ESU NewsTHE ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION Creating global understanding through English

ISSUE No. 129 JANUARY 2007

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh presented awards to the winners ofthe ESU English Language Book Award and ESU President's Awardat Buckingham Palace on Wednesday 15 November 2006.Winners of ESU competitions to promote effective spoken Englishalso received certificates from Prince Philip.

The widely respected Duke of Edinburgh English Language BookAward was founded in 1971 to recognise the best book publishedeach year in the field of English language teaching. This year, thejudges, led by Lord Quirk, named joint winners of the Award. Theybelieve that this year's winners exhibit not only creative originalitybut also practical usefulness.

The assessors described one of the winning entries, the “clever and

engaging” Faux Pas? A No-Nonsense Guide to Words and Phrasesfrom Other Languages by Philip Gooden (A & C Black PublishersLimited) as “very entertaining,attractive and full of commonsense.” The other winningentry Intelligent Business byChristine Johnson, Tonya Trappeand Graham Tullis (PearsonLongman) was judged to be “an invaluable and ambitiousproject informed by considerableexpertise.”

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

ContentsPalace Awards . . . . . .Page 1

Chile Launch . . . . . . .Page 1

Palace Awards cont'd .Page 2

Chile Launch cont'd .Page 3

Argentina visit . . . . . .Page 3

Refugee pilot . . . . . . .Page 4

Veil debate . . . . . . . .Page 4

Andrew Roberts lecture . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4

Farming scholar . . . .Page 4

Stanley Wells . . . . . . .Page 5

Kensington concert . .Page 5

International at Home .Page 5

Cornwall/Prague Exchange . . . . . . . . . .Page 6

ESU Staff Changes . .Page 6

Sea Vac . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6

Leith's New Faces . . .Page 6

Morehead Nominees .Page 7

Administrator retires .Page 7

Pilgrim Scholars . . . .Page 7

Oman lecture . . . . . .Page 7

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

Chile LaunchThe British Embassy in Santiago was thesetting for the ESU Launch of Chile, kindlyhosted by HE Mr Howard Drake. Thirty-sixinternational delegates from the UK, USA,Argentina, France, Canada and NewZealand attended, together with membersof the ESU Chile committee, and localdignitaries. Also present were several recipients of ESU Scholarships to theInternational Public Speaking Competition,International Relations Conference and theESU Shakespeare's Globe Seminar, all ofwhich took place in the UK.

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Buckingham Palace Awards

L-R Valerie Mitchell, Mrs Lucia Santa Cruz, President ESUChile, Mr Howard Drake, HM Ambassador, Mr RichardCollingwood-Selby, Chairman ESU Chile and Lord Watson

Authors of Intelligent Business L-R Tonya Trappe, Graham Tullis andChristine Johnson (extreme right) with publishers Stephen Nicholl and IanWood (Pearson Longman) receive their Award from The Duke of Edinburgh

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh presents the Award to Suzi Nicolau (A & CBlack, Publishers) and Philip Gooden, author Faux Pas?

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Buckingham Palace Awards continuedThe highly commended entry Adult Learners' Writing Guide byRuth Thornton (Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd) addresses theneeds of adult literacy learners with a “non-threatening approach”.Resource Books for Teachers: Grammar by Scott Thornbury (OUP)was also highly commended and provides useful, clear and conciseapproaches for teaching grammar.

The “fun, vital and visually exciting” Space Search (a CD ROM for 9-10 year olds by Basque publishers Gipuzkoako IkastolenElkartea) has won the English-Speaking Union President's Award2006. The judging panel described Space Search as “taking children to new imaginary worlds and allowing them to engage in learning through exploration whilst accommodating differentlearning styles and preferences.”

The ESU President's Award was inaugurated in 2003 at the requestof the President of the ESU, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT,and is given annually for innovation in the use of new technologiesto enhance English teaching and learning worldwide. The judgingpanel is chaired by Professor Margaret Buck, former Head ofCentral Saint Martins College of Art and Design, and includesexperts from the fields of language, design and technology. This is the first time it has been awarded to a non-British entry.

