ESU

Victors’ Justice: The Nuremberg Trial and Its Lasting Legacy
2023-07-28 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | The School/Community Hall, School Lane, Compton, West Sussex, England, PO18 9EZ, United Kingdom
A talk by Prof Michael Biddiss in which he discusses the dilemmas faced by the victors at the
end of the Second World War as they sought to reach inter-Allied consensus about the
prosecution and punishment of the defeated Nazi leadership; of the Proceedings
themselves and the positive achievements as well as highlighting the weaknesses of
planning and implementation that were to limit the effectiveness of the longer term aims
which Nuremberg was intended to fulfil. The talk will review the ways in which the Trial’s
legacy has remained most relevant to global concerns and ‘crimes against humanity’
during the decades since 1945 and the formation of a permanent international Criminal
Court (since 2002) and the recent debate over Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Tickets may be purchased on the door (cash please as no card reader).

Brighton Hove and District Branch: Lunch with Kate Westgarth, former China Diplomat
2023-07-28 12:30 - 14:00 | The Hove Club, 28 Fourth Avenue, Hove, BN3 2PJ, United Kingdom
Join the Brighton Hove and District Branch of the ESU for a lunch with guest speaker Kate Westgarth, China Diplomat. Kate Westgarth is a British researcher and career diplomat. She has spent over a decade in China. Kate will be discussing the topic ‘China… Don’t believe everything you read in the press!’
Ticket price is £40 for ESU members, £45 for non-ESU members. The ticket price includes a buffet lunch, excluding drinks.
The event begins at 12.30 pm and will end at 2.00 pm.

Oxfordshire Annual Dinner
2023-07-14 19:00 - 22:00 | Linacre College, St Cross Road, Oxford, OX1 3JA, United Kingdom
The Oxfordshire 2023 Dinner will be held 100 years after the first Oxford ESU Dinner was held at Oriel College in 1923. This year the college is undergoing building work and cannot accommodate us. However, Linacre College has kindly offered to host us. Speaker to be confirmed.
To book contact Dr Jan Carter jan@paddockcottage.net or ring 01865 848528 or Tim Hallchurch tim@paddockcottage.net 01865 377099

London Branch: Dartmouth House Chess Club
2023-06-26 19:00 - 21:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
The London Branch would like to welcome ESU members and guests of all ages and abilities to the inaugural Dartmouth House Chess Club.
You do not need a Dartmouth House membership or a day pass to attend this free, drop-in event, but please register your interest to reserve your spot.
Chess sets are available, but do bring your own if you prefer. We look forward to sharing a game of chess with you in the comfort of the Revelstoke Room at Dartmouth House. The bar will be open to purchase drinks, and light meals and snacks will be available.
This event will take place from 7-9pm on Monday, 26 June 2023.

Violin Concert with Emmanuel Bach at Dartmouth House
2023-06-26 18:00 - 20:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join us in the beautiful surroundings of Dartmouth House for an evening of music with award-winning violinist Emmanuel Bach
ESU Music Scholar and Winner of the 2018 Royal Overseas League String Competition, Emmanuel Bach is fast gaining recognition in the UK and abroad and has performed with the legendary Anne-Sophie Mutter and Maxim Vengerov.
During this performance for the ESU at Dartmouth House, Emmanuel will perform Beethoven’s Sonata No.1 in D, Grieg’s Sonata No.2 in G, and Sibelius’ Danses Champêtres Op.106.
The Members’ Bar at Dartmouth House will be open prior to the performance, which will commence at 6.00pm sharp.
About the artist
Emmanuel Bach has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at venues such as Wigmore Hall, St George’s Bristol, St Martin-in-the Fields, St James’s Piccadilly and Queen Elizabeth Hall. Emmanuel has played concertos including Brahms, Mendelssohn, Paganini No.1 and Tchaikovsky. Alongside solo and chamber playing, he has played on orchestral schemes with the BBC and London Symphony Orchestras.

