disputes about the fragments.’ Mr Hearst also informed his readers that the British ‘loathe the United States’. A cynical Mr Kelsey predicted that ‘The farce of England v America’ would be played out after the American election when all Irish-American, German-American ‘and all the other hyphenated-American votes’ had been cast for Hearst’s preferred anti-British candidate in the US election.
BRANCHES – Inside The UK branches of the ESU provide a stimulating range of events and programmes often inspiring ESU DH to turn local endeavours into national ones. We hope to cover branch events in more detail and welcome submissions on all topics! London Region_28 South West Region_29 Bath and District Bristol Cornwall Exeter and District Taunton and District South Region_30 Salisbury and South Wilts South East Region_31 Brighton Hove and District Canterbury and East Kent Eastbourne Guildford 1066 (Hastings)
Midlands Region_33 Gloucestershire Worcestershire East Region_34 Epping Forest Cambridge Colchester and North East Essex Hertfordshire Norwich and Norfolk Ouse Valley Southend-on-Sea Suffolk North East Region_37 Lincolnshire REGIONAL DIARY_38
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BRANCHES BRANCHES CONFERENCE BOOKINGS NOW OPEN Register for your place at the annual Branches Conference to be held at Dartmouth House on Friday 30 July. Following the success of the one-day conference at DH in 2008, we return to the home of the ESU for a series of sessions on programmes and the reviews of the organisation spearheaded by Mike Lake, our new Director-General. Accommodation will be available at the Royal Over-seas League for those who request it. Prices for the conference are as follows: Category A: Full residential delegate £179; Category B: Full delegate (non-residential) £89, Category C: Day delegate (conference sessions and lunch only) £49. Please see the booking form (loose leaf insert) for further details.
LONDON REGION By the time you read this, winter will be a distant memory (we hope!), when London Region together with Dartmouth House celebrated the arrival of Christmas with a delightful evening of lovely music and readings, followed by a splendid buffet with mulled wine. In January, despite appalling weather, two groups of members went on a backstage tour of the Royal Opera House. Some were unable to come due to the weather, so watch this space for a visit later in the year. It was a wonderfully comprehensive tour and the guide was excellent – one of our group reported that she was the best guide that she had experienced anywhere! We are looking forward to the opportunity of meeting the ESU Director-General Mike Lake, and a talk by author and historian Philip Mansel on the ‘French Monarchies 1770 – 1870’. As you will see in the London Diary, there will also be a talk in April by Sir Ian Blair, former head of the Metropolitan Police.
OBITUARY Betty Hollas Bath and District Branch was very well represented at the sad occasion of the funeral of our President, Betty Hollas, on 22 December in Bath Abbey. Condolences were expressed to her husband Bob and to the members of her family by her first husband, Gordon. Betty had been a highly supportive and respected president since March 2005. Previously she had been active on the Plymouth and Bath & District Committees, being Chairman of both, as well as serving as an ESU Governor. She will be sadly missed.
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SOUTH WALES REGION In December, 107 members and guests attended what, after three consecutive years at Howell’s School, Llandaff, has become the traditional Christmas gathering for the ESU in South Wales. The evening began with a reception intended to lubricate the vocal cords of those less used to singing. We then moved into the school’s splendid hall. The school’s Senior Choir (recently invited to sing in China) at about 65 strong failed to outnumber the audience, but was certainly able to out-sing them. A pleasing selection of seven carols was interspersed with three Christmas hymns, and the branch Chairman was
able to be sincere in his fulsome thanks. The audience then dispersed to the dining hall in a suitably cheerful mood. Following supper, where the dining room was filled to capacity, branch Vice-Chairman Roy Noble gave an amusing, illuminating and appropriate Christmas address, as indeed one would expect from Wales’s well-known raconteur. He was particularly good at revealing the origins of the traditional Italian cake, panetone. The branch President, Captain Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards, thanked Roy, noting that he deserved to be invited to address us again next year, wishing all present a happy Christmas.
SOUTH WEST REGION Bath and District Our January meeting took the form of a visit to one of Bath’s oldest craft manufacturers, the book-bindery of George Bayntun, established in 1894 and now occupying premises near the railway station. Twenty-five members were welcomed by George’s great grand-son Edward, and we spent a delightful hour talking to the half-dozen craftsmen at their work. It takes around six weeks for all the binding processes to take place in this genuine ‘living museum’, and there is no shortage of clients seeking such elegant bindings for their libraries. Many of the group then took an informal lunch at the Open House cafe alongside Manvers Street Baptist Church.
College. Difficult decisions in the heats led to four schools being in the final, where Red Maids School shone and won first place, with Colstons School taking second. Red Maids will go on to the regional finals in March. The Eric Dehn Cup for best speaker was won by Ciara McMahon. Winners of the Bristol Schools’ public speaking competition: Saskia Botterell, Chloe Coleman and Ciara McMahon from Red Maids School, with judges June Rayner (chair), Annabel Chapman and Tony Williams.
Bristol In the lead-up to Christmas we all enjoyed a social ‘At Home’ where we were able to partake of excellent food and wine while chatting and getting to know some of our newer members – a very happy occasion. Snowy weather interrupted our New Year programme, with the postponement of Annie Syrett’s report of her work with street children in Bolivia. However her presentation was well worth waiting for, and we were all impressed by her work with her charity Alalay (alalay.co.uk) in Bolivia. What started as a few months abroad as part of her university course has led Annie on to setting up the registered charity, Friends of Alalay (Santa Cruz). She recently spent some months there, teaching English to children who have been rescued from drugs, alcohol and prostitution on the streets of Santa Cruz. This has led to an improvement in their education, and some are now in college and university with excellent prospects. We are delighted to continue to support her work, and look forward to hearing her speak again in the future.
Author EV Thompson signs books during his visit to Cornwall Branch at Carruan Farm, Polzeath.
Cornwall In December EV Thompson, the distinguished author of historical novels set in Cornwall, addressed the branch at Carruan Farm, Polzeath, on ‘The Life of a Cornish Writer’. More than 50 members listened to a fascinating talk before enjoying a typically Cornish lunch comprising produce grown/ reared on the farm. Mr Thompson spoke of his astonishingly eclectic life before becoming a writer, his bitter regret that history as a taught subject seems to have been put on the back burner, his passion for writing, and his joy in the knowledge that his books bring pleasure to many people. After lunch he was pleased to sign copies of his most recent book, Churchyard and Hawke.
The Bristol public speaking finals took place at our usual venue, Clifton DIALOGUE 29
Branches
Guest speaker Sue Lawley (centre) at the Exeter Branch Christmas event with Laurie Burbridge and Elizabeth Cummings.
Exeter and District We had a very festive meeting in December. The Golf and Country Club, our usual venue, looked beautiful with Christmas tree and many decorations, the tables were adorned with candelabra, candles crackers and poppers and we enjoyed a delicious meal of turkey and Christmas pudding. We were pleased to welcome Meriel Talbot from Dartmouth House and Gill Prior from Salisbury Branch, who gave a brief talk on the Nurses Work Programme which the Exeter and District branch is supporting this year. Our speaker was the television presenter and broadcaster, Sue Lawley. She chose to talk on ‘Happiness’ and we had a very stimulating, interesting and entertaining talk on this subject. She skilfully illustrated her lecture with snippets from her many fascinating interviews with celebrities over her 18 years as presenter of ‘Desert Island Discs’. She told us that happiness means the small pleasures of every day and great pleasures occasionally. She concluded with a quote from Abraham Lincoln, ‘We are as happy as we make up our minds to be’. For our first meeting of the new decade we welcomed John McInerney, Emeritus
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Professor of Agricultural Economics, whose subject was ‘Where is Agriculture Going? – Groping, Coping and Hoping’. For the last 30 years there have been 300,000 farmers in the UK but they have seen their contribution in the economic market fall dramatically. There is a great feeling of uncertainty today, but farmers continue to manage the current situation in difficult circumstances, ever hopeful that things will improve. Having illustrated his talk with graphs and figures, he concluded that farmers must embrace multi-functional agriculture, look for ways of adding value, diversify, and look for subsidies for improving the environment. We must accept change in farming – 60 percent of farmers are now part-time and have an additional form of income from an alternative source. Taunton and District Neil Parrish subtitled his talk ‘With special reference to the Common Agriculture Policy’. If the headline had not attracted attention in Somerset, that phrase certainly would – and it did. He began by describing the extraordinary monthly lifecycle of the MEP, with three weeks in Brussels followed by the trek to Strasbourg for a week. He found himself there by surprise, as he had not expected to win a seat in the 1999 election, but as a Devon farmer he was well placed to focus his attention on the Common Agricultural Policy, rising to the chair of the European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee. In his talk, he surveyed the difficulty of designing a policy for farming an area that stretches from the sub-Arctic to the Mediterranean, growing a bewildering range of crops on widely varied
landholding arrangements. One thing he was absolutely clear about was the need for the EU to make the best use of its productive land. To achieve that goal he looks for maximum flexibility and minimum bureaucracy. His last words were – “As a trading area the EU could be successful; as a political union it could pull itself asunder.” Questions came thick and fast, ranging from GM crops and energy production to widening membership and food packaging. One answer on language emerged that was dear to the hearts of members, a victory for English as it has established itself as the lingua franca of the corridors, which is where the deals are done. Park School, Yeovil swept the board in the branch public speaking competition at Queen’s College, Taunton. The team, consisting of Thomas Sankey, Adam Coppard and Aaron Newbury, goes on to the regional finals in Exeter. Thomas Sankey won the Keith Knott Memorial Salver as best speaker, with Aaron Newbury as best questioner. Tamsin Eddy, also from the Park School, took the Chairman’s Prize.
