Here is a link to interviews published bz Slovenian Radio on the British-Slovene Society’s 30th anniversary celebration in Henley-on-Thames:
https://veseljak.svet24.si/novice/64c3420cb2e7d/30-let-slovensko-britanskega-drustva
Henley newspapers covered the British-Slovene Society’s 30th anniversary picnic beside the Slovene hayrack (kozolec):
Friends make song and dance in field – Henley Standard
Henley Herald:
The sun shone, the rain held off and some 75 people turned out on Sunday 9th July for the British-Slovene Society’s annual picnic in Henley alongside the traditional Slovene hayrack (kozolec). The hayrack looked so authentic that it might have been there for 100 years or so. In fact, it was erected by artisans from Slovenia only 18 months ago.
A 22-strong Bled Folklore ensemble came over from Slovenia to help us celebrate the 30th anniversary of our Society with great verve and style. Dancers, musicians and singers led by Deputy Mayor Iztok Pesrl created a true Slovene veselica (village feast), whooping and whirling around in their period costumes. Jovial village women invited somewhat shy Britons to join them in the dance – and none refused. To round the festivities off, Kaja Pečnik’s UK Slovene Choir sang the Slovenian national anthem and other rousing Slovene songs.
It was delightful to welcome the large delegation from Bled, since that beautiful town alongside a lake surrounded by mountains is twinned with Henley-on-Thames, where the famous regatta has just finished. Henley’s Mayor and several Councillors turned out to join in the merry-making. Families came with children, who could take part in a painting workshop.
We are grateful to the Office for Slovenians Abroad for their financial support in celebrating our 30th anniversary.
Slovenes and friends and family are invited to join us at our Annual Picnic on Sunday 9th July beside the new kozolec (Slovene hayrack) on Gillotts Field, Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1RZ.
To help us celebrate our Society’s 30th anniversary, folklore dancers and musicians from Bled in Slovenia will create a true veselica (village feast) for us. Accompanying them are Deputy Mayor Iztok Pesrl, former Mayor Janez Fajfar and an Olympic medallist in rowing Jani Kovačič. Bled is twinned with Henley, so they will be renewing longstanding friendships with Henley people.
The pictures show Folklorno društvo Rudija Jedretiča Ribno and Glasbena skupina Šuštarji.
We will also have a painting workshop for children as part of an art competition called »This is Slovenia« launched by the National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia. Children will be invited to paint the little Slovenia which will be created on the spot. You can bring your paints. The best pictures will be rewarded and sent on to Slovenia.
Bring friends, children, dogs, balls, food for yourself and others and enjoy a party by the kozolec we erected last year. There is plenty of space for children to play and run around.
If anybody needs transport from Henley railway station please inform in advance by email evelina@ferrar.org.uk or call 07584 199177.
We look forward to welcoming you!
430 years have passed since the famous victory of the Slovenes over the Ottomans at Sisak. This account was published in Slovenia by the periodical Demokracija.
Victorious Battle of Sisak, in which the Slovenes also defeated the Sultan’s army. (Photo: Facebook)
On 22 June 430 years ago, the famous battle of Sisak took place between Christian and Ottoman armies. The battle ended with the victory of the Christian Imperial forces led by General Baron Ruprecht von Eggenberg. One of the leaders of the Christian army was the noble Andrej Auersperg Turjaški, commander-in-chief of Vojna Krajina. Since it was Slovenes (Carniolans, Carinthians and Styrians) who were mostly responsible for the victory, historiography records the battle as a great victory for Slovenes over the Turks.
In this battle in 1593 the Turks are said to have lost up to 10,000 men and the Christian forces only between 40 and 50). The bulk of the Turkish (Ottoman) forces thereafter shifted towards Central Europe and Vienna. As a result, major Turkish incursions into the territory of Vojna Krajina, Carniola, Carinthia and Styria came to an end, and the military pressure on Slovenian lands was relieved.
Conflicts in the Western Balkans became more intense after the Ottoman Sultan Murat III made peace with Persia in 1590. Austrian Emperor Rudolf II reached a truce after sending diplomatic envoys to Murat’s court, but the 8-year peace agreed did not last. Already the following year, under pressure from military circles at his court, Murat appointed Hasan Pasha Predojević as commander of Ottoman forces. He came from Herzegovina, born into the Serbian Predojević clan. In his youth, Nikola was taken to the Sultan’s court in Constantinople, where he was renamed Hasan.
Hasan captured the important fortress of Bihać on his way to the West. In 1592, he had the Yeni Hisar (Petrinja) fortress built. From there he planned an attack on Sisak.
Sisak
Construction of the Sisak Fortress began in 1544 and was completed in a few years. When Predojević was given the task to destroy Sisak, he camped by Kolpa with 12.000 warriors and began a siege. In response to the attack a Christian army was formed, numbering approximately 5,000 men, who came from the Croatian and Slavonian Krajišnica forts, Banska Croatia and the hinterland of Slovene lands.
The Christian army made a calculated move and trapped the Turkish troops between two rivers. This caused a disorder in Ottoman ranks, and they came under attack by soldiers from the fortress they had been besieging. The Carniolan nobleman Andrej Auersperg Turjaški, who led the arquebusiers (units armed with arquebus guns), played a prominent role in the victory.