London Branch: Dartmouth House Philosophy Group
2023-06-26 18:00 - 19:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join us in the splendid surroundings of Dartmouth House and meet your fellow thinkers for the first Dartmouth House Philosophy Group.
This new group is free of charge and open to members of abilities. You will not need to be a Dartmouth House member or to use a day pass to take part. Please reserve your place, so that we can send you our pre-group ‘food for thought’.
You will be welcome to enjoy Grayson’s hospitality as the bar will be open, and light suppers will be available for purchase.
For those who like a challenge, you might even stay on and join the chess players to round your evening off.
This event will take place from 6-7pm on Monday, 26 June 2023.

Alan Rhode in conversation with Leena Norms
2023-06-22 18:30 - 20:30 | Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join author Alan Rhode in conversation with poet and influencer Leena Norms on June 22, from 6.30pm-8.30pm.
Following the publication of his debut novel The Eagle and the Cockerel, the English-Speaking Union has invited the author to their beautiful headquarters in Dartmouth House, Mayfair.
About the Book
The Eagle and the Cockerel is a political story about the fragility of the institutions that make up our modern world.
Great Britain has long-since left the Union, but tensions between European countries remain and the international balance of power is firmly weighted towards China and the US. Seizing the opportunity for an unexpected comeback, disgraced former Paris mayor Vincent d’Amont makes an outrageous proposal: France and Germany should unite to create a new superpower: Charlemagny.
The question will be put to the people in an historic vote on ROME, the ubiquitous social network of Europe. But, outraged by the progress of events and fearing a new order based on chaos and conflict, political vlogger Miss Cliché engages in a fierce battle against Vincent and his cronies.
Can Miss Cliché discover who is running the all-powerful ROME and reveal the real forces behind Charlemagny? And can she keep her own feelings under control before Charlemagny becomes a reality?
The event will begin at 6:30pm, but guests are welcome to arrive from 6:00pm. Guests can purchase refreshments at the Dartmouth House bar. The event will end at 8:30pm and there will be copies of ‘The Eagle and the Cockerel’ available for sale. We do hope you can join us.

Tour of Dartmouth House
2023-06-05 14:00 - 15:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
From a banker’s ostentatious home to a military hospital, and now the headquarters of educational charity the English-Speaking Union, Dartmouth House has had an illustrious and varied history. Join us on a tour of the building and discover its story which has been shaped by those who owned it.
The tour will last approximately 45 minutes and will be followed by tea and coffee in the Wedgwood room.

Ouse Valley Branch: 'The Swarbrick Singers' by Ian Clarke
2023-05-23 19:00 - 21:30 | King’s House, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford, MK42 9AZ, United Kingdom
Ian Clarke is an organist and musical director of the acclaimed chamber choir the Swarbrick Singers, as well as member of the panel of Examiners for the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music.
The choir was formed in 1983 while Ian was the organist of All Saints’ Church, Northampton. The organ at the church was built by Thomas Swarbrick, an 18th century builder and the original case is still there — hence the name. They sing music both sacred and secular from all periods of time at all types of events. Ian will share some insights into chamber music and the wonderful experiences of this choir.
Booking forms are available on request from Interim Chair, Ellen Punter, and must be returned at least seven days prior to the event: ellen.punter@esu.org
Tickets are priced at £15 for members and £18 for non- members. Talk only tickets are £10 for both members and guests.
Timings:
7pm arrival – Bar available for drinks
7.30pm – Speaker begins (one hour including questions)
8.30pm – Light refreshments
9.30pm – Event closes
These meetings are open to local branch members and their guests, as well as other members of the ESU. Ouse Valley branch welcomes new members and embraces those who have supported the ESU, as well as the local branch, for many years.

