The British Hungarian Society held an AGM on Monday 19th March 2018.

The meeting was well attended by the Members who wished the Society to continue.

A dinner was held following the meeting.

Details of future meetings/events will be posted on this website.

Followed by Dinner

Our next meeting will be the AGM Monday 29th January 2018


PLEASE NOTE THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Owing to unforeseen circumstances the AGM and dinner
at the Sofitel which was to be held on the 29th January
is cancelled until further notice.

Dinner to commemorate the 1956 Revolution at the famous Hungarian Hussar restaurant in central London.

2 Greek Street, Soho, London, W1D 4NB

Cost £30 per person including wine.

Places are limited so please let me know if you wish to attend and send your cheque made payable to the British Hungarian Society and send to:

Ilona Esterhàzy
P.O. Box 130
Henley on Thames
Oxon
RG9 5YU

Professor Tibor Frank will give us a fascinating exploration of the rich history of British-Hungarian relations in his talk entitled:

"Hungary and Britain: A History of Wishful Thinking?"

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In his talk, Professor Frank will discuss Hungarian efforts to gain the goodwill and the political support of Britain from 1848 through 1944 and again after 1956 while at the same time always belonging to alliances representing Britain's adversaries. The doublespeak of Hungarian propaganda endeavours is an intriguing reflection of the divided nature of Hungary's identity between East and West.

Tibor Frank is a Hungarian historian, professor of history and former director of the School of English and American Studies at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest. He was awarded the Országh Award in 2000, the Humboldt Forschungspreis (Humboldt Research Award) from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in 2002, and the Szent-Györgyi Albert Prize of Hungary in 2005. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, London in 2006 and corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA, 2013).

His period of research is 1848-1945, with a particular focus on Austro-Hungarian migrations, national images and stereotypes, as well as political propaganda and historiography. His books in English include "Ethnicity, Propaganda, Myth-Making: Studies on Hungarian Connections to Britain and America. 1848—1945" (1999), "From Habsburg Agent to Victorian Scholar: G. G. Zerffi 1820-1892" (2000), "Picturing Austria-Hungary: The British Perception of the Habsburg Monarchy 1865-1870" (2005), "Double Exile: Migrations of Jewish-Hungarian Professionals Through Germany to the United States, 1919-1945" (2009) and, editor with Frank Hadler of "Disputed Territories and Shared Pasts: Overlapping National Histories in Modern Europe" (pb 2015).

6:30 for 7pm at the Carlton Club, 69 St James's St, St. James's, London SW1A 1PJ (www.carltonclub.co.uk)

Fee: None for members, £10 donation for guests

Dress code: Lounge suit, tie and smart shoes or equivalent female attire. Please feel free to ask for more details.

Âgnes Kõry's interesting speech will be at 7pm on 18 May at the Oxford & Cambridge Club.

The topic is Hungarian musical life and will be accompanied by PowerPoint slides and music examples.

2pm Welcome, 2:30pm Event

Jane Hattatt and her husband Lance are British expatriates who have lived in Budapest for many years and have many Hungarian friends (http://hattatt.blogspot.co.uk/).

They are keen supporters of the arts and are arranging a solo exhibition of painting of aspiring young Hungarian artist Máté Orr in Norwich.

The Hungarian ambassador will be travelling up from London to attend the VIP launch in April and Jane would like to extend the invitation to you.

Please do contact us if you would like to know more about this event and we shall send an email to you with more information in due course.

6.30pm Drinks, 7pm Event

Dear Members and Supporters

We are delighted to invite you to join us on 16 March from 6:30pm until 8:30pm at the Oxford & Cambridge Club for an evening of pleasant conversation, reflection on the interesting journey of the Society thus far, and its bright future.

The event shall commence with the audience watching a short one-to-one conversation between Countess Ilona Esterhàzy and the Secretary about the history of the British-Hungarian Society through its various phases thus far.

It will include the connection with the 15 March Hungarian Revolution of 1848 and her wishes for the future success of the Society for the benefit of all its members and supporters.

Wine, soft drinks, canapés and finger food will be provided.

