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ESU News

THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION Creating global understanding through English ISSUE No. 139 SEPTEMBER 2008

Globalisation and Language, Unity in Diversity Nearly 300 delegates, drawn from ESUs in Russia, England, Wales, Tajikistan and Romania, packed the Great Hall of the St Petersburg State University, for our conference on Globalisation and Language, Unity in Diversity.

Speakers at the impressive event, supported and sponsored

by TNK BP and held in collaboration with the University, included HE Sir Tony Brenton, HM Ambassador to the Russia Federation, The Rt Hon Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, Deputy Chairman, TNK BP, Lord Watson of Richmond, Chairman Emeritus of the ESU International Council and Mr Konstantin Sukhenko, Chairman, Permanent Commission on Science, Education and Culture, St Petersburg Legislative Assembly. They were joined on the platform by Professor Arnoud de Meyer, Director of the Judge Business School, Cambridge University, Sir Paul Judge, Alderman, City of London, Douglas Daft, former Chairman and CEO, Coca-Cola Company and Mr Martin Watson, Senior Manager, The International Centre for Trade & Sustainable Development, Geneva.

(Back row L-R) Douglas Daft, Simon Bennett, Sir Paul Judge and HE Sir Tony Brenton (front row L-R) Prof Arnoud de Meyer, Lord Watson, Margarita Mudrak, Valerie Mitchell and Prof Leonid Seleznev

Topics ranged from Globalisation: Embrace it, Fight it or Accept it? to Universities – Agents of Change and Mobility and Global Language – One or More?

Contents

A welcome reception was given to the delegates in the new headquarters of ESU St Petersburg.

Professor Seleznev greeted the guests and there was a magnificent recital which followed.

Russia Conference . . .Page 1

The eve of the conference was marked by a wonderful reception at the Palace of Prince Abamelek-Lazarev. Here, guests were treated to a surprise concert by a well-known Russian folk group using traditional musical instruments.

London Challenge . . . .Page 1 Russia Conference cont’d . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 2 Mooting Final . . . . . . .Page 2 Paris Dinner . . . . . . . .Page 3 Oxford Conference . . . .Page 3

Continued on page 2.

Lords Tea Party . . . . . .Page 3

Enfield Wins Debate Challenge

Stratford Course . . . . .Page 4 President’s Tour . . . . .Page 4 London Challenge cont’d . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 5 SSE Briefing . . . . . . . .Page 5

Maddie Dunnigan and Ezra Neil from The Latymer School, Shamir Alvis from Broomfield School and Kathryn Akers from Sailsbury School, representing Enfield, were the winners of the London Debate Challenge.

US Debate . . . . . . . . .Page 5 Hines Page . . . . . . . . .Page 6 Librarian Reception . . .Page 6 At Home . . . . . . . . . .Page 6 Malta Meetings . . . . . .Page 6 ESU Governors . . . . . .Page 7 NZ Seminar . . . . . . . .Page 7

See Page 5 for full details.

Evacuees . . . . . . . . . .Page 7 Diary Dates . . . . . . . .Page 8

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

Web : www.esu.org

Globalisation and Language continued Galitzine Memorial Library and St Isaak’s Cathedral. Delegates also enjoyed a performance of the ballet, Giselle, performed at the Hermitage Theatre which followed a traditional Russian meal at a nearby restaurant.

The ESU would like to thank Mrs Margarita Mudrak, Chairman, ESU St Petersburg and the whole of her committee for all their hard work in making this very successful conference possible.

HE Sir Tony Brenton and Prof Ludmila Verbitskaya, President ESU St Petersburg

There was also a cultural tour, kindly organised by ESU St Petersburg. It included a visit to the Hermitage, the Prince Lord Robertson en route from the conference

Lord Robertson with Lord Watson

Mooting Competition Final all remarked on the high calibre of mooting, and the depth of understanding of the legal questions at stake.

Hertfordshire and City progressed to the final, held at the Royal Courts of Justice. We are grateful to the officials of the court for allowing this to happen and to Essex Court Chambers for arranging it. Mooting in a real courtroom allowed us not only to have a large and appreciative audience for the final, but also to produce a palpable sense of occasion.