Visit to the Kilns (CS Lewis house)
2023-05-23 11:30 - 12:30 | CS Lewis House, Kiln Lane, Oxford, England, OX3 8JD, United Kingdom
The Kilns, also known as CS Lewis House, is the house in Risinghurst, Oxford, where the author wrote all of his Narnia books and other classics. The house itself was featured in the Narnia books and Lewis’s gardener at The Kilns, Fred Paxford, is said to have inspired the character of Puddlegium the Marshwiggle in The Silver Chair.
The Kilns was built in 1922 on the site of a former brickworks as bought by CS Lewis, his brother Warren Lewis, and Janie Moore. Maureen Dunbar, Janie Moore’s daughter, also lived there. CS Lewis wrote of the house: ‘I never hoped for the like’. Janie Moore was the mother of Lewis’s university friend Paddy Moore, who had been killed in the First World War.
The house is in what is now called Lewis Close, south of Kiln Lane. The Kilns is currently owned and operated by the CS Lewis Foundation, which runs it as the Study Centre at the Kilns.
The CS Lewis Foundation is a not-for-profit and a registered charity in the U.K. www.cslewis.org
The optional lunch will be held at the Talk House, Stanton St John. Please let us know if you wish to join us for lunch so that we can book a table.
To book contact Dr Jan Carter jan@paddockcottage.net or ring 01865 848528 or Tim Hallchurch tim@paddockcottage.net 01865 377099

Salisbury Branch: ‘The Women of the Raj’ by Brian Freeland
2023-05-10 10:15 - 14:00 | The White Hart Hotel, 1 St John's Street, Salisbury, SP1 2SD
‘The Women of the Raj’ by Brian Freeland
Brian Freeland has written a dozen stage scripts (nine produced so far, four of them published). Following comments that he didn’t write many good roles for ladies, he staged a piece about the British women in India during the second half of the Raj:
“Called Letters from the Hen House, it was compiled mainly from letters, diaries and memoirs of the period. Six excellent roles for the ladies and only four men. Elements from that script together with some of the original research material form the basis of this talk. When the Colonial Administrators arrived to take over from the East India Company they were often accompanied by their wives: wives who spoke only English, who mixed only with other wives, and who couldn’t even communicate with their household staff. Wives who made great demands on their husbands. As one Indian wrote later ‘I don’t think they realised what a menace they were. If the memsahibs had stayed in Britain there might never have been a Mutiny’.”
Coffee will be served from 10.15am, with the main talk beginning at 11am sharp, and lunch from 12.30pm.
Lunch & Talk ticket price: £22 (Members) & £24 (Guests)
Talk only ticket price: £10 – FREE for first-time visitors
Cheques payable to ‘English-Speaking Union’ should be sent to:
ESU Luncheon Secretary, 3 Stonemasons Yard, Salisbury SP1 2HX
esusalisbury-eventssec@esu.org
Direct transfers can be made to:
Bank: Coutts & Co, 440 Strand, London WC2R 0QS
Sort Code: 18-00-02
Account Name: English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth
Account No: 01817590
Please mark the transfer clearly as “SalisLunch”

ESU Coronation Tea Party at Dartmouth House
2023-05-04 16:00 - 18:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join the royal celebrations with our Coronation Tea Party. Enjoy a delicious glass of English sparkling wine alongside a traditional afternoon tea at the beautiful Dartmouth House. Ticket includes a glass of English sparkling wine, tea & coffee, a traditional tea of sandwiches, scones and sweet treats including cakes & patisserie.
The guest speaker for this event will be Dr Barry Twigg MBE EdD MEd, who is a council member of the Constitutional Monarchy Association.

ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition Grand Finals 2023
2023-04-30 10:00 - 16:00
The prestigious ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition, sponsored by the International Churchill Society, is the largest such contest in England and Wales, with around 400 teams (each comprising a speaker, questioner and a chairperson). The different roles allow students to practice and excel in different skill sets, and the competition’s unique format, which pairs the speaker from one school with the chair and questioner of another, encourages quick thinking and relationship building.
Thirteen teams have succeeded through almost five months of competition, a total of eighty branch heats and regional finals, and a myriad of topics, to reach Finals Day at Churchill College, Cambridge.
The passion, talent, and enthusiasm of these young speakers is always a highlight of our educational calendar – this Finals Day is a showcase for the very best of speaking, chairing and questioning in the UK.
To book your place, click on the link below.

