ESU NewsTHE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION Creating global understanding through English

ISSUE No. 129 SEPTEMBER 2006

Each borough put forward a team of four students, aged 12-14, the majority of whom had qualified by winning a debate competition in their local area.

The teams debated three times in preliminaryrounds and the two with the highest scores,Brent and Hounslow, went through to contest the title. In front of the other competitors andrepresentatives from sponsors Coca-Cola GreatBritain, Tesco PLC, Sir John Cass’s Foundationand the DfES (London Challenge Unit), theydebated the motion: This House believes theGovernment should allow the police unlimitedpower to combat terrorism.

While the judges deliberated, Deputy Chairman of the ESU, Edward Gould, praised the quality of the debate and the programme in general for giving students skills that would benefit them in later life.

Tim Green, LDC Borough Co-ordinator forBromley, Sarah Monroe from the ESU Centre for Speech and Debate, twice World Schoolsdebating finalist and Michael Ehioze-Ediae, an LDC mentor who has tutored students in borough debate workshops over the last threeyears, made up the judging panel. They declaredthe team from The Heathland School, Hounslow,as winners. Their prizes were a digital videocamera donated by Coca-Cola Great Britain,globes and free places at Debate Academy, theESU’s residential debate weekend in July.

The ESU would like to thank the sponsors of the London Debate Challenge; Tesco PLC, Coca-Cola Great Britain, DfES and Sir JohnCass’s Foundation for their support over the last three years.

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

Front L-R Winning students from The Heathland School, Emily Pearce, Alavar Jeevathol and Oliver NewlanBack L-R Charlotte Hill, Tesco PLC, Nicola Carroll, Coca-Cola Great Britain, Rosanna King, DfES and MervynStreatfield, Sir John Cass’s Foundation

London Debate ChallengeChampionships Final All 32 London Boroughs were represented in the third annual London Debate Challenge Championships Finals Day, held at the Maritime Campus of Greenwich University in June.

ContentsLondon Debate Challenge . . . . . . . . .Page 1

Belgrade Conference . . . . . . . .Page 2

Belgrade Conference continued . . . . . . . . .Page 3

Mooting Competition .Page 3

Branches Conference Page 3

International RelationsConference . . . . . . . .Page 4

House of Lords Tea Party . . . . . . . . .Page 4

Coutts Gala Event . . .Page 5

Capitol Hill Reunion . .Page 6

Westminster Interns .Page 6

Branches Tour . . . . . .Page 6

Attingham Lecture . .Page 6

SSE Briefing . . . . . . .Page 7

English in Action . . . .Page 7

Hines Page Scholarships . . . . . . .Page 7

Memorial Chapel Award . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 8

New Faces . . . . . . . .Page 8

Tribute to Nicolas Wickham-Irving . . . . .Page 9

Royal Unveiling . . . . .Page 9

Library's Farewell to Alicia . . . . . . . . . .Page 10

ESU Chilton Art HistoryScholarship . . . . . . .Page 10

Governor Nominations . . . . . .Page 11

Debate Academy . . .Page 11

Diary Dates . . . . . . .Page 11

Diary Dates continued . . . . . . . .Page 12

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International Conference in Belgrade: English and

English and its Many Facets was the theme of an InternationalConference in Belgrade hosted by ESU Serbia in June.

Seventeen international delegates, representing the UK, USA,Russia, Austria and New Zealand, joined Serbian guests for thishigh profile event at the Intercontinental Hotel, Belgrade.

A welcome by Branka Panic, Chairman of ESU Serbia, opened proceedings followed by a welcome message from Mr DamjanKrnjevic Miskovic, Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of Serbia.

Dr Slobodan Vuksanovic, the Minster of Education and Sports,Republic of Serbia and HE Mr David Gowan, HM Ambassador toSerbia, also spoke at the Conference and provided an up-to-dateaccount of the present situation in Serbia.

Chairman Emeritus of the ESU International Council, Lord Watson,gave the Keynote Speech on The Rise and Rise of English and therenowned Professor Ranko Bugarski, Honorary President of ESUSerbia presented on What English means to us. Professor VeselinKostic, Founder Member of the Yugoslav-British Society and formerChairman of ESU Yugoslavia, followed with a thought-provokinganalysis of the former Yugoslavia.