Three senior members of the legal profession, Lord Steyn, Richard Millett QC and Dr Martin Lau, formed the judging panel of this occasion.

(L-R) Daniel Berger, Dr Martin Lau, Beverley Cottrell and Lord Steyn

On 26 June, the annual English-Speaking Union and Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition completed its 36th year, with a full day of mooting.

The tournament attracted almost all the institutions of higher learning that offer law degrees in the UK, with a substantial 64 entrants taking part in the preliminary rounds.

Bristol, City, Glasgow and Hertfordshire Universities made it through to the semi-finals at Dartmouth House. Bernard Eder QC, Phillipa Hopkins, Jeremy Brier and Jern-Fei Ng from Essex Court Chambers joined us at Dartmouth House to judge the contests and 2

Lord Steyn noted that advocates should “always take the moral high ground” and attain an impression of “slightly detached authority”. He added that it is important that advocates are able to answer judges’ questions instantly and directly.

Weighing up these considerations and stressing that the panel had considered each team’s performance as a whole, Lord Steyn finally announced that the winning team for 2008 would be the University of Hertfordshire, represented by Daniel Berger and Beverley Cottrell.

To close the evening, there was a reception hosted by Essex Court, to whom the ESU remains extremely grateful for their generous sponsorship and continued practical support throughout the year.

In addition, we would like to thank Legal Week, who were again our media partners this year. Thanks are also due to Eric Baskind - the coach of last year’s winning team from Liverpool John Moore’s University - who was our national adjudicator.

Paris Dinner Honours Lord Hunt At the end of May, ESU France hosted an international dinner, in honour of Lord Hunt, at a private club on the bank of the river Seine, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, President, ESU France, welcomed guests from many overseas ESUs including France, England and Wales, the Czech Republic and Romania.

Lord Hunt gave an eloquent and thought-provoking talk. He was joined on the platform by Mme de Montgermont-Keil, Dr Alexandru Budisteanu, President ESU International Council and Monsieur Pierre-Christian Taittinger, Chairman, ESU France.

The evening was a truly international gathering that identified the global reach of the ESU. This unique event, beautifully organised

by Mme de Montgermont-Keil, enabled ESU members to build cultural bridges with ESU France and enjoy every aspect of French cuisine and the wonderful atmosphere of France.

Lord Hunt and Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil

International Relations Conference in the world today. It also affords them an invaluable opportunity to meet people from various fields, cultures and backgrounds.

Lord Hunt attended the conference’s celebratory dinner and gave an overview of the English-Speaking Union.

Formal proceedings were opened by Sir Jeremy Greenstock, former British Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He was followed by a series of speakers including Prof Alan Lee Williams, Chairman, Sir William Beveridge Foundation, Lord Watson, Ralph Land, Chairman of Trustees, British Consultancy Charitable Trust, Edward Gould, ESU Deputy Chairman and Dr Alastair Niven, Principal of Cumberland Lodge.

Delegates at the International Relations Conference

The annual ESU International Relations Conference took place at Oriel College, Oxford at the end of July. It was attended by 27 delegates from 23 countries from South America, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.

Established for over 40 years, this much anticipated event offers delegates a perspective on international relations and Britain’s role

Their topics ranged from Peace Keeping and Peace Enforcing, International Development, Education in Britain and Parliament and the Parties, to The Status of the Arts, Eastern Europe and the EU and The Internet and the Media. Valerie Mitchell was the guest speaker at the closing dinner.

We would like to thank The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Swire Charitable Trust, The Drue Heinz Trust, Lloyd George Management, The Best Family Fund and ESU West Sussex, Essex and London Branches for their generous sponsorship.

House of Lords Tea Party One of the most popular events in the ESU calendar, the annual Tea Party held on the Terrace of the House of Lords, took place on 8 July.