Ouse Valley Branch: 'The Importance of Physiotherapy in Maintaining Good Health' by Phil Pask
2023-04-25 19:00 - 21:30 | King’s House, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford, MK42 9AZ, United Kingdom
Phil Pask is a Chartered Physiotherapist for the Northampton Saints and the England Rugby Team, one of the world’s best at the rehabilitation and treatment of acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries. His experience of over 25 years, knowledge base and skill set is far-reaching and includes using motivation and exercise progression, robust hands-on therapy for treating severe injuries and more long term arthritic issues. Phil will explain how to try to ensure robust health and what to do if the expertise of a physiotherapist is needed.
Booking forms are available on request from Interim Chair, Ellen Punter, and must be returned at least seven days prior to the event: ellen.punter@esu.org
Tickets are priced at £15 for members and £18 for non- members. Talk only tickets are £10 for both members and guests.
Timings:
7pm arrival – Bar available for drinks
7.30pm – Speaker begins (one hour including questions)
8.30pm – Light refreshments
9.30pm – Event closes
These meetings are open to local branch members and their guests, as well as other members of the ESU. Ouse Valley branch welcomes new members and embraces those who have supported the ESU, as well as the local branch, for many years.

Salisbury Branch: 'Love, Passion and Betrayal' by Michael Gould
2023-04-19 10:00 - 14:00 | The White Hart Hotel, 1 St John's Street, Salisbury, SP1 2SD
Salisbury Branch is pleased to present a lecture by Michael Gould entitled ‘Love, Passion and Betrayal’. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain insight into the themes of love, passion, and betrayal. Further details about the event can be found below
Coffee will be served from 10.15am, with the main talk beginning at 11am sharp, and lunch from 12.30pm.
Lunch & Talk ticket price: £22 (Members) & £24 (Guests)
Talk only ticket price: £10 – FREE for first-time visitors
Cheques payable to ‘English-Speaking Union’ should be sent to:
ESU Luncheon Secretary, 3 Stonemasons Yard, Salisbury SP1 2HX
esusalisbury-eventssec@esu.org
Direct transfers can be made to:
Bank: Coutts & Co, 440 Strand, London WC2R 0QS
Sort Code: 18-00-02
Account Name: English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth
Account No: 01817590
Please mark the transfer clearly as “SalisLunch”

ESU Quiz Night at Dartmouth House
2023-04-18 17:30 - 21:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Brush up on your general knowledge and join us at Dartmouth House for our ESU quiz night. An evening of fun and knowledge to see who will be crowned the winning team.
Ten teams of 8 people (max) with a winning team prize – the bar will be open from 6.00pm and quiz will commence at 7.00pm sharp.

The Fall of Margaret Thatcher
2023-04-17 19:15 - 21:30 | The Apostle Room, Clifton Catholic Cathedral, Bristol, Clifton Catholic Cathedral, Bristol, BS8 3BX, United Kingdom
‘The Fall of Margaret Thatcher’ – a semi-dramatisation by the authorised biographer of Margaret Thatcher Lord (Charles) Moore and former Spectator journalist Kate Ehram, who assisted Lord Moore in preparing his Thatcher biography.
Further information from Nigel Currie, Chairperson: nigelcurrie29@gmail.com
0117 914 0773

