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ESU News THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION

Creating global understanding through English ISSUE No. 130 MARCH 2007

Lord Ashdown Delivers Churchill Lecture

Contents Churchill Lecture .Page 1 Churchill Lecture

The ESU was delighted and honoured when Lord Ashdown agreed to be Speaker at the 31st Churchill Lecture held on 30 November 2006, the very birthday of Sir Winston Churchill.

cont'd . . . . . . . . . .Page 2 Lindemann Fellowships . . . . . .Page 3 John Smith Memorial Mace . .Page 3 Schools Debate . .Page 3 Christmas Concert . . . . . . . .Page 4 Mongolian

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Evening . . . . . . . .Page 4

Lord Ashdown's distinguished career included the Royal Marines where he saw active service as a Commando Officer in Borneo and the Persian Gulf with command of a Special Boat Section in the Far East, followed by a spell in the Foreign Office. He was an active member of the Liberal Party, serving as Leader of the Liberal Democrats for 10 years, after which he became involved with the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, culminating in his appointment as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Special Representative from May 2002 until January 2006.

This year's Churchill Lecture took place in the magnificent surroundings of the Livery Hall of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in the

City of London, with its richly decorated moulded ceiling and a backdrop of spectacular ceremonial gold plate. Representatives from Embassies, High Commissions and Government, as well as ESU members and their guests, filled the hall to capacity to hear Lord Ashdown's speech entitled: The problems, perils, challenges and opportunities of Globalisation. Since Churchill's day, English has become not just the language of the English speaking peoples but the language of the globe. This was the first step in the process of increasing globalisation.

What are the opportunities and challenges this process brings to individuals, to states and to the structures of governance today?

English in Action .Page 5 Alumni Debate . . .Page 5 Calling Alumni! . . .Page 5 Bulgarian Visit . . .Page 6 St Petersburg Conference . . . . .Page 6 Capitol Hill Briefing . . . . . . . .Page 7 New Faces . . . . . .Page 7 From the Archive .Page 7 Diary Dates . . . . .Page 8

Continued on page 2.

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Lord Ashdown Delivers Churchill Lecture continued

L-R: Lord Hunt, Mr Winston S. Churchill, Lord Ashdown and Lord Watson

Drawing on Sir Winston Churchill's book, River War, which gives an account of the desert conflict of that time, Lord Ashdown set out to “contemplate the gap between conquest and dominion” set against the background of the present-day conflict in Iraq.

Lord Ashdown receives the Churchill Medal of Honour from Mr Winston S. Churchill

Mr Winston S. Churchill, grandson of Sir Winston, presented Lord Ashdown with the ESU Churchill Medal of Honour. Mr Churchill said: “It is a very great privilege to present this distinguished medal as a token of our great respect and deep gratitude for Lord Ashdown's continued support of the English-Speaking Union.”

He said: “The Iraq experience - and to an extent that of Afghanistan too - represents the triumph of hubris, nemesis and above all an amnesia over common sense and past experience.

In both of them we have, to a greater or lesser extent, abandoned past lessons in favour of what Churchill would have recognised as a 'gun boat' diplomacy approach to peace making. And it isn't working.”

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Lord Ashdown stated: “There are no good routes - only painful ones - out of the disaster which the Coalition has brought upon itself in that country.” Despite this, he did not believe that nothing positive can now emerge.

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L-R Roger Cornwell, Vice Chairman, East Region, Mrs Ann Carley, Chairman ESU Cambridge Welland Valley, Mr Robert Carley, Andrew and Janet Percival, Cambridge Welland Valley and Valerie Mitchell

A full copy of Lord Ashdown's speech, The problems, perils, challenges and opportunities of Globalisation, can be found on the ESU web page, www.esu.org under 'News and Events' or from anne-hodgson@esu.org

Lord Hunt presents Lord Ashdown with 'A History of the English-Speaking Peoples' by Sir Winston Churchill

The Rt Hon The Lord Hunt of Wirral, ESU Chairman, introduced Lord Ashdown and Lord Watson of Richmond, Chairman Emeritus ESU International Council, gave the Vote of Thanks.

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Lord Ashdown's closing remarks best describe his thought-provoking insight into his view for the future: “The good news is that, despite the excesses of Churchill's desert war and the pain of our more recent ones, if we can learn to do it better, we will get our fingers burnt less - and in the process may make the world a much safer and less painful place than it is at present.”

