ESU

London Branch: Book Club
2024-01-17 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/London) | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
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
Complete and updated ESU book club reading list for 2026
Jan: A far cry from Kensington – Muriel Sharp, 194pp, published 1988
Feb: The Island of Missing Trees – Elif Shafak (new president of the Royal Society of Literature) – 345 pp, published 2021
March: Conclave – Robert Harris – 400pp, published 2016
April: The artist of disappearances – Anita Desai – 176pp, publ. 2011
May: I seek a kind person: My Father, Seven Children and the Adverts that Helped Them Escape the Holocaust – John Borger – 297pp, publ. 2024
June: The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver – 616 pp, publ. 2000
July: As I walked out one midsummer morning – Laurie Lee – 194pp, publ.1969

Salisbury Branch: Oman: a journey from medievalism to modernity with Angus Ramsay
2024-01-15 11:00 - 15:00 | White Hart Hotel, 1 St John's Street, Salisbury, England, SP1 2SD, United Kingdom
Join the Salisbury Branch of the ESU for a discussion on the country of Oman and its journey from medievalism to modernity with Angus Ramsay. The talk will begin at 11 am at the Mercure White Hart Hotel, Salisbury.
In 1970 the world, if it had heard of Oman at all, expected the tiny, wretchedly poor, and backward Sultanate of Muscat & Oman to be taken over, Crimea-style, by communist revolutionaries. Post Vietnam, communism seemed everywhere unstoppable, and its acquisition of Oman would have given Moscow control over the vital Straits of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf. Both the Middle East and the West would have lost abundant resources and had to develop in very different ways.
For ten years the Sultanate fought back, and under a charismatic Sandhurst-trained young ruler, it won a genuine victory and rapidly fashioned an enduring peace. Low-profile Oman is now one of the safest, loveliest, and friendliest of all Arab countries. Angus Ramsay, who from 1973 – 1975 led an Omani rifle company in the war-torn province of Dhofar, charts the astonishing development of this fascinating country.
To book please contact Julia Tibbs at ESUSalisbury-EventsSec@esu.org.
Tickets: £28 for lecture and lunch, £12 for lecture only.

Sofar Sounds X Dartmouth House
2023-12-21 19:00 - 21:30 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
The secret’s out! We’re hosting a Sofar sounds show on Thursday, 21 December. Snag your tickets via the link below. The best part? The artists remain a mystery – you’ll find out who they are when they take the mic!

This show is part of an intimate acoustic gig series with Mumbli. This stripped back show is created for deeper connectivity, whilst enabling those who are sensitive to sound or have hearing challenges, to enjoy an elevated Sofar experience.

Please note: that it is a floor seating only event and therefore there will not be chairs available, attendees are welcome to bring cushions.
The event will start promptly at 7pm and finish at 10pm, guests are welcome to arrive at Dartmouth House from 7.30pm.

ESU Devon & Exeter Branch - December Luncheon Lecture Meeting
2023-12-20 12:30 - 15:30 | Exeter Golf & Country Club, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX277AE, United Kingdom
Nina Savicevic, an outstanding 23-year old Concert Pianist will be telling us all about the life of a professional classical musician and, she has confirmed, will be giving us a ‘tune’ or two.
For tickets, please contact the Dining Secretary, Sue Maunder, on suemaunderesu@gmail.com

South Wales Branch: Christmas at Howell's
2023-12-14 17:30 - 20:30 | Howell’s School, 134 Cardiff Road, CF5 2YD
Join the South Wales Branch of the ESU for their annual traditional celebration of Christmas, at Howell’s School, Llandaff from Thursday, 14 December.
The shape of the evening will follow the pattern of previous years with drinks in the day room at 5.30pm followed by musical performances and carols from six with supper at about 6.45pm. Members are kindly requested to remember that Howell’s is a busy place and will be ready to welcome you from 5.20pm but earlier arrivals might cause inconvenience in the parking areas and congestion in the building.
The ticket price will include a two-course dinner and pre-dinner drinks. To register for tickets please contact Stephen Purcell at esuswb@gmail.com.
Those needing easy access to the building via a ramp should email Stephen Purcell in advance so he can make appropriate arrangements.