Churchill's Abandoned Prisoners with Rupert Wieloch
2023-04-11 18:00 - 20:30 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
An evening at Dartmouth House with Rupert Wieloch who will give a talk for the ESU on his book Churchill’s Abandoned Prisoners.
The ESU invites you to an evening with Rupert Wieloch who will provide insights into the foundation of the modern Anglo-Russian relationship from his book Churchill’s Abandoned Prisoners.
Drinks will be served at the bar from 6.00pm and the talk will commence at 6.30pm sharp.
One hundred years ago a group of fifteen British soldiers serving with the British Mission to Siberia were captured by the Red Army on Russian Christmas Eve (6th January). They were held in a lice-infested room at Krasnoyarsk for three months, whilst Prime Minister Lloyd George’s representative signed a prisoner exchange treaty with Lenin’s envoy in Copenhagen. One of the prisoners was a young Captain Brian Horrocks (played by Edward Fox in the film A Bridge Too Far), who succumbed to epidemic typhus, but was saved by his best friend who nursed him through the illness. Another captive, Francis McCullagh, was the only western correspondent to interview the Tsar’s assassin. In March, the prisoners were escorted to Irkutsk where a British train arrived to pick them up, but the Bolshevik authorities only allowed the women and children to leave and sent the despondent soldiers 3,500 miles to hateful prisons in Moscow.
In his talk at the English-Speaking Union, Rupert Wieloch will describe how the soldiers maintained morale and coped with their fearsome ordeal and explain what the War Secretary, Winston Churchill, did to secure their protracted release and how their incarceration became a ’cause célèbre’ in the House of Commons. Rupert was educated at Winston Churchill’s alma mater and completed a Fellowship in International Relations at Pembroke College, Cambridge during a 35 year career in the British Army. His extensive research includes a treasure-trove of unpublished document, as well as archives from Philadelphia, London, St Petersburg and Oxford and the testimony from the families of some of the prisoners.

SAVE THE DATE: ESU Schools' Mace finals day
2023-03-27 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Save the date for the finals day of the ESU Schools’ Mace, the oldest and largest debating competition for schools.
Over 300 schools compete in the Schools’ Mace each year, but only twelve teams reach the finals day at Dartmouth House. Just two teams will make it to the grand final, where the winning team of the ESU Schools’ Mace 2023 will be decided.
More information will be available soon.

Dartmouth House event: John Ray, Senior Correspondent at ITV News, In Conversation
2023-03-23 18:30 - 19:30 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join us at Dartmouth House for a conversation with John Ray, Senior Correspondent at ITV News, and Alastair Niven OBE LVO Hon FRSL.
John Ray is the award winning Senior Correspondent with ITV News. He has worked in many parts of the world, his assignments including heading ITN’s bureaux in Beijing, Johannesburg and Tel Aviv. He was the first Western journalist to report from Syria when the war started there. Since February last year he has worked several times in Ukraine, most recently from the front line. With Alastair Niven, he will discuss the pressures of being a foreign correspondent in often dangerous or challenging situations, his personal route to this demanding role, and how he manages to make it compatible with family life in the UK.
Please book here.

Ouse Valley Branch: 'The Sharnbrook Mill Theatre: Past and Future' by Douglas and Ginny Pope
2023-03-21 12:00 - 14:30 | Sharnbrook Mill Theatre, Sharnbrook Mill Theatre, 103 Mill Rd, Sharnbrook, Bedford, MK44 1NP, United Kingdom
The Mill Theatre has been ever-present in Douglas and Ginny’s lives for 52 years and both have supported the theatre in a number of ways, including acting in a number of productions. Douglas has just retired as Chair of Governors of this unique riverside theatre which is run and maintained entirely by volunteers. He will take us through its history from wartime formation and entertaining groups stationed in Poddington, to its award winning amateur status today. His wife Ginny, has been wardrobe mistress for many years and will talk about the unique collection housed in the basement. If Health and Safety permits, a tour may be possible.
Booking forms are available on request from Interim Chair, Ellen Punter, and must be returned at least seven days prior to the event: ellen.punter@esu.org
Tickets for lunch are priced at £25 for members and £28 for non-members. Talk only tickets are £10.
These meetings are open to local branch members and their guests, as well as other members of the ESU. Ouse Valley branch welcomes new members and embraces those who have supported the ESU, as well as the local branch, for many years.