Lord Hunt welcomed the guests, including parliamentary interns from the United States of America and France and representatives from no fewer than twelve countries. The Tea Party was also attended by Peers, MPs and other ESU alumni as well as members from seven ESU branches in the UK. Among the international ESU members were Dr Alexandru Budisteanu, President ESU International Council, William Miller, Chairman Emeritus, ESU International Council and Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, a former President of the ESU International Council and President of ESU France. The American’s Woman’s Club, the Canadian High Commission and the Canadian Women’s Club were also represented.

Lord Hunt, Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, William Miller and Lord Watson with parliamentary interns from the US and France 3

Teachers Relish Second Stratford Study Course Birthplace where delegates learnt about Shakespeare’s childhood and what his life was like in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Other destinations included the elegant Nash's House, owned by Thomas Nash, the first husband of Shakespeare’s granddaughter, New Place, the site of Shakespeare's town house and Hall’s Croft, the family abode of his daughter Susanna. A trip to Shottery to visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage, Mary Arden’s house and the Shakespeare Countryside Museum, childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother, gave further insights to the Bard’s life.

The Stratford Study Course, run by Dr Paul Edmondson, Head of Education at the Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust, included post-performance discussions, workshops on Elizabethan wigs and makeup and question and answer sessions.

Delegates on the Stratford Study Course with Paul Edmondson - extreme left back row, Sir Stanley Wells - extreme right back row, Gillian Parker – middle row extreme right

In August, 15 teachers joined the second Stratford Study Course, organised by the ESU and the Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust, whose collaboration has already resulted in the hugely successful Great Shakespeare Debate. The week-long course of plays, lectures, discussions and workshops, devised and delivered by Shakespearian experts in Stratford-upon-Avon, is aimed at teachers, professors and enthusiasts of theatre, the English language and Shakespeare.

Delegates from England and Wales, India, Mauritius, the USA, Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Estonia, France, Latvia and Russia travelled to Stratford for the programme, where they enjoyed performances of Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew at the Courtyard Theatre. The course also included visits to all of the houses owned and cared for by the Trust including Shakespeare's

There was also time to travel to Dartmouth House. Guests were welcomed here by Valerie Mitchell, who gave them an insight into the workings of the ESU, its aims and programmes. She then awarded them all with certificates before presiding over a celebratory luncheon.

Afterwards, participants took a tour of London following a talk by Gillian Parker, Cultural Affairs Officer.

Our sincere thanks go to Dr Edmondson, Gennet Rich and all at the Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust and to the Garfield Weston Foundation for their generous sponsorship.

“As a result of the Stratford Study Course, I feel like I have finally ‘met’ Shakespeare and I am looking forward to teaching Shakespeare to my students in a much more engaging manner than I was able to do in the past. Spending the week studying Shakespeare with teachers from around the world was also a wonderful experience.”

Delegate on the Stratford Study Course.

Council President’s Tour visits to the London, Canterbury and East Kent, Bath and District, York and District and Colchester branches.

Dr Budisteanu’s visit culminated in his attendance at the House of Lords Annual Tea Party, accompanied by his wife Ileana Budisteanu, an ESU Romania member and also an architect by profession.

(L-R) Valerie Mitchell, Lord Watson, Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, Dr Alexandru Budisteanu, William Miller, Alexander Finnis and Lord Hunt on the Terrace of the House of Lords

In July, Dr Alexandru Budisteanu toured ESU branches across England and Wales, in what has become a tradition for Presidents of the ESU International Council.

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His trip began in London with a appointment at Dartmouth House, where he spoke with Valerie Mitchell and also met other members of staff, before setting off for

Most warmly received by all the branches he visited, Dr Budisteanu wished to stress the kind and generous hospitality extended to him throughout his tour. He also underlined the importance of the trip, explaining, “the tour represented an important opportunity for me and the ESU members I met - to know each other better, to understand and better define our common goals and strategy, to reciprocally be better aware of our achievements and to better formulate our future objectives and the means of attaining them. The tradition of organising a UK tour for the President of the ESU International Council proved to be a valuable experience which hopefully is going to continue.”

