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ESU News THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION Creating global understanding through English Telephone : 020 7529 1550 Fax : 020 7495 6108 Email : [email protected] Web : www.esu.org ISSUE No. 119 JANUARY 2005 Mr William Miller, Chairman of the ESU of the United States, welcomed the delegates. He was followed by Lord Watson, who introduced the first President of the ESU International Council, Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, who had been elected at the International Council Meeting. Lord Watson then gave the opening talk on 'Our International Opportunity' concluding that "There are some ways in which our organisation, the ESU, now faces a kind of rendezvous with destiny". The programme, organised by the ESU of the US, included several interesting speakers as well as the Political Analyst, Stuart Rothenberg, who gave delegates an informative overview of the forthcoming Presidential Election. There was a synopsis of the ESU of the US's new programme “Global Conversations”, which will provide a Forum on the Internet for international members to discuss topics of mutual interest. The Ambassador Book Award Ceremony was another indication of the international dimension of the ESU; 31 US branches are now sending Ambassador Books to international ESUs, resulting in closer international links. Continued on page 2. Above: Members of the ESU International Council in front of the Statue of Liberty. ESU US hosts successful World Member's Conference New York provided a splendid backdrop to the 2004 World Members' Conference held from 6-10 October. Twenty-three countries with established ESUs were represented at the Conference, which showed the truly international scope of the ESU today. Contents International Council Meeting . . . . . . . . . . .Page 2 International Visits to Dartmouth House . . .Page 2 ESU Chilton Art History Scholarship . . . . . . . .Page 2 Primary Schools Debate Programme . . . . . . . .Page 3 British Debate Squad . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3 ESU Debating Society . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3 ESU Churchill Lecture . . . . . . . . . .Page 4-5 US Election Panel Discussion . . . . . . . . .Page 5 American Election Night Party . . . . . . . .Page 6 Argentine Scholar . . .Page 7 SSE Scholars . . . . . . .Page 7 Music Scholarship Events . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7 Literary Luncheon . . .Page 7 Fabergé Dinner . . . . .Page 8 Diary Dates . . . . . . . .Page 8 Churchill Lecture See inside for details.

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gave delegates an informative overview of the forthcoming Presidential Election. There was a synopsis of the ESU of the US's new programme “Global Conversations”, which will provide a Forum on the Internet for international members to discuss topics of mutual interest. The programme, organised by the ESU of the US, included several interesting speakers as well as the Political Analyst, Stuart Rothenberg, who ESU Debating Society . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3 Continued on page 2.

TRANSCRIPT

ESU NewsTHE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION Creating global understanding through English

Telephone : 020 7529 1550 Fax : 020 7495 6108 Email : [email protected] Web : www.esu.org

ISSUE No. 119 JANUARY 2005

Mr William Miller, Chairman of the ESU of theUnited States, welcomed the delegates. He wasfollowed by Lord Watson, who introduced thefirst President of the ESU International Council,Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, who had beenelected at the International Council Meeting.Lord Watson then gave the opening talk on 'OurInternational Opportunity' concluding that "Thereare some ways in which our organisation, the ESU,now faces a kind of rendezvous with destiny".

The programme, organised by the ESU of theUS, included several interesting speakers as wellas the Political Analyst, Stuart Rothenberg, who

gave delegates an informative overview of theforthcoming Presidential Election. There was asynopsis of the ESU of the US's new programme“Global Conversations”, which will provide aForum on the Internet for international membersto discuss topics of mutual interest.

The Ambassador Book Award Ceremony wasanother indication of the international dimensionof the ESU; 31 US branches are now sendingAmbassador Books to international ESUs, resulting in closer international links.

Continued on page 2.

Above: Members of the ESU International Council in front of the Statue of Liberty.

ESU US hosts successful WorldMember's Conference New York provided a splendid backdrop to the 2004 World Members' Conferenceheld from 6-10 October. Twenty-three countries with established ESUs were represented at the Conference, which showed the truly international scope of the ESU today.