SOUTH REGION Salisbury and South Wilts In December our Christmas lunch at the Rose and Crown was preceded by a talk from the Revd Jack Leeming entitled ‘Parson’s Pleasure’. Mr Leeming took his audience through the major stages of his life from humble beginnings, through national service, training as an Anglican priest and service as an RAF chaplain, to his work in Salisbury Hospital and the four parishes of the Nadder Valley. The biography was a framework for his superb collection of amusing anecdotes,
the more effective for being delivered with a perfectly straight face. It was a splendidly light-hearted talk most appropriate for a festive occasion and much enjoyed by a very appreciative audience. An inspired choice for the last meeting of the year! A raffle, held in support of two schools in Nepal, raised £250. Our January talk was given by Air Vice-Marshal Sir John Severne, entitled ‘Silvered Wings’. Sir John came across as a quiet, modest man, with a delightful sense of humour. His passion for flying was sparked by being taken for a flight in a Gipsy Moth at the age of 10 and remained with him throughout his career and beyond: At the age of 80 he celebrated his birthday by flying a Tiger Moth. After a short course for potential officers at Christ’s College Cambridge in 1943, he traced his career from Pilot Officer through service in the UK, Germany and the Middle East to Air Vice-Marshal. Among the more prestigious posts were stints as Station Commander at Kinloss when Nimrods were replacing Shackletons, as Commandant of the Central Flying School, which was responsible for standards of flying and instruction throughout the world (and where he also enjoyed the responsibility of overseeing the Red Arrows), and Air Vice-Marshal at RAF Mount Batten. Other highlights included three and a half years as Equerry to the Duke of Edinburgh and seven years, after his first retirement, as Captain of the Queen’s Flight, responsible for all travel arrangements for the Royal Family, flying with the Queen on 256 occasions and with the Queen Mother on 195 occasions. In 1984 he was appointed Equerry to the Queen and shortly before his second retirement was knighted in a private audience with the Queen.
SOUTH EAST REGION Brighton Hove and District How does ‘Sweet Bells, Jangled out of Tune?’ fetch you? A harmless homily on the dying art of bell-ringing, perhaps? In fact, this was the title chosen by historian and sociologist James Gardner for his book on the original Brighton mental hospital, and which he used for he title of his talk at our December meeting. The hospital was opened at Haywards Heath in 1859, and a fine building it was – and is. We learned that asylums were designed as places of first resort for the mentally ill, but fairly rapidly became places of last resort. Once you were in, it was difficult to get out, and those who did found they missed its sense of safety. Mr Gardner emphasised that George III’s illness, still shrouded in minor mystery, was the catalyst for serious attention to those off-balanced (400 of them at one time in the Haywards Heath home) and that surprise! surprise! Methodism’s ubiquitous founder, John Wesley, developed an electrical machine which gave off sparks, was according to him, ‘worth 1,000 ordinary medicines,’ and was a prototype of electroconvulsive therapy. Long queues formed to receive attention from this remarkable man of many parts. The January lecture was interspersed by the branch’s traditional New Year’s lunch at Royal Albion Hotel on the seafront.
Our programme has continued with two lectures, primarily historical, the first with sharp relevance to the present day, the second offering a detached excursion into a vanished world. Our member Dr Gerald Adler gave a sombre account of the origins of the contemporary Middle Eastern conflict, tracing its roots and then expanding in considerable detail on developments since around 1880. In a balanced account which probed many dark corners, he highlighted the responsibilities of all parties, including the involvement of our own country, which we can be prone to overlook. John Lockyer, lately of the staff of St Paul’s Cathedral, has made a close study of Hubert de Burgh, an early mediaeval statesman and power behind the throne in the era of King John and Henry III. His address had extra relevance as we approach the anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta and as we can now enjoy the refurbished mediaeval apartments of Dover Castle, Hubert having been Warden of the Cinque Ports. Several members commented that it had been their first opportunity to engage closely with a period so remote from our own and yet able to be presented so vividly.
DIALOGUE 31
Branches
Canterbury and East Kent
Guildford
We were delighted to welcome Director of Branches Meriel Talbot to our successful and enjoyable Thanksgiving lunch and did appreciate her giving up her Saturday to be with us. We enjoyed a very lively and informative talk about ‘Kent and America and Their Special Links’ given by Amanda Cottrell, previous High Sheriff of Kent.
The branch public speaking competition in February was held at the Guildhall on in the presence of the Mayor, Councillor Pauline Serl, and ESU Director of Branches Meriel Talbot.
The branch also welcomed Professor Malcolm Andrews, a leading scholar on Dickens. He gave an entertaining talk on ‘Dickens as a Performer’, and delighted all with his readings in the Undercroft of The Kings School, with whom we joined to make this a pleasant pre-Christmas event with mulled wine and mince pies . Our annual University of Kent Lecture followed, with Lady Bridgeman giving ‘A Life in Pictures’ and telling the interesting story of the development of the Bridgeman Art Library, held in the new Woolf Lecture Theatre and followed by dinner in Rutherford College hosted by Dr Rachel Forrester- Jones. Our thanks to all three speakers for giving so generously of their time. We are most glad that we decided not to hold a meeting in January in view of the ghastly conditions for travelling.
Eastbourne members Will Glover (left) and Danny McGourlay present a cheque to Robin House Children’s Hospice Director Libby Gold.
Eastbourne Christmas saw the branch present the latest in its charity fundraising cheques from the work of Quirky Books. Our 2009 book Pack-A-Picnic, 5 Days In and Around Loch Lomond, has been raising revenues for the Robin House Children’s Hospice. In late December Will Glover and Danny McGourlay presented a cheque for £1049.50 to Hospice director Libby Gold. The money will be used to develop a sensory garden for patients. February saw the branch welcome our new Director-General, Mike Lake, to our luncheon at The Royal Eastbourne Golf Club. Engaging company and an enlightening talk on the future of the ESU made for a wonderful day. This was followed in March by Robert Milne’s talk on Jane Austen at the home of Pat King in Meads. The branch is close to the publication date for our 2010 charity books. We welcome submissions from ESU members nationally for our scholarship fundraising book on the history of afternoon tea. Anyone wishing to submit a recipe for inclusion can submit this to wjdglover@yahoo.co.uk.
DIALOGUE 32
Six schools were represented, with the best speaker award going to Sareena Blackburn of Epsom College for her motion that ‘Some conflicts will never be resolved’. Best questioner was Katie Gotham of Tormead School in answer to Sareena Blackburn’s talk, and best chairperson was Jamie Cotton of Sutton Grammar School for Boys. The winning team was Charterhouse School, with the runners up being Sutton Grammar School for Boys. The Mayor is allowed to give a prize to someone outside of the best teams who she thought also excelled, this being Tormead School speaker Rebecca Butt for her talk entitled ‘Skeletons should stay in the cupboard’. The judges were Professor David James, Councillor Jen Powell and Mr Geoffrey Thompson. The schools, teachers and pupils deserve the highest congratulations. Also thanks are due to the judges and all who were involved in not only the Guildhall evening but also the heats.
MIDLANDS REGION Gloucestershire
Judy Appleyard, Chairman of the Hastings Philharmonic Choir, encounters potential chorister Joshua Lavender at a Hastings Branch event.