ESU Director-General, Valerie Mitchell, chaired a panel discussionon Communication across Cultures with Chris Gibson, Director ofthe British Council, Serbia, Margarita Mudrak, President of the ESU International Council and Chairman, ESU Russia-St Petersburg, andBranka Panic.

The final session of the day was an electrifying and stimulatingdebate on the motion This House believes that English should nolonger remain a unified language. This was conducted betweentwo teams each of which contained a Serbian and a Britishdebater.

Delegates were invited to a reception hosted at the Residence byHM Ambassador, Mr David Gowan.

Left: L-R Mrs Valerie Mitchell,HM Ambassador, Mr DavidGowan, Lord Watson, Mrs Margarita Mudrak, Professor Ranko Bugarski, Mrs Branka Panic

Left: Dr SlobodanVuksanovic, Minister ofEducation and Sports,Republic of Serbia

L-R Debaters Jovana Mitic, Srdjan Djurovic, Colletta Smith, Usman Ahmedand Alice Tullo

Professor Veselin Kostic, founder member of Yugoslav-BritishSociety and former Chairman ESU Yugoslavia

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its Many Facets

On the Friday before the Conference, Lord Watson spoke to members of the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Belgrade on the subject Parliament and the Parties.

Following the Conference, guests had the opportunity to take partin a cultural programme. This included a tree planting by LordWatson on behalf of the ESU in the Botanical Gardens followed bya tour of Belgrade. Twelve of the delegates flew on to the newlyindependent Montenegro where they visited the old town of Kotor.They then travelled on to Dubrovnik in Croatia for a day’s tourbefore returning home.

Everyone agreed it had been a highly successful, illuminating andwell-organised event.

“Meeting…all the ESU delegates was a rewarding experience forme and, I am sure, for Branka [Panics] entire Committee. Holdingsuch a conference in Belgrade is indeed a crowning achievement inthe history of ESU Serbia.”

Professor Ranko Bugarski, Honorary President of ESU Serbia

“I was delighted that Lord Watson and Valerie Mitchell led an ESUdelegation from the UK to meet their counterparts in Belgrade.The Conference was a great success, with a stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable series of talks and much good debate. The success of the whole event reflects above all the enormousefforts made by Branka Panic and her colleagues in Serbia. Theweekend left no doubt about the important part played by the ESU in relations between the United Kingdom and Serbia.”

HE Mr David Gowan, HM Ambassador, Belgrade

Professor Ranko Bugarski, Honorary President ESU Serbia

Mr Damjan Krnjevic Miskovic, Foreign Policy Adviser to thePresident of Serbia

ESU-Essex CourtChambers NationalMooting CompetitionThe semi-finals of the ESU-Essex Court Chambers NationalMooting Competition took place at Dartmouth House on 29 June,with teams from Birmingham, Dundee, Oxford Brookes and QueenMary, University of London competing for a place in the Final.

Queen Mary and the University of Birmingham eventually made itthrough to contest the Grand Final in the President’s Court at theRoyal Courts of Justice.

Following an impressive set of submissions, judges AnthonyDiamond QC, Bernard Eder QC and Geraldine Andrews QCannounced Queen Mary as winners. This is the fourth time the titlehas gone to Queen Mary in the competition’s 34 year history.

Champions Michael Attenborough and Vijaiya Poopalasingam wereduly presented with the National Mooting Competition Mace, withthe runners-up receiving the Scarman Shield. The four finalists alsoreceived cheques from the sponsors and will each be offered amini-pupilage at Essex Court Chambers. The ESU would like tothank Essex Court Chambers for their generous sponsorship andsupport.

The 2006 Branches Conference took place at DartmouthHouse on 28 July. For a full report see Branches News.

Mooting Champions Michael Attenborough and Vijaiya Poopalasingam atEssex Court Chambers

Yvonne Weinbren,Chair, BristolBranch, with Lord Hunt atDartmouth House

Branches Conference

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International Relations Conference 2006

The annual ESU International RelationsConference was held from 9-15 July onceagain at Oriel College, Oxford. Running for over 40 years, this year’s event wasattended by 31 delegates from 25 countriesacross South America, Europe, the MiddleEast and the Far East.

The Conference dealt with issues relating toboth international relations and to Britain’sinternational role in the world today. Its aimwas to give participants the opportunity toexpand their knowledge of Britain and towiden their outlook on world issues.