6.30pm Drinks, 7pm AGM

Please note from 6.30pm Drinks and meeting will be held in
the North Library 1st floor in the Athenaeum Club Pall Mall
for you to discuss and decide the future of The British
Hungarian Society.

Europe's Population: Old, Shrinking and Marginalised

At the Athenaeum, speaker will be Professor David Coleman of Oxford University

Dinner to celebrate the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Saturday 16th July - 630 for 7pm

To Celebrate the 90th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Toasts:

The Queen
My Adrian Longley OBE

The President of Hungary
Mr George Igler


Closing Remarks
Countess Ilona Esterhàzy


The Society will give thanks for the long life and faithful service of Andrew Merkler our former Chairman and Treasurer

Countess Ilona Esterhàzy and her co Trustees
Request the pleasure of your company
To all Friends and supporters of PROSPER
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To thank all those who have supported and encouraged -

PROSPER

An International Foundation to promote Mental Health
Reg Charity 1111924

At a Garden Party on Sunday 5th June 2016
Henley on Thames
Oxon

12 noon Reception.
12.30 Welcome,
followed by: Live Musical entertainment

Refreshments will be available

7 p.m. AGM

Followed by a talk by our President His Honour Sir Gavyn Arthur

Migration Problems and how it's affecting Hungary

The next meeting for The British Hungarian Society Meeting

Monday 25th January 2016 6.30pm
Meeting starts 7pm
More details will be sent out in the New Year

HE Ambassador Peter Szabadhegy will speak
Migration Problems and how is affecting Hungary

To celebrate the long reign of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II

Henley-on-Thames

In aid of Prosper registered charity.

GARDEN PARTY Henley on Thames

Details to be sent nearer the date.

The Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall
6.30 for 7pm.

Details to be sent nearer the date.

7pm AGM

7.15pm Sir Gavyn Arthur

8 for 8.15pm Dinner at the Sofitel

Please let me know if you wish to attend for dinner by email ilona@esterhazy.co.uk.
The cost is £40 payable on the day before the meeting.
Cheque to be made payable to Ilona Esterhàzy.
Please inform of any dietary requirements.

Please remember the "Rules of the Athenaeum"
No denims/trainers, gentlemen wear jacket and tie,
ladies to be suitably dressed. Mobile telephones
not to be used in the club"

A special lecture by Sir Gavyn Arthur

To all Members and friends of the European Societies, the opportunity to attend a very special lecture given by

Sir Gavyn Arthur
on the history of events leading up to the 28th June 1914
Archduke Franz Ferdinand 1863-1914

Princess Alexandra Hall Royal Over-Seas League
Park Place St James London SW1A 1LR

Thursday 27th November 2014
Reception 6.30pm. Lecture 7pm. Dinner 8pm Dress Black Tie

Our new Ambassador Peter Szabadhegy has agreed
to speak to us on Monday 27th October at the
AthenaeumClub Picture Room
Pall Mall London SWIY 5ER

Members and their guest may arrive from 6.30pm.
The meeting will start 7pm and finish by 8pm.
Please remember the "Rules of the Athenaeum"
No denims/trainers, gentlemen wear jacket and tie,
ladies to be suitably dressed. Mobile telephones
not to be used in the club"

If you wish to join us for dinner at the Sofitel please
confirm by email ilona@esterhazy.co.uk you may
bring your cheque for £40 on the evening before
the meeting.

No payments will be accepted in the restaurant.

Nettlebed,Henley on Thames, Oxon

Countess Ilona Esterhàzy and her co Trustees
Request the pleasure of your company
To all Friends and supporters of PROSPER
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To thank all those who have supported and encouraged -
PROSPER
An International Foundation to promote Mental Health Reg Charity 1111924

At a Garden Party on Sunday29th June 2014
The Bull Coach House. Nettlebed. Henley on Thames Oxon RG9 5DA

12 noon Reception. 12.30 Welcome, followed by a
Celebration of the voice of Henry Crawshay-Williams

Refreshments will be available

Please bring this invitation with you for security. Dress Smart

PLEASE RETURN TO CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE
To ilona@esterhazy.co.uk Trustee
The Trustees ask for a minimum donation of £10, children free
To be paid on the day when you arrive.
NAME/S of GUEST

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Information re PROSPER and Gift Aid forms will be available.
A SALE of Ladies Clothing and other items will be available.
Guests may make a Donation for these items.
An Exhibition in the house will be open after lunch.