1066 (Hastings) In January Judy Appleyard, Chairman of the Hastings Philharmonic Choir, told members of the history of the choir and its future plans at a luncheon meeting in Hastings College. Founded in 1928, the choir used to give a Christmas concert in a local theatre. This is not now possible as panto has taken over! A former church on the seafront, St Mary-in-the-Castle, provides an excellent alternative, apart from the lack of space behind the scenes. It is sad therefore that the future of this beautiful building is in jeopardy, or that it may be used for an activity which will preclude musical events. Some fine concerts are scheduled under the direction of the well-known musician and conductor Hilary Davan Wetton. New singers are always welcome to join the choir, especially men. One of the students at the college, Joshua Lavender, who was a waiter at the lunch, is also a would-be singer. He immediately found himself with an application form! Judy thanked us for a generous donation to the choir last year and outlined plans for securing more regular funding from supporters, benefactors, and corporate members. In discussion, she deplored the absence of good, classical music from schools nowadays. Children do not realise what they are missing if they never even hear it.
The Deputy Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Anne Regan, was ‘absolutely amazed’ at the standard of speaking at the branch public speaking final in Cheltenham Council Chamber. “The confidence of these young people is a joy to behold, and it is so wonderful to know they are the future generation. I only wish my fellow town councillors were here to hear for themselves. “The high standard is way above what I had expected. It is hard to believe they are all around the 15-year-old age group. Their schools, teachers and parents should be so proud of them all, not only in the way they have spoken, but also the way in which they have conducted themselves this evening.” The three adjudicators, Michael Krier, Chris Colton and Austin Millington, chose Cheltenham Ladies’ College’s team as winners, going through to the Midland Regional Final. Gloucestershire member Chris Colton was back with us again as guest speaker for our February luncheon at The Manor House Hotel, Moreton-inMarsh. Professor Colton, Emeritus Consultant orthopaedic trauma surgeon, spoke on ‘Brace Yourselves!’ based on the Kegworth M1 air crash 21 years ago, when he headed the emergency team receiving the injured at Nottingham University Hospital.
We were advised that the safest place to sit is in line with the wing and that if airline seats were designed correctly, they would be facing backwards. One of the other lessons learned was for overhead hand luggage compartments to be abolished and so avoid the risk of these breaking up and crashing down onto passengers’ heads. No airline has taken this advice. Worcestershire A very enjoyable reception by the Chairman was held in December at 14 College Road, Malvern, where a buffet lunch was followed by much talk and seasonal cheer. January was, however, a great disappointment, with a great deal of snow and ice forcing the cancellation of our January meeting, which was to have been a lunch and a light-hearted talk by Colin McCorquodale, entitled ‘A Monarch a Minute’. A committee meeting scheduled a week later also fell victim to the weather, but the branch public speaking final did go ahead on 28 January.
After the experiences and lessons learned, his team re-defined ‘The Brace Position’ and ever since has been urging world airlines to follow this new procedure. Very few have taken this vital advice. His illustrated talk was both alarming and absorbing, and we highly recommended other branches to invite him to talk.
DIALOGUE 33
Branches
EAST REGION Epping Forest
Epping Forest Branch said goodbye to two of its most active members, Ron Truss and Una Corduroy (seated centre with their friends) who have taken us on holiday at home and abroad, and to wonderful London concerts. They are now retiring to Yorkshire to be nearer their family. We will miss them greatly. Cambridge
Leo Hamilton-Hoole, Ann Carley, speaker John Cartwright and Alexander Finnis at the Cambridge Welland Valley Branch Thanksgiving dinner held at The Hunting Lodge Hotel at Cottingham. John, a member of the branch and a 25-year associate member of the American Bar, spoke on ‘The American Dream’, linking up his topic very cleverly with the talk given by Frank Orban III the previous year.
DIALOGUE 34
Colchester and North-east Essex
Colchester public speaking participants with organiser Karen Walden-Smith and branch President Prof James Raven.
The branch public speaking heat in January, organised by Karen Walden-Smith, was held at Essex University, where a near capacity audience saw seven teams compete in the lecture theatre venue. The winning team was from Philip Morant School, Colchester, whose speaker competently argued in favour of giving 16-year-olds the vote. The ‘B’ team from Colchester Royal Grammar School finished runners-up. Whilst holidaying in California, local member Jan Lucas and her family met up with fellow ESU members Jim and Matilde Jones and their family at their home in Palm Springs. Originally built for Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd, the house includes a large sunken bar in the lounge and a magnificent swimming pool. However, the most notable feature is the beautiful English style country garden. Jim, a dedicated anglophile, has created this garden and enjoys the challenge of maintaining it in spite of the arid desert climate.
Hertfordshire
Norwich and Norfolk
In December several members visited the Theatre Royal, Windsor, for a performance of Pride and Prejudice, starring Susan Hampshire. Although traditional in costume, it was an innovative stage set, to accommodate the many scenes required by the play. Afterwards we had a meal at the Italian restaurant nearby. During the supper, Nigel Rogers was persuaded to sing one of his favourite Italian arias, to the delight of all those present, including the waiters!
Twenty members thoroughly enjoyed our visit to The Norfolk County Archive Centre in October. This is also the home of The Norfolk Record Office and The East Anglian Film Archive. After partaking of a very inexpensive lunch in the staff canteen, we were taken into a small room for an introductory talk by Dr John Alban, the County Archivist, who had previously spoken at one of our meetings. We were very impressed by the excellent facilities for research, preservation of manuscripts etc. We even saw the baptism record of our very own Horatio Nelson!
Later in the month we had our traditional Christmas party at the Chairman’s home. The food was excellent, but unfortunately the evening had to be curtailed because of very heavy snowfall, and although leaving early, members had a difficult journey home. Our public speaking heats were held in December at St Helen’s School, where St Albans High School and St Helen’s School went through to the final; and in January at Haileybury College, with five teams largely from eastern Hertfordshire, and with Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, Haileybury College and Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Boys going through. We had several schools entering for the first time this year, which is encouraging, and we hope that they will take part again. Looking to the future, our Chairman has approached the newly-formed ESU Albania with a view to inviting a young person from there to spend two weeks as the guest of our branch, all expenses paid. This will probably be in June, and some events will be arranged for branch members to be involved.
Our speaker in October was Bob Archibald of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute. This charity was set up to help the farming community in difficult times. None of us had ever heard of it, so it was a real eye-opener. We all agreed it was a well-kept secret – just like the ESU!!! Air Marshall Sir ‘Rocky’ Goodall was our November speaker. He and his wife, Lizzie, joined us for lunch, after which he gave a most interesting and humorous talk entitled ‘39 Years on a Wing and a Prayer’. The downside to RAF life was that they lived in 23 houses in 31 years, but he explained that he loved the ‘buzz’ his career had given him, although there had been a couple of scary moments! As usual our December meeting was the occasion of our Christmas lunch. Waking up to heavy snow, a decision had to be made whether to go ahead, as many smaller roads in the county made driving hazardous. After numerous phone calls we decided to proceed. Thirty-six of us sat down to a delicious lunch, and although our choir was reduced to two instead of 20 it didn’t dampen our choral efforts! DIALOGUE 35
Branches
In January, Canon Bob Baker, Rector of Thetford, gave a talk entitled ‘A Rector’s Ramblings’. We didn’t know what to expect but as usual we were not disappointed. After a talk covering many aspects of religion, multi-faith society and, in particular, the need for good sermons he answered the many questions put to him with great sensitivity. Ouse Valley The widely publicised visit in January of Professor Christopher Andrew, official historian to MI5, to talk about his recently published book The Defence of the Realm: The Authorised History of MI5, had not only aroused great interest amongst members but also amongst others unconnected to the ESU who attempted to gatecrash the event. In this they were unsuccessful, and instead were directed towards the ESU membership application forms! Christopher Andrew is Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the University of Cambridge, and President of Corpus Christi College. The university’s infamous history of espionage shenanigans with Philby, Burgess, Maclean and the rest ensured he could hardly be located in a more appropriate environment than Cambridge to research his subject, so the presentation was keenly anticipated. On the day itself the appointed hour approached with, unfortunately, no sign of the speaker. Some members believed he had already infiltrated the large gathering incognito, in order to make a point, and they urged the Chairman to make a loudspeaker announcement to ask him to reveal himself ! Fortunately, just in time he arrived, and after a good lunch more than 100 members and guests, (including a group of local sixth formers and their head teacher), listened DIALOGUE 36
with rapt attention to fascinating stories about this very secret organisation, delivered by a highly skilled communicator. Initially presented with more than 400,000 files (which escalated into millions as there were files within files), Professor Andrew took six years to complete his assignment, producing an enormous volume variously described by the international press as ‘Weighty, measured and compelling’, ‘A ripping read, scrupulously documented’, and ‘A scholarly and hugely entertaining account’. His presentation more than lived up to these descriptors, commencing with the effective founding of MI5 in1909 by two serving officers (one from the army and one from the navy) to try to combat the rise of German spies, to the current emphasis by several thousand personnel in the relentless battle against terrorism. In the relatively short time available to cover such a massive subject, the speaker clearly whetted the appetite of many of those present for more. For members, this may well be satisfied by purchasing a copy of his book. But what about our younger guests? Perhaps, as future undergraduates, they will now be better able to respond to that future discreet tap on the shoulder from some shadowy figure, especially if the shadow should be lurking in the vicinity of the Cambridge Backs.