Each year, the gathering offers a unique opportunity to make individual contacts

with people from various fields, culturesand backgrounds all over the world.

Valerie Mitchell opened the Conference at a dinner on the Sunday night providing anoverview of the English-Speaking Union.Sir Brian Fall, Special Representative of the British Government for the SouthCaucasus, gave the delegates a summary of International Relations Today on theMonday, drawing together aspects of all thetopics to be covered during the week.Mark Simmonds MP, Shadow Minister forInternational Development, Professor Alan Lee Williams, Director of the AtlanticCouncil, Lord Dykes, Mr Ralph LandChairman of the Russo-British Chamber of

Commerce, Mr Edward Gould, Dr AlastairNiven, Principal of Cumberland Lodge and Martin Bell, to name but a few, covered topics as diverse as Peace Keeping and Peace Enforcing, InternationalDevelopment, Education in Britain,Television: the God that Failed, Parliamentand the Parties, Status of the Arts andEast Europe and the EU. Lord Hunt wasthe Guest Speaker at the Closing Dinner on Friday 14 July.

Delegates also enjoyed a trip to Stratford tosee an excellent production of Julius Caesarby the Royal Shakespeare Company.

One of the delegates, Vinash Gopaladrishnanfrom Malaysia commented that he “hopesthe relationships we forge in the conferencewill help us grow and build a greater Englishunion partnership across the world.” Pedrode la Fuente from Argentina said: “It wasvery nice to meet young professionals andEnglish teachers from all over the world.During the conference, I have becomeaware of many of the problems their countries are facing… it is incredible tonotice that some of them are very similar to the ones we face in Argentina. Besidethe distance between us, I have no doubtthe world is a global village.”

The ESU would like to thank TheOppenheimer Charitable Trust, The SwireCharitable Trust, Rio Tinto plc, ESU Exeterand District Branch, ESU London Branchand ESU West Sussex Branch for theirsponsorship of the Conference.

Delegates at the International Relations Conference, Oriel College, Oxford

House of Lords Tea Party

The annual Tea Party on the Terrace of the House of Lords washosted by Lord Hunt in early July. Guests included Peers, MPs,ESU Parliamentary interns, Secondary School Exchange scholars,students from International House, representatives from 13 branches in the UK and visitors from 12 other countries.

The event has become a highlight of the ESU’s summer calendarand this year’s eagerly-anticipated gathering was appreciated byESU guests who attended.

Lord Hunt with ESU Parliamentary interns and SSE scholars from the USA

L-R Lord Quirk, Vice Chairman English Language Council, Mrs Valerie Mitchell, Professor Valkovsky, ESU Russia-St Petersburg, Mme Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, National President ESU France, Mrs Margarita Mudrak, President of the ESU International Council and Chairman ESU Russia-St Petersburg, and Lord Hunt

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An Inspired Evening of Great Quality

The stunning surroundings of the Garden Court at the headquartersof Coutts & Co, on the Strand, provided the setting for a GalaConcert in aid of the ESU Music Scholarship Fund.

ESU Chairman, Lord Hunt and Director-General, Valerie Mitchell,welcomed guests to hear a magical programme of Bach, Wolf andSchubert, played by former ESU music scholars, Robert Cohen andThe Sacconi String Quartet. Robert, a celebrated cellist, receivedan ESU scholarship to Tanglewood in the United States in 1978and since then has played at a number of ESU concerts. TheSacconi String Quartet was awarded an English-Speaking Unionscholarship to the International Musicians’ Seminar at Prussia Cove in 2005.

The concert was followed by a champagne reception where guestswere able to enjoy canapés and Pommery champagne, kindlydonated for this special occasion.

Proceeds from the evening will go to support the ESU MusicScholarship programme, founded in 1970 by Mrs Edward Norman-Butler. Our thanks go to the sponsors of the evening, SpencerStuart and Geldards LLP and to Coutts & Co for their kindness and support. We are also grateful to Pommery for providing thechampagne.

Much hard work contributing to the success of the evening wasalso carried out by Mr Nicolas Wickham-Irving, Chairman of theESU Cultural Affairs Committee, so it was with great shock andsadness that the ESU learned of his death so shortly afterwards. A tribute to him is included on page 9.