HSBC Holdings sponsored the International Public SpeakingCompetition for the 10th year running. The 2006 Final attracted55 competitors from 33 different countries, and Konstantin Lazutinof St Petersburg, Russia, was the winner. He returned to London

to collect his certificate from HRH Prince Philip, The Duke ofEdinburgh. Konstantin said: “I am deeply grateful to all the peoplewho have helped me in achieving this important attainment in my life.”

His Royal Highness also awarded certificates to winners of the university and school competitions which promote effective spokenEnglish.

Claire Brand, Lisi Christofferson and Lucinda Hicks, fromCheltenham Ladies College, were presented with certificates aswinners of the 2005-06 ESU National Public Speaking Competitionfor Schools.

Timosha Goldfarb and Andrew Rose from City of London School forBoys were honoured as the winning team of the 2005-06 ESUSchools Mace Debating Competition. This tournament, sponsoredby the Department for Constitutional Affairs, was started in 1957and now involves over 800 schools from all over the UnitedKingdom and Ireland, making it the largest parliamentary schoolsdebating competition in the world.

The winners of the 2006 John Smith Memorial Mace, the world'slongest running debating competition, were Barry Glynn and MarkMurphy from The Honorable Society of King's Inns, Dublin. BarryGlynn was presented with their certificates (Mark Murphy wasunable to attend the ceremony).

The 2005-06 ESU Essex Court Chambers National MootingCompetition, which promotes the skills of courtroom advocacy forlegal students in Britain, was won by Michael Attenborough andVijaiya Poopalasingam from Queen Mary, University of London.This tournament is sponsored by Essex Court Chambers.

The London Debate Challenge Championships, generously sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills, Sir JohnCass's Foundation, Coca-Cola Great Britain and Tesco PLC was wonby Alavari Jeevathol, Oliver Newlan and Emily Pearce of HeathlandSchool, Hounslow.

Konstantin Lazutin with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and the RussianAmbassador, HE Mr Yury Fedotov

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L-R Alavari Jeevathol, Oliver Newlan and Emily Pearce with sponsorsMervyn Streatfield, Sir John Cass's Foundation and Rosanna King, DfES

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HRH The Duke of Edinburgh presents the President's Award for “Space Search”

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A Memorable Sojourn

Lord Watson and Valerie Mitchell extended their South Americanvisit to Buenos Aires where they were warmly received by HE Dr John Hughes, British Ambassador to Argentina, and MrsHughes, who hosted their four day stay. The purpose of their visitwas to support the education work of ESU Argentina and toencourage corporate membership.

ESU Argentina put together a first class programme for them whichincluded an event at the Catolica Argentina University where students gathered to hear Lord Watson's awe-inspiring speech onThe Rise and Rise of English. This was followed by a presentationby Valerie Mitchell on the ESU, which received a most enthusiasticresponse. Dr Roberto Aras presented Lord Watson with a medaland a certificate from the University and Mr Carlos Enrique Ezcurrapresented Valerie with a medal of the University.

A luncheon held at Circolo Italiano brought together a large numberof people from the business sector, ESU members and the pressand at which Malcolm Rodman, Chairman of ESU Argentina,presided. Valerie gave a spirited and heartfelt introduction on thework of the ESU worldwide, and Lord Watson as Guest Speaker

gave a thought-provoking talk on The Management of Reputation:a Key to Business Success and Survival which attracted enormousinterest from the audience. Their stay ended with a Dinner hostedby the Ambassador and Mrs Hughes at the Residence and held intheir honour.

The social programme included a visit to the Yacht Club, Dinner at the Jockey Club, and Luncheon at the Hurlingham Club. Anunforgettable cruise on the yacht 'Yaguati', gave them an opportunityto see Buenos Aires from the water. Thanks go to the BritishAmbassador and Mrs Hughes, Mr and Mrs Malcolm Rodman andthe ESU Committee, Argentina.

Chile Launch continued

The Ambassador opened proceedings and then introduced LordWatson, Valerie Mitchell and Richard Collingwood-Selby, ChairmanESU Chile, all of whom spoke. Valerie then introduced representa-tives from the countries that attended. First to speak was MalcolmRodman, Chairman of ESU Argentina, who had given tremendous support to ESU Chile in setting up its steering committee. Alsoamong the speakers was Mrs Gloria Early from the Atlanta Branchin the USA who read a message from Mr William R Miller,Chairman of the ESU of the USA and Chairman of the ESUInternational Council.