Salisbury branch: 'The Lord Leycester Hospital' by Dr Heidi Meyer
2023-03-20 10:00 - 14:00 | The White Hart Hotel, 1 St John's Street, Salisbury, SP1 2SD
The half-timbered buildings of the Lord Leycester Hospital are some of the most important medieval buildings in Britain. Constructed by Warwick’s Guilds between 1385 and 1420 the Guildsmen used the grand rooms for banquets and meetings. In the reign of Elizabeth 1, her friend Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester acquired the buildings from the Guilds to found his “Hospital” where twelve Brethren – soldiers who had fought for crown and country – could find a home. No one could have imagined the “Hospital” could have survived to this day with little changed. The current Master, Heidi Meyer, installed in November 2017 will tell you about life in this “anachronistic” institution, both in the past and present, why it is as important today as it was 450 years ago and what great plans are afoot for the future.
Coffee will be served from 10.15am, with the main talk beginning at 11am sharp, and lunch from 12.30pm.
Lunch & Talk ticket price: £22 (Members) & £24 (Guests)
Talk only ticket price: £10 – FREE for first-time visitors
Cheques payable to ‘English-Speaking Union’ should be sent to:
ESU Luncheon Secretary, 3 Stonemasons Yard, Salisbury SP1 2HX
esusalisbury-eventssec@esu.org
Direct transfers can be made to:
Bank: Coutts & Co, 440 Strand, London WC2R 0QS
Sort Code: 18-00-02
Account Name: English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth
Account No: 01817590
Please mark the transfer clearly as “SalisLunch”

The Life and Times of Edward Long Fox
2023-03-16 19:15 - 21:30 | The Apostle Room, Clifton Catholic Cathedral, Bristol, Clifton Catholic Cathedral, Bristol, BS8 3BX, United Kingdom
Author Dinah Moore will tell us about the subject of her latest book – Edward Long Fox, a physician who pioneered humane treatment for the insane at Brislington House, and founded a therapeutic spa on Knightstone island off Weston-super-Mare.
Further information from Nigel Currie, Chairperson: nigelcurrie29@gmail.com
0117 914 0773

Old Versus New World Wine Discovery at Dartmouth House
2023-03-14 18:00 - 20:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join experts from Davy’s Wine Merchants as they guide you through a comparative tasting of eight wines from across the globe. This tasting features a specially curated canapé selection to go alongside each wine – book soon to avoid disappointment!
Experience the elegance and finesse of classic European wines, from the rolling hills of Burgundy to the sun-drenched vineyards of the Rhone Valley.
Then, explore the bold flavours and innovative winemaking techniques of New World wines from regions such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Discover the differences in terroir, varietals, and winemaking methods that make each style of wine so distinctive.
This event is perfect for wine enthusiasts of all levels who want to deepen their appreciation and knowledge of the world of wine.

ESU Members and Alumni Dinner at the House of Commons
2023-03-09 19:00 - 22:00 | House of Commons, Houses of Parliament, London, SW1A 0AA, United Kingdom
Join us in celebration and support of our international exchange programmes with a very special members and alumni dinner at the House of Commons.
Commencing at 7pm, you and your guests will be welcomed into the beautiful surrounding of the House of Commons, greeted with a drinks reception in the strangers room before making your way to the grand members room for dinner during which the keynote speech will be delivered by ESU Alumnus Lord Ian Duncan.
Members, £200; guests, £250; under 35s, £125; table for 10, £2,200.
This event is part of the English-Speaking Union’s programme of celebrating global understanding through dialogue and will support our vital charitable mission of giving young people the speaking and listening skills and cultural understanding they need to thrive.