ContentsInternational CouncilMeeting . . . . . . . . . . .Page 2

International Visits toDartmouth House . . .Page 2

ESU Chilton Art HistoryScholarship . . . . . . . .Page 2

Primary Schools DebateProgramme . . . . . . . .Page 3

British Debate Squad . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3

ESU Debating Society . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3

ESU Churchill Lecture . . . . . . . . . .Page 4-5

US Election Panel Discussion . . . . . . . . .Page 5

American Election Night Party . . . . . . . .Page 6

Argentine Scholar . . .Page 7

SSE Scholars . . . . . . .Page 7

Music Scholarship Events . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7

Literary Luncheon . . .Page 7

Fabergé Dinner . . . . .Page 8

Diary Dates . . . . . . . .Page 8

Churchill Lecture

See inside for details.

2

To raise awareness of the success of the ESU's international development, three stimulating Panel Sessions were held. The first,“The Communication Challenge” was moderated by Lord Watson,then followed “Making a Difference for Young People – English asthe Language of Opportunity”, which was moderated by Ms AliceBoyne, ESU-US President/ Executive Director, and finally, “Englishand the Challenge of Cultural Diversity”, moderated by Mrs ValerieMitchell, Secretary-General of the International Council.

In summing up, Mrs Mitchell stressed that the ESU strongly supports linguistic diversity, and concluded that “English has anunrivalled role to play as a facilitator for communication, and todayis uniquely building bridges between cultures and geographies”.

Left: L-R Mr Robert Morseand AmbassadorSichan Siu.

One of the highlights of the Conference was the tour and reception atthe United Nations. A very fitting close to this international eventwas the Farewell Dinner at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.

We would like to thank Mr William Miller, Ms Alice Boyne and allthe ESU staff in New York for organising an enjoyable and variedprogramme of events.

For the full copy of Lord Watson’s speech, “Rendezvous with Destiny”,go to www.esu.org/what/index.asp, or contact Sarah Spinney atDartmouth House.

International CouncilMeetingThe International Council Meeting was held on 7 October in theRoosevelt Hotel, New York, during the World Members' Conference.It was an early start for the 36 delegates representing 23 coun-tries, and first on the Agenda was the election of the first Presidentof the International Council. Three international Chairmen werenominated: Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, President of ESUFrance, Ms Aglika Markova, Co-Chairman ESU Bulgaria and MrsMargarita Mudrak, Chairman ESU Russia, St Petersburg. TheMembers of the International Council elected Mme Keil.

Also on the Agenda was the ratification of three ESU SteeringCommittees wishing to launch in 2005. ESUs were ratified inMexico, which plans to launch in May 2005, the Czech Republic,in June 2005 and the Philippines which is scheduled to launch in November 2005.

Right: Back row: Mr Richard Atherton, Mexico, Dr Peter Troughton, New Zealand, Mr Michael Greig, Canada, Dr José Dalisay, Philippines.

Front Row: Mrs Youmna Asseily, Lebanon, Mrs Aglika Markova, Bulgaria,Mrs Valerie Mitchell, Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, France,

Mrs Branka Panic, Serbia and Montenegro.

Above: L-R Mr William Miller, Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keiland Lord Watson.

ESU Chilton Art History ScholarshipRosemary Baird, Curator of the Goodwood Collection, lectured to acapacity audience at Dartmouth House on 4 November. Speaking on“Glorious Goodwood - The history, house and art collection of the

Dukes of Richmond”, the lecture was preceded by a reception andraised £1,500 for the ESU Chilton Art History Scholarship.

Left: L-R Mme Beatrix deMontgermont-Keil, President ofthe ESU International Counciland President, ESU France, Mrs Lalivan Karnchanachari,Secretary, ESU Thailand, Mrs Valerie Mitchell, Mr Phornsake Karnchanachari,Chairman, ESU Thailand.

The new President of the ESU InternationalCouncil, Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, visited Dartmouth House in November for a meeting

with Valerie Mitchell and was delighted to see Mr and Mrs Karnchanachari from ESU Thailand who were also there for a meeting.