Southend-on-Sea After many years, January saw the re-launch of the ESU public speaking competition for schools in Southend. We were honoured to have the experience of Meriel Talbot to chair the judges when eight participating teams took the floor at Westcliff High School for Boys. The room was ‘buzzing’ with happy, excited teenagers; their teachers and parents. Southend can be proud of such talented, enthusiastic and well-mannered boys and girls. It was a delight to be part of their evening. A team from Westcliff High School for Girls won the Southend heat and will represent Southend at the regional competition in March. Westcliff High School for Boys was runner-up. Very stiff opposition came from other local schools, several of which are not grammar schools, and this was exceptionally pleasing. The excellent workshop that the team from Dartmouth House ran for us last year seemed to have inspired them all. All the schools have contacted us to say how they enjoyed taking part and are looking forward to next year! Branch President Sir Teddy Taylor was on the judging panel with Meriel, and he gave a very enlightening summing up with humorous snippets from his parliamentary days. ESU Regional Officer Steve Roberts did a great job as master of ceremonies, putting the competitors at ease and keeping the evening flowing along whilst, needless to say, the teenagers made ‘short work’ of delicious refreshments.
Suffolk
Lincolnshire
Suffolk Chairman Joy Childs with the winning public speaking team from St Benedict’s Catholic Upper School: Alice Markham, Rebecca Whelen and Catriona Jones. Runner- up was Bury St Edmunds County Upper. Young people demonstrated their ability to put across their point of view clearly, and then defend it against keen questioning at Culford School on Tuesday 2 February, when Candlemas or Ground Hog Day is celebrated – depending on which side of the Atlantic Ocean you live. Groundhogs are believed to leave their hibernation sites on this day to search for food: If the weather is bright they return to their lairs for a while longer, but remain to feed if it is overcast. Unlike the groundhogs, most Suffolk Branch ESU members remained slumbering in their lairs and therefore missed a splendid evening of gifted oration and skilful questioning.
NORTH EAST REGION
The branch public speaking competition in January was held at The Walton Girls’ High School, Grantham, by kind permission of the headmistress. The event was hosted by Mrs Marion Strange. Teams competing were from Bourne Grammar School, The Priory LSST, Lincoln, Skegness Grammar School and The Walton Girls’ High School. Topics chosen included ‘Freedom is an illusion’, ‘Democracy is a failure’, ‘Nuclear power is the only realistic future energy source’, ‘Society is too age conscious’, ‘It is time to moderate the freedom of the press’ and ‘Should mothers be paid?’ The winner was Bourne Grammar School, whose team was made up of: Katharine Heard, Patrick Heard and Simon Mariner. The Walton Girls’ High School Team II was the runner-up. Individual awards were also presented to Katharine Heard - Chairperson (Bourne Grammar School), Rose Mansworth - Speaker (Walton Girls’ High School) and Sherrie Hopkins Questioner (Walton Girls’ High School). The judges were Steve Roberts, Amanda Lees and Fred Mann.
The winning public speaking team from Lincolnshire, from Bourne Grammar School: Katharine Heard, Patrick Heard and Simon Mariner.
Subjects undertaken ranged from ‘Society Glorifies Violence’ to ‘There Should be a Maximum Wage’. For those who did put their noses out of doors, the weather was overcast, but the food and entertainment was bright and plentiful.
All the participating students. DIALOGUE 37
REGIONAL DIARY BRANCHES CONFERENCE Friday 30 July 2010 Following the success of the previous one-day conferences, we are repeating the same format this year. The conference sessions will take place at Dartmouth House and will include a delicious lunch – including wine and coffee – in the courtyard. Accommodation that night, for those who want it, will be provided at the nearby Royal Over-Seas League, where we will also hold a splendid dinner and reception. For those staying at the League, Saturday will provide a wonderful opportunity for delegates to enjoy London as they wish. For further information contact Meriel Talbot, 020 7529 1567 or email meriel_talbot@esu.org.
LONDON REGION Contact Don Miller, 020 8540 6754 unless otherwise noted. Thursday 25 March, 6.30pm at Dartmouth House, £18 Historian Philip Mansel on ‘French Monarchies 1770-1870 – Grandeur and Catastrophe’ followed by wine and nibbles. Contact Pauline Chakmakjian, 020 7495 4759.
BOOKINGS STILL OPEN FOR COACH TOUR TO WELLS, BATH AND BRISTOL Due to delays in delivery of the January Branches News, West Sussex Branch has extended the booking deadline for its May 24-28 luxury coach tour from the Chichester area to Bath and Bristol. Bookings will now be taken until 30 April. We travel in an executive coach with 32 comfortable seats arranged in groups of four round a table, with kitchen and toilet facilities. We stay at the The Swan Hotel in beautiful Wells, visiting the cathedral and Bishop’s Palace, travel to Bath with a local guide to the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey, and in Bristol, we visit the waterfront and SS Great Britain. Further visits include the National Arboretum and the National Trust properties of Mottisfont, Mompesson House, Montacute House and Dyrham Park. Cost is now fixed at £495 if you share a twin/double room (£40 single supplement). Entry to National Trust properties for non-members will be about £30 in total. To join our branch on tour, send a deposit of £100 per person to Charles Gardner, 4 Mitchmere, Stoughton, Chichester PO18 9JW, 02392 631473.
April (date TBC) at Dartmouth House, London Talk by Sir Ian Blair. Contact Coral Sebag-Montefiore, 020 7935 7288. Wednesday 5 May at Royal Chelsea Hospital, £9 Afternoon visit. Contact May Ayad, 07724 118301. Monday 10 May at Kensington Palace, £12 Drinks reception and lecture by the Chief Curator on ‘Queen Caroline: Kensington Palace’s First Queen of Hearts’, Joint Dartmouth House / London Region event. Contact 02031 666645 or info@hrp.org.uk (£10 Historic Royal Palace Members) Tuesday 1 June at Fulham Palace, £10 Morning visit. Contact May Ayad, 07724 118301.
DIALOGUE 38
Wednesday 9 June at Dartmouth House
SOUTH WEST REGION
Bristol
Exeter
AGM followed by a talk by General Sir Mike Jackson and lunch.
Bath
Meetings in the Newbolt Room, Clifton College, at 7.45pm unless otherwise noted. See below for lunch venues.
Meetings in the Duckworth Suite, Exeter Golf & Country Club, Topsham Road, Exeter, unless otherwise stated. Contact Ann Armstrong, 19 Bossell Park, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0DX, 01364 642839 or www.exeteresu.org. Lunch meetings £18, supper meetings £22 (non members asked to add a voluntary donation of £3). Talk only, £3.
Contact Holly Shakespeare, 01462 452219. Wednesday 23 June, Shakespeare’s Globe Lunch and Macbeth Thursday 22 July at Dartmouth House Talk by Lord Gilbert, followed by lunch
SOUTH WALES REGION Thursday 15 April Literary dinner with author Guy Walters
Contact Sue Hoskins, 01225 482944 Friday 19 March, 12.15 for 1pm lunch, talk 2pm at Bath Cricket Club
Contact Alastair Craig, 01454 238237.
Former BBC Natural History Unit producer and university lecturer Jeffery Boswall on bird sounds.
Wednesday 24 March, 6.30pm at the Clifton Club, £25
Tuesday 20 April, 12.15 for 1pm lunch at Lucknam Park, Colerne, £43
Reception followed by supper and speaker Sir Robert Worcester, founder of MORI Polls. Numbers limited.