David Thomas, ESU Governor and Honorary Treasurer (left) with William Marsden, former British Ambassador to Argentina and member ESU London Branch

Lindemann Trust Fellowships In January, the Lindemann Committee met at Dartmouth House to interview this year's shortlisted candidates for the Lindemann Trust Fellowships. They were joined by ESU Director-General, Valerie Mitchell, Director of Education, Elizabeth Stokes, and Financial Controller, Ronald Dellal.

Fellowships are offered to graduates of exceptional promise in both the pure and applied physical sciences and are among this country's foremost science prizes.

The interview panel comprises some of the most prestigious science academicians in Britain including representatives of the Royal Society. They are: The Rt Hon The Earl of Stockton (Chairman), Professor Roger Cowley, Professor David Edwards, Sir John Enderby, Professor Sir Francis Graham-Smith, Dr Martin Grossel,

Professor Sir Roger Penrose and Professor Robert Williams.

Three scholarships were awarded. The successful candidates were Juliet Biggs from Oxford University, Dr Wasim Malik also from Oxford and Dr William Irvine from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Each Fellow will receive a grant of US$30,000 to enable them to undertake scientific research in the United States for a year. Juliet Biggs will be researching Volcanic Deformation at the University of Miami, Dr Malik will be conducting research in Electrical Engineering at MIT. Dr Irvine's research topic is The Physics of Colloids and Emulsions in Complex Solvents; he will be working at New York University. We wish the Fellows well and look forward to their reports.

Final reports from the 2005-06 Fellows, Dr Gareth Funning, Dr Jonathan Keeling and Dr Bridget Wade were submitted to the Committee. Dr Wade expressed gratitude for the Fellowship and concluded that she had a very productive year at Rutgers University. Dr Funning spent his Fellowship year at the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory in California studying earthquakes. His report concludes: “I am very grateful for the opportunity to broaden my academic horizons that a Lindemann Fellowship has given me. I believe that the relationships I have forged and the experience that I have gained will stand me in good stead for a successful career in science.�

Teams Compete to Represent England Teams from 24 institutions battled it out to represent their country in the 2006 ESU John Smith Memorial Mace for England, the National Universities Debating Competition.

The contest, which took place over two days in November at Dartmouth House, saw teams from Cambridge, Durham and Oxford reach the Final to debate the motion This House believes that England needs a Parliament.

Congratulations to Sam Block and Adam Bott from the University of Cambridge who, as the winning team, will represent England in the International Final between Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.

Like the national championships in England and Scotland, this year's international event, to be held in Dublin, is generously sponsored by Baillie Gifford, a leading Scottish independent investment firm.

2006 John Smith Memorial Mace for England winners Sam Block (left) and Adam Bott

Well done also to Richard Goodman of the University of Oxford who was the highest ranking individual speaker. Special thanks go to this year's Mace convenor, Sarah Monroe, for her hard work and support.

Schools Debate The Dartmouth House Debating Society's first meeting of 2007 took place on 10 January, when some of the best school level debaters in England tackled the motion This House would join the 1000 people who emigrate every day from the UK. The six speakers, Ben Woolgar, Claire Moulange and Conan McKenzie in proposition, and Ben Lewy, Thomas O'Reilly and Emily Pearce in opposition, debated using a special version of World Schools format, which included six minute speeches and a floor debate.

The motion was eventually defeated by a narrow margin. Many thanks to all of the speakers who took part.

For more information on the Dartmouth House Debating Society, please contact: vivienne_thomson@esu.org

Clockwise: Conan McKenzie, Claire Moulange, Ben Woolgar, Ben Lewy, Thomas O'Reilly, Emily Pearce 3

Christmas Concert The ESU's annual Christmas Concert took place on 12 December 2006 at Dartmouth House, in aid of the Music Scholarship Fund.

Singers from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, under the direction of Sarah Hodkinson, provided seasonal music, and readings were given by Mr Don Miller, ESU London Branch as well as ESU Debating, SSE and Music alumni. The concert was followed by a reception with mince pies and mulled wine and enthusiastic singing around the piano, led by the choir.

Left: Singing around the piano at the Christmas Carol Concert

Mongolian Cultural Evening

Renowned Mongolian calligrapher, Sukhbaatar Davaakhuu, at work

A magnificent Mongolian evening, hosted by the ESU, was attended by HE Mr Dalrain Davaasambuu, the Mongolian Ambassador, on 24 January. Providing a head-turning, eclectic mix of performances, artwork and cuisine, it offered guests the opportunity to sample the unique Mongolian culture.

Colourful artwork by artists included the esteemed Tsedendashiin Davaakhuu who is renowned in Mongolia for his artistry. His son, the well respected calligrapher, presented his work and demonstrated the art of Mongolian script on the night.