3

HSBC Primary Schools DebateProgramme

British Debate Squad toursJapan Four members of the British Debate Squadaccompanied James Probert, Head of theESU Centre for Speech and Debate, on ateaching tour of Japan between 4 and 13October 2004. The team, which was madeup of Helen Jarman (University of Cardiff),Nicholas Pacheco (College of Law), RichardOsborne (Inner Temple) and GregO'Mahoney (University of Oxford), visiteduniversities in Osaka to give demonstrationdebates and lectures.

A visit to Kyoto, the old imperial capital,was arranged before the Squad travelled to Tokyo to judge the Japanese NationalUniversity Debating Competition, hosted byESU Japan at the Olympic Youth Centre.The winning team, Mirhat Alykulov andTakeshi Sasaki, of Yokohama NationalUniversity, will visit London next year aspart of their prize.

Makiko Okada, Director of the ReturningStudents Education Centre at theInternational Christian University HighSchool in Tokyo, and a former pupil ofBaroness Brigstocke, announced a new Award to be presented at theChampionships this year in memory of the late Chairman of the English-SpeakingUnion. The Baroness Brigstocke Prize, for

best individual speaker in the Tournament,was won by Mirhat Alykulov. Originally from Kazakhstan, of Russian parents,Mirhat speaks Japanese as a third language, and was debating in English, his fourth language.

ESU DebatingSociety An informative and entertaining public

debate was held in association with the

Stop AIDS Campaign at Dartmouth House

on 3 November as part of the ESU's

monthly Debating Society programme.

The motion, “This House would make HIV

testing compulsory for immigrants to the

UK” was proposed by Sir Andrew Green,

Chair of Migration Watch, and seconded by

Alex Deane, a former World Universities

Debating Champion and ESU Alumnus.

Speaking for the opposition were Neil

Gerrard MP, Chair of the All Party

Parliamentary Group on AIDS and Dr Chris

Wood, HIV Consultant at North Middlesex

Hospital. Compelling speeches on this very

contentious issue were delivered by both

sides, and the audience were then invited

to contribute their own opinions to the

debate. Voting on the motion produced a tie.

The Debating Society attracts a diverse

audience from school pupils to members of

the media, each of whom can be assured

of an exciting, informative and often exhila-

rating evening's entertainment. A range

of experts speak alongside world-class

debaters in a series of dynamic debates

which tackle a breadth of current and

vital issues.

Debates are held monthly at Dartmouth

House and are free of charge and open

to members of the public. For more

information contact Vivienne Thomson

at [email protected],

or call 020 7529 1550.

Above: The members of the British Debate Squadat Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto, with studentsfrom Kyoto Polytechnic University.

On October 11, Year 5 and 6 pupils fromschools in Hackney and Tower Hamlets cel-ebrated the second year of the ESU HSBCPrimary Schools Debate Programme at thetop of the HSBC international headquartersin Canary Wharf. The centrepiece of theoccasion was a display debate on themotion “This House would build more tallbuildings in London”.

The speakers, who had prepared theircases using a resource pack written by theESU, debated at an incredibly high level.Their speeches highlighted a range of con-cerns from the economy to the environmentand from transport to terrorism. The stu-dents also received a guided tour of thebuilding with its panoramic views overLondon.

The schools which took part had all benefitedfrom workshops with pupils, and teachertraining from members of the ESU's Centrefor Speech and Debate during the first yearof the programme. They were joined by representatives from Education departmentsof several other London Boroughs who willbe joining the programme over the comingyear, by Edward Gould, Chairman of ESUEducation Committee, by Dame MaryRichardson, Chief Executive of the HSBCEducation Trust and by Sir John Bond, ESUAlumnus and HSBC Group Chairman.

The ESU is delighted to announce that theHSBC Education Trust will be continuing itssupport of the programme over the comingyear.

Above: Year 6 students from primary schools in Hackney are pictured with Dame MaryRichardson, Chief Executive of the HSBCEducation Trust, and Sir John Bond, HSBCGroup Chairman.