Gala lunch followed by National Trust Director-General Dame Fiona Reynolds speaking on ‘Our Heritage’, includes a glass of wine and lunch. Monday 17 May, noon at Calcot Manor Hotel (nr Tetbury), £20 Lunch followed by visit to Newark Park at 2.30. This tenanted National Trust property, originally a Tudor hunting lodge, was remodelled by James Wyatt. (NT members bring cards). Tuesday 10 June, 6pm for 6.15 at the Bath & County Club AGM (free) followed by 7pm dinner (£20) with former Ambassador to Abu Dhabi Patrick Nixon on ‘Diplomatic Reflections of an Arabist’.
Tuesday 13 April, 7pm for 7.45 Author Guy Walters on his latest book, Hunting Evil. Wednesday 5 May, 6.30 for 6.45pm AGM followed by light refreshments and The Hon Mr Justice Royce on ‘Reminiscences’ Wednesday 26 May, 11.30am at the Bristol & Clifton Golf Club, £18.50 Literary Lunch with Catherine Johnson, playwright of Suspension and Mamma Mia. Talk at noon, lunch 1.15.
Wednesday 24 March, 12.30 for 1pm Lunch meeting with artist and illustrator Jack Chalker on ‘Images of War – Drawings and Paintings by a Japanese Prisoner of War’. Wednesday, 21 April, 6.30 for 7pm Black-tie dinner with Sir Bernard Ingham on ‘Life with the Lioness – What Margaret Thatcher Was Really Like’. Friday, 28 May, 6.30 for 7pm Supper meeting: Major General Andrew Salmon, Commandant General, Royal Marines on ‘Last days in Basra’. Wednesday, 23 June, 6.30 pm AGM followed by supper meeting, 7pm for 7.30, with speaker Ben Bradshaw MP.
DIALOGUE 39
Regional diary
Plymouth
SOUTH REGION
Talks at the Churchill Room, Astor Hotel, Plymouth, unless otherwise noted; £2.50 includes tea/coffee (school students free, college students £1). Good two-course, pre-talk supper available at 6pm, £12. Book with Jill Rogerson, 01752 847113.
Salisbury
Friday 23 April at the Notter Bridge Riverside Restaurant, 12.30 Pub lunch (on the A38 near St Germans) to celebrate St George’s Day. Monday 10 May
Meetings at 11 am at The Rose and Crown, Harnham (coffee from 10.15). Contact Louise Jeffreys, 01722 336118. Monday 22 March Valerie Mitchell, OBE, and Youmna Asseilly on ‘ESU, Home and Abroad.’ Wednesday 21 April Michael Gould on ‘Biafra Revisited.’
Latvian Embassy speaker on ‘Latvia – An EU State in the Baltic’.
SOUTH EAST REGION
June
Tickets: Valerie Ainscough, 174 Old Dover RD, Canterbury. CT1 3EX, 01227 471180 or 819037. Tickets are non-refundable and must be booked and paid for in advance (cheque to ‘ESU’). If you require tickets to be sent please enclose a SAE.
Summer party, date, venue and costs TBA. Monday 5 July, 7.15pm AGM followed at 7.45 by ESU Director of Education Martin Mulloy on ‘Thoughts on the Future of the ESU in the 21st Century’.
Canterbury and East Kent
Saturday 20 March, 10am at the Archbishop’s Palace, The Precincts, £5 Coffee Morning in conjunction with ‘Seeds For Africa’. Non-members by invitation only. April Concert - TBA
DIALOGUE 40
Sunday 9 May, 12.30pm at the home of Amanda Cottrell, £15 Early Spring Kentish Lunch in the medieval barn and preview of the gardens (The Barn, Laurenden Forstal, Challock TN25 4AU). Closing date 30 April. Saturday 15 May, 10am for 10.30 at SCR, Rutherford College, University of Kent Coffee and AGM (free) followed by talk to be given by the young scholars we have sponsored at 11.40 and lunch at 12.30 (£12 in advance only). Closing date 8 May.
West Sussex Meetings at 1.30 pm with lunch available from noon at The Barley Mow, Walderton, Nr Chichester. Contact Elizabeth Brooks, 01243 378900 Monday 15 March Jenny Habib on ‘An Architect in Pakistan’: her work and the present political situation. Saturday 17 April, 11.20am at Tribes Hill, Walderton Pre-lunch drinks 24-28 May
Sunday 29 August, 1pm at the home of Valerie Ainscough, £15
Luxury Coach Tour to Bath and Bristol
‘A Taste of Africa’ lunch, advance booking only. Closing date 20 August.
Saturday 19 June, 7pm at Lordington Park, near Chichester
Eastbourne
Midsummer concert and buffet in aid of our Overseas Scholarship Fund.
Contact Charles Beal, 01323 439100
Tuesday 13 July, 12.30pm at Parham House, nr Pulborough
Friday 23 April at the Langham Hotel, Eastbourne, £20
AGM and tour of the house.
St George’s Day Dinner with Heather Woodward of the National Trust on Churchill and Chartwell.
MIDLANDS REGION Gloucestershire Details from Jacqueline Millington, 3, Manor Gardens, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3EQ, 01367 250092 Stamped Addressed Envelope Please! Wednesday 12 May, 11am prompt at Guildhall, City of London A return visit to one of the most prestigious landmarks in London. Guided tour followed by luncheon in Guildhall Club (the Aldermen’s Private Dining Room), then a talk on ‘The History of the Freedom of The City’ by The Clerk to The Chamberlain of The City of London. Ticket includes all wines and guided tour. Strictly limited to 43. Sunday 11 July, noon at the home of Jenny Hunter Summer Garden Party. Jenny will welcome us into her stylish garden and home, Orchard House, Dumbleton, Gloucestershire. Lou Smith will provide the buffet lunch and The Gloucestershire Youth Jazz Band will play. Ticket includes a welcoming glass of wine and lunch. Ladies please wear hats.
Oxfordshire Tickets: Cynthia Styles, 1 Carey Close, Oxford OX2 8HX, 01865 554137, cynthia.styles@plants. ox.ac.uk. Cheques to ESU Oxfordshire Branch (sae please). Wednesday 7 April, 2pm, £10 Tour of Pitt Rivers Museum and Rhodes House, Oxford, with tea Tuesday 4 May, noon at the Priory Room, Christ Church, £10 Ploughman’s Lunch with Air Commodore Bob Martin on ‘From D-Day Dodger to Diplomat’ Tuesday 15 June, 12.45 for 1 pm at The Mill House, Steventon, £15 Summer Lunch (nr Abingdon OX13 6SP) by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Robson. Sunday 4 July, 2 pm at Daisy Hill Farm House, Duns Tew, Oxon, £10 Independence Day Croquet Competition and afternoon tea Saturday 24 July, 11.30 am at Chalgrove Parish Church and Manor, £21 Guided tours with lunch and tea Thursday 8 July, 6.30 pm at the Dodgson Room, Christ Church College (tbc)
Friday 3 September, 7 for 7.30 pm at the McKenna Room, Christ Church Annual Black-tie Dinner with speaker Sir Ian Blair Thursday 14 October, 5.30 to 7pm at the Dodgson Room, Christ Church College, free Reception for the new Rhodes Scholars Sunday 28 November Thanksgiving Day Lunch with speaker Dr John Abbott
Wednesday 9 June, £17.50 Outing to Osbaston Hall nr Nuneaton, with a private guided tour and talk by the owner, historian Leanda de Lisle, on her latest book. Coach leaves the Splash Pool at 12.30pm and returns about 6pm. Thursday 23 September, noon for 12.30 at Worcestershire Golf Club, Malvern Wells, £17.50 Literary Lunch with Irina Nikitina on ‘The Architecture of St Petersburg’. Includes 2-course lunch and a glass of wine.
Worcestershire Tickets from Mrs Jean Davies, 23 Oakfield Road, Malvern. WR14 1DS, 01684 560068. Thursday 13 April Another of the popular tours of Herefordshire churches, conducted by Tim Bridges. Coach leaves Splash car park, Malvern at 11 am, returns approximately 5pm. £12.50 / £13.50 not including lunch. Only 30 places. Friday 14 May, 6.30pm at 14 College Road, Malvern AGM Saturday 22 May, 7.30pm at 14 College Road, Malvern, £5 Reception for students from the International Schools’ Public Speaking Competition.