The Turkish forces fled in panic and were pushed back to Kolpa. There a large number of them drowned, including the commander Hasan pasha Predojević. The battle lasted only an hour.
Hasan’s coat, kept by the National Museum of Slovenia. Source: National Museum of Slovenia.
That it was the people of Carniola who did the most to win the battle over the Turks is evidenced by a historic relic. The greatest trophy of the battle, Hasan’s cloak, belonged to Andrej Turjaški. The cloak became the property of Ljubljana Cathedral and is part of the legacy inventory of Bishop Tomaž Hren from 1630. Hren had Hasan’s mantle made into a mantle for Masses in Ljubljana Cathedral. Today, the cloak is in the National Museum in Ljubljana.
The victors seized abundant booty. Besides the cloak, it consisted of 39 cannons, 10 Turkish flags, many weapons, a helmet with rich ornaments, jewels, gold, and Hasan Pasha’s tent with valuables.
30 years ago diplomatic relations between Great Britain and the newly independent Slovenia were established and the British Council started operating in Slovenia.
To celebrate this anniversary, the British Embassy in Slovenia commissioned a project to collect 30 short stories written (mostly) by Slovene authors about an experience, historical event or a person connected with Slovenia and Britain.
An e-collection of these stories was presented today in the garden of the residency of HE Tiffany Sadler, British Ambassador in Slovenia. The e-collection will be available for free on the MMC link below till 27 June. Later you will be able to purchase it.
30 let – 30 zgodb: “Zgodbe so pripoved o tem, kar nas povezuje in označuje” – RTV SLO
At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the British-Slovene Society on 13th June 2023, Chairman David Lloyd paid tribute to Jana Valenčič on her resignation as a Trustee. Jana was one of the earliest members of the Society, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, and one of its longest-serving Trustees. David in particular thanked Jana for a generous donation of £1,000 which she has made to the Society on her farewell.
The AGM (held on ZOOM, see picture) re-appointed David as Chairman and Miha Košak as Secretary, and also discussed plans for future activities.
Next BSS event: Summer picnic on Sunday 9th July beside the new kozolec (Slovene hayrack) on Gillots Field, Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1RZ. A large group of folklore singers and dancers are coming from Bled in Slovenia to create a true veselica (village feast). Bled is twinned with Henley. Also performing will be the new Slovene Choir in the UK led by Kaja Pečnik. There will be facilities and guidance for children to produce pictures of their ideas of Slovenia. Bring food and drink, children and friends.
Urad vlade RS za Slovence v zamejstvu in po svetu vabi na tradicionalni praznik Slovencev z bogatim programom:
V četrtek 29. junija 2023 bo XIX. vseslovensko srečanje v Državnem zboru ter razstava in koncert v Narodni univerzitetni knjižnici.
V petek 30. junija bo potekal strokovni posvet o slovenski narodni identiteti.
V soboto 1. julija bo tradicionalni praznik Slovencev v Vipavi. Program zajema ogled Vipave, ustvarjalne delavnice, pravljice in igre z otroke, nastope izseljenskih skupin in družabni večer ob glasbi in plesu.
V nedeljo 2. julija se bo dogajanje spet preselilo v Ljubljano, kjer bo 29. Tabor Slovencev po svetu z umetniškim programom.
Podrobnejši program in prijave; 2023_ DD Program
On Sunday 11th June at 3 pm Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Slovenian House at 62 Offley Road, London SW9 0LS, by Bishop Msgr. Dr. Anton Jamnik. The Mass will be followed by Slovene refreshments in the Reception room.
Confirmation of attendance is desired but not obligatory.
Contact: info@skm-london.org.uk, 07365 353 900
The National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia has invited children of Slovenian emigrants around the world to participate in an art competition called »This is Slovenia«. They ask children aged 6-14 to contribute their works of art. One picture per person can be sent directly to info@muzej-nz.si – see »This is Slovenia« art competition for children – The British-Slovene Society (britishslovenesociety.org).
In Britain, the British-Slovene Society wishes to develop this campaign further. We invite children with Slovenian background of any age to paint what comes to their mind when thinking of Slovenia and bring their A4 format pictures to our picnic in Henley-on-Thames on 9th July, or send as a scan to evelina@ferrar.org.uk. You can enter as many pictures as you wish, in whatever technique (please state the name and age of the child and contact details). The best ones will be rewarded with practical prizes. Weather permitting, we are aiming to organise a small guided painting workshop at the picnic so more works of art can be created on the spot and exhibited at the event. Adults are invited to join in.
A selection of children’s artworks collected will be sent on to Slovenia by the British-Slovene Society. The deadline is 14th July 2023.
So don’t forget about the picnic on 9th July. Bring friends, children, dogs, balls, food for yourself and others and enjoy a party by the kozolec we erected last year. A folklore group will come from Bled, with accordion, clarinet and double bass. We will have a real Slovenska veselica, See Sunday 9th July – British-Slovene Society Picnic with Bled Singers and Dancers – The British-Slovene Society (britishslovenesociety.org)
Perhaps some works of art will be inspired by the little Slovenia we will create on the spot!