Support the ESUIf you would like to strengthen theESU’s ever increasing educational programme by a donation or a legacy in your Will, please contact JoWedderspoon at Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, W1J 5ED, telephone 020 7529 1550, email [email protected].

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

4

Senator George Mitchell: Guest Speak

The presence of Senator George Mitchell at the 2004 ESUChurchill Lecture was incredibly timely, as the lecture took placejust weeks after the closely fought US Presidential Elections.

Speaking on 'The English Speaking Democracies of the 21stCentury', Senator Mitchell attracted a capacity audience, whoenjoyed the magnificent surroundings of the Great Hall at Guildhall.Mrs Valerie Mitchell welcomed Senator Mitchell to the 30th ESU Churchill Lecture on 17 November and spoke about his illustrious political career, which began in 1980 when he joined the US Senate, and spanned 15 years. In 1996 the governmentsof the UK and Northern Ireland asked Senator Mitchell to chair the Peace Negotiations in Northern Ireland which resulted in thehistoric Northern Ireland Peace Accord.

At the request of President Clinton and Israeli and Palestinian leaders, he chaired an international fact-finding committee on violence in the Middle East, resulting in The Mitchell Report whoserecommendations were endorsed by the Bush Administration, theEuropean Union, and many other governments. He is a man whoknew conflict, commanded in war and always knew a just peace.

As she welcomed Senator Mitchell to the stage, Mrs Mitchell alsohighlighted the tremendous support that the ESU has received fromthe Churchill family.

Senator Mitchell spoke on democracy, the US, Iraq, the MiddleEast, Northern Ireland and his vision for the future. He said that,

“While Greece is the birthplace of democracy, surely Britain is thehome of its modern version.”

On the invasion into Iraq, he commented, “There is no easy option.Many disagreed with how we got into the war, but, at least in theUS, few now advocate an immediate and total withdrawal.”

“If we mean what we say about democracy, then we must be prepared to accept the will of the people of Iraq in organising theirgovernment, so long as it is freely and democratically expressed.”

Speaking about the situation in the Middle East, he said “There willnot be stability in the Middle East until the conflict between theIsraelis and Palestinians is resolved… I believe that neither canobtain its objective by denying to the other its objective.Palestinians will not achieve a state if Israel does not have security.Israel will not have sustainable security if the Palestinians don'thave a state.”

Finally, he turned to Northern Ireland, about which he said, “Irecall clearly my first day in Northern Ireland, nearly ten years ago.I saw for the first time the huge wall which physically separates thetwo communities in Belfast. Thirty-feet high, topped in places withbarbed wire, it is an ugly reminder of the intensity and duration ofthe conflict. Ironically, it is called The Peace Line.”

In conclusion, he said, “The twenty-first Century can be, like somany in the past, a time of endless war, of famine, of oppression,and of injustice. But it can also be a time when the dominant powers use their strength carefully, and commit their people, their power and their prestige, to a great and noble vision: a world largely at peace, with freedom, education, opportunity, andprosperity, extending to more and more people throughout theworld. That is our challenge. We must make it our destiny.”

His speech received rapturous applause from the audience. Mrs Mitchell then invited The Lady Mary Soames to the stage topresent Senator Mitchell with the ESU Churchill Medal of Honour,as is tradition. Lady Soames said, “it is a very great privilege topresent Senator Mitchell with the ESU Medal of Honour. It is atoken of great regard and great gratitude”.

Above: L-R Mr Chris Howarth, Heinz, Mr Nigel Dunlop, Leith’s, Lady Soames, Senator Mitchell, Mr Nick Moorhouse, Leith’s, and Mr Gareth Hagan, Heinz.

Above: Mrs Valerie Mitchell presents Senator Mitchell with The History ofthe English-Speaking Peoples by Sir Winston Churchill.

Above: Lady Soames presents Senator Mitchell with the ESU ChurchillMedal of Honour.

5

ker at the 30th ESU Churchill Lecture

Sir Michael Jay, Permanent Under-Secretaryof State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office,concluded the evening with the Vote ofThanks.

