THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION OUSE VALLEY BRANCH 2011-2012 PROGRAMME With the exception of Event 7, meetings commence at 12.30pm for 1.00pm lunch, with the talk commencing after lunch. Guests are welcome at all events. Further information from Brenda Alexander on 01234 881473, e-mail B_Beeches@btinternet.com. A booking form is also available on the Ouse Valley website http://www.esu.org/ousevalley
2011 Luncheon Event 1: Tuesday 20 September 2011 Venue: The Bedfordshire Golf Club, Stagsden, near Bedford STEPHEN DAY, formerly British Ambassador to Qatar and later to Tunisia Why Tunisia? Arab Spring, or end of winter? What are the reasons for the uprisings in the Arab world? Why did it all begin in Tunisia? Why “Arab Spring” is at the very best premature. An expert talking about a highly important subject.
Luncheon Event 2: Thursday 27 October 2011 Venue: Sharnbrook Hotel, Park Lane on A6 north of Bedford DAN REBELLATO, playwright, author, and Professor of Contemporary Theatre, Royal Holloway College Terence Rattigan – the man; the plays; the appeal 2011 marks the centenary of Rattigan’s birth. His plays were extremely popular in the middle years of the C20th, and currently attract huge audiences. Dan Rebellato, an acknowledged expert on Rattigan, will illustrate his talk with video extracts from some of the author’s plays.
Luncheon Event 3: Thursday 24 November 2011 Venue: Sharnbrook Hotel, Park Lane on A6 north of Bedford Thanksgiving Day Lunch RICHARD CARWARDINE, President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, formerly Professor of American History at Oxford In God We Trust: Religion in the United States The contrast between the apparent decline of Christianity in Europe and its continuing strength in the USA, with similar social influences, has often been commented on. What explains the historical and continuing grip in America of religious faith, especially as manifested in its evangelical form?
Luncheon Event 4: Wednesday 14th December 2011 Venue: Sharnbook Hotel, Park Lane on A6 north of Bedford Special Christmas Event RACHEL LAURENCE, writer and author The Key to the Garden – talk about Frances Hodgson Burnett, in costume, interspersed with excerpts from Rachel Laurence’s own play about the famous author of ‘The Secret Garden’. Burnett was the JK Rowling of her day, immensely wealthy, and the best selling author of many classic books including ‘The Secret Garden’ whose 100th anniversary is in 2011. The experienced actress Rachel Laurence gives a sensitive, witty and moving performance in this special Christmas treat for members and guests.
2012 Luncheon Event 5: Saturday 14th January 2012 Venue: Tre Fratelli Ristorante, Tithe Road, Kempston IMRAN MAHMUD, Oxford medical student Tales from the tip of Africa Dr Mahmud is a young and very talented medical doctor, ex Bedford School, now at Oxford. Part of his medical training has been in South Africa. This illustrated account is a very moving and vivid description of both medical and social experiences in the Cape Town area, and how it has affected his thinking.
Senior Public Speaking: Wednesday 1 February 2012 Branch heats of the national Public Speaking Competition for secondary schools The Ouse Valley Branch heats of this national competition for 14-16 year-olds will be held on Wednesday 1 February 2012 at a school within the area. Teams consist of a Chairman, a Speaker and a Questioner. Always a popular occasion with very high standards, previous branch winners have gone forward to win both the East of England and the National titles.
Luncheon Event 6: Saturday 11th February 2012 Venue: Sharnbrook Hotel, Park Lane on A6 north of Bedford PETER WHITTLE, writer and broadcaster The role of the Monarchy today
February 2012 sees the Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession. Queen Elizabeth is the Patron of the EnglishSpeaking Union. Peter Whittle will examine the advantages of monarchy, its ability to act as a binding force in an increasingly fragmented society, and its continuing strength.
Special Event 7: March 2011 (date tba.) Venue: University of Bedfordshire The sixth annual joint seminar with the University of Bedfordshire PROFESSOR SIR TIM BRIGHOUSE, former Commissioner for London Schools Religion and market forces in education: a toxic combination? Sir Tim Brighouse has held some of the most senior positions in educational administration including Chief Education Officer for both Oxfordshire and Birmingham. He was recently appointed by Queen’s University Belfast to chair an initiative encouraging collaboration between Protestant, Catholic and integrated schools across Northern Ireland. He will question whether a school system which supports free choice can permit separate faith schools and still promote a society which embraces equity for all? What are the prospects for our state schools in the years ahead? Such questions are highly relevant to many areas of the United Kingdom today.
Schools’ awards for English: May 2012 (date tba.) The Ludlow Awards for English These awards are made to students in year 11 of local schools and academies for whom English is a second or additional language, and who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the writing of clear and accurate English or who have made exceptional progress in a short time. The awards are sponsored by Derek Ludlow CBE, DL, Chairman of Ludlow Group Services in Luton.
Junior Public Speaking: June 2012 (date tba.) Finals of the Bedford Primary Public Speaking Competition for children in Year 4 (age 8/9 years) Following a successful pilot project in 2010-2011 involving 13 Bedford Lower Schools , the project will be extended in 2011-2012 and will culminate in two parallel competitions, one for children whose mother tongue is English, and one for children for whom English is a second or additional language The competition finals represent the culmination of a series of training programmes and classroom activities for teachers, which they then cascade in their own schools with active support from the branch.