Lord Watson at Universidad de Los Andes with the Rector, OrlandoPoblete, and Vice Rector, María José Lecaros

The Launch was part of a week-long programme of events attendedby the international delegates. Lord Watson spoke at Universidadde Los Andes and was made an Honorary Member of theUniversity. There was also a visit to the Chilean British CulturalInstitute/Chilean British University where Lord Watson and ValerieMitchell spoke. The delegation was rapt by the Final of the ESUChile Dialogue Competition run in partnership with the ChileanMinistry of Education, for 13 -14 year old students from the maintained and partially-maintained sectors throughout Chile.

The delegates also enjoyed a Cultural Programme of events including a visit to Pablo Neruda's house in Isla Negra, a pianorecital at Teatro Municipal and a visit to the Santa Rita vineyard.Thanks go to HE Mr Howard Drake, to Mr and Mrs Collingwood-Selby and to the ESU Chile Committee for their wonderful hospitalityand organisation of an outstanding programme.

Dialogue competition winners L-R Constanza Vidal, Irene Castro (teacher)and Andrés Duarte

The Committee of ESU Argentina at the Circolo Italiano with Lord Watsonand Valerie Mitchell

Planning for the futureaboard 'Yaguati' with Lord Watson and Valerie Mitchell are theRodman Family andMichael Rattigan, DeputyChairman ESU Argentina

HM Ambassador, Dr John Hughes and

Mrs Hughes, listeningto Lord Watson's

speech

A group of young refugees living in East London took part in a pilotdebate and communication workshop at Dartmouth House at the

end of October. The initiative was run in conjunction with TheChildren's Society's Young Refugees' Media Project which aims toencourage young refugees in the UK to develop a more prominentvoice in the media.

The workshop included activities designed to promote effectivecommunication and expression skills. Participants agreed that theirconfidence in public speaking had improved over the course of theday, which culminated in each member of the group delivering ashort speech on a subject of their choice. Gershon Berkowitz, theNational Coordinator of the Young Refugees' Media Project, wasequally enthusiastic about the event, saying “debating fits perfectly with The Children's Society's aim to give young refugees more confidence in discussing issues that affect them.”

The ESU hopes that the success of the pilot will lead to furtherworkshops for young refugees from across London.

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The Great Veil DebateThe Dartmouth House Debating Society met on Wednesday 1 November for the Members' Debate. Society member GarethDavies joined staff from the ESU Centre for Speech and Debate totackle the motion This House believes that British Muslims shouldnot wear the veil.

The contentious issue sparked much comment from the floor, withboth sides receiving equal amounts of support. The opposition wonby 12 votes to 8, with no abstentions.

Discussion at the Young Refugees Debating Workshop

Andrew Roberts Literary LectureIn October, Andrew Roberts was the guest speaker at a Literary Lecture to celebrate the recent launch of his latestwork, A History of the English-SpeakingPeoples Since 1900.

Valerie Mitchell welcomed guests toDartmouth House to hear Mr Roberts revealwhat made the English-speaking peoplesthe superlative political culture since 1900,and how they have defended their pre-emi-nence from the many assaults upon them.

What connects those countries where themajority of the population speaks Englishas a first language - the United States,

Great Britain, Canada, Australia, NewZealand, the West Indies, and Ireland - isfar greater than what separates them, andthe development of their history since 1900has been a phenomenal success story.

Continuing from where Winston Churchillleft off in the fourth volume of his A Historyof the English-Speaking Peoples, AndrewRoberts gave the audience an absorbingaccount of the century in which the political culture of one linguistic world-grouping comprehensively triumphed over all others.