He thanked Senator Mitchell for an extra-ordinary and exceptional speech from an outstanding speaker. He then made light ofhis credentials, as a former Ambassador toFrance, to give the Vote of Thanks for aspeech on English speaking democracies.

He said, “Senator Mitchell has given us acompelling vision of what we all need to doto make the world a better and safer place.It was a humane, enlightening and thoughtprovoking speech.”

Following the Lecture, guests representingthe Diplomatic Corps, Corporations, ESUNational and International members andjournalists attended a reception in the won-derful surroundings of the Old Library. Theevent was sponsored by Heinz and Leith's.

Lord Watson and Lord Hunt were retainedat The House of Lords due to a three linewhip, and were disappointed to missSenator Mitchell's Lecture.

Above: The audience at Guildhall.

Above: Guildhall.

Above: Sir Michael Jay and Senator Mitchell.

Panel Discussion on the US ElectionThe Pilgrims at Dartmouth HouseAn expert panel of pundits addressed the prospects for thePresidential Elections at a joint meeting of the Pilgrims and theESU at Dartmouth House on 13 October. Lord Watson presidedand Professor Robert Worcester was in the Chair.

The panel comprised Marc Champion, Correspondent, Wall StreetJournal, Jef McAllister, London Bureau Chief, Time, StrykerMcGuire, London Bureau Chief, Newsweek, and Stanley Reed,London Bureau Chief, Business Week. The discussion was followedby a reception and dinner.

Right: Lord Watson and Robert Worcester in front of the arms of the Pilgrims.

6

The English-Speaking Union American ElectionNight Party 2004

The 2004 American Election Night Party is the fifth of its kind tobe hosted by the English-Speaking Union at Dartmouth House.This year it was once again sponsored by Hill & Knowlton.

The Party was attended by over 250 guests drawn from the diplo-matic, corporate and ex-patriate American communities in London,and the ESU was delighted to welcome the former US Ambassador,The Hon Philip Lader, to the party. Money raised from the eveningwill help to fund English-Speaking Union scholarship schemes.

The reception had a real USelection feel to it - with a DixieLand Jazz Band, Uncle Sams,canapés and bowl food, saloongirls and the build-up to theexciting announcement of thevictorious Presidential candi-date on three giant screens,generously provided by CNN,which fed the results live fromthe States to the ESU.

The guest of honour was theUS Chargé d'Affaires, Mr DavidJohnson and his wife MrsScarlett Swan, who wereaccompanied by Mr DennisSpencer Wolf, US CulturalAttaché. They were greeted by

Lord Watson and Mrs Valerie Mitchell who escorted them aroundDartmouth House and introduced Mr David McLaren, Chairman ofHill & Knowlton and ESU Alumni of the Capitol Hill InternshipProgramme.

In his words of welcome, Lord Watson introduced Mr DavidJohnson who gave a most interesting and witty summary of theElection, which was most enthusiastically received.

A raffle was held with kind donations from The Chesterfield Hoteland Shakespeare's Globe, amongst others. The night ended at 4amwith coffee and brownies for everyone. Publicity included live coverage from Sky News and Channel 4 News. Reporters from various newspapers were also present.

Above: Mr David Johnson, Charge d’Affairs, US Embassy, with Lord Watson.

Above: Helen Sender and James Miller, who organised the event.

Above: The Dixie Land Jazz Bandplayed throughout the reception.

Above: Hill and Knowlton guests enjoying CNN’s giant screens.

Above: L-R Mr Dennis Wolf, Cultural Attaché, US Embassyand Mr David McLaren, Hill and Knowlton.

Left: Valerie Mitchell and The Hon Philip Lader, former US Ambassador.

7

Argentine FarmingScholar Joaquin Oliviero from Argentina spent three months working andgaining experience on farms in Scotland and Herefordshire betweenJuly and September 2004. He was selected by Malcolm Rodman,Chairman ESU Argentina, for the placement from a competitivefield of applicants. Joaquin gained not only a great deal of farmingexperience but also an insight into life in Britain in general. At theend of his visit he had tea at Dartmouth House with Mr WilliamMarsden, Deputy Chairman of the London Branch, Mrs ValerieMitchell and Miss Helen Green. On his return to Argentina, Joaquinwill be speaking at several schools and ESU meetings. Joaquin'sflight to the UK was generously funded by the London Branch.