Left: L-R Lord Hunt,Ben Hancox, Hannah Dawson,Robert Cohen, Cara Berridge, Robin Ashwell and Lord Home, Chairman Coutts & Co

L-R Robert Cohen with George Isserlis and Lord Aberdare, members of theESU Cultural Affairs sub-Committee

The Sacconi String Quartet and Robert Cohen with Mrs Valerie Mitchell,Mrs Edward Norman-Butler, Founder of ESU Music Scholarships and Mrs Anne Skeggs, Deputy Chairman, ESU Cultural Affairs sub-Committee

Robert Cohen and The Sacconi String Quartet playing The SchubertQuintet in The Garden Court

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WestminsterInternshipsEleven American university students spentthree months this summer working asinterns in the parliamentary offices ofLabour, Conservative and SDLP MPs, aspart of the English-Speaking Union’sParliamentary Exchange Programme. Thisalso sends British students to intern onCapitol Hill.

The US students, from the CatholicUniversity of America and GeorgeWashington University, both in WashingtonDC, undertook a range of activities duringtheir time at Westminster, each designed to give them a greater insight into theworkings of the British political system.This practical experience was complimentedby a series of lectures delivered by SirPatrick Cormack MP, a former ESUGovernor, who organises the placementsevery year.

Over the course of the summer the internsalso attended an orientation day atDartmouth House, the ESU’s NationalMooting Competition Grand Final, theHouse of Lords Tea Party, a lunch hostedby Sir Patrick at the House of Commons,and an informal reception hosted by thestaff of the ESU Centre for Speech andDebate who administer the programme.

Capitol Hill Reunion

Interns and alumni from the Capitol Hillprogramme enjoyed a reception, in June,hosted by Braxton Moncure, Treasurer ESUWashington and Mrs Armida DunscombeColt, Patron ESU Washington.

Held at Mrs Dunscombe Colt’s Londonhome, alumni and this year’s interns mingled with the Moncure family and Mrs Dunscombe Colt in an informal andfriendly atmosphere.

The evening gave everyone a chance tocatch up with what has been happening intheir lives and also gave the new interns anopportunity to ask questions and to get toknow each other before they headed off toWashington at the end of June.

Vivienne Thomson, Programmes Officer andJo Wedderspoon, Alumni Co-ordinator forthe English-Speaking Union, also attendedwhat was regarded as a delightful Englishsummer evening.

L-R Catriona Lothian (2003), Braxton Moncure, Armida Dunscombe Colt, Houston Moncure and Debbie Moncure

Branches Tour by Council PresidentMrs Margarita Mudrak, in her capacity as President of the ESU International Council andChairman of ESU Russia-St Petersburg, went on an official visit to ESU Branches in July.She was accompanied by her husband, Professor Vladislav Valkovsky. Her programmebegan with the House of Lords Annual Tea Party and included the Suffolk Branch, Yorkand District Branch, Bath and District Branch, Cornwall Branch, Worcestershire Branch,Colchester Branch and Hastings Branch. She also visited Oxford, where she spoke todelegates at the International Relations Conference at Oriel College.

Outstanding programmes were organised for this visit and both Margarita and her husband, Vladislav, were most warmly received at every Branch. The members werethrilled by them both and responded most enthusiastically to Margarita’s interesting presentations.

Right: Councillor Rebecca Hopfensperger, Mayor of Bury St Edmunds,

presenting Margarita Mudrak with a souvenir of her visit

Texas Theme for Attingham LectureIn June, Emily Ballew Neff gave a lecture on Building Heritage:Texas Museums and their Collections and Patrons in aid of TheESU American Arts Scholarship to Attingham.

Emily Neff is Curator of American Painting and Sculpture at theMuseum of Fine Arts and has held teaching posts in Houston,organised many exhibitions, published and lectured widely and won many awards.

Among the audience was Giles Waterfield, Director of RoyalCollections Studies at the Attingham Summer School. Attinghamruns a residential course which offers a special insight into one ofBritain's greatest contributions to Western art, the country house.

Mrs Alys Rickett, the scholarship’s founder, chaired the lecture.

The recipient of this year’s scholarship is Susan Neill. She wasinvited to join Valerie Mitchell and Mrs Rickett for a luncheon heldat Dartmouth House in July.

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Walter Hines Page ScholarshipsWalter Hines Page Scholarships, funded by teaching unions, givescholars the opportunity to travel to the USA for three weeks tostudy an aspect of American education which is relevant to theirprofessional interests.