Andrew Roberts signing copies of his latest book

Pilot Refugee Programme

Oxfordshire Farmer's Argentine Experience Jeffrey Gee from the Oxfordshire Branchspent three months between July andOctober working on farms in Argentina.Organised by Malcolm Rodman, Chairmanof ESU Argentina, the programme tookJeffrey to La Pampa Province, where he did a great deal of work on horseback withcattle. He travelled back to Buenos Airesfor a week at the internationally famousPalermo Show where he saw some of theworld's finest Aberdeen Angus and Herefordcattle. He then went to Mar del Plata, fivehours' drive south of Buenos Aires, to workon a 5000 hectare arable farm. After this,he had the opportunity to work on a mixedfarm in Lincoln working with 1100 head ofBonsmara cattle. Finally he visited the

Province of Salta in the far North West,where he really got a sense of the culturalroots of Argentina.

On his return Jeffrey wrote: “The countryreally did start to become like home, aseveryone made me feel like part of the family. I would like to thank all the families I stayed with…and a special thankyou to Malcolm Rodman and his family for giving me such a great life-changingexperience.”

Jeffrey Gee relaxes after a hard day's work on the farm

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Concert in KensingtonA fundraising concert was held on the 25 October for the ESUMusic Scholarships. Ken Aiso (violin) and Sam Hayward (piano),who was the ESU supported scholar to the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival in 1998, donated their artistry on this occasion. The concert was held in the beautiful Kensington home of Vernonand Hazel Ellis and included works by Bach, Mozart and Franck.Mr Vernon Ellis introduced the performers and Mrs JeanieRosefield, member of the ESU Cultural Affairs sub-Committee, gave the Vote of Thanks at the canapé reception that followed.

We are very grateful to Mr George Isserlis, Vice President of theCommittee, for organising the concert so beautifully.

L-R Annette Isserlis, Sam Haywood, Jeanie Rosenfield, George Isserlis, Ken Aiso with Belinda Norman-Butler

International At Home

Lord Hunt, Valerie Mitchell and Susan Bull, Chairman of the Promotions Sub-Committee welcomed guests from

20 countries to An International at Homeheld at Dartmouth House on 8 November.

Those attending included Youmna Asseily,President of the ESU International Counciland Chairman of ESU Lebanon togetherwith members of the international diplomatic and business communities in London. The morning ended with a tour of Dartmouth House.

L-R Mrs Aileen Charter, wife of the HighCommissioner for Grenada, Ms Victoria Farley,Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, Mrs Lebogang Diteko, Botswana HighCommission, Miss Elena Teplova, RussianEmbassy, Mrs Susan Bull, Chairman ESUPromotions Sub-Committee, Lord Hunt, Mrs Janine-Monique Bustani, wife of BrazilianAmbassador, Mrs Flora Bellé-Cisneros, Vice-Chairman, Anglo-Brazilian Society

Stanley Wells Literary InterviewOctober saw Professor Stanley Wells, Chairman of The ShakespeareBirthplace Trust, interviewed by Dr Paul Edmondson, Head ofEducation at The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust about his new bookShakespeare & Co: Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Dekker, BenJonson, Thomas Middleton, John Fletcher and the other players in his story.

Valerie Mitchell welcomed ESU members and sixth formers fromWestminster School to the event and to hear Professor Wells,arguably the greatest authority on Shakespeare's life and work.

The interview deftly explored the Elizabethan and Jacobean theatrical scene, the great actors Shakespeare worked with, andthe lives and the works of the writers of his day, from Ben Jonsonto Thomas Middleton to his later successors such as John Webster.

A buffet lunch followed where guests were able to converse withthe speakers and buy signed copies of the book.Professor Stanley Wells with students from Westminster School

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Launch of the ESU Sea Vac Project On 23 November the English-SpeakingUnion officially launched the new Sea VacProject, in collaboration with the ImperialWar Museum, the University of ReadingResearch Centre for Evacuee and War Child Studies, and the Evacuees ReunionAssociation. Sir Martin Gilbert, celebratedauthor and former overseas evacuee, wasthe Guest Speaker at the event which wasattended by former overseas evacuees fromaround the country They were welcomed

to Dartmouth House by Mrs ValerieMitchell, ESU Director-General. A panel discussion followed, chaired by Sir Brian Fall ESU Governor, where contri-butions were offered by Roderick Suddaby,Keeper of The Department of Documents,Imperial War Museum, Dr Martin ParsonsDirector, Research Centre for Evacuee &War Child Studies and Richard Price,Former Chairman of BAFTA (BritishAcademy of Film and TV Arts).