Please return this information as soon as possible for catering.

Please make a copy of this invitation and bring with you for security on the day.

PLEASE NOTE - NO PARKING at the house.
PLEASE park by village green or in the car park near the church.

Owing to unforeseen circumstances I have had to change the date of the GARDEN PARTY.
Please kindly note the new date which is now Sunday 29th JUNE 12 noon.

Full details can be found under the new date.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

The British Hungarian Society
Chairman and Committee
request the pleasure of the company of
Members and their Guest
At a Lecture in the Athenaeum Picture Room followed by Dinner (Black Tie)


7pm our President His Honour Sir Gavyn Arthur to address us
on the history of events leading up to 28th June 1914

Archduke Franz Ferdinand 1863-1914

Tuesday 20th May 2014 6.30 for 7pm.


Dear Members and Associates
You are invited to hear our new President Sir Gavyn Arthur
also join us for dinner on this very special occasion.

Please book early as places are limited in the Picture Room. Cost of attendance which includes the lecture is £75 Members. £80 non members

Cheques to be made payable to: The British Hungarian Society and sent to The Secretary PO Box 130 Henley on Thames Oxon RG9 5YU on receipt of payment your formal invitation will be sent to you by email.
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Please return this form when complete to the above address.
Please write in block letters-
Member's name and address---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Guest name----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guest name----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please note no payments will be accepted on the evening.
Members are those who have paid their subscription for 2014

Non members can be anyone who is interested in the lecture.
Those wishing to join the Society Please send an email to The Secretary at the above address. You do not have to be Hungarian to join.

Andras Hadik a Barrister living in London is a direct descendant of Field Marshal Count Andras Hadik, he will give a talk, from a personal point of view on the life and career of the Field Marshal and other members of the Hadik family.

This meeting is open to Members and friends. Non members are asked to make a donation of five pounds at the meeting.

Please remember the "Rules" of the Club. No use of mobile phones in the club. Gentlemen wear jacket and tie. No denims or trainers. Ladies to be suitably dressed.

The Society's Annual General Meeting.

ANDRAS SIMOR Vice President European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development.

Andras Simor joined the EBRD on 1 July 2013 as Vice Pesident, Policy. Reporting to the President, the Vice President is responsible for strategy and policy coordination across the Bank, external action and political affairs, as well as donor partnerships and Technical Cooperation coordination.

Before joining EBRD, Mr Simor was Governor of the National Bank of Hungary from 2007 to 2013.

From 1999 to 2007, he was Chairman and Office Managing Partner at Deloitte Hungary and a member of the Board of Directors for Deloitte Central Europe. Prior to this, he was non-executive Chairman of the Board of the Busapest Stock Exchange, from 1998 to 2002. He was Chairman of the Managing Board of CAIB Investment Bank A,G, Vienna,

1997 to 1998 and Chairman and CEO of Creditanstalt Securities from 1989 to 1997.

Mr Simor was named 'Central Banker of the Year for Emerging Europe' by Euromoney Emerging Markets Magazine in 2001 and 'One of the top 50 Business Executives in Europe' by Business Week Europe in 2001.

Currently Mr Simor is Chairman of the Board of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. He has also served as Chairman of the Economic Council of the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy in Budapest from 2006 to 2010.

He graduated from the Karl Marx University of Economics Budapest in 1976, where he specialised in international finance.

MONDAY 21st October 6.30 for 7pm.

The Atheneaum Picture Room Pall Mall

Professor Richard Wilson Oxford University
Professor Kate Wilson Nottingham University

Anne Ridler An English poet in a European landscape.

A presentation and readings by Anne's daughter Kate.
Including those in the current Oxford Book of English verse

A Diplomatic Evening to Celebrate Hungarian Culture

THE INTER-CULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON
'Friendship and Fellowship'

The Inter-Cultural Society of London in association with The British - Hungarian Society invite you to

A Diplomatic Evening to Celebrate Hungarian Culture

Wednesday, 15 May, 2013 - 7:00 pm for 7:30 pm

The Princess Alexandra Hall, The Royal Over-Seas League
Park Place, London SW1A 1LR


Counsellor Andrea Norman-Walker, Embassy of Hungary, will open the Evening's Events in the absence of His Excellency, Ambassador Janos Czak.