Over the coming year the six teachers who were awarded scholarships will travel to the United States to explore topics ranging from educational under-achievement to new technologies in primary education, the issues of inclusion in the primary sectorand alumni support in high schools.

Rebecca Eliahoo, 2004-5 Walter Hines Page scholar and AdvancedLecturer at Harrow College, spoke at a briefing day about her experiences of the scholarship. During her time in America,Rebecca researched widening participation in the recruitment ofteachers in the US. Scholars were also given the chance to explorethe Page Memorial Library at Dartmouth House.

SSE Briefing DaySixteen Secondary School Exchange scholars and their parents attended a briefing day at Dartmouth House, inadvance of the scholars’ trips to various parts of the USA toattend a US high school for a year. Scholarships providethe opportunity to live and study in North America during a gap year before university.

The SSE scholars were joined at their briefing day by fourgraduates of the programme. This provided an opportunityfor scholars to ask questions, and discuss concerns abouttheir trip, as well as make new friends and exploreDartmouth House.

For more information about the above programmes, pleasecontact Katherine Plummer, Education ProgrammesManager.

Left: UK SSE scholars at Dartmouth House

English in ActionIn June and July lunches were held to thank English in Action volunteers for all their hard work during the year.

The English in Action adults programme provides regular sessionsof one-to-one conversational English for men and women who have English as a second language. June marked the end ofanother successful year for the programme with over 50 studentsparticipating. Of the volunteers who give their time, 20 attended a very enjoyable lunch in Covent Garden, hosted by the ESUEducation department. The lunch was preceded by a fascinatingtour of The Royal Opera House.

The new term for adults begins on Monday September 18 and runs for 10 weeks.

A second programme, English in Action in Schools, places pairs of volunteer tutors in primary schools across London to work for one

hour a week with small groups of children who have English as anadditional language. Volunteers use games, stories, drawing anddrama to raise students’ confidence, self-esteem and ability to communicate.

We are most grateful for the enthusiasm and commitment of our16 volunteers who make such a difference to the lives of these students. As a gesture of our appreciation we were pleased to welcome some of the volunteers to our Annual SummationLuncheon on 25 July in Covent Garden. This event also provided a welcome opportunity for staff and volunteers to exchange ideasand experiences.

Further information on the English in Action adult programme is available from Katherine Plummer, Education ProgrammesManager. Please contact Anne Hodgson, Programmes Coordinator,for English in Action in Schools.

This year's Walter Hines Page Scholars, L-R Susan Brook NASUWT,Kathryn Kay ATL, Paul Dixon HMC, Sally Hobbs IAPS and Emma Duggan ATL

Six candidates were interviewed for the2006 American Memorial Chapel TravelGrant. This award enables a member of theBritish clergy to spend three to four weekstouring the USA with the aim of fostering

the exchange of ideas and understandingbetween denominations.

The Reverend David Gatliffe of StMargaret’s, the Reverend Stuart Jordan,

the London Committee, Methodist Churchof Great Britain and Father Brian Creak,Chaplain, University of Westminster, interviewed this year’s candidates. Theyawarded the grant to the Reverend Dr BrianFletcher, Superintendent Minister atCregagh Methodist Church in Belfast. Dr Fletcher intends to use his award toundertake further research into the subject of his doctoral thesis, ChristianPerfection in Wesley and Fletcher withImplications for Today.

The panel also received the eagerly awaitedreport from the 2005 scholar, the ReverendColin Patterson, who has recently returnedfrom his time in the United States. He isthe Assistant Director of Bridge Builders, a Christian organisation committed topeace-making and reconciliation. During his time in the USA, Reverend Pattersonattended conferences and training sessionsconcentrating on mediation, transformingconflict and peace-making, experienceswhich will prove invaluable in his role.

For more information about this grantplease contact Natasha Plaister, the ESU’sEducation Assistant.

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The 2005 winner of the American Memorial Chapel Travel Grant, the Reverend Colin Patterson, in Washington

American Memorial Chapel Travel GrantInterviews

New Faces

Elizabeth Stokes joins the English-Speaking Union as Director of Education.She has a background in education and

charity work. Elizabeth studied English at St Andrews University (with a junior honours year at the University of California,at San Diego) and gained an M Phil fromTrinity College, Dublin. Having trained as a teacher at Bristol University, she taughtEnglish Language and Literature in andaround London for four years before working for the Creative and SupportiveTrust as Education Co-ordinator. Most,recently Elizabeth has managed a learningcentre in Roehampton delivering Literacyand ESOL support. She welcomes theopportunities offered by the ESU to supportthe education of others and promote theEnglish Language.