Simon Moyle, ESU London Branch, David Watson, ESU Colchester, HE Mr Dalrain Davaasambuu, Geraldine Watson, Valerie Mitchell, Director General and Mrs Orkhon Gantogtokh, Director-General ESU Mongolia

Dr David Sneath, director of Studies in Archaeology and Anthropology for Corpus Christi College, then delivered an enlightening lecture on the history and culture of Mongolia offering a valuable insight into the country's civilisation.

Introduced by Mrs Orkhon Gantogtokh, Director-General, ESU Mongolia, guests were treated to delightful performances of horse head fiddle and traditional dance which was followed by a spectacular contortionist routine.

Mr. Simon Moyle, founder member of ESU Mongolia, gave the Vote of Thanks and auctioned a painting raising a worthy amount of money for the debating activities of ESU Mongolia.

The evening was rounded off with traditional Mongolian dumplings complemented by authentic Mongolian vodka.

A Mongolian contortionist holds the assembled company spellbound

Valerie Mitchell welcomed guests, emphasising the important role Mongolia played in creating global understanding through English.

The Mongolian Ambassador also addressed a few words.

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Proceeds from the evening will go towards ESU Mongolia's programmes.

A concert given by horse head fiddlers

English in Action Coffee Morning programme provides one-on-one conversational English classes for students new to the language. Volunteers from English in Action in Schools also attended. These volunteers work with small groups of primary school children to improve their fluency in spoken English.

The coffee morning was an opportunity for volunteers and students to meet and share their thoughts and experiences with staff from the Education Department. It also allowed staff to say thank you to our valued volunteers.

James Probert, Deputy Director of Education and Head of the Centre for Speech and Debate, gave a welcome speech and introduced Alison Wheatcroft, volunteer founder of the English in Action in Schools programme. Alison stressed how beneficial both initiatives were to those new to the UK and thanked the volunteers for all their hard work.

English in Action tutor, David Lennon, with students Fenty Saraswaty and Dara Arief

Tutors and students from the English in Action programme met at Dartmouth House in early January for coffee and cake. This

The event was attended by several students new to English in Action, who then paired up with tutors. All are looking forward to the Spring term of English in Action, which promises to be a success.

For more information no the above-mentioned programmes, please contact Katherine Plummer on katherine_plummer@esu.org

Champions Turn Out for Alumni Debate A number of top debaters turned out to speak at the ESU's annual Alumni Debate on 4 December, as part of the Dartmouth House Debating Society's series of events. They included former champions and finalists of the ESU's John Smith Memorial Mace and Schools Mace, and several former members of the British Debate Squad, who tackled the motion This House would become self-sufficient.

Members of the 40-strong assembled audience were given the opportunity to participate in a number of floor speeches.

Second proposition Richard Osborne and Nick Pacheco were eventually declared champions and duly presented with champagne and book tokens. Afterwards the assembled crowd enjoyed complimentary mulled wine and mince pies in the Dartmouth House Bar. The Dartmouth House Debating Society Alumni Debate

Calling ESU Alumni !

We are always interested to hear stories of your experiences.

Don't forget the Alumni Reunion on 26 March, 6 - 8 pm!

In addition, should you feel able to support us with a donation towards the Alumni Association, it will be much appreciated.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Contact: Alison Wardrop Email: alison_wardrop@esu.org Tel: 020 7529 1550 Left: Two of our alumni, (left) Anthony Conway (SSE 1959) and Richard Logan (SSE 1963) were invited to the annual Buckingham Palace Award Ceremony to thank them for their generous support for the ESU Alumni Association 5

Lord Watson Visits Bulgaria part of the annual academic St Kliment Readings 2006. He also gave a lecture, From the English-speaking People to an Englishspeaking World - marking the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, the first English settlement on the American continent, to a wider audience of diplomats and civil servants at the Diplomatic Institute of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Members of ESU Bulgaria were present on both occasions.

Dr. Mihail Tachev, Executive Director of SS Cyril and Methodius International Foundation and Patron of ESU Bulgaria, presented Lord Watson with an Honorary Diploma.

Other highlights of the trip included a concert of the New Symphony Orchestra, at which he was a guest of the British Ambassador, a dinner in his honour given by Mr Mihail Tachev and visits to Rila Monastery and the Archeological Museum in Sofia.

Lord Watson with Bulgarian Education Minister Daniel Vulchev

Lord Watson, in his capacity as Chairman Emeritus of the International Council of the English-Speaking Union, made his first official visit to Bulgaria in November. He was received by HE Mr Georgi Pirinsky, Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament. He also attended the annual Bulgarian Business Leaders' Forum (BBLF) where he met and talked to the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ivaylo Kalfin.