Debate: This House Believes that the COP process will fail
2023-02-28 18:00 - 21:30 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Attend in person or online
In the aftermath of COP 27 we have the opportunity to consider if the COP process is up to the task of solving the climate crisis or whether it is time to explore alternative approaches.
Join us for this final event of the Climate Deep Dialogue to hear activists, politicians and business leaders debate a motion which affects us all.
We are pleased to confirm the speakers for the debate will be:
Proposition:
Caspar Rawles is the Chief Data Officer at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a London-based leading research and consultancy firm focusing on the lithium ion battery to EV supply chain. At Benchmark, Caspar leads a team that collects and assesses sensitive market price data on lithium, graphite, cobalt, and nickel for use in industry supply contracts and negotiations. As a result, Benchmark is most famous for setting the lithium industry’s reference price and is the world’s leading Price Reporting Agency for the global battery supply chain.
Illana Adamson is a sustainable development thought leader, board advisor and keynote speaker. She delivers keynotes and chairs panel conversations to push the needle on broader understanding of the risks and opportunities in sustainability. Illana is also the CEO of Be Better Sustainability, a sustainability consultancy, and has over 30 years’ experience in strategic luxury marketing.
Abhijith Subramanian is a finalist in International Relations at the London School of Economics. He is a climate activist and social organiser who formerly ran the North-West of England’s division of Fridays for Future. Abhijith is also an internationally rated debater, judge and coach. He has served as President of the University of London’s Debating Society, and vice-president of LSE Debate and the Pan-London Debating Society. He chairs the ESU’s Speech and Debate Committee and works as an ESU Oracy Coach.
Opposition:
Caroline Russell is a London Assembly Member and Leader of the Green Group at City Hall. Caroline has sat on the Assembly since 2016 and from 2018–2021 was the Chair of the Environment Committee. Formerly an artist and art college lecturer, Caroline retrained as a civil engineer and in 2014 was elected as the sole opposition councillor in Islington. Today Caroline sits across four Committees in City Hall.
Karen McClellan is an experienced fund manager, investor and board member focusing on worldwide decarbonization. She was the first representative of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development at UNFCC COP negotiations in 2001 and is currently Head of Climate Investment for The Lemos Group (a leading shipping company). She is also a board member of TT International’s Environmental Solutions Fund, the Panel of Experts for the International Renewable Energy Agency, and acts as a designated expert for the UK Accelerated Climate Transitions program.
Sumaiya Bangura was selected as the Chair of the London Youth Assembly at 14, hosting the first Young Londoner’s Question Time at City Hall. She is currently a member of the London Youth Recovery Board, a Mission Champion for the Mayor’s ‘New Deal for Young People’ and regularly speaks at the London Anchor’s Institutions Network. As a Rise Global Winner, a highly competitive $1 billion initiative by Schmidt Futures, she is recognised as one of the ‘world’s most promising teens’. Sumaiya has previously taken part in the ESU’s competitions and sits on the London Branch Speech and Debate Committee.
The event will be chaired by Sir Martin Chamberlain, High Court Judge. Mr Justice Chamberlain was a barrister for 21 years, latterly a QC specialising in public law, human rights and public international law. He was appointed as a High Court Judge in 2019 and hears civil and criminal cases in London and elsewhere in England and Wales.
Martin has degrees from Oxford and a diploma from City University, London. He was born and went to school in Edinburgh, where he took part in the ESU’s debating and public speaking competitions. Under the auspices of ESU Scotland, he was a member of the winning Scottish team in the World Schools Debating Championships in 1990.
This Deep Dialogue series – Beyond COP: Is It Time to Change Course? – is held in support of the charitable mission of the English-Speaking Union. Every ticket sold will help the English-Speaking Union in its work to give young people the speaking and listening skills and cultural understanding they need to thrive.
Event Timings:
6:00 – 6:30pm | Arrival
6:30 – 8:00pm | Debate
8:00 – 9:30pm | Drinks
9:30pm | Close
Further Information About the Series:
Beyond COP: Is It Time to Change Course?
We are in the midst of an existential climate crisis, from extreme weather and ecosystem decline to biodiversity loss and crop failure. Climate change is also compounding inequality and has the potential to drive significant unrest if we fail to act now.
In the aftermath of COP 27 we have the opportunity to consider: Is our current approach enough to deal with the climate crisis or is it time to change course?
In this Climate Deep Dialogue we will explore this question and hear from scientists, academics, activists, politicians and entrepreneurs. We invite you to join us for a provocative, challenging, engaging and inspiring series of events, which will focus on finding the solutions to make radical progress on the climate crisis.