International School Exchange

The pilot exchange between the Branch inCornwall and the English College in Praguetook place in October 2006. BarboraWachtlová (Bára) and Alzbeta Voglová(Betty) visited Dartmouth House on theirway to Truro School in Cornwall.

Colin McCorquodale Chairman of theLondon Branch escorted Bára and Betty to the Literary Lecture: A History of theEnglish-Speaking Peoples Since 1900given by Andrew Roberts. The studentsalso lunched with Valerie Mitchell andHelen Green, Head of InternationalProgrammes. ESU staff and the London

Branch took the students on shopping andsightseeing tours.

The students spent two happy weeks atTruro School and attended an ESU illustratedlecture given by Alison Bevan, Director ofthe Penlee House Gallery, on The NewlynSchool: A Golden Age of Cornish Art.

The two Truro students who visited Prague,Emma Milton and Bex Binton, had an interesting and positive experience, and the two Heads are determined to continuethe project next year.

The ESU bids goodbye to Helen Green,Head of International Development who,after seven years of devoted service, willtake up a new position at Imperial College.

This has prompted an opportunity for theESU to review its structure and, as a result,Katie Brock, formerly Manager of CulturalAffairs, will head a new International andCultural Department. Gemma McCoy isthe International Officer and a new CulturalOfficer will be appointed.

ESU StaffChanges

Christopher Johnstone and CatherineMurrell have recently joined the team atLeith's, who provide all the catering ser-vices for Dartmouth House. Christopher,in the role of General Manager, has takenover from David Vince. Catherine hastaken on the role of Sales Manager.

New Faces atLeith’s

L-R Betty, Paul Smith, Headmaster of Truro School, Barbora, John Baxter, Chairman ESU CornwallBranch and Alison Bevan

L-R Richard Price, Roderick Suddaby, Sir Brian Fall, Sir Martin Gilbert, James Roffey, Chief Executive, The Evacuees Reunion Association, and Dr Martin Parsons

Gemma McCoy and Katie Brock

Catherine Murrell and Christopher Johnstone

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British Morehead Administrator RetiresYvonne Theobald has recently announced her retirement as ChiefAdministrator of the British Morehead Scholarship Programme after37 years of unwavering service. Yvonne was at the ESU when thefirst British Morehead, Anthony Steward, took the pioneering stepof heading out to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1969, and since then, she has seen over 100 British studentsfollow in his footsteps.

She has been an integral part of the Morehead experience foreveryone connected with the programme, and will be sorelymissed. A party was held in her honour in the Long Room atLord's on Friday 24 November, attended by many former scholarsand friends of the programme, including Valerie Mitchell, Director-General of the ESU.

Yvonne's role has now been passed into the good hands ofElizabeth Stokes, the ESU's Director of Education, and KatherinePlummer, ESU Educational Programmes Manager.

Pilgrim Scholars On November 17, more than 25 American Canadian and BritishSSE scholars made their way to Dartmouth House to celebrateThanksgiving. They tucked into a splendid supper with traditionalturkey and pumpkin pie.

Earlier in the day a briefing had been held for the 12 UK two termscholars going out to the US in January. Alumni of the programmeand current US scholars helped to make the evening fun a greatsuccess.

The SSE gap year scholarships enable British and North Americanstudents to spend a year studying at a school across the Atlantic. If you would like more information or application forms, please contact Katherine Plummer at Dartmouth House.

Morehead Scholarship Nominees Announced The interviews for the 2007 Morehead Scholarship were held atthe ESU on 9 and 10 November. This prestigious undergraduatescholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is oneof the most valuable of its kind in the world (worth an estimated$140,000 over four years).

A total of 16 students from schools all around the country wereinvited to attend interview. The panel, chaired by British Moreheadalumnus James Dean, chose three students to go forward to final interviews in Chapel Hill from 3 - 6 March 2006. Those students

were: Matthew Grant, a Fulbright/USAP student from St. Olave'sGrammar School in Orpington, Kent; Alexander Lee of WellingtonCollege; and Alastair Monty of Marlborough College.