Lord Watson gave a presentation on The Rise and Rise of English to students and teachers of the British and American Studies Department of St Kliment Ohrdiski University of Sofia. This formed

Special thanks go to the British Ambassador to Bulgaria, Mr Jeremy Hill, and Mrs Hill who hosted Lord Watson's stay.

Thanks also go to Dr Mihail Tachev for his help in structuring Lord Watson's stay, to Mr Ian Stewart, Director of the British Council in Sofia, Dr Maxim Behar, Chairman of the Bulgarian Business Leaders’ Forum, Mr Boyko Vassilev of the Bulgarian National TV and Mrs Veronika Antova, Head of Protocol of the Bulgarian Parliament, for their welcome support.

We are grateful to Professor Milan Milanov, Director of the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Tanya Mihailova, Head of Public Activities and Cooperation at the Institute, and Dr Tatyana Stoicheva, Head of British and American Studies Department of St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, all of whom were instrumental in organising Lord Watson's lectures.

St Petersburg Conference In September, The Rt Hon Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, former Secretary General of NATO, invited Margarita Mudrak, former President of the ESU International Council and Chairman of ESU Russia-St Petesburg along with ESU Director-General Valerie Mitchell to a breakfast meeting in the City.

The purpose was to discuss an agenda for a conference entitled Aspects of Globalisation.

The conference will be held in St Petersburg on Tuesday 20 May 2008.

Further information will be available in due course.

Lord Robertson with Valerie Mitchell and Margarita Mudrak

Support the ESU If you would like to strengthen the ESU’s ever increasing educational programme by a donation or a legacy in your Will, please contact Jo Wedderspoon at Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, W1J 5ED, telephone 020 7529 1550, email jo_wedderspoon@esu.org.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

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Capitol Hill Briefing Eleven UK university students spent a day at Dartmouth House in January to be briefed on their involvement in the Capitol Hill Programme. This offers internships in the office of a congressperson or senator, giving participants the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the American political system.

This year's interns heard talks from ESU staff including Elizabeth Stokes, Director of Education, and Alison Wardrop, Alumni Officer.

Chris Dunnett, Assistant Cultural Attaché at the US Embassy, delivered an interesting lecture on the workings of Congress. The students then heard from programme Alumni including Mehreen Malik (2005), Jonathan Bailey (2006) and Jatin Sharma (2006), who took part in a discussion about their experiences on the Hill.

The Washington DC placements will run from June-August and will include the chance to attend Speakers' Series lectures and a range of briefings, hearings and receptions.

Alumni and interns at the Capitol Hill Briefing Day

For more information about the ESU Parliamentary Exchange Programme, please contact vivienne_thomson@esu.org.

New Faces Two new recruits have recently joined the ESU team at Dartmouth House.

Alison Wardrop has been appointed Alumni Officer. She has previous ESU experience having worked in New York City for ESU-US in Development and International Programmes.

Alison has a Masters in Art History and in Classical Studies from St Andrews University in Fife, which is very near her family home in Perthshire, Scotland. She has made the move from over the Border to London and is very excited to be working for ESU London. She looks forward to meeting the Alumni. Her interests include Art (painting and drawing), galleries, and Classics. She lives in Wimbledon, which could prove very convenient as she also has a strong love of tennis - and running.

Jo Wedderspoon, formerly Alumni Officer, will now be concentrating solely on Corporate Members and Sponsors.

Gillian Parker has joined the organisation as Cultural Affairs Officer.

Originally from County Down in Northern Ireland, she moved to London to study three years ago and has recently completed her degree in English Literature and Drama at Royal Holloway, University of London. Having a strong interest in all the arts, Gillian was delighted to undertake the role of Cultural Affairs Officer and is very much looking forward to working on the programme ahead.

Gillian Parker (left), Cultural Affairs Officer and Alison Wardrop, Alumni Officer

From the Archive …80 years ago Transport is never far from the news and a Landmark article in 1927 suggests just how difficult it was to see anything much of Britain except from a train. The automobile revolution, the term 'car' does not feature, saw the ESU creating its own automobile service. American visitors were able to step straight into an 11h.p. Morris-Cowley on arrival at Southampton, Liverpool or Plymouth, with all the paperwork arranged for 30s per day or £9 per week. If this car was too conservative, an Austin 12 or an Armstrong-Siddeley 14 could be had, or even a Buick for 9d per mile.

The ESU Travel Bureau also drew up itineraries and made hotel reservations for the less adventurous free spirits - and it was easy, they suggested, to keep expenses under £1 per day. Membership of the AA or RAC was an optional, though recommended extra, “No sane person motoring in England thinks of dispensing with either”.

