Take a look at the exciting ESU events on offer, from lectures and recitals to our world-class competitions. We hope to see you at one of them soon!
ESU Events

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July 2022
ESU Summer Party at Dartmouth House
The annual ESU Summer Party is a highlight of our events calendar, and this year ESU members and alumni are invited to Dartmouth House to celebrate 104 years since our founding. Enjoy a sparkling wine and canapé reception, accompanied by pop up spoken performances from ESU prize-winners and scholars. This is both a great social event and an opportunity for members and alumni to join together in celebration of the ESU’s life-changing international exchange programs and vital oracy mission.
Find out more »South Wales Branch: Save the date for a summer garden party at Gileston Manor
The South Wales branch is delighted to invite you to brush-up your boaters, button-up your blazers and fluff-up your finery for the re-established summer garden party - this year in the beautiful setting of Gileston Manor, generously sponsored by owner, Mrs Lorraine Jones. There is the advantage of some very comfortable outdoor shelter should the weather turn against us, but with luck we will be free to wander through the magnificent gardens and enjoy the prospect of watching the sunset…
Find out more »London Branch: Book Club
The ESU London Branch Members' book club meets once a month at Dartmouth House to exchange views on a book chosen by the group. Discussions take place from 11.00-12.30hrs on the third Wednesday of each month. If you would like to join our friendly and informal club please contact Kathleen Earley on earley.kathleen@gmail.com Book club reading list for 2022: January-February: Klara and the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro February-March: The Light that Failed – Rudyard Kipling March-April: Serotonin – Michel Houellebecq…
Find out more »ESU Members Event: Afternoon Tea at the House of Lords
This event is generously hosted by The Rt Hon. the Lord Boateng, a former Chair of the ESU. This is one of the flagship events in the English-Speaking Union’s social calendar and provides an excellent opportunity for our members from across the globe to meet, network and socialise within the surroundings of this historic and significant building. There will be a classic menu of sandwiches, tea and cakes served in the Cholmondeley Room and the House of Lords Terrace. To…
Find out more »The Traitor King: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Exile by Andrew Lownie
Sunday Times bestselling author and ESU BASS/SSE scholar Andrew Lownie will discuss his book The Traitor King: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Exile. The book examines the years following the abdication of Edward VIII when the former king was kept in exile, feuding with his family over status for his wife, Wallis Simpson, and denied any real job. Drawing on extensive research into hitherto unused archives and Freedom of Information requests, it makes the case that the Duke…
Find out more »August 2022
Lincoln Branch: Summer Evening Reception and Private View of the Sculpture Exhibition at Doddington Hall
Monday, 8 August sees a return of the biennial Sculpture Exhibition at Doddington Hall commencing with the ESU Lincoln branch’s Summer Evening Reception and Private View, offering a super opportunity to get together over some drinks and nibbles and a popular chance to see this much admired and successful exhibition of talent and imagination with thanks to Claire & James Birch. Tickets cost £10 per member and £12.50 for friends/supporters. Tickets for ESU Lincoln events are available from Hon. Secretary…
Find out more »London Branch: Book Club
The ESU London Branch Members' book club meets once a month at Dartmouth House to exchange views on a book chosen by the group. Discussions take place from 11.00-12.30hrs on the third Wednesday of each month. If you would like to join our friendly and informal club please contact Kathleen Earley on earley.kathleen@gmail.com Book club reading list for 2022: January-February: Klara and the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro February-March: The Light that Failed – Rudyard Kipling March-April: Serotonin – Michel Houellebecq…
Find out more »September 2022
Sir Malcolm Rifkind In Conversation with Alastair Niven
Join us online on Monday, 12 September at 6.30pm to join Sir Malcom Rifkind KCMG QC in conversation with Alastair Niven OBE LVO. Sir Malcolm Rifkind is a former MP and served in the cabinets of Margaret Thatcher and John Major. He has held a variety of high-profile positions within the government, including Secretary of State for Scotland, Defence Secretary, and Foreign Secretary. More recently, Malcom sat as chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament. He continues to…
Find out more »Lincoln Branch Spring Lunch: Sqn Ldr Mark Sugden, ‘The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: Past, Present and Future’
Lincoln branch are pleased to announce that they have managed to reschedule the postponed Spring Lunch to Tuesday, 13 September at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln with special guest Sqn Ldr Mark Sugden who will speak about ‘The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: Past, Present and Future’. The Lincoln branch is delighted to welcome Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Squadron Leader Mark Sugden as guest speaker. With a world-class team, he is…
Find out more »Salisbury Branch: ‘The Women of the Raj’ by Brian Freeland
‘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.…
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