Annual General Meeting
DIALOGUE 41
Regional diary
EAST REGION
Norwich and Norfolk
Cambridge Welland Valley
Meetings at Park Farm Hotel, Hethersett, noon, for 12.30 luncheon. Details from Mrs J M Baker, 01603 507976.
Friday 16 April, 12.30 for 1pm at The Orangery, Tolethorpe Hall, nr Stamford, £22.50 ‘Shakespeare Birthday Lunch’. Tickets from John Hindle, 27 Finch Hatton Drive, Gretton, NN17 3DQ.
Friday 19 March Denis Collen on ‘My Part in the History of the Norfolk Constabulary’. Friday 16 April
Epping Forest (Metropolitan Essex) Monthly meetings Thursdays at Murray Hall, Borders Lane, Loughton, 10.15 for 10.45am. Members and visitors £4, includes tea/coffee. Enquiries to Daphne Ruffell, 01992 561 470 Thursday 1 April Robin Carsberg on ‘Gardens of the Italian Lakes’ Thursday 22 April, Royal Festival Hall, London Epic film/concert ‘Waterloo’ with soundtrack performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. Thursday 6 May No meeting Thursday 3 June AGM (members only)
Geoff Worton on ‘The Mysterious Green Man’. Friday 14 May Susan Yaxley on ‘Mary Mann: Norfolk’s Forgotten Novelist’
Tuesday 11 May at the University of Bedfordshire’s Putteridge Bury Campus, near Luton Prof Sir John Tooke, Vice Provost and Head of the Medical School, University College, London, gives the fourth annual joint University of Bedfordshire/ESU seminar on ‘The Role of the Doctor in the 21st Century’.
Southend-On-Sea Unless otherwise noted, lunches (followed by talk) noon for 12.30 and coffee mornings 10.30am-noon at Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff on Sea; contact Sheila Mitchell, 01702 553788.
Ouse Valley
Monday 22 March, £2.50
We welcome visitors. The full programme is available on www.esu.org/ousevalley, together with a general booking form. Events at 12.30 for 1pm lunch with the presentation to follow. Contact Brenda Alexander, 01234 881473.
Coffee morning with Julia Tetley on ‘A Magistrate’s Life’.
Wednesday 17 March at Bedfordshire Golf Club, Stagsden, nr Bedford Peter Kyle, Chief Executive, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on ‘Shakespeare: Culture and Communication’.
NORTH WEST REGION Thursday 29 April at Inglewood Manor Hotel, South Wirral Cello Recital by James Barralet (ESU Music Scholar 2009), with lunch and talk by Mike Lake. Contact Jennifer MacPherson, 01925 730176
Liverpool and Merseyside Lunch meetings at the Athenaeum, Church Alley, Liverpool, noon for 12.30 unless otherwise stated. Contact: 0151 342 6157 or email suedaviesheswall@gmail.com Friday 19 March Christina Clarke on ‘Seven Original Streets of Liverpool’ Friday 16 April
Monday 19 April, noon for 12.30, £10 Lunch with our branch Treasurer, Ben Meredith, on the Duke of Wellington. Contact Margaret Jones, 01702 588069 or mjones3005@googlemail.com.
Rev Gerard O’Shaughnessy, who was awarded this year’s ESU American Memorial Chapel Travel Grant.
Mid-Cheshire (Formerly Vale Royal) Lunch meetings at Fourways Inn, Delamere, Northwich, Cheshire. Noon for 12.30, unless otherwise stated. Contact Mrs Jennifer MacPherson, 01925 730176. Tuesday 13 April A talk by one or more of our sponsored students
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REVIEW – Inside Reviews, listings, profiles and interviews from staff and members. To submit a review or listing for publication, please contact Hanna Cevik on 020 7529 1579 or hanna_cevik@esu.org. PROFILE_44 Sir Christopher Meyer
ESU Governor, author and diplomat. FILM_46 An Education / Nowhere Boy THEATRE_47 A Habit Of Art / War Horse / Twelfth Night / Enron
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PROFILE
SIR CHRISTOPHER MEYER
In this series we will be profiling some of the many authors who have contributed to the ESU’s literary lunches, those we aspire to have as guests and/or individuals who have made a singular contribution to our organisation. We begin with Sir Christopher Meyer who spent almost 40 years in the British Diplomatic Service, culminating as Ambassador to the United States from 1997-2003, during the Clinton and George W. Bush presidencies. His office coincided with 9/11, the war in Afghanistan and the preparation for war in Iraq – a fact which made him a leading contributor to the Chilcot Inquiry in November 2009. In 2005, he published the controversial DC Confidential, a memoir of his time in the Diplomatic Service, which was not complimentary about the Blair government and, some felt, a little too forthcoming in its views on leading politicians. It gives an intriguing insight into what goes on behind closed doors, from early morning meetings in John Major’s bedroom to the complexities of Clinton’s various handshakes as well as some fascinating insights into the political issues, figures and negotiations of the day.
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Small wonder that the world watched with bated breath when Sir Christopher gave his testimony to the Chilcot Inquiry. He suggested that, prior to the attack on the twin towers on 9/11, the Bush administration was “struggling” and that the attack gave the administration new impetus. Prior to the attack, Iraq had not been seen as a priority by the President who had told Sir Christopher at their first meeting in 1999 that he didn’t “know much about foreign policy” and was “going to have to learn pretty fast.” Tony Blair’s speech after 9/11 promising to support America in its hour of need sealed the UK Prime Minister’s reputation in the US. “Condoleezza Rice once said to me that the only human being [Bush] felt he could talk to was Tony, and the rest were creatures from outer space.” Despite accusations of “poodle-ish” behaviour towards the American President, Sir Christopher proposed that Blair was a true believer in the cause for war.
“Instead of Saddam proving his innocence we had to prove his guilt by finding a smoking gun. We have never really recovered from that because there was no smoking gun.”
Sir Christopher suggested that “regime change” in Iraq was agreed at a meeting between George W. Bush and Tony Blair in April 2002 and that the meeting was conducted without other officials being present. He was not therefore “entirely clear to this day what degree of convergence (on Iraq policy) was signed in blood” at the Bush ranch. He felt that the tight timetable for the discovery of WMD’s and the subsequent invasion meant that; “Instead of Saddam proving his innocence we had to prove his guilt by finding a smoking gun. We have never really recovered from that because there was no smoking gun.” Sir Christopher’s testimony has been viewed as ‘significant’ by the press and political commentators. Several of his ambassadorial briefings to Tony Blair at this time have not been found. Prior to his stint at the British Embassy in Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer was Ambassador to Germany and had postings to Russia, Spain and the European Union in Brussels. He was also Press Secretary to Prime Minister John Major, Foreign Office Spokesman, and speech writer to three Foreign Secretaries. He was knighted in 1998.
His latest book, Getting Our Way: 500 Years of Adventure and Intrigue: the Inside Story of British Diplomacy has just been published and accompanies a three-part TV series, which appeared on BBC4 in February. He has recently completed a documentary series on the Press for BBC Radio 4, called ‘The Watchdog and the Feral Beast.’ Sir Christopher is an Honorary Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and a visiting Professor at the University of North Carolina. He is also a non-executive director of GKN and the Arbuthnot Banking Group; and a member of the executive committee of The Pilgrims. He is a Freeman of the City of London and has been a Governor of the English-Speaking Union since 2006. He is married to Catherine, who is Chair and Chief Executive of the international children’s charity, PACT (Parents and Abducted Children Together). They have four sons between them. Gill Hale ESU Librarian
After his retirement from the Diplomatic Service he chaired the Press Complaints Commission until March 2009 and now appears in the media regularly commenting on international affairs and diplomacy.