If this warning seemed ominous, a chauffer could be provided, although with the Daimler, he came at a price - £7 per day.

American visitors appeared, on average, to “give no more than three days to England”, so it was important to pack in as much as possible. Itineraries were planned to Cornwall and North Wales and through the Cotswolds, all hotels tried and tested by ESU members to avoid those which “keep on in a very old style”. And if your inner tube blew out along the way your “account was credited with the cost of the new tube”. What service.

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Diary Dates

Unless otherwise stated we regret that no refunds can be made for cancellations within seven working days of an event.

For members: We accept payment for Dartmouth House events and membership subscriptions by credit/debit cards. Cards bearing Visa, Master-Card, Maestro, Switch, Solo or Delta symbols can now be used to make bookings by post, telephone or email.

DARTMOUTH HOUSE Telephone : 020 7529 1550

MARCH

MAY

Wednesday 7 March at 7.00 pm Economics Debate at Dartmouth House To be added to the guest list please contact vivienne_thomson@esu.org

Wednesday 9 May 10.30 - 11.30 am Coffee Morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends Contact: Jacqueline Abbott

Monday 12 March at 3.15 pm Commonwealth Day Observance 2007, at Westminster Abbey.

This event is now fully booked Please contact Jacqueline Abbott to go on the waiting list

Wednesday 9 May at 6.30 pm Lecture at Dartmouth House by Ann Nevill on The Vision of Stanley Spencer in aid of the ESU Chilton Art History Scholarship. Tickets £17.50, to include a glass of wine.

Reception 6.30 pm, lecture 7.00 pm Contact: Jacqueline Abbott.

Tuesday 13 March at 7.00 pm Literary Lecture with Sir Donald Hawley at Dartmouth House Sir Donald Hawley, a distinguished Arabist and former ESU Governor, takes a revealing look at the here and now of the United Arab Emirates in his new book The Emirates: Witness to a Metamorphosis.

Contact: Gillian Parker Wednesday 14 March 10.30 - 11.30 am Coffee Morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends Contact: Jacqueline Abbott Thursday 22 March 12.15 for 12.30 pm Literary Luncheon with Hugo Vickers Hugo Vickers will talk on his acclaimed book Elizabeth: The Queen Mother.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Tickets: £32 to include a 2-course lunch, wine and coffee Contact: Gillian Parker Monday 26 March 6.00 - 8.00 pm All Alumni Reunion at Dartmouth House. 80th Anniversary SSE (BASS) and 20th Anniversary US Parliamentary Exchange (Capitol Hill).

All Alumni are invited and guests are welcome. Guest tickets £15 Contact: Alison Wardrop

Thursday 17 May International Public Speaking Competition Final. With over 60 participants from more than 30 countries this promises to be another exciting competition. Members are welcome to Dartmouth House to see the heats from 9 am.

Contact: Katie Brock Thursday 24 May at 7.00 pm Lecture at Dartmouth House in aid of the ESU American Arts Scholarship to Attingham. Judith Barter, Field-McCormick Curator of American Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago, will speak on The Art Institute of Chicago: One of the World's Greatest Art Museums. This museum presents a collection spanning 5000 years of artistic expression.

Tickets: £7.50 to include a glass of wine Contact: Gillian Parker Thursday 31 May - Monday 4 June The Launch of ESU Moldova will take place from 31 May - 4 June inclusive, in Chisinau. A cultural programme will precede the formal Launch, which is on 4 June Contact: Katie Brock

APRIL Wednesday 4 April at 7.00 pm MPs' Debate at Dartmouth House To be added to the guest list please contact vivienne_thomson@esu.org Wednesday 11 April 10.30 - 11.30 am Coffee Morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends Contact: Jacqueline Abbott Wednesday 18 April at 7.00 pm Literary Lecture with H C von Sponeck who will be presenting his book A Different Kind of War. Once one of the UN's most senior and respected officials, Sponeck offers a well-informed survey of the political developments in Iraq.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Tickets: £8 to include a glass of wine.

Contact: Gillian Parker

ADVANCE NOTICE Tuesday 3 July House of Lords Tea Party 3.30-5.00 pm The Rt Hon The Lord Hunt of Wirral MBE will receive guests on the Terrace of the House of Lords. This is a popular event and early booking is essential. Guests' names will need to be submitted in advance. Tickets: £25 Contact: Gillian Parker

Telephone : 020 7529 1550 Fax : 020 7495 6108 Email : esu@esu.org Web : www.esu.org