Left: Joaquin Olivierojoined Helen Green andWilliam Marsden for tea at Dartmouth House.

SSE Thanksgiving Dinner

More than thirty North American and British SSE scholars madetheir way to Dartmouth House from the furthest reaches of theBritish Isles to celebrate Thanksgiving together on 19 November.The hungry travellers tucked into a splendid supper with traditionalturkey and dressing followed by pumpkin pie.

Earlier in the day a briefing had been held for the UK two termscholars going out to the US in January. Alumni of the programmeand current US scholars helped to make the day fun as well asinformative.

The SSE gap year scholarships enable British and North Americanstudents to spend a year studying at a school across the Atlantic.For more information, please contact Mary Dawson.

Two events were held to raise funds for the Music Scholarship programme. InNovember, Nicolas Wickham-Irving intro-duced William Lyne, former Director of theWigmore Hall, who has been associatedwith Wigmore Hall for over 40 years,spending the last 36 as its Director.

Chairman of the Music ScholarshipsAudition Panel, Edward Greenfield, interviewed William Lyne, and played rare and unobtainable recordings of ShuraCherkassky, Christa Ludwig, the TakacsQuartet, Mieczyslaw Horszowaki and SaraWalker were played, which delighted theaudience.

Lyne was appointed director in 1966 whenthe Hall was in a state of decline. Duringhis directorship “the Wigmore became whatit is today - a space recognised internation-ally as synonymous with the performanceof chamber music and song at its verygreatest.”

The interview was chaired by GeorgeIsserlis, and Mrs Anne Skeggs, ViceChairman of the ESU Cultural AffairsCommittee gave the Vote of Thanks.

Henrietta Garnett was guest speaker at aLiterary Lecture in September, where shepresented her new book Anny: A Life of

Anne Thackeray Ritchie. Garnett, the great-grand-daughter of Leslie Stephen, draws onoriginal research and family legends handeddown to her by four generations, to presentthis enchanting and wonderfully evocativememoir of the daughter of Thackeray andaunt of Virginia Woolf.

This fascinating biography portrays theintricate web of Anny's relatives andfriends, among whom were the Dickensfamily and the Tennysons, Browning andRuskin - who all appear in a more personallight than seen before. Nicolas Wickham-Irving, Chairman of the Cultural AffairsCommittee, chaired the event.

William Lyne and Henrietta Garnett speak atDartmouth House

Martin Bell introduces his new bookMartin Bell was the speaker at a LiteraryLuncheon held at Dartmouth House inOctober, when he introduced his new bookThrough the Gates of Fire: A Journey intoWorld Disorder. Bell uses his personalexperiences as a reporter of eleven wars,and independent MP, to write an impas-sioned, heartfelt and coruscating call toarms. Bell pleads for a stark reappraisal ofthe world we're creating for ourselves, aspolitics becomes increasingly remote fromordinary lives, and television is used as justanother propaganda tool where the truth isdifficult to find.

The talk, which was chaired by Mrs ValerieMitchell, was a colourful account of one ofthe most distinguished foreign affairsreporters of his generation, who has hadfirst-hand experience in Afghanistan,Malawi, Rwanda, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosniaand the first Gulf War, has been an inde-pendent MP and has testified at The Hague.

Mrs Gill Prior gave the Vote of Thanks. The guests included HE Mr Mel Cappe, theCanadian High Commissioner to the Courtof St. James's.

Above: Martin Bell with Katie Brock.

Left: Chantal Vallis,Canadian SSEScholar, ThomasBooth, UK SSEAlumnus and Ted Griffith, USSSE Scholar atDartmouth House.