London Debate Challenge continued from Page 1 On 23 June, 16 state secondary schools represented their boroughs in the finals of London Debate Challenge, held at Dartmouth House. The finals day was the culmination of a much wider competition taking place around London throughout the year.

It saw 16 teams of year 9 and 10 students representing their London borough, compete to be pan-London champions. Each of the teams had already advanced through to the finals day by winning their own borough competitions.

of cosmetic surgery and well-researched statistical points.

Ultimately, however, the four students representing Enfield triumphed with their assured speeches and well-presented arguments. The winning team was presented with a trophy donated by the ESU, book tokens and free places at Debate Academy, the ESU’s residential debate weekend in July.

This annual competition aims to broaden the reach of debate in state secondary schools and to bring a new set of skills to schoolchildren, in line with the National Curriculum.

The distinguished judging panel consisted of Patrick Emerson, runner-up at World University Debating Championships 2006, Louis Iwu, reigning World University Debate Champion and Beth James, Welsh Mace Champion 2002.

The two grand finalists were from Enfield and Brent boroughs and debated the motion This House would ban non-essential cosmetic surgery. Both teams spoke confidently and knowledgeably about the subject, drawing on their experience of media representations

The judges predicted the rise to prominence of the speakers, suggesting that their exceptional debating ability demonstrated their potential as future leaders in the political and business worlds.

Good Luck to Our SSE Scholars Twelve Secondary School Exchange scholars and their parents attended a briefing day at Dartmouth House before travelling to various parts of the USA. Fifteen scholars in total will take up the scholarships, living and studying in North America during a gap year before university.

Five alumni of the programme also attended the briefing, affording the new scholars and their parents the opportunity to discuss worries and concerns about the year abroad and to hear first-hand what a fantastic impact the exchange had made on its graduates.

SSE Scholars in the Courtyard at Dartmouth House

Debating Society Turns Attention to US Elections At the end of May, Dartmouth House Debating Society hosted another debate which successfully paired the ESU with a partner organisation. As in previous years, the ESU’s Centre for Speech and Debate joined forces with the US Embassy in London. The motion for this, the final debate of the current term, was This House would reform the US electoral system.

The Embassy provided its own auditorium as a venue, which offered a fittingly gilded conclusion to an excellent term of debates.

This debate was part of a series being organised by the Embassy, in an effort to foster greater understanding of democratic practice and the key political issues of the

2008 US elections among young people in the UK. For our Debating Society, it offered an opportunity to be part of this prestigious series and to provide a demonstration debate for keen school students and coaches, from more than 15 schools from all over London. Members of both sides were all accomplished schools debaters, and several were members of the ESU’s current English national schools debating team.

Assistant Cultural Attaché at the Embassy, Christopher Dunnett, joined us for the evening. Prior to the main speeches he helpfully set the debate in context by discussing the history of the US electoral system.

Following the debate, James Probert, the Head of the Centre for Speech and Debate at the ESU, praised the speakers for their skill and depth of understanding of the issues at stake, a sentiment echoed by Christopher Dunnett.

A reception, kindly provided by the Embassy, closed the evening.

The Debating Society begins a new term in the autumn. A term card will be released nearer the time. Please contact centre@esu.org if you would like to be sent information.

ESU Merchandise When visiting Dartmouth House, why not take a moment to look at the display cabinet, where you will find an exclusive range of gift items, all featuring the ESU logo. The items for sale are reasonably priced starting from just £3.50 and range from key fobs to an impressive assortment of glassware, ties, and jewellery.

Ask at reception for details.

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Walter Hines Page Scholars In June, the Education Department welcomed Tracy Metcalf, a History teacher and History Curriculum Specialist from the US, for a two-week professional development tour. Tracy was in the UK as a Walter Hines Page Scholar from Union Pines High School in North Carolina.

The Education Department arranged a full itinerary including many school visits, meetings with curriculum specialists and a cultural programme. Tracy spent time in London, Cheshire and Cambridge and was offered hospitality by UK Walter Hines Page alumni.

Since returning home, she has contacted us to thank the team for, “an amazing trip, where I learned so much that I can't wait to share and implement it in my own school.”