Andrew Fitch has joined the ESU's Centrefor Speech and Debate as the new Debatesand Education Officer. Before joining theESU Andrew completed a Masters degreein post-colonial feminism at Monash

University in Australia. He has also represented Monash at several internationaldebating tournaments.

Support the ESUIf 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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Obituary

Nicolas Wickham-IrvingIt is with great sadness and deep regretthat we inform you that Mr NicolasWickham-Irving, Chairman of the English-Speaking Union Cultural Affairssub-Committee, died on Saturday 8 July in hospital. Nicolas Wickham-Irving wasborn in London and educated at the LeysSchool, Cambridge. At the age of 16, he

won a place to the Royal Academy ofMusic, where he studied piano. On leavingthe RAM he joined Ilona Kabos's class, and when she left London to take up a postin the Piano Department of the JulliardSchool, he then began to work with PeterFeuchtwanger. Nicolas Wickham-Irving'srepertoire was eclectic, including many contemporary composers such as JonathanHarvey, Michael Berkeley, Penderecki and Ligeti.

During his time as Chairman and as afounding member of the ESU CulturalAffairs sub-Committee, Nicolas did an enormous amount to promote the aims ofthe ESU and to change the lives of youngmusicians. We are immensely grateful tohim for his dedication and enthusiasm. As an organisation, we owe him a greatamount and will miss him enormously.

“Nicolas was unfailingly kind and considerate to everyone with whom hecame in contact. He was always tremendously enthusiastic about life andabout people, and especially about music.We, like so many others, will miss him hugely,but feel great gratitude for having had thepleasure of knowing him for so long.”

Lord Aberdare, member of the ESUCultural Affairs sub-Committee

“Nicolas was interested in all the arts. Healways had an open book on his generouskitchen table. He had friends in every walkof life and spent as much trouble on theelderly as he would with the brilliant youngstar who came his way. In all our years ofconstant friendship, meetings and partieswe never once quarrelled and our relation-ship became deeper and deeper as it wenton. He was a wonderful organist and adevoted Christian and when I becamewheel-bound he often pushed me toChurch and afterwards came home forlunch. He did so enjoy family life with all its vigour. He once gave my great grand-daughter a pair of satin slippers with silverbells on the toes and I remember thinkingthat she would have music wherever shegoes, just as he did. He was truly remarkable and we were so lucky to havesuch a man of his calibre as Chairman ofour Cultural Affairs sub-Committee.”

Mrs Edward Norman-Butler, President Emerita, ESU Cultural Affairssub-Committee

Nicolas Wickham-Irving at the Gala Concert heldin November 2003 to celebrate the ESU’s 85thAnniversary year

Director-General at Royal Statue UnveilingOn 26 May, St Augustine’s Day, ESUDirector-General, Valerie Mitchell, was invit-ed to represent the English-Speaking Unionat the unveiling of the statues of KingEthelbert and Queen Bertha of Kent in Canterbury.

The Ethelbert and Bertha Project of theCanterbury Commemoration Society wasexpertly organised by their Chairman, MrMartin Taylor.

The principal guests assembled in theDeanery in time for the Vice LordLieutenant, Viscount De L’Isle to receive the Guest of Honour, HRH Prince Michaelof Kent, Lord Reading and M BertrandCochery, the French Consul General.“Ethelbert was a remarkable figure becausethe origins of the laws and language ofEngland were founded in his reign,” PrinceMichael said.

It was a spectacular and memorable occasion supported by the Lord Mayor ofCanterbury, the Dean of Canterbury, theBishop of Dover and Canon Wilkinson,Headmaster of the King’s School.

Following the formal unveiling ceremony,there was a splendid luncheon held in theUndercroft of St Augustine’s library.

An actor from the Canterbury Players takes thepart of King Ethelbert at the unveiling

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ESU Bids Farewell to Alicia

The ESU Library hosted a farewell tea party for Alicia Street, who has been involved with the ESU since 1941. She helped to establish Books Across the Sea, an exchange of ‘ambassador’books which provided commercially unobtainable material to scholars and writers on both sides of the Atlantic. Alicia has sat on several ESU committees and, in recent years, her experiencehas been invaluable in identifying archive material.