ESU X The Trouble Club: Leaders in tech
2023-12-12 18:30 - 20:30 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
We are partnering with ‘The Trouble Club’ for an evening with three leading tech entrepreneurs. Our three panellists – Georgia Stewart, CEO and Co-Founder of Tumelo; Deirdre O’Neill, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial & Legal Officer at Hertility Health; and Juanita Morgan, Co-Founder and CEO of Value Adders World – will discuss what drove them to start their own businesses. Covering industries as diverse as financial services, health and human resources each is driven by a passion to create positive change. We will talk about how they hope to create that change, the most unexpected challenges of running their own business, why being a tech entrepreneur can be rewarding and what advice they have for others wanting to follow in their footsteps.
Speakers’ bios:
Georgia is CEO and Co-Founder of Tumelo, one of the UK’s fastest-growing financial technology scale-ups. Tumelo’s solution gives institutional investors and pension members visibility over their underlying fund holdings and a shareholder voice on issues they care about at companies they own, such as gender equality at Microsoft or climate change at Shell.
Deirdre O’Neill is the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial & Legal Officer at Hertility Health. Hertility is a women’s health company, supporting women all the way from menstruation through menopause with comprehensive at-home testing, telemedicine and treatment.
Juanita Morgan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Value Adders World, where her mission is to accelerate inclusion through changing perceptions and fostering a more inclusive working culture. One of her key initiatives involves the development of an AI-powered tool designed to detect bias through non-inclusive language, which can be a crucial step in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within organisations.
Live streaming tickets available: free for members, £10 for non-members.

Salisbury branch: The wonderful world of glass with Dr Francis Burroughes
2023-12-11 10:15 - 15:00 | White Hart Hotel, 1 St John's Street, Salisbury, England, SP1 2SD, United Kingdom
Join ESUs Salisbury and Wiltshire branch for an interactive experience that explores the history of glass-making.
From his own collection, Dr Burroughes brings historic and valuable items of glass for members to examine for themselves, to illustrate the history of glass-making from 3,000 B.C. to the present day. He is an acknowledged expert and is often asked to lend pieces and speak about them for various television antique programmes.
To book your place please contact the Luncheon Secretary – Julia Tibbs. Tel, 01722 325552 or e-mail, jejtibbs@gmail.com.
Guests are welcome to arrive from 10.15 for coffee, followed by the interactive workshop and talk and finishing with lunch.

Oxfordshire Branch Thanksgiving Lunch
2023-11-26 08:00 - 17:00 | Studley Wood Golf Club, The Straight Mile, Horton-Cum-Studley Oxford OX33 1BF, The Straight Mile, Horton-Cum-Studley, Oxford, OX33 1BF, United Kingdom
Save the date for the Oxfordshire Branch Thanksgiving Lunch which will this year again be held at Studley Wood Golf Club on 26 November. More details to follow.

To book contact Dr Jan Carter jan@paddockcottage.net or ring 01865 848528 or Tim Hallchurch tim@paddockcottage.net 01865 377099

ESU Devon & Exeter Branch - November Luncheon Lecture Meeting
2023-11-22 12:30 - 15:30 | Exeter Golf & Country Club, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX277AE, United Kingdom
Join us as we welcome Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury and recently retired Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, for ‘Church in Society: Perspectives from the Altar Step’.
For tickets, please contact the Dining Secretary, Sue Maunder, on suemaunderesu@gmail.com

London Branch: Wallace Collection Guided Tour
2023-11-18 11:55 - 13:00 | The Wallace Collection Manchester Square London W1U 3BN, Hertford House, Manchester Square,, London, W1U 3BN, United Kingdom
The London Branch is hosting a guided tour at the Wallace Collection in Hertford House, Manchester Square on Saturday, 10 June, starting at 12pm and finishing at 1pm.
Attendees will meet at 11.55am at the front desk at the Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN.
Young Members: £10
Members: £15
Non-members: £20

Lincolnshire Branch: annual dinner
2023-11-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Lincolnshire Branch, Mansions of the Future, 15-16 St Mary’s Street, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, N5 7EQ., United Kingdom
Please save the date for our annual branch dinner on Thursday, 16 November with guest speaker The Air Chief Marshal The Lord Peach GBE KCB DL.
More details to follow.

No books on a dead planet: Monique Roffey in conversation with Leena Norms
2023-11-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join Leena Norms and Monique Roffey on Thursday, 16 November for a live recording of No Books on A Dead Planet: the podcast where Leena & friends read climate books so you don’t have to!
Author of the Costa Award Book of the year ‘The Mermaid of Black Conch,’ Monique Roffey is an award-winning writer, lecturer and activist – as well as being the co-founder of Writers Rebel.
They will be discussing The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh, the place of writers in the resistance and why we find it so hard to talk about the crisis we face.
No need to have read the book to come along, this is a space to get inspired, meet and perhaps have your first conversation about the climate… ever!
The event will start promptly at 6.30pm and there will be an opportunity to discuss any questions with both Leena and Monique that may crop up. There will also be books for sale both books written by Leena and Monique but also a range of climate fiction books too.