Climate Series Drinks Reception
2023-02-21 18:00 - 20:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join us at the bar for informal drinks to bounce ideas around, disagree agreeably and reflect on the questions posed during the Climate Deep Dialogue so far. Is COP enough or is it time to change course? Where are we with the climate crisis and where are we going to be in the next few decades? Can we innovate our way out of the climate crisis? Will the COP process fail to deliver?
We will have experts in the field to engage with and optional activities to produce a snapshot of our thoughts.
This Deep Dialogue series – Beyond COP: Is It Time to Change Course? – is held in support of the charitable mission of the English-Speaking Union. Every ticket sold will help the English-Speaking Union in its work to give young people the speaking and listening skills and cultural understanding they need to thrive.
Event Timings:
6:00 – 8:00pm | Drinks (pay bar)
8:00pm | Close

Further Information About the Series
Beyond COP: Is It Time to Change Course?
We are in the midst of an existential climate crisis, from extreme weather and ecosystem decline to biodiversity loss and crop failure. Climate change is also compounding inequality and has the potential to drive significant unrest if we fail to act now.
In the aftermath of COP 27 we have the opportunity to consider: Is our current approach enough to deal with the climate crisis or is it time to change course?
In this Climate Deep Dialogue we will explore this question and hear from scientists, academics, activists, politicians and entrepreneurs. We invite you to join us for a provocative, challenging, engaging and inspiring series of events, which will focus on finding the solutions to make radical progress on the climate crisis.

Early Evening Pancakes and Champagne at Dartmouth House
2023-02-21 16:30 - 18:30 | Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Sweet or Savoury? Why not one of each? Drop in to Dartmouth House to enjoy a pancake or two served at our interactive pancake station. Choose your own sweet and savoury toppings with a selection of beer, cider, wine, and soft drinks.
Tickets:
ESU Members: £8.00 – 1 pancake and a drink; £12.00 – 2 pancakes and a drink; £15.00 – 2 pancakes and 2 drinks
General Admission: £10.00 – 1 pancake and a drink; £14.00 – 2 pancakes and a drink; £17.00 – 2 pancakes and 2 drinks

Ouse Valley Branch: 'The Kursk Russian Submarine Rescue' by Sir David Russell
2023-02-21 12:00 - 14:30 | King’s House, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford, MK42 9AZ, United Kingdom
Sir David was the Chief Executive of the Harpur Trust from 2002 – 2019 and was the first Commanding Officer of HMS Vanguard, the UK’s lead Trident submarine.
On Saturday 21 August 2000, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk suffered two enormous explosions and sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea. Miraculously, 23 sailors survived in the after machinery compartments. The UK offered to help the Russians rescue the sailors and Sir David Russell led the UK rescue forces to the Barents Sea. His talk will explain what happened and why, in the end, efforts to rescue the sailors were unsuccessful.
Booking forms are available on request from Interim Chair, Ellen Punter, and must be returned at least seven days prior to the event: ellen.punter@esu.org
Tickets for lunch are priced at £25 for members and £28 for non-members. Talk only tickets are £10.
These meetings are open to local branch members and their guests, as well as other members of the ESU. Ouse Valley branch welcomes new members and embraces those who have supported the ESU, as well as the local branch, for many years.

Bristol branch: Butterfly Photography by Yealand Kalfayan
2023-02-16 19:15 - 21:00 | The Apostle Room, Clifton Catholic Cathedral, Bristol, Clifton Catholic Cathedral, Bristol, BS8 3BX, United Kingdom
Bristol branch invites you to an event with Yealand Kalfayan, who will give an illustrated talk on Butterfly Photography.
Yealand is a retired GP in Bristol, who has become a very accomplished wildlife photographer, specialising in flowers and insects, and is an expert on butterfly behaviour. Yealand will talk about his fascination for butterflies, their behaviour and how to photograph such active insects.
Doors open from 7.15pm, with Yealand’s talk beginning at 7.45pm sharp.
For further information and tickets, please contact Nigel Currie, Chair, Bristol branch: nigelcurrie29@gmail.com