Our Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honour will be the eminent and distinguished Sir Gavyn Arthur. KT. He was educated at Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford (MA Jurisprudence). Doctor of Civil Laws (City). He was called to the Bar in 1975 (financial law).
As Lord Mayor from 2002 to 2003, he was the spokesman and ambassador for financial services of London and UK with rank of Cabinet Minister. Speaker and discussion leader at World Economic Forum, Davos; headed talks in Athens and Rome with EU presidency countries on financial services regulation. He hosted meetings with Brussels Commissioners. Has led delegations for talks with US Treasury, Federal Reserve, World Bank, IFC, Asian Development Bank, as well as foreign, finance and trade & industry ministries, central bank governors and regulators across the world.
Over the past years has had detailed meetings in London and abroad with more than 80 heads of state and government, including US and Russian Presidents. Sir Gavyn was appointed a Judge by HM the Queen.
Retains special responsibilities on behalf of the City of London for Middle East and Maghreb countries.

Upon arrival we have the rare privilege of an exhibition of Hungarian embroidery.

The special Cultural feature of the evening will be a performance by the Balaton Hungarian Folk Dance Group, named after Lake Balaton. The Dance Company will perform Hungarian Folk Dances from the regions of Hungary and the Hungarian Communities in Transylvania.
The Evening will include a traditional Hungarian Dinner to be accompanied by both red and white wines, juice or soft drinks; Hungarian dessert, coffee or tea.

Click here for full details and a booking form


Click here for a poster

Europe's Population Challenges in the 21st Century

David Coleman has been the Professor of Demography at Oxford University since 2002 and was the reader in Demography since 1980. Between 1985 and 1987 he worked for the British government, as the Special Adviser to the Home Secretary and then to the Ministers of Housing and the Environment. Research interest include the comparative demographic trends in the industrial world: the future of fertility, the demographic consequences of migration and the demography of ethnic minorities international collaborative work continues on these topics at the Vienna Institute of Demography. He has worked as a consultant for the Home Office and for the United Nations and for private business.

This Meeting is open to non members interested, just email
ilona@esterhazy.co.uk to confirm your attendance.
The AGM is listed for ten minutes.
The Agenda, 2011/12 Accounts and Annual Report
will be available to Members at the meeting.
Please give these two meetings your support and let me know in good time if you wish to attend for dinner.

President The Lady Doris Butterworth
Chairman Peter Tarnoy
Hon Secretary Ilona Esterhàzy
Beata Szitasi- Sieha Committee Member

The AGM is listed for ten minutes.
The Agenda, 2011/12 Accounts and Annual Report
will be available to Members at the meeting.

President The Lady Doris Butterworth
Chairman Peter Tarnoy
Hon Secretary Ilona Esterhàzy
Beata Szitasi- Sieha Committee Member

Member of the Athenaeum.

Freelance music lecturer, writer and broadcaster, part-time lecturer in Humanities, Imperial College, London
President of the Incorporated Society of Musicians 2008-9.

Guest speaker Sir Gavyn Arthur former Lord Mayor of London

Guest of honour: His Honour Sir Gavyn Arthur, Lord Mayor of London 2002

Diamond Jubilee Dinner to celebrate the long reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the long life of our late patron HIH Otto Habsburg.

Application for tickets will be sent nearer the date.

No Matter Where I am I see The Danube

Autobiography of Dr Thomas Kabdebo

One man's life - in the 1930s in wartime Hungary, through the 1956 Budapest Revolution; escape in 1956 to the West, and life as an emigre in England and Guyana, as as Director of the Library of Maynooth University, Ireland.

Born to a prosperous family in 1930s Hungary, Dr. Tom Kabdebo was a schoolboy in the post-war Stalin years when ten percent of Hungarian men (includng his father and uncle) were sentenced to prison and to the loss of all possessions.

To pay for his education, and to help support his stepmother and siblings, he worked at labouring jobs, including underground in a coal mine where the temperature was 40 degress C.