Hertfordshire Branch: Special dinner with David Hoyle
2023-11-15 19:00 - 22:00 | Porters Park Golf Club, Club, Shenley Hill Radlett, Hertfordshire, WD77AZ, United Kingdom
Join ESU Hertfordshire Branch for a special three course dinner with guest speaker the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster. He will give a talk about his work running Westminster Abbey one of the world’s most historic buildings. As well as one of the UK’s most prime tourist destinations. He will also give us insights into his personal involvement officiating the Queen’s Funeral and King’s Coronation.
The ticket price includes a three course meal, as well as teas and coffees.
Guests are welcome to arrive from 7pm and have a refreshment in the bar, dinner will begin promptly at 7.30pm.
This is a fundraising event and the proceeds will go towards the charitable work of the English-Speaking Union and helping children to discover their voice.

Salisbury Branch: Churchill's Abandoned Prisoners with Rupert Wieloch
2023-11-13 10:15 - 15:00 | White Hart Hotel, 1 St John's Street, Salisbury, England, SP1 2SD, United Kingdom
Join Salisbury branch for an interesting lecture with Rupert Wieloch
The Salisbury branch of the ESU invites you to a lecture with Rupert Wieloch to learn more about Churchill’s Abandoned Prisoners.
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.
To book your place please contact the Luncheon Secretary – Julia Tibbs. Tel, 01722 325552 or e-mail, jetibbs@gmail.com.
Guests are welcome to arrive from 10.15 for coffee, followed by the lecture and then lunch.

Piano Recital with Yulia Chaplina
2023-11-10 13:30 - 15:00 | Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join us at Dartmouth House for a lunchtime concert by pianist, Yulia Chaplina.
Debuting aged seven with a performance of Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in F minor with the Rostov State Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Chaplina trained in Rostov and Moscow with Naum Shtarkman and with Klaus Hellwig at the University of the Arts in Berlin. She holds a Masters of Music from the Royal College of Music where, in 2013, she was appointed the Mills Williams Junior Fellow. She has performed in recitals extensively across Europe and Asia. Recent orchestral tours and engagements include the Russian Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Sinfonietta, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra and the Moroccan National Orchestra.
This event is part of the 3rd London Prokofiev Festival. The programme will include works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov Prokofiev, Scriabin and Khachaturian.
Guests are welcome to arrive from 1.30pm, the recital will begin at 2pm sharp.
Tickets are £15 for members and £20 for guests.

Dartmouth House Tour
2023-11-06 14:00 - 15:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join us for a tour of the ESU’s opulent Grade II*-listed townhouse boasting a marble courtyard, French panelling and a Robert Adam fireplace.
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.

ESU Oracy Research Conference
2023-11-03 10:00 - 16:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join the ESU for our inaugural Oracy Research Conference. In this one-day event, you will hear about some of the latest oracy research from leading experts in the field, discover what schools are doing in their classrooms to develop their oracy practice, and hear international perspectives. With keynotes from leading speakers, and sessions from ESU Oracy Action Research and Walter Hines Page research scholarship schools, this is an event not to be missed! It’s great CPD for any school oracy lead, or any teachers looking to find out more about oracy and how to embed a culture of oracy in your school.
For more information contact education@esu.org

Live podcast ‘Speechless: stories that change the world’
2023-11-02 18:30 - 21:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
On the 2nd of November we will be joined by Simon Bucknall & Maryam Pasha for a live version of their podcast ‘Speechless: stories that change the world.’ The podcast provides advice on how to tell stories whilst public speaking that will last a lifetime. Previous episodes of the podcast have discussed wedding speeches and how to moderate a discussion panel. This special live rendition of the podcast will discuss both Simon and Maryam’s lives in the public speaking world, and sharing tips along the way.
We feel very privileged to have this podcast performed live here at the home of public speaking and we hope you can all join us for a night of enticing conversation. The conversation will be facilitated by a young ESU member, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions and chat with both Simon and Maryam. Tickets will begin at £5 for members and £7 for non-members.
Guests are welcome to arrive from 6.30pm and the podcast will begin at 7pm. Guests are welcome to carry on networking and socialising after the podcast has ended in the members bar.

London Branch: Black History Walk
2023-10-22 10:00 - 12:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Celebrate Black History Month with the London Branch on a walking tour of the hidden African and Caribbean history in Mayfair from the 1920s to the 2020s. This two-hour mobile history presentation by the expert guide from Black History Walks will offer some fascinating insights: from ancient African goddesses to black-owned business and high society in the 1940s, Nigerian composers and Caribbean band leaders. Join us to learn more about Kenyan, South African and Zimbabwean connections and to view Mayfair, home of the ESU, from a new perspective.
Black History Walks are community champions and have featured on ITV, Channel 4, Teachers TV and the BBC. They were listed in Conde Nast Traveller’s Best 15 walks in London in 2018.
Places are limited so book your tickets below!