Early July saw a briefing day for the six UK teachers who have been awarded Walter Hines Page Scholarships to the United States.

During their visits over the coming year, they will study an aspect of American education which is relevant to their professional interests; topics range from the provision for Special Educational Needs and the role of performing arts in education, to researching excellent practice in the field of Autism.

At the briefing day Sarah Gidlow, a teacher at Canon Palmer Catholic High School, Essex, spoke about her experiences in the US and scholars were also given the chance to explore the Page Memorial Library at Dartmouth House.

The ESU is very grateful to its members and alumni for their support of this programme.

Karen Shares Her US Experiences information profession joined the Library Committee, ESU staff and former Travelling Librarians to hear Karen Poole talk about her US trip last autumn.

Karen, the 2007 award winner, is Assistant Librarian at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. The main purpose of her trip was to identify key US resources in pharmacy information and education, discuss services offered to various pharmacy sectors and innovations in the provision of electronic materials. She also sought to explore training and education opportunities for pharmacists.

2007 Travelling Librarian Karen Poole (left) with the 2008 award winner Sybilla Parkill

The annual Travelling Librarian Reception was held in the Wedgwood Room in early June when members of the library and

International at Home

Building Links with Malta

Guest from 11 countries were welcomed by Valerie Mitchell and Susan Bull, Chairman of the Promotions sub-Committee, to an International at Home held at Dartmouth House on 11 June.

Preliminary meetings have taken place both at Dartmouth House and at the Maltese High Commission between HE Dr Michael Refalo, the Maltese High Commissioner, Valerie Mitchell and Professor Alan Lee Williams. Discussions have centred around plans for forming an ESU in Malta.

Valerie Mitchell spoke to guests about the national and international work of the ESU and the morning ended with a tour of Dartmouth House.

(L-R) HE Dr Vladimiro P Villata, Ambassador of El Salvador, Prunella Briance of Diplomatic Neighbours and Susan Bull 6

An enthusiastic ambassador for the award in the information profession, Karen’s research is proving to be valuable for co-operative trans-Atlantic ventures in the pharmaceutical industry.

She hands over the Travelling Librarian baton to Sybilla Parkhill.

A Librarian at HMP Bronzefield, Sybilla was also a guest at the reception and keen to pick up any tips as she prepares for her trip to the USA.

We hope to bring you more information on how things progress in a future edition of ESU News.

(L-R) Valerie Mitchell, HE Dr Michael Refalo and Prof Alan Lee Williams

Nominations for Governors of the ESU Mr David Thomas, Honorary Treasurer, retires after six years in office and is not eligible for re-election to this office. The Board is considering a nomination for the office of Honorary Treasurer. Lord Hunt, Mr Edward Gould and The Hon Christopher McLaren have completed three years as Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Honorary Secretary respectively and are eligible for re-election for which they are nominated by the Board.

Bye-Law 42 allows for there to be up to two Deputy-Chairmen. The Board has nominated Dame Mary Richardson for the office of Deputy-Chairman.

Sir Brian Fall and Baroness Smith retire after six years on the Board and are not eligible for re-election. There is one other vacancy.

The Board has nominated, subject to their consent, Mr Alexander Finnis, Mr Billal Mahmood and Mr Jack Petchey.

Bye-Laws 49 and 50 state that a third of the Board (excluding Honorary Officers) must retire every year. The Board at present consists of 26 members and therefore nine have to retire this year. As there are two members retiring already and one other vacancy, the following retire by rotation and are eligible for re-election – Lady Appleyard, Mr Saroj Chakravarty, Mr Jonathan Dye, Mr Steven Isserlis, Mr Colin McCorquodale and Dame Mary Richardson. Lady Appleyard and Dame Mary Richardson are not standing for re-election. The other four members have been nominated by the Board for re-election, and Mr Andrew Mitchell and Dr Elizabeth Hallam-Smith for election to the other two vacancies.

The Governors have agreed to the co-option of Ms Kirsty McNeill, Mr Richard Oldham and Mr David Thomas under Bye-Law 37.

