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The English-Speaking Union was founded as a membership organisation, bringing together those who share a belief that better communication makes for better global understanding. Today, we have over 5,000 members in 36 regional branches across England and Wales who meet to socialise, gain new perspectives on the world and to help organise and raise funds for our educational work.
We are hugely grateful to our branches, which are central to the running of our Public Speaking and Performing Shakespeare competitions. Some also run their own, complementary, oracy programmes and many choose to sponsor local schools to take part in our Discover Debating programme or Discover Your Voice workshops.
To find out more about your local branch, please select the city/region nearest to you from the filter above.
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Branch events across the country
Yulia Chaplina Piano Recital
Piano Recital by ESU Alumni Yulia Chaplina, London
Join us for an evening of Russian piano music with ESU Music Scholar, Yulia Chaplina. Yulia’s programme of Russian and British music will include Rachmaninov and Prokofiev and is dedicated to the UK & Russia Year of Music 2019. Born in Rostov-in-Don, Yulia is now London based and holds a Masters Music degree from the Royal College of Music. She has performed extensively in Europe and Asia in recital and with orchestras.
- Time: Wine and canapés 6:30pm, performance at 7pm
- Cost: Members £26; guests £32
- Venue: Dartmouth House
- Booking: click here to book
- Further information: Jane Reid janereid440@gmail.com
Epping AGM
AGM, Epping & Essex
The 55th Annual General Meeting of the branch will be held on Thursday, 6th June 2019. The proceedings will start at 10.15 am promptly and will then be followed, as usual, by a talk – Speaker to be arranged. Location: The Murray Hall, 106 Borders Lane, Loughton, Essex IG10 3SB Admission: £4 for members and £5 for visitors (first visit free), including tea and coffee. For further details contact Gill Meagher 020 8505 9001 or Daphne Ruffell 01992 812454
In Search of a Voice in a Foreign Language
Dinner and Talk, Devon & Exeter
Born in Belgrade Vesna Goldsworthy is the Professor of Creative Writing at both the Universities of Exeter and East Anglia. Vesna is a poet, novelist and a memoirist and is best known for her book ‘Chernobyl Strawberries’. Vesna will discuss her background and the subtleties of understanding and being understood , in both language and manner when adopting to a foreign country and how she now feels that England is ‘home’.
- Time: 6.45 for 7.15pm
- Cost: Members £27.00 and guests £30.00
- Venue: Exeter Golf & Country Club
- Contact: Tim Pink on sheila.pink@btinternet.co.uk
'This is the Real Life Downton Abbey' talk & lunch
Lunch & talk, Liverpool & Merseyside
We welcome our speaker Ron Hutchinson whose topic is 'This is the Real Life Downton Abbey'. The talk will commence at 12.30pm followed by a 3 course lunch.
- Time: 12.00 noon for 12.30pm
- Cost: Members £25
- Venue: West lancs Golf Club
- Contact: Sue Davies suedaviesheswall@gmail.com
Life in Norfolk in the 1900s
Lunch & talk, Norwich & Norfolk
Luncheon will be followed by a talk, 'Life in Norfolk in the 1900s'. Speaker Christine Humphries.
- Time: 12.00 for 12.30pm
- Cost: £18
- Venue: Park Farm Hotel and Leisure, Hethersett, Norwich, NR9 3DL
- Contact: Bookings for lunch to be notified to the Secretary on 01603 456661 by Wednesday 19th June
Summer Lunch at Abbeywood Estate
Summer Lunch, Northwich & Cheshire
Summer Lunch at Abbeywood Estate
- Time: 12.30 p.m. for lunch at 1.00pm
- Cost: £25.00
- Venue: Abbeywood Estate & Gardens, Chester Road, Delamere, CW8 2HS
- Booking: Contact Jennifer MacPherson on 01606 215908 by Saturday 15th June
Lincolnshire branch AGM
AGM, Lincoln & Lincolnshire
Branch members are encouraged to join us for our AGM.
- Date: Wednesday 3rd July 2019
- Time: 6pm
- Location: Mansions of the Future, 15-16 St Mary’s Street, Lincoln N5 7EQ.
AGM & lunch at the Athenaeum
AGM, talk & lunch, Liverpool & Merseyside
Coffee from 11.ooam followed by AGM at 11.30am. Following the AGM we welcome former Police Chief Superintendent David Anderson who will speak on the topic, 'Spare a Copper'
- Time: 11.00am for 11.30am
- Cost: £17.50
- Venue: Athenaeum
- Contact: Sue Davies suedaviesheswall@gmail.com
Oxfordshire ESU Annual Dinner
Dinner, Oxford & Oxfordshire
Annual Oxfordsire branch dinner, with speaker: Tim O’Mara, TV Drama director, Winner Academy TV Award for Drama. Please click here for full details of this wonderful event.
- Time: 7.00 for 7.45pm
- Cost: £65
- Venue: Oriel College, Oxford, OX14EW
- Dress: Black Tie or Lounge Suits
- Contact: janetstokescarter@hotmail.com
Bristol branch: Summer party
Bristol & Somerset
Join us and enjoy some summertime drinks in the sunshine.
- Time: 6-8pm
- Cost: £5 at the door
- Venue: 29 Mariners Drive, BS9 1QG
AGM, lunch & social, Norwich & Norfolk
The branch AGM will be held at 11.30 am followed by luncheon and social time.
- Time: 11.30am prompt
- Cost: £18
- Venue: Park Farm Hotel and Leisure, Hethersett, Norwich, NR9 3DL
- Contact: Bookings for lunch to be notified to the Secretary on 01603 456661 by Wednesday 17th July
Oxfordshire AGM
Annual General Meeting, Oxford & Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire Branch annual general meeting followed by an optional supper in the Boat Inn Thrupp.
- Time: 6.30pm
- Venue: Paddock Cottage, Thrupp , OX5 1JY
- Contact: janetstokescarter@hotmail.com