Events of interest to our members form an important part of the Anglo-Swedish Society's agenda. Some 12 - 15 are organized every year and highlighted in our newsletters, produced three times yearly. Although there is often an obvious Swedish connection, we take the view that members meeting up and getting to know each other is the key factor in these popular get-togethers. To facilitate this aim, the events are often combined with a lunch, or afternoon tea.
EVENTS PROGRAMME SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2008:
Reception at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence
Thursday 16 October 2008, 18.30-20.00
27 Portland Place, W1B 1QG
The Swedish Ambassador, Mr Staffan Carlsson, has very kindly offered his beautiful residence as a venue for a reception for members of the Anglo-Swedish Society. Entertainment by our scholars will add to a memorable evening. Attendance will be limited by space.
Members who would like to participate should write to Kari Hedly. 6a Oakfield Street, SW10 9JB after which a formal invitation by the Embassy will be issued.
Tour of the pictures of Mansion House
Wednesday 5 November 2008, arrive 13.45
Walbrook, EC4N 8BH
The Lord Mayor’s official residence contains a stupendous art collection. We have been able to arrange a rare visit to view the – mainly Dutch – pictures and, of course, by implication to see something of the splendid rooms where the Mayor entertains his guests.
Afterwards members may care for a cup of tea at the nearby – and very imposing - Royal Exchange.
Price: £6 (does not include tea) Maximum 20 people.
Underground: Bank station or short walk from Cannon Street
Cheques, please, to Lee Persson, 11a Priory Avenue, London W4 1TZ
Swedish Christmas Lunch at Deep Restaurant
Sunday 7 December 2008, 12 noon
The Boulevard, Imperial Wharf, SW6 2UB
Nearest underground: Fulham Broadway. In house parking at Imperial Wharf.
020 7736 3337
www.deeplondon.co.uk
Christian and Kerstin Sandefeldt, the owners of Deep, will be offering a big, traditional Swedish Julbord including favourites such as Inlagd Sill, Janssons Frestelse, Dopp i Grytan and apple cake with vanilla sauce. Glögg will be served between 12 noon and 12.30 so be sure to arrive early.
Price: £35 also includes one nubbe and one beer.
Cheques, please, to Lee Persson, 11a Priory Avenue, London W41TZ
Read the Swedish Embassy's “Notes"
SOME RECENT EVENTS
The Drottningholm Opera came to England
August 2008
www.dtm.se
www.westgreenhousegardens.co.uk
50 singers and musicians from Drottningholms Slottsteater and the University College of Opera, Stockholm will be performed Il Mondo Della Luna by Joseph Haydn at attractive West Green House in Hampshire.
‘Europe’s Cultural Revolution of the Eighteenth Century’
An illustrated talk by Professor Tim Blanning
July 2008
Tim Blanning is Professor of Modern European History at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He is also a Fellow of the British Academy.
In his latest book The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648-1815 - which is the current winner of the Franco-British Society’s Enid McLeod Literary Award and from which he will draw his lecture - he brought to life one of the most extraordinary periods in Europe’s history.
Visit to Ismaili Centre
May 2008
www.iis.ac.uk
Every Londoner is familiar with the beautifully exotic building opposite the
V & A, designed by the renowned British architect Sir Hugh Maxwell Casson KCVO, RA, RDI (1910-1999) but few have visited its highly interesting interior, which caters for the religious, cultural and social needs of the Aga Kahn Ismaili muslim community.
A guided tour for the A-SS was arranged, followed by a light lunch at newly opened le Pain Quotidien across the road.
Visit to Lord's Cricket Ground
April 2008
www.lords.org
Humanity may well be divided between those who understand cricket and those who find the game utterly baffling. Our visit to the home of cricket therefore was both informative and entertaining. We were shown the famous Long Room and the MCC Museum - home of the Ashes urn and of 400 years of cricket history – as well as the innovative Media Centre, first used for the Cricket World Cup in 1999.
Our guided tour will last 1 hour 45 minutes after which a glass of wine will be served in the Tavern next to the cricket ground.
Private View, Åmells Gallery
April 2008
www.amells.com
The artist and former ambassador Anders Sandström exhibited his animal sculptures against a background of paintings by Bruno Liljefors.
Guided Tour of Thames Barrier, followed by Cream Tea
March 2008
The Society was able to arrange a visit to this highly important construction, which swings into action when high water levels of the river threaten London in the presence of Robert Runcie, director of the Thames region of the Environment Agency.
Wellcome Collection, Light Lunch & Guided Tour
February 2008
183 Euston Road, NW1
London’s latest and highly exiting museum, owned by the world’s second largest charity devoted to all aspects of medicine and health. The museum opened summer 2007 and features Henry Wellcome’s permanent, and fascinatingly quirky, collection of health-related items including art of the highest order.