In 1956, as a student in Budapest, he took part in the Hungarian Revolution - his diary of those few extraordinary days is reproduced in this book. Because of his involvement, he had to flee the country, along with 200,000 others.

Tom Kabdebo's first-hand experience of the often cruel reality of life in Central and Eastern Europe after World War II,and of the hardshiips (as well as the infinite possibilities) of life as a refugee, has been captured unforgettably in this compelling, deeply honest book.

He has lived in Britain (where he directed the University Library of Westminster), in Guyana (where he directed the University Library of Georgetown), and finally settled in Ireland, where he became Director of Maynooth University Library.He now lives in Newcastle, County Dublin.

Ms. Katalin Haas, Counsellor

Economic and Trade Commissioner

Monday 12th March

The Spiro Ark is pleased to invite you to:

ARTHUR KOESTLER AND THE THIRTEENTH TRIBE

A lecture by Mátyás Sárkõzi chaired by Prof George Gomori

Arthur Koestler (1905-1983) was born in Budapest. After leaving Hungary for Vienna with his family at the age of fourteen, he was educated at Vienna University and became a journalist in Berlin. Being an enthusiastic Zionist took him to Palestine as being a Communist took him to the Soviet Union. He served as a reporter in the Spanish Civil War and in 1940 settled in England for the rest of his life.

His Darkness at Noon assured him a place in literary and political history: an assault on Communism - the god that failed him.

In 1976 Koestler published The Thirteenth Tribe, a speculative work which suggested that the greater part of modern Jewry, the Askenazim, are descendants of the Khazars, a Turkish-speaking people along the lower Volga who were converted to Judaism in the eight century CE. The ruling class apparently adopted Judaism. But how true is the theory that the Judaized Khazars were the ancestors of many of the Jews of Eastern Europe and Russia?

The work also appears to refute Hitler's racial theory about the Jews.

Mátyás Sárkõzi is a Hungarian writer, an expert on Arthur Koestler's life and works. He arrived in Britain in 1956 and worked in the BBC Hungarian Section for forty years. He has published sixteen books in Hungarian and two in English, including The Play's the Thing.The Life of Ferenc Molnár, a biography of the the author's maternal grandfather.

Tuesday 6th March 2012, 7:30pm

VENUE: The Spiro Ark's Centre, 25-26 Enford Street W1H

Tickets: £10 (the price includes light refreshments)

Email education@spiroark.org Website: www.spiroark.org T: 0207 723 9991

My Father, The Man Who Never Was

A new book by Nicholas Reed  ISBN 978-1-901167-21-4

Major Ronnie Reed was Case Officer for Agent Zigzag, and the face behind Operation Mincemeat, during the Second World War. He is introduced through a collection of recently released reports and photos from the National Archives, and intimate family snaps. How did this young man, with no money and minimal qualifications, reach such an important position in his twenties?

Why did Agent Zigzag (aka Eddie Chapman) give Ronnie his Iron Cross, awarded to Zigzag by Hitler himself?  And how, within ten years, did Ronnie find himself heading the anti-Russian department of MI5, dealing with notorious spies like Philby, Burgess and Maclean?

In an interview filmed in 1994, shortly before Ronnie’s death, his son Nicholas learnt his story in detail. Here Nicholas reproduces the interview and fills in the background of The Man Who Never Was.

Meeting at The Athenaeum Club, speaker Sir Gavyn Arthur former Lord Mayor of London

Members and their guest may arrive from 6.30pm, meeting starts at 7pm

House of Lords

Details to be sent soon

Deputy Head of Mission - Hungarian Embassy

If you would like to join us for dinner at the Sofitel on Monday 7th Cost £35 please telephone 01491 641435 and leave a message or send an email to: ilona@esterhazy.co.uk

CHRSSIE WEBSTER-TRUSSELL

Working for Mr Rubik

MÁTYÁS SÁRKÕZI

WITNESS OF A REVOLUTION AND OBSERVER OF ITS AFTERMATH

Mátyás Sárkõzi was a young Budapest journalist in 1956 and came to Britian as a refugee after the Hungarian Revolution. He worked for the BBC’s Hungarian Section for almost forty years. He is the author of sixteen books, mostly in Hungarian.