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FILM REVIEW
AN EDUCATION / NOWHERE BOY
Two films guaranteed to attract an audience from the Swinging Sixties generation are An Education and Nowhere Boy. They both explore coming of age, relationships with parents and the beginning of the sexual revolution in post-war Britain, portraying agonies and recriminations that so many of that generation will remember. The joy of both films are the nostalgic sets - the wall-mounted relay radio in John Lennon’s bedroom, and the furnishings and velour hats in An Education, which will have been part of everyone’s life in what is now a bygone age. Nowhere Boy tracks the life of young John Lennon, played by Aaron Johnson, from the mid 1950’s, as a bit of a rebel at the local grammar school, to his departure for Hamburg with the Beatles before they became famous. Not a particularly likeable character, it is easy to see how John’s upbringing contributed to his cockiness and bullying ways. Abandoned by his mother aged four and reunited aged fourteen, John’s relationship with her – an overpowering yet insecure swinger - contrasted with that of the prim and inspirational aunt who raised him. The death of his uncle and mother had a profound impact and flashbacks to his parents’ break-up and his subsequent abandonment as a small child enable us to see how this ordinary Liverpool lad wrote songs so poignant and
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sentimental. His relationship with Paul McCartney, though strained, was based on mutual respect for each other’s talents and the early loss of their mothers. An Education, nominated for BAFTA’s best film award this year, and adapted from journalist Lynne Barber’s grammar school days in Twickenham in the early 60’s, tells the story of a 16 year-old schoolgirl, played by Carrie Mulligan, nominated for BAFTA’s best actress award. Precocious, intelligent and set to fulfil the Oxford dreams of her lesser-educated parents and her English teacher, the girl - and her parents- fall under the spell of a sophisticated and seemingly wealthy scoundrel who whisks her off to Paris, entertains her in style, and inevitably, after she drops out of school, turns out to be married. If this hadn’t been a true story, there might be a question mark over the parents’ acceptance of the situation and over the apparent ease with which Jenny interacted with her teachers when most of her generation quaked in their presence. The contrast of the childlike innocence of her contemporaries revealed that while teetering on the brink, the permissive society of the Summer of Love had not yet fully arrived in Britain in 1962. Gill Hale
THEATRE REVIEW
A HABIT OF ART / A NEW PLAY BY ALAN BENNETT LYTTELTON THEATRE
WAR HORSE / NEW LONDON THEATRE
A play within a play, superbly directed by Frances de la Tour, surprisingly diminutive against Richard Griffith’s enormous frame portraying the unsavoury and self-satisfied Auden. A Christ Church master in squalid rooms, entertainer of rent boys, he longs wistfully for bygone glory days. In contrast, former lover, Benjamin Britten, a stiff and pedantic character, obsessed with his image, agonises about the reception of his latest work. As ever, Bennett’s dialogue is full on and plentiful covering sex, death and the creative process. The asides of minor characters, including the play’s author whose work the cast and director are butchering for the sake of art, provide amusing interludes in an entertaining and well received experiment which, though not quite on a par with History Boys, is still Bennett at his best.
The Sunday Times declared it the ‘Theatrical Event of the Decade’ and audiences flocked to the National Theatre making it the most successful play staged there in history. Even The Queen and Prince Philip made a personal visit to the theatre to see War Horse. A lot to live up to? Certainly. However this theatre production is unique in its ability to enchant. The life size puppet creations take on an existence of their own despite the intentional lack of realism in their design. The three puppeteers per horse become part of the fabric of the creature, by the end I had stopped noticing the puppeteers and had almost tricked my brain into believing that they were there to control a real life animal. The extent that a horse’s characteristics are mimicked cannot be underestimated. Every flick of a tail, movement of an ear and stomp of a hoof give an indication of equine mobility. The narrative delivers a hard-hitting tale of the waste and despair of the First World War and, despite some flaws with a slightly plodding storyline, (perhaps forgivable in its lack of sophistication as it is an adaptation of a children’s book), War Horse is captivating in its ability to convey the depths of human attachments to animals. Apparently Steven Spielberg has now bought the rights to a film version however, I believe, this is a piece of drama best appreciated on the stage.
Gill Hale Until April 2010 Box Office: 020 7452 3000
Kate McCulloch Booking until February 2011 Box Office: 020 7452 3000 DIALOGUE 47
Theatre review
TWELFTH NIGHT / DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE
ENRON - LUCY PREBBLE / NOEL COWARD THEATRE
Director, Gregory Doran, offers a light-hearted, easy-to-watch production of Twelfth Night. Sometimes described as the gateway to the tragedies, Doran’s production delicately gauges the play’s moments of sweet and sour. What is perhaps tragic is that this production has been coined as ‘The Twelfth Night with Victor Meldrew in it’ perhaps detracting from the range of fine actors who feature in this company.
Following a sell-out season at the Royal Court Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre Lucy Prebble’s firecracker of a play featuring Samuel West as the infamous Jeffrey Skilling and a large ensemble cast, Enron is not to be missed.
Despite dominating every poster, Richard Wilson did not dominate this production of Twelfth Night. Dressed in his Calvinist cloak, Malvolio resembled Scrooge...or....yes, Victor Meldrew and did not fit at all with the warm, shisha-smoking atmosphere. The finer attributes of Malvolio’s character were arguably lost in what became a hammed-up and uncomfortable performance. On the other hand, Alexandra Gilbreath plays a wonderful Olivia. The interchanging between spitting disdain at her drunken Uncle Toby before transforming in the same breath to amorously addressing Sebastian, who has been mistaken for his disguised twin is amusing. Nancy Carroll, playing Viola, is equally superb. I was relieved to see that a sketchy beard was not donned by Viola which has, condescendingly, often been the case. Instead, the audience enjoyed her boyish, vulnerable charm and married with the fanatical Olivia, the two ladies offered a great double-act. Richard McCabe playing Sir Toby Belch and the gangly James Fleet as Sir Andrew Aguecheek provided moments of comedy throughout with their drunken antics and unfailing male inadequacy. Robert Jones’s set is to be complimented with the outdoors jarring dramatically with the steely cold jail we find Malvolio in. The vivid florescent green tree used to spy on the tom-foolery played out on Malvolio is priceless and a delightful prop against the Mediterranean backdrop and from it McCabe and Fleet offered one the best scenes in the entire production. Gillian Parker Runs until February 2010
Lucy Prebble’s bold play is as timely as it is ambitious. Perfectly handled by Rupert Gould, it follows the true story of the rise and demise of former Houston energy company Enron. Before the world was credit-crunched, Enron was the financial scandal of the decade, one of the world’s leading electricity companies and an investors dream, brought to its knees by complex, fraudulent trading practices. Sound familiar? With the world now exposed to terms like derivatives, hedge funds and toxic assets it seems financial tragedy is hard to avoid but does anyone want to watch three hours of it on a stage? When the production is this tense and imaginative, we do. Gould uses innovative props to convey complex financial skulduggery, notably when velociraptors, symbolising Enron’s secret debts, are being fed and tamed by financial whizz kid Andy Fastow as he tries hopelessly to keep them under control. The first half of the play plots the rapid rise of the corporate giant energy supplier, turned energy trader, as it undertakes more and more complex strategies to boost profits, before are attention is drawn toward its inevitable downfall. All delivered with slick and seamless stage production. Samuel West leads a cast without weakness as the company’s president Jeffrey Skilling, alongside Tim Pigott-Smith in the role of Chairman Ken Lay with Fastow played by Tom Goodman-Hill. They are accompanied by Amanda Drew as a fictional executive. Enron is an undoubted theatrical success, it is also a timely reminder of how the morally reprehensible activity of a few can impact so many and the depressing reality that lessons aren’t being learned. Joe Brock Running until 8 May 2010, Mon-Sat 7.30pm / Wed & Sat Mats 2.30pm. A limited number of tickets for the best seats available go on sale from 10am for that day’s performance for £25. Get there a bit early to avoid disappointment. Box office: 0844 482 5140
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ESU MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Contact Jo Wedderspoon, 020 7529 1576, jo_wedderspoon@esu.org for further information Royal Over-Seas League, Edinburgh Overseas House, 100 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 3AB
Ambassador Select
Complimentary coffee or tea after lunch
ESU members can book accommodation at very reasonable rates in the heart of Edinburgh. Please telephone 0131 225 1501 or email reception@rosl-edinburgh.org
Seasonal promotions at Leith’s at Dartmouth House
University Women’s Club, 2 Audley Square, London W1K 1DB
Access to the Page Memorial Library – an area to work with access to Wi-Fi
As an affiliate of the ESU, The University Women’s Club, offers accommodation at members rates. Please telephone 020 7499 2268 quoting your ESU membership number.
ESU members can access the best seats and the best discounts at shows across the UK. Members receive regular updates with exclusive ticket offers to shows in the West End and across Ambassador Theatre Group’s regional venues. In addition to great discounts, often half-price or less, there is a range of meal deals and often priority booking for new shows.