Her daughter, Martha, provided a moving and entertaining insight to Alicia’s early life at the event which wasattended by many colleagues and old friends. Born ofFinnish immigrants to Wakefield, a small mining town onthe banks of Lake Superior, Alicia achieved outstandingacademic success for a woman in the 1920s. Forced bycircumstance to pay her own way through college, sheachieved the highest honours and was invited to join PhiBeta Kappa, the greatest academic honour.

From Lawrence College she made her way to Europe andthe Sorbonne, where she met her future husband, John.In 1938, after a brief teaching spell back home, shecame to England to marry. With two children in tow, she managed lecture tours promoting Anglo-Americanunderstanding on both sides of the Atlantic and wrotebooks and articles. Her frequently updated Land andPeople of England, first published in 1946, in which she predicted traffic meters, was, until recently, in most school libraries in America.

Alicia was presented with several gifts, some to encourage her to keep in touch and some to remind her of the ESU. She was also given a booklet on her life,

created from archive material from the ESU, her family and theinternet, which also provided a copy of her book.

A great character, Alicia’s stories of the ESU in times gone by are legendary and she will be sorely missed. A beautiful hillsidegarden, near to her daughter, in Bristol, was the lure for her toleave her beloved London, to which she assures us she will returnfrequently. We certainly hope so.

Alicia (left) with T S Eliot (Chairman) and Beatrice Warde (Founder) at a Books Acrossthe Sea party in 1944

Left: ESU librarians past and present L-R Alicia Street,Jeanne Huse, AndreaWathern, Helen Pearce, Gill Hale

ESU Chilton Art History ScholarshipGrazina Subelyte from Lithuania has been awarded the 2006/7Scholarship to attend the Master's Course at Christie's Education.

The ESU Chilton Art History Scholarship was first introduced in1994 and is designed to help fund part of the fees for either the

one year Christie's Course or the M Litt Programme. The optionsfor both courses are Early European Art, Fine and Decorative Artsfrom the Renaissance to the Present Day or Modern andContemporary Art.

11

Four Governors, Mr Patrick Clancy, Mr Alan Cox, Professor David Crystal OBE and Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, retire after six years on

the Board and are not eligible for re-election. Three vacancies already exist. The Board has nominated, subject to their consent,

Lady Boyd, Mr Saroj Chakravarty, Ms Cheryl Gillan MP, Mr Richard Kaye, Sir Christopher Meyer KCMG, Mr Colin McCorquodale and

Mr Anthony Westnedge OBE.

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 24 members and therefore eight have to retire this year. As there are four members retiring already, the following retire

by rotation and are eligible for re-election: Dr Christopher Gibson-Smith, Mr Christopher Redman, Mr Anthony Williams and

Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL. Dr Gibson-Smith is not standing for re-election. The other three members have been nominated

by the Board for re-election.

The Governors are continuing the co-option of Mr Alexander Finnis and Mr Peter Sparling for a further year under Bye-Law 37.

Under Bye-Law 52, written notice of any other proposal to elect a member 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 17 October 2006. Nominations will be reported to and considered by the Annual General

Meeting to be held on Thursday 16 November 2006 at Dartmouth House at 6.30 pm.

Nominations for Governors of the ESU

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 DatesSEPTEMBER

Tuesday 12 September at 7.00 pmInside the White House by William G AllmanSince 1976 in the Office of Curator and from 2002 as Curator,William G Allman was responsible for the preservation and studyof the collection of art, furniture and decorative objects used tofurnish both the public and private rooms of the White House.He will give a lecture at Dartmouth House, in aid of the ESUAmerican Arts Scholarship to Attingham. Tickets: £7.50, to include a glass of wineContact: Katie Brock

Wednesday 13 September 10.30-11.30 amCoffee Morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends. Contact Jacqueline Abbott

Wednesday 20 September 12.15pm for 12.30pmLiterary Luncheon with Antonia FraserBest selling author Antonia Fraser will talk on her new biographyLove and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King.Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.Tickets: £32 to include 2 course lunch, wine and coffee.Contact: Katie Brock

Continued on page 12

Debate AcademyNearly 100 secondary school students and teachers, from as farafield as Dundee, Liverpool and Dover, attended the sixth DebateAcademy, the ESU's residential debate training camp, from 21-24July.