RODERICK SWANSTON
MA MusB(Cantab) FRCM FRCO GRSM LRAM

Bartok, Kodaly and the search for Hungarian Music Nationality

Roderick Swanston is a musicologist widely known as a lecturer and critic combining immense learning with wit and enthusiasm.

He has lectured extensively in Europe, Asia, United States and Africa. He was President of the Incorporated Society of Musicians 2008-9 and was formerly professor of music theory and history at the Royal College of Music. He now lectures at Imperial College London and is a frequent broadcaster on BBC Radios 3and 4. He is the Artistic Director for many of the Martin Randall Travel Festivals and has accompanied every Danube Music Festival since its inception in 1994.

7pm - AGM

Nigel Thorpe Ambassador to Hungary 1998 - 2003

Meeting 6.30pm for 7pm

Nigel Thorpe was British Ambasador to Hungary from 1998 till 2003. He spent over half his career as a diplomat working on or in Central Europe. In addition to serving in Budapest he served twice in Warsaw. Since leaving the Foreign Office, Nigel worked for Vodaphone for four years. He is now active in the voluntary sector.

WILLIAM HORSLEY

EUROPE THE NEW DIVIDE

Journalist and Broadcaster International Director, CFOM Centre for Freedom of the Media Department of Journalism Studies, University of Sheffield.

COSTEL PETRE

ROMANIANS IN BRITAIN

Petre is Director of Romania in The Third Millennium

JUSTIN GLASS Esq

FOSTERING THE LINK OF AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY

Justin is The Director of The European Atlantic Group.
Committee Member of our Society and future Chairman

DINNER  7pm for 7.30pm

Athenaeum Club  (Picture Room)

Clemens Nathan Honorary Member of our Society also a Member of the Athenaeum, has kindly agreed to be our host on this occasion. The dinner will be held in the Picture Room which is limited to thirty seven persons. Please let me know if you would like tickets and a reservation will be made for you and your guest. Tickets are £40 per head including wine.  Please let me know if you or your guest would like vegetarian food.

------------------- Tear here -----------------------------------------------

Please send me ____ tickets for Thursday 26th March 2009

Member’s name ________________________________

Member’s Address_______________________________________________________

Name/s of Guest

1________________________________________

2________________________________________

Please complete this slip and send with your cheque payable to The British Hungarian Society
to
The Secretary, PO BOX 130,  Henley on Thames, OXON., RG9 5YU  
as soon as possible and a place/s will be reserved for you and your guest/s.

AGM

7.15pm Professor Gabor Domokos will tell the story of "Why and How Things Balance"
www.gomboc.eu

8.15. Dinner at The Sofitel (Please confirm if you wish dinner)

A fascinating talk by Helen Tarnoy

Helen speaks a number of languages and specialised at Oxford in medieval French and German literature. Up until recently she was simultaneously the Vice President of the Worlds largest power company in Washington and Director of the whole electricity industry in Cameroon. Now she is in the midst of buying and developing electricity companies in several African countries.

Athenaeum Club 6.30.for 7pm.

Mr. Peter Horvath, Trade Commissioner, Hungarian Embassy

"Hungary: a logical choice for business"

Athenaeum Club 6.30.for 7pm.
Pall Mall SWIY

An illustrated talk on the Chain Bridge Budapest by Denis Smith PhD,MSC,DIC,CEng

Hungarian Cultural Centre 6.30 for 7pm.
10 Maiden Lane WC2E 7NA

This is a joint event with HCC and BHS.

Andrew Merkler’s book launch. Andrew is Chairman of the BHS. Introduced by Justin Glass Justin is Director of The European Atlantic Group and a Committee Member of the BHS. A film of the 30’s to be shown. Script/Lyrics by Andrew’s father

Clemens Nathan, speaker for Wednesday 20th February

Clemens Nathan is known to me personally through our meetings at the Romney Group. He has been a member of the Athenaeum for over 20 years.

He was for many years a textile technologist travelling throughout the world, developing new textiles. In December last year, a luncheon in his honour was given by the Textile Institute at The House of Lords when he was awarded the Companionship of the Institute - the highest honour, only given to 50 people living at any one time throughout the world.

