We pass on this information from the Slovenian Embassy in London:

Embark on an enchanting journey with the Slovenian Embassy Concerts’ “Musical Bridge between Slovenia and the UK.” At the fourth concert in the series, a young award-winning Slovenian string quartet Opifex will join the internationally acclaimed flutist Lana Kuščer alongside her accomplished pianist partner Diego Caetano. An evening with a diverse repertoire spanning Mozart, Schumann, Penderecki, and the dynamic composition of rising Slovenian talent, Anže Rozman, currently making waves as the composer in residence at Hans Zimmer’s studio in Los Angeles.

Musical bridge between Slovenia and United Kingdom
Lana Kuščer – flute  |  Diego Cetano – piano  |  Opifex String Quartet

Saturday, 6th July at 7.30pm

The Amadeus Hall
Maida Vale, 50 Shirland Rd, London W9 2JA

RSVP: rsvp.vlo@gov.si

Programme:

W.A.Mozart: Flute Quartet in F major, K.370
K.Penderecki: String Quartet No.3
A.Rozman: Funtasy for flute and piano
R.Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op.44

The Embassy Series of concerts ‘Musical bridge between Slovenia and the United Kingdom’ is organised and curated by London-based violinist Lana Trotovšek, recipient of the Prešeren Fund Award, the highest recognition in the Republic of Slovenia for achievements in artistic creation.

Co-founded by the Cultural Fund run jointly by the Slovenian Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

The British-Slovene Society organises its Annual Picnic on Sunday 7^th July beside the kozolec (Slovene hayrack) on Gillotts Field, Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1RZ. Slovenes and friends of Slovenia are warmly invited to come with families.

As last year, folklore dancers and musicians from Bled in Slovenia will create a true veselica (village feast) for us.

Bring friends, children, dogs, balls, food for yourself and others and enjoy the party by the kozolec we erected two years ago. There is plenty of space for children to play and run around.

Entry to the field is free of charge. We look forward to welcoming you!

Photos: Kathy Mansfield

VTIS is inviting supporters of the Slovenian football team to join them to watch the forthcoming Euro 2024 game against England on a screen:

Time: Tuesday, 25 June 2024 from 7 pm

Place: The Marquis Cornwallis, 31 Marchmont St, Greater, London WC1N 1AP, Združeno kraljestvo – Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CpLS8RaSMSpzHMLT7

The British-Slovene Society organises its Annual Picnic on Sunday 7^th July beside the kozolec (Slovene hayrack) on Gillotts Field, Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1RZ. Slovenes and friends of Slovenia are warmly invited to come with families.

As last year, folklore dancers and musicians from Bled in Slovenia will create a true veselica (village feast) for us.

Bring friends, children, dogs, balls, food for yourself and others and enjoy the party by the kozolec we erected two years ago. There is plenty of space for children to play and run around.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Photos: Kathy Mansfield

On 21st May the community of Barka gathered in Zbilje in Slovenia to honour and celebrate the life of David Lloyd. David and his partner Elizabeth, with about another 30 friends, joined on-line, whilst a similar number participated in Barka. David and the British-Slovene Society have been loyal and generous supporters of Barka, a charity for people with special needs, since its establishment in 1997.

David spoke of his joyful time as British Ambassador to Slovenia and of the friendships he established there, which have deepened and expanded over the decades. Whenever David has been in Slovenia he always popped into the community where he is a well-known and well-loved friend.

Following David’s words many people spoke how he had enhanced, enriched and energised their lives. These were personal and special words. One recurring theme was that David was a great British Ambassador to Slovenia and that he has been a great ambassador for Slovenia in Britain. Amongst those sending warm greetings were Slovenian colleagues who worked with him as Ambassador. Tiffany Sadler, the present British Ambassador in Slovenia, said David has been a personal inspiration for her.

To add their own celebration, Zoran Predin and Vlado Kreslin sang songs close to David’s heart. The residents of Barka sang one of their own with a chorus of “Hallelujah David”.

David said: ‘I could not have imagined such a lovely, moving occasion, and seeing so many old friends’.

Here is a recording of this touching farewell:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2fpc7vbd8ydou06cpy7fp/Barka-21maj2024.MP4?rlkey=uvwqxkfucl8sjo59up1evrfwj&st=lquo3on4&dl=0

Our retiring chairman  is going to give his farewell address to all his Slovene friends today 21st May at 5 pm UK time. Please see the link to a Zoom Meeting below.