Yvonne Theobald, Chief Administrator, met all students on arrivaland was available to brief interviewees on the history of the award.The interviewing panel included a number of British Moreheadalumni, as well as Dennis Silk, former Headmaster of Radley, andPeter Johnson, current Headmaster of Millfield.

Yvonne Theobald (front), Dennis Silk (on her right) and James Dean (second right back) with members of the Morehead interviewing panel atDartmouth House

SSE scholars in the courtyard of Dartmouth House

Oman's Historic BuildingsOn 8 November Dr Archie Walls, an architect who specialises inarchaeological, architectural and restoration projects in the MiddleEast, and UK lectured to a capacity audience at Dartmouth Houseon Oman's Historic Buildings and their Foreign Relations.

The lecture covered a 3,000 year span and a geographical areastretching from Zanzibar to Iran and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq.

A reception preceded the lecture and raised over £1,700 towardsthe ESU Chilton Art History Scholarship.

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.

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

JANUARY

Wednesday 10 January 10.30 - 11.30 amCoffee Morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends. Contact: Jacqueline Abbott

Wednesday 10 January at 7.00 pmESU Schools’ Debate at Dartmouth HouseContact: Vivienne Thomson

Wednesday 24 January from 4.30 pmMongolian Art Exhibition at Dartmouth House followed by a Cultural Evening at 7.00 pm with a talk and traditionalMongolian music. A reception will follow during which there will be a raffle of traditional Mongolian items.Tickets £10 to include a glass of wine. All proceeds will go to ESU Mongolia Contact: Katie Brock

FEBRUARY

Thursday 1 February 12.30 for 1.00 pmJoint ESU-Pilgrims Literary Luncheon at Dartmouth House.Professor John Lukacs will speak on Churchill: the Historian.Churchill was very much aware of his dual role as both historianand politician. Professor Lukacs has written extensively abouthim. His latest Churchill book is Churchill: Visionary, Statesman,Historian (Yale 2002). Tickets: £35.00Contact: Mrs T M Wells at The PilgrimsTel: 01622 606404 Fax: 01622 606402 Email: sec@pilgrimsociety.org

Wednesday 7 FebruaryUS v UK DebateThe national debating teams of the US and UK will meet for thisannual event which is kindly sponsored by the American Schoolin London. The ESU is delighted to announce that the debatewill take place at the American EmbassyContact: Vivienne Thomson

Wednesday 14 February 10.30 - 11.30 amCoffee Morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends. Contact: Jacqueline Abbott

MARCH

Wednesday 7 March at 7.00 pmDartmouth House Debating Society - Economics Debate.In association with the Institute of Economic AffairsFor tickets contact Vivienne Thomson

Monday 12 March at 3.15 pmCommonwealth Day Observance 2007 at Westminster AbbeyAdmission is free by ticket only. A limited number of tickets areavailable to ESU members. Names of all ticket holders must besubmitted. Apply now for tickets which will be available at thebeginning of March. Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope with your application Contact: Jacqueline Abbott

Wednesday 14 March 10.30 - 11.30 amCoffee Morning at Dartmouth House for members and their friends Contact: Jacqueline Abbott

Monday 26 March 6.00 - 8.00 pmAll Alumni Reunion at Dartmouth House. 80th Anniversary SSE (BASS) and 20th Anniversary US Parliamentary Exchange(Capitol Hill).All Alumni are invited and guests are welcome. Guest tickets £15Contact: Jo Wedderspoon

Thursday 17 MayInternational Public Speaking Competition Final. With over 60 participants from more than 30 countries this promises to be another exciting competition. Members are welcome to Dartmouth House to see the heats from 9 am. Tickets are also available on request for the Grand Final at 3pm at the American Embassy, Grosvenor Square, W1.Contact: Katie Brock

Thursday 31 May - Monday 4 JuneThe Launch of ESU Moldova will take place from 31 May - 4 June inclusive, in Chisinau, with a cultural programme preceding the formal Launch, on 4 June. Contact: Katie Brock