He has been involved in Human Rights work, both as Chairman of an NGO accredited to the United Nations, the Council of Europe and UNESCO. He also has been for many, many years on the Board of the Conference on Jewish Material, Claims Against Germany and Austria, the organisation which deals with reparations for gross violations of human rights for Holocaust victims. He is Chairman of their Nominations Committee and is extremely active in New York dealing with many of their problems.

He was founder and Chairman for 8 years of the Centre for Jewish-Christian Relations at Cambridge which today is considered one of the best colleges for multi-faith studies including the Woolf Centre which deals with Islamic-Jewish Studies at a high academic level.
There are many other activities in the Human Rights field which are of great interest to Clemens.

Monday 21st January . 6.30 for 7pm.
The Athenaeum Club. Pall Mall. SW1Y 5ER

Speaker- HE Ambassador Borbala Czako

Please kindly observe the Rules of this Club:
“No mobile telephones to be used on the premises.
Gentlemen to wear suit/jacket and tie.
No denims or trainers and ladies to be suitably dressed”

As I have been in Australia via Singapore since early December and arrived back in England yesterday, I trust it is not too late to wish you all happiness for 2008.
On behalf of our Chairman and Committee I send greetings to you all and look forward to seeing as many of you at the forthcoming meetings.
Ilona

(Date to be confirmed)
All Party Hungarian Group Question and Answer session at the House of Commons.

Details to be provided nearer the time.

Lecture at the House of Lords
by Kind permission of Rt Hon. The Lord Rees QC

Sir Bryan Cartledge

Sir Bryan will speak on

The History of Hungary.
The Will to Survive

Spring Programme

Concert
Croydon Centre for Young Pianists

Venue: Hungarian Embassy, 35 Eaton Place

By kind invitation of The Ambassador

Members and their guests may arrive from 6pm
The concert will begin at 6.30pm
A reception/buffet following the concert by kind invitation of The Ambassador.

Please note this event is free to all members and guests,
the normal guest donation is not applicable.

The Changed Character of the Work of a Correspondent and the New Requirements in the Internet Age with 7/24 Global News Coverage

Special Guest Speaker:

Veronika Reiniger-Hahn

Veronika has a long background in journalism, and has been working for the Hungarian Radio since 1973, straight after completing her studies - German, History and Scandinavian Languages - at the Eotvos Lorand University. She worked for the German Programme of the Radio. After she moved to London with her husband Peter Reiniger, who was offered a job in the newly founded European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, she started work for HVG and then Nepszabadsag and also still files pieces for the Hungarian Radio.

Meet 6.30pm for 7pm at
Pushkin House, 5A Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1A 2TA

6pm Annual General Meeting of
The British Hungarian Society 

Spring Programme

Mr Charles Wheeler. BBC Correspondent

Hungary Revisited Fifty Years Later

Venue: Hungarian Cultural Centre
10 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London

HELEN LANGLEY

The Life and Work of Erno Goldfinger

Helen Langley, of the Bodleian Library Oxford, will give an illustrated talk about the
Hungarian born Architect.

JOHN CUNNINGHAM – 
A talk illustrated with film clips.

John Cunningham lived and worked in Hungary for most of the 1990’s, teaching film and media studies at many of the major Hungarian Universities. His book Hungarian Cinema: from Coffeehouse to Multiplex was published in 2004 by Wallflower Press. He returned to the UK in 2000 and is now Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at Sheffield Hallam University. The subject of his next book, the Life and Work of Istvan Szabo, will be published in late 2008.

John will be giving a series of talks at the Barbican, later in the year, to mark the anniversary of 1956.

AGNES HIRSCHI

Carl Lutz - Rescuer of 60,000 Hungarian Jews 

Carl Lutz, the Swiss Vice-Consul, was the first neutral diplomat in Budapest to rescue Jews.

Agnes Hirschi was born in London, spent her early youth in Budapest, and since 1949 has lived in Switzerland. She has made her studies – languages and journalism in Berne. She has many personal memories of Carl Lutz, who married her mother Magda in 1949. She has worked as a journalist for a daily newspaper and serves as a judge. She has been with the “Visas for Life” programme since 1998. Her activity as European Co-ordinator of the VFL-Exhibit honouring diplomats has become an important part of her life.

