dialogue Winter 2013-14 | Page 53

ESU Music Scholarship to attend Yale Summer School of Music in 2010, delighted the audience with pieces by Bach, Ysaÿe and Kreisler. After a three course dinner, the Branch Awards Ceremony was held and Dame Mary Richardson presented seven branches with awards. Oxfordshire and London branches were both recognised for their high membership growth, whilst the Hardacre Trophy – for most imaginative and successful project led by a branch – was awarded to Salisbury Branch for their Secondary School Initiative. South Wales Branch won the ESU Media Award for the best media coverage received by a branch, Exeter and District Branch took home the Lord Watson Award for outstanding achievement in promoting global understanding through English and Bristol Branch was awarded The Valerie Mitchell Award for the best branch project promoting cultural links with international ESUs. On Saturday morning, Coral SebagMontefiore (Vice-Chairman, MCEW) opened the proceedings by welcoming all those attending. Michael Pryke, Head of Marketing and Communications and Anthony Harris, Member of the Business Development Committee, led the first session, ‘Website development: what has been done, what next?’ Michael and Anthony showed the delegates how the English-Speaking Union website had developed over the past year, and outlined future plans. They encouraged branches to become familiar with websites such as Twitter and Facebook in order to promote membership and events. Michael and Anthony also unveiled the intention to provide online event ESU| 51