year before when we all shivered in the
showers of rain. This year we sizzled in
scorching sun, but with all the shade
from the beautiful trees surrounding the
large farmhouse garden of Andrea and
Richard Wiggin, we relished with great
glee a true English Summer event of
lunch on the lawn.
Dame Mary Richardson was our
Guest-of-Honour, together with the
Regional Branch Chairman, Sonia
Chance. Tributes from the Branch
President, Lord Dickinson, were made to
Austin Millington, Chairman, and John
Hembury, Hon.Treasurer.
OXFORDSHIRE
Awards to School Leavers: On
Tuesday 24 September the Chairman of
Oxfordshire County Council, Councillor
Timothy Hallchurch MBE, and The
Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Dee
Sinclair, presented six English- Speaking
Union Branch Awards.
Congratulating them, Councillor
Hallchurch, who is also Chairman of
the Oxfordshire English-Speaking
Union Branch said, “This is the second
consecutive year we have been able to
make State School Leavers’ Awards. I
hope parents and teachers will all agree
that this is an imaginative initiative by
Oxfordshire ESU in these austerity
driven times. I am hugely impressed by
the very high standards achieved by each
of you. My warmest congratulations to
you and to your schools. We hope these
Awards will help each of you to get off to
a flying start as you begin your
university courses.”
On Friday 4 October the Annual
Black Tie Dinner was held at Balliol
College where fittingly the presenting
speaker was the Master of Balliol College
Prof. Sir Drummond Bone. There was
a very full and receptive audience who
were entertained to both a very hearty
meal and an interesting talk on World
Relationships by Sir Drummond.
For further information contact
Simon Kearey on 07810 657053.
WORCESTERSHIRE
On the 11 July, Members, including
Bill Ramsay, Regional Development
Officer Midlands and North West,
enjoyed a Literary Lunch at The
Yorkshire Grey Restaurant. Following
lunch, our Chairman Sonia Chance
introduced Mr Colin McCorquodale our
Guest Speaker who was back by popular
request following his previous talks
entitled, “A Monarch a Minute”
and “The House of Stuart”. On this
occasion, Colin talked about The House
of Hanover.
We were entertained with anecdotes
about George the First, who did not
speak English (!), George the Second
who ascended the Throne when he was
44 years old and could hardly speak
English (!),George the Third, (Farmer
George), and George the Fourth. Sonia
Chance gave the vote of thanks
On the 11 September, 34 Members
enjoyed a Literary Lunch at our
Chairman’s lovely home in Malvern
when our Guest Speaker was Elizabeth
Day, author and journalist with The
Observer. Elizabeth talked about how
she was indebted to the ESU for the
opportunities she was given through
Public Speaking for Schools. She
amused those present with her talks
about meeting ‘celebrities’ through her
journalism and told of her approach to
writing novels. All agreed that Elizabeth
was one of the best speakers we had
heard. Sonia Chance gave the vote
of thanks.
Bill Ramsay, Sonia Chance and Colin McCorquodale
ESU| 63