Supper and Book Launch at Upper Glas Restaurant
January 2008
We gathered at Anna Moseson’s restaurant for an informal supper followed by an illuminating talk by internationally renowned ballet expert Marina Grut. Mrs Grut trained as a ballet dancer in Cape Town, has lived in Sweden and lectured extensively. Her new, and very well researched book, tells the story of the Swedish Ballet (1592-1862).
Book Presentation
In the autumn of 2007, Anglo-Swedish Society member Marie Bertheau-Norgren presented the book she co-wrote with Göran Blomé to the Society's Patron,
HM King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and HRH Princess Victoria at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Also present were Ann Forsberg, the widow of Franklin S Forsberg, the United States' late ambassador to Sweden, and her son Lars Forsberg.
The book, published in English under the title All the Best...from the Kingdom of Sweden and in Swedish as Bästa Sverige...Från Vikingavälde till EU-Monarki covers the history of Sweden from its very beginning to our time, focusing on the achievements of the country's monarchy and many prominent individuals and companies. This full-colour 312 page hard-back work with around 1000 illustrations would be a valuable addition to the library of anyone wishing to brush up on Swedish history.
To buy a copy, go to the shop "Totally Swedish", 32 Crawford Street, London W1H 1TZ or e-mail sviv@sviv.se or goran.blome@blomedia.se
Buckingham Palace
royal.gov.uk
September 2007
To mark the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, the annual summer opening of their London residence featured a special display of the wedding dress plus other splendid clothes and jewels worn by the royal family for the occasion.
English National Opera - back stage visit
eno.org
November 2007
Back Stage House Guide Sarah Lenton took members on an exiting tour of London 's largest theatre (built by Matcham in 1904), also of course taking in the splendidly refurbished front of house.
Christmas Party at the Garrick Club
www.garrickclub.co.uk
December 2007
The venue for our Christmas party 2007 was this wonderfully atmospheric gentlemen's club. Members and their guests met up for Champagne plus hot and cold canapées in the Milne Room on the ground floor of the Club.
Queen's Gallery
royalcollection.org.uk
April 2007
The Royal Collection's superb Itailan paintings - 90 Old Master oils and almost as many drawings - was a big Spring draw at the Queen's Gallery.
Spring Dinner
www.inn-or-out.com
March 2007.
Celebrated Swedish caterer Lena Björck gave a sumptuous dinner at her new and very spacious head quarters at St. James’ Road (Bermondsey).
The Swedish Ambassador, A-SS's new Patrons of the Arts, the Dean of the Swedish Church and his wife, A-SS President Barroness Maddock, members & guests of the Society were welcomed with cocktails. A three course dinner followed and the A-SS scholar Martin Sturfält (fellow of the Guildhall School of Music) played piano pieces by Stenhammar and Ravel.
An Evening with Gustaf Fröding
February 2007
On a short visit to London, acclaimed actress Margaretha Byström from Dramaten in Stockholm and pianist Lasse Zackrisson generously agreed to introduce us to our national poet – in song.
Victoria & Albert Museum
www.vam.ac.uk
January 2007
Annika Hall, a Swedish guide at the V & A, gave us an informative guided tour, focusing on aspects of Swedish interest.
Clarence House
www.clarencehouse.com
Our guided visit to Clarence House, followed by tea at Inn The Park in St. James' Park.
Reception at the Residence of the Swedish Ambassador
The Swedish Ambassador, Staffan Carlsson, kindly invited the Society's Patrons and members to a reception at the Residence in order to celebrate the Society's charitable work and, in particular, its music and art scholars. Susanna Andersson, one of the Society's music scholars, gave a short recital.
Freemasons' Hall
www.ugle.org.uk
http://freemasonry.london.museum
The Freemasons' United Grand Lodge is one of London 's most impressive but least known 20th century buildings. We secured a guided morning tour of the equally impressive and handsomely decorated – interior premises - where we were also shown items of Swedish interest. Lunch was served at le Deuxieme restaurant afterwards.
Visit to the Foundling Museum to look at the fabulous art collection, amassed by this pioneering institution where destitute 18th century mothers could leave their newborn babies.
Visit to the Linnean Society, keeper of the collections of the great Swedish botanist.
British Library visit for a guided tour of their Hans Christian Andersen exhibition.
Theatre: Ibsen's The Wild Duck plus pre-theatre dinner.
Knock Bar: some of the younger members and guests had an evening of drinks and music at Knock Bar in Sloane Square and raised money for the Scholarship Fund.
House of Lords drinks reception: members of the Society were guests of Baroness Maddock.
Anglo-Swedish Friendship Ball at The Dorchester in the presence of H M King Carl Gustaf, H M Queen Silvia and HRH Prince Philip.
Read the specially designed Commemorative Booklet:
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Price: £10 Cheques, made out to Anglo-Swedish Society,
to Kari Hedly, 6a Oakfield Street , London SW10 9JB
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office: drinks reception for members of the UK-EU Societies and talk by Peter Hain MP.
The Queen’s Golden Jubilee reception at St. James’s Palace for members of the UK-EU Societies.
