From left to right: Shirlie Roden, Alan Banes, Michael Chant, David Lloyd (Chairman), Gorazd Kert, David Bennett, Anica Page, Keith C. Miles, Igor Cesarec.
Not on the picture: Željka Charles-Jones, Breda Wilkinson and Evelina Ferrar.
A delegation of Slovenian Parliamentarians visited the UK last week. RTV Slovenija 1 covered a reception given for them by Slovenian Ambassador Iztok Jarc at his London residence. Click on this link to see the RTV programme
https://tvslo.si/predvajaj/v-zivo-tv-slovenija-1/tv.slo1/#ava2.161396217
The coverage starts at 3mins 10 secs. It was broadcast in Slovenia on 17 March at 17.00 and includes an interview with the British-Slovene Society.
Do you wish your child to learn languages, and combine it with all sorts of adventures? Here’s how you can do this in the midst of Slovenia’s beautiful countryside: Poletni tabori
Would you help a 14-year-old girl from Prekmurje in Slovenia, who is suffering from cancer and dreams of visiting London?
Britons in Prekmurje have already collected 1,000 euro to make Bogomila Kuhar’s dream come true. Derek and Susan Smith, who live in that area, organised a fund-raising charity walk. Radio Televizija Slovenija interviewed Susan for a news report which highlighted the humanitarian spirit of the local British community.
Members of the British Embassy and British Council in Ljubljana then chipped in with more funds. I appeal now to members of the British-Slovene Society to join in helping this girl achieve her wish.
What can you do? You could contribute further funds to make sure this trip is unforgettable. Or you could accommodate Bogomila and her mother for a few days. They hope to be in London towards the end of June. You could also obtain tickets for some of the sights and pleasures of London. Anything which will give her the time of her life.
If you want to help, please contact me through info@britishslovenesociety.org. Any suggestions are welcome.
Bogomila lives in Murska Sobota. She is a brave girl and deserves our help. Please show that we too in the British-Slovene Society have generous hearts.
David Lloyd
Chairman
The British-Slovene Society’s annual Prešeren Dinner, held on 9th February in London’s Hotel Russell, has never been more animated or well attended. The dining room was packed to capacity, and it pulsated to the sound of lively conversation, a Slovene accordionist, and the shouts of lucky winners in the tombola.
Members and their guests sang Slovenia’s national anthem, written by the 19th century poet, France Prešeren, the central figure of Slovene culture. Slovenia’s Ambassador in the UK, Iztok Jarc, launched the proceedings, followed by David Lloyd, the Society’s new Chairman.
The retiring Chairman, Keith Miles OBE, and his wife Slava, were presented with silver salvers for their unstinting work for the BSS and Slovenia since the earliest days. During the independence process in the early1990s, Keith was instrumental in helping the new state achieve recognition and standing in the UK.
Keith has not really retired. In fact, he is spending time in Slovenia these days helping various bodies with his accounting and auditing skills.
More and more young Slovenes living in the UK come to the Dinner, distinguishing themselves by the impressive professional and academic credentials which they have already achieved in a globalised world at an early age.
English-speakers could brush up their Slovene by joining in the traditional sing-song led by the visiting accordionist. Each found something different to enjoy. One Slovene who lives in an area where there are hardly any compatriots said what she liked most was to hear Slovene spoken in the Ladies.
The tombola meanwhile brought in a record £494 for Barka, community of people with disturbed mental development in Slovenia supported by the BSS.
Click for video: mi se imamo radi, radi, radi, radi
More photos in the Gallery.
A new playgroup for toddlers aged 3 months to 4 years will be running weekly every Saturday from 9th of February from 10.15 – 11.45 am at Coram Fields Children’s Centre, 93 Guilford Street | London WC1N 1DN
MAP
Through play, listening to stories and singing, children will be encouraged to use the Slovene language. They will also learn about traditional Slovenian traditions and heritage.
A small charge will be requested from each parent to cover the costs of renting a venue fully equipped with toys.
For more information contact the organizer at:
mummy_mox@hotmail.co.uk
To follow the updates about the activities of the group please request to join Facebook page: Slovenska Otroska Igralna Skupina London
Please note that parents will be required to supervise their own children in the playgroup. The continuation of the group will depend on the expressed interest and attendance.
The London Gallus Consort choir will perform music by the Slovene Jacobus Gallus, as well as other renaissance and medieval composers from across Europe. The group has specialised in the work of Gallus since the mid-1990s; many of you will know them from their appearances at the Society’s carol service.
They will be accompanied on authentic instruments from the period by the Sicut Vox wind ensemble.
The concert is in the Church of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe (near St Paul’s, the same place as the annual carol service) at 7.30 p.m. on 1 March.
Tickets are £10 (£8 for concessions) with proceeds going to the Barka charity in Slovenia and the Multiple Sclerosis Society in the UK.
How to get to the Church of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe:
The Ljubljana International Orchestra and the mezzo-soprano Mojca Vedernjak will perfom music by Hyden and Beethoven on Friday 25 January at St. John’s Smith Square at 7.30 p.m.
Programme:
Haydn, Symphony no. 1 in D major
Haydn, Scena di Berenice
Beethoven, Symphony no. 1 in C major, Op.21
Conductor: Živa Ploj Peršuh
When it comes to shoveling snow, everybody knows Slovenes are the champions. When snow falls overnight in Slovenia, by 5 a.m. the streets echo to the sound of shovels.
England does not quite have that tradition. But here is a BSS member in England using a special ergonomic snow shovel “Efekt” made in Slovenia and presented to him for Christmas by Slovene friends. He had the path up to his house cleared in a few minutes (admittedly not at 5 a.m.)
The Annual Dinner of the Society will this year be held on Saturday, 9th February at 6.30 pm (welcome drinks) for a 7.20 pm start.
The location is Hotel Russell, Russell Square, London WC1B 5BE
(nearest stations: Russell Square, Holborn and Euston)
There will be the usual tombola in support of the charity Barka in Slovenia and speeches, poetry and music.
Ticket prices are £33 for members, £35 for non-members, £23 for fulltime students and free for members aged over 80 (a donation of £10 would be welcomed).
An application form for tickets can be obtained from Anica Page, 7 Hampton, Great
Holm, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK8 9EP and forms should be returned by no later
than Saturday, 2nd February 2013.