Time: May 21, 2024 06:00 PM Europe/Ljubljana

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82660522897?pwd=L1lMdktOdldWaUdnK1JCRnRZNWwwUT09

Meeting ID: 826 6052 2897
Passcode: 497521

For members of the British-Slovene Society only:

Notice is hereby given that The Annual General Meeting of the British-Slovene Society will be held at 6 pm (UK Time) on Thursday 13 June 2023 online via Zoom. Any member may join the session.

AGENDA

Ordinary Business

1. To receive and adopt the Report of the Trustees and Accounts for the year ended 30 Sept 2023
2. To re-elect the following as Trustees, who retire by rotation and are offered for re-election: Andrej Ogorevc, Simona Bennett
3. To appoint a Secretary for the forthcoming year. Miha Košak has indicated his willingness to continue in office.
4. To appoint a Chairwoman for the forthcoming year. Evelina Ferrar has indicated her willingness to continue in office.
5. To approve the Minutes of the AGM held on 13 June 2023.
6. Any Other Business.

Please confirm your attendance by email to: miha.kosak@britishslovenesociety.org  by close of business on Monday 10th June, 2022. You will then be sent an invitation to join the Zoom session together with instructions. You may also receive BSS Accounts for the year ending 30th September 2023 and the Chairwoman’s Statement.

In case you cannot attend the AGM and wish to vote, please use the Form of Proxy: BSS-AGM-Form-of-proxy

Evelina Ferrar, Chairwoman

Dated: 13 May 2024

Trustees have appointed Evelina Ferrar as new Chairwoman of the British-Slovene Society. She succeeds David Lloyd, Chairman since 2013, who has resigned for health reasons.

At their last meeting, Trustees expressed heartfelt thanks to David for his wonderful services to the Society, and sent him warmest wishes on his departure.

As a former British Ambassador in Slovenia, David has retained close links with that country. In particular he cultivated relations with Barka, the Slovenian charity for people with special needs which the Society supports.

In a tribute to the retiring Chairman, Evelina said: “Under David’s leadership, the Society has expanded and flourished, forging strong bonds of friendship between Britons and Slovenians. I shall do my best to foster the same spirit. Above all, I want members to feel that we are a supportive community.”

Evelina is Slovenian by origin and also holds British citizenship. Having worked in Corporate Relations at Lek Pharmaceuticals, she is now a freelance translator and court interpreter.

As a Trustee since 2012, she has been managing membership and the web site, and together with other Trustees organises our Prešeren Evening, Summer Picnic and Christmas Carol Service. In 2022, she brought Slovene craftsmen over to Henley to erect a traditional Slovene hayrack (kozolec), where we can gather for our summer celebrations.

VTIS  (Slovenians Educated Abroad) are organising a spring gathering in London. It will be held on Thursday 25 April 2024 from 6:30 pm at Vinegar Yard, 72-82 St Thomas St, London SE1 3QX.

They are inviting members of the British-Slovene Society to join in. Do come for a bite/drink and stimulating company!

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The Slovenian House in London is inviting:

On 27th April an exhibition of 70 years of Andrej Šifrer will be opened and followed by a musical gathering. The exhibition will take place in the Slovenian House at 62 Offley Road and the concert in Wheatsheaf community hall near Vauxhall.  Dave Cooke, a musician from London is going to play with Andrej. Also, the Slovene Choir led by Kaja Pečnik will sing at the start and together with Andrej. It should be fun for non-Slovene speaking folks as well.

There is no entrance fee, but registration on Eventbrite online is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nic-proti-vecnosti-andrej-sifrer-70-let-tickets-828977141947

On Sunday 7^th July, the British-Slovene Society will hold its Annual Picnic at Gillotts Field, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1PT. This is the third time we will meet by the traditional Slovene hayrack (kozolec) built by Slovene artisans in 2021.

Save the date now. Bring family, friends, food, drink and good cheer to share with everybody. We expect friends in Henley to join us in our celebration.

The video above shows a traditional folklore group from Bled in Slovenia performing at last year’s Picnic. Bled is twinned with Henley.