The students enjoyed an intensive three days of debate coaching atKeele University, given by a variety of ESU staff and universitydebaters from England, Scotland and Australia.

The training sessions covered a range of different debating formatsincluding British Parliamentary, World Schools and ESU SchoolsMace styles. The students were taught everything from propositionand opposition strategy to how to improve style. They put theoryinto practice by taking part in several debates.

The weekend culminated in an entertaining show debate, foughtout between six of the students from the beginners group on themotion This House Would Ban Smoking.

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

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 Dates

ADVANCE NOTICE

Continued from Page 11.

OCTOBER

Wednesday 4 October at 7.00 pmChina Debate at Dartmouth HouseContact: Vivienne Thomson

Thursday 5 October at 7.00pm Literary lecture with prize-winning author, Andrew Roberts whowill present his new book A History of the English-SpeakingPeoples Since 1900. Wolfson History prizewinner and superbnarrative historian, Andrew Roberts recently completed the project of Winston Churchill, whose four volumes of the Historyof the English-Speaking Peoples ended in 1900. At DartmouthHouse, in October, he will present the story of the 20th century.Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.Tickets: £8.00 to include a glass of wine Contact: Katie Brock

Wednesday 11 October 10.30-11.30 amCoffee Morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends Contact Jacqueline Abbott.

Wednesday 11 October at 12.00 noonLunchtime Shakespeare Interview at Dartmouth House withProfessor Stanley Wells. One of the greatest living Shakespeareanscholars will present his new book Shakespeare & Co:Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Dekker, Ben Jonson, ThomasMiddleton, John Fletcher and the other players in his story.Professor Wells will be interviewed by Dr Paul Edmondson, Head of Education, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon. The event will be followed by a buffet lunch. Tickets: £11 to include finger buffet Contact: Katie Brock

21-17 OctoberThe Launch of ESU Chile will take place on Monday 23 Octoberwith a programme of events taking place from 21-27 October.Bookings have closed. In case of any queries contact Helen Green

Wednesday 25 October at 7.00 pmAutumn Concert in aid of the ESU Music Scholarship Fund. Violinist Ken Aiso, prize-winner of the prestigious Long-ThibaudConcours in Paris and International Music Competition of Japanin Tokyo, and Sam Hayward, who has now established himselfas one of the leading pianists of his generation, will give a concert in aid of the ESU Music Scholarship Fund in the magnificent music room at the London home of Vernon andHazel Ellis. Tickets: £30 or £50 for two to include canapé and wine receptionContact: Katie Brock

Saturday 28 October 12.00 for 12.30 pmChartwell Literary Luncheon. Guest Speaker, Sir Martin GilbertCBE, will speak on his book Churchill and America.Tickets £26, to include three course lunchContact: Meriel Talbot

NOVEMBER

Wednesday 1 November at 7.00 pmDebate at Dartmouth House. Motion to be confirmed Contact: Vivienne Thomson

Wednesday 8 November 10.30-11.30 amCoffee Morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends Contact: Jacqueline Abbott

Wednesday 8 November at 6.30 pmLecture at Dartmouth House by Dr Salma Samar Damluji onIslamic and Arab Architecture in Morocco, Yemen and Oman inaid 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

Thursday 30 November at 6.15 pmThe Churchill Lecture The 2006 ESU Churchill Lecture will take place at Goldsmiths'Hall on Thursday 30 November at 6.15 pm, with Guest SpeakerThe Rt Hon The Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon.Until the end of January, Lord Ashdown was the HighRepresentative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EuropeanSpecial Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The title ofhis talk will be: 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 ofthe globe. This was the first step in the process of increasingglobalisation. What are the opportunities and challenges thisprocess brings to individuals, to states and to the structures of governance today? Tickets £26, to include a wine and canapé reception Contact: Norma Reid

DECEMBER

Monday 4 December at 7.00 pmESU Alumni Debate at Dartmouth HouseContact: Vivienne Thomson

Tuesday 12 December at 7.00 pmESU annual Christmas Concert at Dartmouth House, with seasonal music and readings.Tickets: £15, to include mulled wine, sandwiches and mince piesContact: Katie Brock