Debate: 'This house believes that the fight for online safety is a lost cause.'
2023-10-19 18:30 - 21:30 | Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
The ESU are delighted to invite you to our upcoming debate at Dartmouth House, on Thursday, 19 October.
As we increasingly rely on technology in our everyday lives, the question of online safety becomes more pressing. How do we navigate the delicate balance between technological advancement and our personal safety?
The motion for this debate is: ‘This house believes that the fight for online safety is a lost cause.’
We are please to announce that the speakers for this debate are:
Proposition
First Speaker
Racheal Muldoon is an internationally recognised barrister in the intersection of technology and law with deep expertise in AI and emerging technologies. Racheal has also recently been shortlisted for the Technology, Data and Crypto Junior Barrister of the Year The Legal 500 (Legalease) 2023 Bar Awards.
2nd Speaker
Orhan Ahmed has a distinguished background in online safety and technology, drawn from his career as a Fraud and Disputes Operations Manager at Monzo Bank. Additionally, Orhan has strong debating experience as the former convener for the University of Aberdeen Debate Society.
Opposition
First speaker
Zain Hussain is a lawyer, actor, and treasurer of the ESU Speech and Debate Committee. Zain was the winner of the ESU’s Great Law Debate competition 2017. Zain was called to the bar earlier this year, and decided against practicing law to build a startup focusing on improving safety for online platforms. Zain has a deep understanding of tech-enabled fraud and has academic contributions in this area. Prior to this, Zain spent four years at Monzo Bank where he oversaw fraud prevention. He has also worked as an actor with a number of small roles across HBO, BBC, and Netflix productions. Zain has also co-founded a social mobility charity providing mentoring for state-school students.
Second Speaker
Hash Syed currently serves as a Regional Product Lead at Google, overseeing Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. His career has included tenures at prominent tech companies such as Meta and Microsoft, where he cultivated extensive experience in technology and artificial intelligence. In addition to his corporate endeavours, Hash has a substantial background in non-profit work.

Other info:
Doors will be open from 6pm and the debate will begin at 6.30pm sharp.
Following the debate Dartmouth House’s bar will remain open until 9pm to allow attendees to mix and share ideas.
All proceeds from this event will support the ESU Schools’ Mace debating competition. Find out more about the competition here.

Bristol ESU Open meeting
2023-10-18 19:15 - 21:00 | The Apostle Room, Clifton Catholic Cathedral, Bristol, Clifton Catholic Cathedral, Bristol, BS8 3BX, United Kingdom
Basil Eastwood, former Ambassador to Syria will speak on: ‘Islam and the West. Islam in the West’ on Wednesday 18th October in the Apostle Room of Clifton Catholic Cathedral, Pembroke Road, BS8 3BX. Doors open for light refreshments at 7-15pm, with the talk starting at 7-45pm.

ESU Devon & Exeter Branch - October Luncheon Lecture Meeting
2023-10-18 12:30 - 15:30 | Exeter Golf & Country Club, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX277AE, United Kingdom
‘Inn Signia’ – John Ericson, an erudite and entertaining speaker will be lecturing on the artwork and stories behind peculiar pub names.
For tickets, please contact the Dining Secretary, Sue Maunder, on suemaunderesu@gmail.com.

Salisbury Branch: The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms with James Stopford
2023-10-09 10:15 - 15:00 | White Hart Hotel, 1 St John's Street, Salisbury, England, SP1 2SD, United Kingdom
On Monday, 9 October, Salisbury and Wiltshire branch of the ESU are joined by James Stopford to hear more about the history of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.
The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms was first formed in 1509 during the turbulent years of Henry VIII to act as a mounted escort to protect the sovereign. The Corps was present as part of the King’s entourage at the Field of Cloth in 1520. Over time they became a dismounted Body Guard armed with poleaxes, which they still carry today on ceremonial occasions. The Corps last saw active service during the English Civil Wars at the Battle of Edgehill (1642).
We will hear more of its colourful history, its role as The Nearest Guard and how it helped honour and say farewell to our Late Queen and stood to arms at our King’s Coronation.
To book your place please contact the Luncheon Secretary – Julia Tibbs. Tel, 01722 325552 or e-mail, jetibbs@gmail.com.
Guests are welcome to arrive from 10.15am for coffee, followed by the lecture and then lunch.