Under Bye-Laws 44 and 52, written notice of any other proposal to elect a member as an Honorary Officer or as a Governor should be sent to the Hon. Secretary, The Hon Christopher McLaren, at Dartmouth House, signed by two members “duly qualified to be present and vote at the meeting”, and by their nominee indicating his or her willingness to be elected. Notice of such proposals must reach the Hon. Secretary 30 days before the Annual General Meeting, ie. by 21 October 2008. Nominations will be reported to and considered by the Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday 20 November 2008 at Dartmouth House at 6.30 pm.

New Zealand Seminar on Magna Carta At the end of June, ESU New Zealand hosted a seminar in Wellington on Magna Carta in the Antipodes.

The opening address was given by the Deputy British High Commissioner, Mike Cherrett and the seminar proved to be one of the most interesting and worthwhile events in the branch’s long history.

Keynote speaker was Justice Baragwanath, who took as his topic

the relationship between Magna Carta and the New Zealand constitution. He was followed by a series of lectures and discussions on aspects of New Zealand’s political system and legal systems, and their relevance to Magna Carta.

The common thread in all of the day’s topics was a deep-seated concern to protect the rights of the individual from the intrusion of the powers of the state – just what the 700 year-old British document was designed to do.

The ESU Evacuee Project The project, now in its third year, aims to collect and process the histories of many overseas evacuees from World War Two.

University of Reading, The Imperial War Museum and The Evacuee Reunion Association.

As a result, the ESU library now houses paper, electronic and audio records of over 300 overseas evacuees. This project is run as a joint collaborative effort of the English-speaking Union, the

If you would like to be involved in this project or would like more information please contact: Annette Fisher, 020 7529 1565, annette_fisher@esu.org

Christmas with Leith’s Indulge in the festive spirit with Leith’s at Dartmouth House. Enjoy delectable canapés, a sumptuous menu, and an indulgent wine selection by choosing one of our four event packages; Ivy, Holly, Mistletoe or Angel, starting from £95.00 ex VAT per person, based on a minimum of 60 people. Or, we can tailor your event with our bespoke service.

For smaller numbers, the restaurant in The Revelstoke Room on the ground floor, is available for groups of up to ten people for lunch. Menus change on a monthly basis, so there is always something new to enjoy.

For restaurant reservations, please contact Reception on: 020 7529 1550.

For all event enquiries, please contact Nicholas da Costa on: 020 7529 1578, or email: nicholas.dacosta@compass-group.co.uk

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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

Tuesday 2 September at 7 pm Academic, journalist and author, John Laughland, will be presenting his new book A History of Political Trials: From Charles I to Saddam Hussein, which explores international war crimes tribunals and the prosecution of heads of state. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. Tickets: Free of charge. Names must be submitted for the guest list. A cash bar will be available.

Contact: Gillian Parker Monday 8 September & Monday 27 October at 6 pm An expert panel of political pundits will address the prospects for the US Presidential Elections at a joint meeting of the Pilgrims and the English-Speaking Union, to be held at Dartmouth House.

The panel includes Stryker McGuire, formerly London Bureau Chief of Newsweek magazine and current Editor of the London-based International Quarterly and others who have all covered Presidential elections in the past.

Tickets: £25. Guests welcome. For those who wish to stay on at Dartmouth House following the reception, a dinner will be available for an additional £40.00 each.

Contact: Tessa Wells, tel: 01622 606404, email: sec@pilgrimsociety.org Wednesday 10 September 10.30 – 11.30 am ESU members are invited to a coffee morning at Dartmouth House.

Contact: Annette Fisher 15 – 18 September ESU World Members’ Conference We are delighted to announce that HRH Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh will be attending. The conference theme is Creating an ESU for the modern world and guest speakers include: Sir Christopher Meyer, The Rt Hon Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, Sir Richard Dearlove, Professor David Crystal, Sir John Bond, Professor Stanley Wells and Sir Robert Worcester.

The conference website www.esuworld2008.org gives full details. Bookings are now closed for the conference. Late bookings will be considered only in exceptional circumstances.