ESU EVENTS & DARTMOUTH HOUSE Use of member-only facilities in Dartmouth House, the magnificent mansion in the heart of Mayfair Priority bookings for Leith’s at Dartmouth House
A diverse events programme – member ticket prices ACCOMMODATION The Chesterfield Mayfair, Charles Street, London Charles Street, London Access to the Executive Club Programme. Reservations: T: 020 7958 7729 F: 020 7491 4793 E: bookch@rchmail.com Please quote “ESU” to obtain preferred rates. International Students House 229 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN ISH offers student style accommodation for ESU members at a 15% discounted rate. Please telephone 020 7631 8310 www.ish.org.uk The Lansdowne Club, 9 Fitzmaurice Place, London W1J 5JD As an affiliate of the ESU, The Lansdowne Club can offer weekend accommodation at Guest Rates. Bookings should be made through Jo Wedderspoon at the ESU. The Naval Club, 38 Hill Street, London W1J 5NS As reciprocal members of The Naval Club, ESU members can book accommodation without restrictions. Contact reception, 020 7493 7672 or e-mail reservations@ navalclub.co.uk. Please note they ask for payment details when making a reservation.
RETAIL DISCOUNTS Buyagift.com – 15% discount www.buyagift.co.uk/esu discount code ESU15 T. M. Lewin Discount vouchers available for members. Offers will change each month. Please visit the Membership Benefits page on our website or contact Jo Wedderspoon. Penhaligons, Burlington Arcade, London W1 - 15% discount Members will receive discount on production of ESU membership card.
www.AmbassadorTickets.com/select – username: ESU password: play
RADA, 62-64 Gower Street, London, WC1 ESU members receive a 25% discount on the full ticket price on the shows in the spring and summer season. To take advantage of the offer ESU members should quote ESU when they call the box office. Please note that the offer is subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. For more details and to book tickets please contact the RADA box office, 020 7908 4800. Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly, London, W1 Personal shopping Spa packages – value added offers available to ESU members Seasonal promotions
Mount Street Printers, 4 Mount Street, London W1K 3LW - 10% discount
Please contact Jo Wedderspoon for more details.
Members will receive discount on production of ESU membership card.
Janet Ginnings Hair & Beauty, 45 Curzon Street, London W1J 7UQ
LIFESTYLE
Members will receive 10% discount on production of ESU membership card. Telephone number for appointments, 020 7499 1904 or 020 7499 2767.
The Commonwealth Club, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5AP ESU members can use the restaurant at the Commonwealth Club in the evening only at member rates (£21.50). To book a table quote your ESU membership number and the reference ESU10. ESU members can also book RCS events in the same way. Telephone: 020 7766 9200
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April - July 2010
APRIL
MAY
Wednesday 7 April, 7pm, £8
Election Day (TBC) 9.00pm - ‘til late
Literary Lecture with Rosemary Hill on her acclaimed book God’s Architect: Pugin the Making of Modern Britain Winner of the Marsh Biography Award 2009. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
The ESU will be celebrating British democracy with an Election Night Party on Election Day 2010. Live news coverage of the election in every room, a panel game with a celebrity host, election themed games all evening, grand raffle, dancing to The Big Swing, one of the UK’s top swing bands. Celebrity and political guests throughout the evening.
Tickets include a glass of wine Contact Annette Fisher
Contact Gillian Parker
Ticket price to be confirmed. If you are interested in attending please contact Jo Wedderspoon who will confirm details when the Election is announced. jo_wedderspoon@esu.org
Tuesday 20 April
Tuesday 4 May, 7pm, £30
Interviews for the Lindemann scholarship for 2010 will be held at Dartmouth House.
Join internationally-renowned clarinettist Michael Collins for an evening of music and conversation at Dartmouth House. Michael’s career as a soloist has taken him all over the world and his recent appointment as Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia is an exciting new angle in his career. Michael will play a selection of works for clarinet and piano and talk about his life and career.
Wednesday 14 April, 10.30 am Coffee morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends.
Contact Katherine Plummer Wednesday 21 April, 12 for 12.30pm, £30 Literary Luncheon with Sir Ian Blair. Dartmouth House in collaboration with the London Region invites you to a lunch with Sir Ian Blair who will be speaking on his recent book Policing Controversy. Here for the first time is the fly-on-the-wall story of an impossible job; the background and history of the police and its difficult relationship with the public; the de Menezes case; fighting terrorism – everywhere in Britain, in cases that never reach the media and of the battle with politicians. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
Tickets to include wine and nibbles Contact Gillian Parker Tuesday 4 May, 7pm, £7.50
Tickets include a two course lunch, a glass of wine and tea/coffee
Lecture in aid of the ESU American Arts Scholarship to Attingham. John K Howat, former curator of the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will talk on ‘Landscape Painting, Topographical Design and the Discovery of Nineteenth Century America’.
Contact Gillian Parker
Ticket includes a glass of wine
Thursday 22 April Travelling Librarian scholarship interviews. Friday 23 April National Schools Public Speaking Competition Final at Lincoln’s Inn. Contact Meriel Talbot Friday 23 April, 5pm, Dartmouth House The Schools Mace national debating competition English National Final. Contact Alasdair Wallace
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Contact Gillian Parker
Monday 10 May, 6pm, King’s Drawing Room, Kensington Palace, £12 (£10 for members of Historic Royal Palaces) In conjunction with Kensington Palace; an evening with Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces. Lucy will speak on Queen Caroline: Kensington Palace’s First ‘Queen of Hearts’. SOLD OUT Tuesday 11 May, Reception 7pm, Performance 7.30pm, Dartmouth House, £40 Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband. “No one should be judged entirely by their past” Wilde’s last, and enduringly popular, play combines emotional intensity, thrill and scandal, through the medium of Wilde’s inimitable wit. Carrying on from the success of last year’s The Importance of Being Earnest, the Oxford Players return to the ESU for this unique promenade performance. Contact Gillian Parker Wednesday 12 May, 10.30 am Coffee morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends. Contact Annette Fisher 17-21 May, International Public Speaking Competition 2010 This year’s topic, chosen by our sponsor, HSBC Global Education Trust, is ‘Speculation on Our Future.’ If you are interested in coming to view the heats at Dartmouth House, or for more information on the competition please contact Annette Fisher, 0207 529 1565. (See also ‘On the Horizon’ Page 15)
Tuesday 18 May, Reception 6.30pm / Lecture 7pm, £17.50 Chilton Art History Lecture with James Stourton, Chairman of Sotheby’s UK who will discuss how collecting has changed internationally. The lecture will not only encompass changes of taste and the rise of Modernism but also the changes in the purpose of collecting from being a private pleasure to a public service.
JUNE
JULY
Wednesday 9 June, 10.30am
Tuesday 6 July, 3.30 - 5 pm, House of Lords Tea Party, £25 The Rt. Hon The Lord Hunt of Wirral, Chairman of the English-Speaking Union, will receive guests on the Terrace of the House of Lords. This is one of the highlights of the year for many of our British and overseas members.
International at Home Coffee Morning. Contact Annette Fisher Monday 21 June Closing date for applications to the American Memorial Chapel Travel Grant
Ticket includes a glass of wine
Monday 28 June, 7pm, £8
Contact Gillian Parker
Literary Lecture with Lord Browne, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and former Chief Executive of BP, who will present his book Beyond Business, An Inspirational Memoir from a Visionary Leader. Copies of the book will be available for signing and purchase
Thursday 20 May, 5.30 – 7pm Travelling Librarian scholarship reception Contact Gill Hale for more details – please note this is an invitation-only event
Contact Gillian Parker Friday 30 July, Dartmouth House One-day Branches Conference with dinner and accommodation at the Royal Overseas-League. Contact Meriel Talbot, 020 7529 1567, or meriel_talbot@esu.org.
Ticket includes a glass of wine or fruit juice Contact Gillian Parker
27-31 May, Launch of ESU Malta; 4 June, Launch of ESU Turkey These two launches have been planned in order that delegates from overseas are able to attend both together In addition to the launch ceremonies, which will be supported by ESU members and staff, visits are planned to places of cultural interest. (See also ‘On the Horizon Page 14) For more information please contact Annette Fisher.
DONATION Can you leave a gift in your will to the ESU? If you would consider leaving us a gift in your will, we will be able to expand the work of the ESU in less advantaged areas of the United Kingdom and all over the world for many years to come. For more information on which charitable activities your gift could be spent on please contact Jo Wedderspoon, Head of Fundraising & Partnerships 020 7529 1576 jo_wedderspoon@esu.org
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– June’s issue of Dialogue: More of the latest events, reviews, competitions, updates, and developments, including: city lunches, campaign trail, election night party, National Schools Public Speaking Competition – 50th anniversary, Sir Ian Blair book launch, scholarship announcements and lots more!
The English-Speaking Union