Telephone : 020 7529 1550 Fax : 020 7495 6108 Email : [email protected] Web : www.esu.org

Published by the English-Speaking Union, Registered Charity No. 273136 Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London W1J 5ED Tel : 020 7529 1550 Fax : 020 7495 6108 Email : [email protected] Web : www.esu.org

Produced by Accountability PR, Tel : 020 7247 0367 Design by Carbonari, Tel : 01392 215 993

Mrs Valerie Mitchell welcomed a full audience to Theo and SarahFabergé's St Petersburg Collection Dinner at Dartmouth House on 9 November. Guests were delighted that Mrs Margarita Mudrak,Chairman ESU Russia St Petersburg Branch and Ms Olga Arkhipova,a member of the ESU St Petersburg Committee and Director ofEducation at the Hermitage Museum were in attendance.

Mrs Mitchell introduced Philip Birkenstein, Chairman of theCollection, who spoke about the family's current creations, examplesof which were on display. A raffle was held after the dinner, whichraised £850.

Guests represented corporate and national members including theLondon Branch and other Branches in England and Wales. Thesuccess of the evening enabled the ESU to recruit new members.

Champagne Pommery donated the champagne for the reception andthe evening raised £2,500 towards the restoration of Dartmouth House.We are very grateful to Theo and Sarah Fabergé and their St PetersburgCollection, to Champagne Pommery for their generous support andto Mrs Colin McCorquodale for providing the beautiful flowers.

Left: L-R Mrs Colin McCorquodale, Mr Colin McCorquodale, Mrs MargaritaMudrak, Valerie Mitchell, Ms Olga Arkhipova and Mr Philip Birkenstein.

Fabergé St Petersburg Collection Dinner

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 andmembership 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

Diary DatesJANUARY

Wednesday 12 January at 10.30-11.30amAt Home at Dartmouth HouseMembers and their friends are invited to coffee Contact: Jacqueline Abbott

FEBRUARYWednesday 9 February at 10.30-11.30amAt Home at Dartmouth HouseMembers and their friends are invited to coffeeContact: Jacqueline Abbott

Thursday 10 February at 7.00pmAndrew Roberts will talk about his new book Waterloo: Napoleon’s Last GambleTickets: £8 including a glass of wineContact: Katie Brock

Wednesday 16 February at 7.00pmDavid Josefowitz Recital Hall Concert at the Royal Academy ofMusic with the Fidelio Quartet. A raffle and reception will follow Tickets: £30 or £50 for two, to include canapés and drinksContact: Katie Brock

A Seminar in conjunction with the Canadian High Commissionwill be held at Canada House in early springContact: Helen Green

MARCHThursday 3 March at 7.00pmMichael Henderson will launch his new book, See You After The Duration. Copies of the book will be available for signingTickets: £8 including a glass of wineContact: Katie Brock

Wednesday 9 March at 10.30-11.30amAt Home at Dartmouth House Members and their friends are invited to coffeeContact: Jacqueline Abbott

Monday 14 March at 3.15pm Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey. Limited tickets are available. Names of all ticket holders mustbe submitted. Apply now for tickets, which are free and will beavailable at the end of February. Please enclose an SAE withyour applicationContact: Jacqueline Abbott

Tuesday 15 March at 12.00pmLady Elizabeth Graydon will talk about her book Air Dog to TopDog, a light-hearted view of the RAF through the eyes of theLabrador ‘Blackie’Tickets: £15 including a sandwich lunch, wine and coffeeContact: Katie Brock

Wednesday 16 March at 7.00pmDavid Ramsbottom will talk about his book PrisongateTickets: £8 including a glass of wineContact: Katie Brock

Wednesday 27 or Thursday 28 April at 7.00pmThe Watts Gallery Concert will be held as a Memorial to Lady HealdContact: Katie Brock

Thursday 12 MayThe 2005 ESU International Public Speaking Competition willtake place at Dartmouth House and Merchant Taylors’ Hall.Contact: Helen Green

International LaunchesThe Launch of ESU Mexico will take place on 16 May and a cultural programme will be organised around the launch.

The Launch of ESU Czech Republic will take place on 21 June inPrague with a cultural programme the weekend prior to this dateContact: Helen Green

FUTURE EVENTS