Tuesday 16 September at 7 pm Emily Ballew Neff, Curator, American Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on John Singleton Copley (1738-1815): Painter of American Revolutionaries and the English Aristocracy. Tickets: £7.50 to include a glass of wine Contact: Gillian Parker

OCTOBER Thursday 2 October at 6.30pm Panel discussion on Churchill, Chamberlain, Kennedy and Roosevelt: Anglo-American Relations and the Path to War 1938-1940. Panel includes Dr Will Swift, Andrew Roberts, Robert Self and Anne de Courcy. Books of the respective authors will be available for purchase and signing including The Kennedys Amidst the Gathering Storm by Dr Swift.

Tickets: £8 to include one glass of wine Contact: Gillian Parker Wednesday 8 October 10.30 – 11.30 am International at Home. ESU members are invited to a coffee morning at Dartmouth House.

Contact: Annette Fisher

NOVEMBER 1 – 3 November The Future of Englishes An international conference to be held in Belgrade, Serbia to mark the 90th anniversary of the English-Speaking Union entitled The Future of Englishes, organised by ESU Serbia, the first ESU to be launched in Eastern Europe in 1991. Professor David Crystal will be keynote speaker and the conference will include a cultural programme.

The delegate fee is £300. For more information or to make a booking, please contact Branka Panic, ESU Sebia, Strahinjica Bana 63, 11000 Belgrade, tel/fax: +381 11 3287300, email: ybs.esu@EUnet.yu Tuesday 4 November 9.00 pm US Election Night Party Since it was first held in 1976, the ESUs American Election Night Party has been a regular fixture in the London Anglo-American calendar, with some 400 ex-patriots, politicians and friends of the United States of all persuasions celebrating this important event.

From Kingman Brewster in 1976, through John J Louis, Charles H Price II, Henry E Catto, Raymond Seitz, William J Crowe and Philip J Lader, we have welcomed each and every US Ambassador to our home here at Dartmouth House as our guest of honour and we are hopeful that this year will be no exception.

The event will start at 9pm, and we will be showing live coverage of the election on screens around the building.

We expect to continue into the night, until at the very least the Eastern and Central regions have returned their results.

Tickets: £55 (TBC) Contact: Annette Fisher Wednesday 12 November 10.30 – 11.30 am ESU members are invited to a coffee morning at Dartmouth House.

Contact: Annette Fisher Monday 24 November at 6.30 pm Gala Concert at Goldsmiths’ Hall. The cellist Steven Isserlis is generously giving a recital in aid of the ESU Music Scholarship Fund, to celebrate the 100th birthday year of the founder Belinda Norman-Butler and the 90th anniversary of the ESU. This will be a superb evening of music.

Tickets: £60 each or £100 for two.

Contact: Gillian Parker

ADVANCE NOTICE Wednesday 10 December at 7 pm ESU annual Christmas Concert at Dartmouth House, with seasonal music and readings. Join us for Yuletide cheer, festive fare, mulled wine, readings and carols with singers.

Tickets: £15 to include mulled wine, sandwiches and mince pies Contact: Gillian Parker

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Wednesday 8 October at 12.15 for 12.30 pm Literary luncheon at Dartmouth House. The guest of honour will be Mrs Maria Tuttle, the wife of the present Ambassador to the Court of St James’s for the United States of America, on her recently published book, Winfield House.

Tickets: £30 to include a two-course lunch with wine.

Contact: Gillian Parker

Wednesday 15 October at 12.15 for 12.30 pm Former minister and Governor of Gibraltar, Lord Luce gives a sensitive insight into his life with his book Ringing the Changes: A Memoir. The book covers the tumultuous period covering the deaths of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, as well as the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Lord Luce will present his book at a literary luncheon at Dartmouth House.

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

Tickets: £30 for a two-course lunch and a glass of wine Contact: Gillian Parker

This brochure has been printed with vegetable inks using environmentally friendly paper sourced from sustainable forests and is chlorine-free, acid-free, reclyclable and bio-degradable.

SEPTEMBER

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