ESU Schools’ Mace Debating Competition Volunteer Judge Training
2023-10-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Dartmouth House, Wedgwood Room, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
ESU Mace Judge Competition Volunteer Judge Training in person at Dartmouth House.
The training is designed for experienced judges and new volunteer judges to learn about the competition, learn from experienced judges and to connect with one another.
The training will start at 6.00pm and will finish at 6.45pm. There will an opportunity to network and socialise after the training with drinks provided.

Coffee Cocktails
2023-09-28 18:00 - 21:00 | Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
Join us on Thursday 28 September, for a networking evening with an energising twist! This event is in partnership with broken clock vodka and press coffee & co. They will be curating an exclusive menu of espresso martinis, cold brew negronis and mocktails just for this event at Dartmouth House!
The £10 member and £15 non-member tickets include two complimentary drinks and a take-home gift bag featuring coffee-related tasters and treats from London-based companies, including Kiss the Hippo and London Nootropics.
The event will begin at 6pm and there will be decaffeinated versions of the cocktails available.

Sofar Sounds x Dartmouth House
2023-09-22 20:00 - 22:00 | Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
The secret’s out! We’re hosting a Sofar sounds show on Friday, 22 September. Snag your tickets via the link below. The best part? The artists remain a mystery – you’ll find out who they are when they take the mic!
The first 7 ESU members who register for the event get free tickets using the code ‘HOSTGUEST,’ so hurry and sign up! After those spots are filled, ESU members can still get 15% off their ticket with the code ‘SOFARSPACES15.’ We really hope that you can join us for this special live music event in September.
Please note: that seating is usually on the floor and therefore there will not be chairs available at this event.
The event will start promptly at 8pm and finish at 10pm, guests are welcome to arrive at Dartmouth House from 7.30pm.

ESU Devon & Exeter Branch - September Luncheon Lecture Meeting
2023-09-20 12:30 - 15:30 | Exeter Golf & Country Club, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX277AE, United Kingdom
‘The Indian Contingent: The Forgotten Muslim Soldiers of Dunkirk’ the title of a book published by Dr Ghee Bowman who has a PhD from the University of Exeter. His interest in the little known Indian presence at Dunkirk started him on a forensic journey of research that has spanned five countries and hundred of lives.
For tickets please contact the Dining Secretary, Sue Maunder, on suemaunderesu@gmail.com.

ESU Churchill-Public Speaking Competition Judge Training and Networking
2023-09-19 18:00 - 20:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
ESU Churchill-Public Speaking Judge Competition Volunteer Judge Training in person at Dartmouth House.
The training is designed for experienced judges and new volunteer judges to learn about the competition, learn from experienced judges and to connect with one another.
The event will start at 6.00pm and will finish at 8.00pm. There will an opportunity to network and socialise after the training with drinks provided

The last of the summer wine
2023-09-14 18:00 - 21:00 | The English-Speaking Union, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
The English-Speaking Union and Dartmouth House in collaboration with the Legacy Club invites you to soak in the last moments of summer at our Italian-inspired celebration! Indulge in pasta and and cheers with Italian wine and beer while listening to live music and socialising in our courtyard.
Tickets are £15 for members and £20 for non-members, the ticket price includes a complimentary drink and pasta throughout the event.
The event will commence at 6pm and end at 9pm. Keep your eyes peeled for details on the entertainment that are coming soon.
We are looking forward to savouring the last glasses of summer wine with you!
As you may know, we are a grade II listed building and there is limited disabled access. We will try and support accessibility so please do email events@esu.org for any specific enquiries regarding accessibility.

London Branch: James Raven talk on ‘The Oxford Illustrated History of the Book’
2023-09-11 18:00 - 21:00 | Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, England, W1J 5ED, United Kingdom
London Branch: James Raven talk on ‘The Oxford Illustrated History of the Book.’
Join Professor James Raven LittD FBA, Former Chair of the English-Speaking Union and Fellow of Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, as he reveals the history of books in all their various forms, from the ancient world to the digital present. As well as guiding us through the history of manufacture, craftsmanship, dissemination, reading and debate, Professor Raven will offer insights into the relationship between books and the story of their times.
A pay bar will be open and the talk will begin at 6.30pm in the beautiful Churchill Room in Dartmouth House. Ticket holders are welcome to come earlier and enjoy a light supper beforehand.
Copies of The Oxford Illustrated History of the Book will be available to purchase on the evening and there will be a book signing following the talk.
‘Raven… has drawn together scholarly essays offering a sweeping, erudite, and thoroughly engaging narrative… A profusely illustrated, handsomely produced intellectual history’ – Kirkus, Starred Review.