The event at the Hungarian Embassy was postponed owing to storm damage.

Professor Dr W Falkowski

The Professor will speak about the Polish University and its relationship with Hungary as both these countries had a very close relationship throughout history.

Briefly, Polish University Abroad was created in France after Germany occupied Poland (1939). After the fall of France it was transferred to Britain. There was an autonomous Medical Faculty consisting entirely of Polish professors associated with the Edinburgh University, similarly Law Faculty with Oxford University. Architecture with Liverpool University, Technology and Humanities in London. Degrees were recognised and Poland was presented to Stalin on a silver plate. Since then the development of the Polish University abroad slowed down; the academic members were dying and new members not replaced them in sufficient numbers. Professor Falkowski does not think that P.U.A has the chance of functioning as an independent university, but only as part of the University in Poland. To this end there is collaboration with the Jagiellonian University (600 years old) Professor Falkowski has been organising conferences last year together with the Polish Academy of Science (Polska Akademia Umiejetnosci) and later this year a book will appear based on the conference. He has published a book on hospice care in collaboration of English academics and academics from Warsaw and Lublin universities.

AGM

THURSDAY 16th FEBRUARY 2006, 6.00 pm

Please note the start time of 6 pm

Venue: The Athenaeum, Pall Mall

Please remember the Dress Code of this London Club
Gentlemen are required to wear jacket and tie and ladies appropriately dressed. Also no denims or trainers are allowed and mobiles to be switched off in the Club.
These are the rules of the Athenaeum Club, who kindly grant us permission to have our meetings there as a privilege.

Peter Reiniger will talk about the work he does for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Peter Reiniger graduated as a mechanical and industrial engineer in Budapest in 1970. He started his career in a medium-size company specialising in automation technology for the Russian oil and gas industry. In 1975 he was employed by the Ministry of Industry of Hungary, where he held various positions, including Deputy Minister (1989 - 1990). In 1991 Peter joined the newly established EBRD - first as a director for Hungary team, and then as director of the Telecommunications team as well. Since 1998 he resumed responsibility for oil and gas, mining, and subsequently for the whole Energy sector and Telecommunications. Peter held a number of non-executive directorships in Banking and Telecommunications sector. Peter is married, his wife Veronika works as the London correspondent of the largest Hungarian daily newspaper Nepszabadsag. They have two grown up sons, Andras and Adam, who live and work in London as well.

Sir Michael Burton, KCVO, CMG

 "Triangular Links: Prague, Bratislava and London"

"A view of Visegrad"

The British Hungarian Society in association with Spiro Ark presents

An evening of poetry by Miklos Radnoti

Read by Clive Wilmer and George Gomori Cellist Sagi Hartov to be held in the Garden Room at the Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall.

Miklos Radnoti (1909-1944) one of Hungary's greatest wartime poets, was sent to a forced labour camp and when the Russian front approached, was force-marched towards Germany. When he was too weak to continue, along with many of his comrades he was shot dead and buried in a mass grave. When after the war his body was exhumed a notebook was found in the pocket of his raincoat, containing his last poems, one of which you will hear tonight. Forced March a selection of Radnoti's poems was translated into English by well known Cambridge poets and translators, Clive Wilmer and George Gomori and published by Enitharmon Press in 2003.

Spiro Ark Spiro Ark is a London-based charitable organisation which organises Jewish cultural events and courses in Jewish History, culture and languages. It was established by Nitza and Robin Spiro, well known for their pioneering work in Jewish Education ia Britain. Please consult the website for our full programme of educational and cultural events,

Katalin Bogyay, Director of Hungarian Cultural Centre presents

The Role of Magyar Magic Hungary in Focus 2004 in Intercultural Communication

 _{in the Picture Room at the Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall}

Dr. Andrew Zsigmond de Lemheny presents

 From Pecs to Liverpool via Barnsley

 in the Picture Room at the Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall

Dr. Andras Barabas presents

Hungarian Surgeons in Britain: Past, Present and Future?

in the Picture room, Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall.