NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2015
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Dear members,
At times like these with so much uncertainty about the future directions of European policy in Britain and in other member states, it is more important than ever that the Franco-British Society exists to facilitate understanding and foster friendship.
Our society depends on the voluntary help provided so generously by members of the committee and I would like to thank them for all that they have done in 2014.
We also depend critically upon our Secretary and our debt to Kate Brayn who left us in 2014 after 15 years is immeasurable. I am also delighted to welcome Isabelle Gault who has taken over the role with enthusiasm and determination.
One of the tasks that will face us and Isabelle in 2015 will be the design and implementation of a new website- vital in communicating with younger people, attracting new members and generating fresh ideas on future activities.
We also welcome the arrival of the new French Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Sylvie-Agnes Bermann whose last appointment was in Beijing. With her arrival we salute the departure of His Excellency Bernard Emie who is going to Algeria, an important part of the Francophone world.
We value greatly our relationship with the French Embassy in London and look forward to the closest cooperation in 2015.
The program for next year is not yet finalized but is already rich with promise and our AGM is now set for Monday 27th April.
Meilleurs voeux pour la nouvelle année,
Lord Watson of Richmond CBE FRTS
At times like these with so much uncertainty about the future directions of European policy in Britain and in other member states, it is more important than ever that the Franco-British Society exists to facilitate understanding and foster friendship.
Our society depends on the voluntary help provided so generously by members of the committee and I would like to thank them for all that they have done in 2014.
We also depend critically upon our Secretary and our debt to Kate Brayn who left us in 2014 after 15 years is immeasurable. I am also delighted to welcome Isabelle Gault who has taken over the role with enthusiasm and determination.
One of the tasks that will face us and Isabelle in 2015 will be the design and implementation of a new website- vital in communicating with younger people, attracting new members and generating fresh ideas on future activities.
We also welcome the arrival of the new French Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Sylvie-Agnes Bermann whose last appointment was in Beijing. With her arrival we salute the departure of His Excellency Bernard Emie who is going to Algeria, an important part of the Francophone world.
We value greatly our relationship with the French Embassy in London and look forward to the closest cooperation in 2015.
The program for next year is not yet finalized but is already rich with promise and our AGM is now set for Monday 27th April.
Meilleurs voeux pour la nouvelle année,
Lord Watson of Richmond CBE FRTS
THE HISTORY AND ART OF NORTHERN FRANCE & WW1
COMMEMORATIVE TOUR 29 MAY - 2 JUNE 2014
Commemoration and culture were the themes of the Society's trip this year to Northern France, with battlefields, monuments and museums aplenty – vivid reminders of the fighting in both World Wars. But there were also cultural treats, old and new.
Our coach left Victoria early on 29 May and after crossing through the Eurotunnel we went straight to Bourbourg to visit the 12th century Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church - badly damaged during WWII when a British pilot apparently crashed into it to avoid the houses of the town. It has been gradually rebuilt and the late Sir Antony Caro, a major sculptor of our time, was invited to transform the east end. His Chapel of Light was inaugurated in 2008; its scope is epic and complex with 15 sculptures devoted to the themes of water and the creation of the world and made from a combination of materials.
He also designed two tall oak towers, which we climbed with interest, sculptures in their own right. We continued to our hotel in Lille's main square and later dined together at the Alcide Restaurant in the main square.
Our coach left Victoria early on 29 May and after crossing through the Eurotunnel we went straight to Bourbourg to visit the 12th century Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church - badly damaged during WWII when a British pilot apparently crashed into it to avoid the houses of the town. It has been gradually rebuilt and the late Sir Antony Caro, a major sculptor of our time, was invited to transform the east end. His Chapel of Light was inaugurated in 2008; its scope is epic and complex with 15 sculptures devoted to the themes of water and the creation of the world and made from a combination of materials.
He also designed two tall oak towers, which we climbed with interest, sculptures in their own right. We continued to our hotel in Lille's main square and later dined together at the Alcide Restaurant in the main square.
The following day we crossed - hardly noticing the border - into Belgium for a full day of commemoration. With our knowledgeable Flemish guide, we travelled along the Messines Ridge, the area of the largest mining operation of WWI, and looked at the reconstructed German trenches at Croonaert Wood before going round the Hooge Crater Museum with its collection of arms and equipment from WWI.
In the afternoon, we visited the Worcestershire Regiment Memorial, where by remarkable chance a member of our group discovered the grave of a relative. We went to the Passchendaele Museum, which recalls powerfully through images and films the 500,000 casualties of the offensive which was meant to knock the Germans out of the war. But the breakthrough did not come. We went on to the enormous Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest of its type in the world, where 12,000 bodies lie, and finally to Ypres. The original town, reduced to rubble by the war, has been rebuilt as it was before. There we attended the deeply moving Last Post Ceremony, which takes place every evening under the Menin Gate, inscribed with the names of some 55,000 men whose bodies were never found. It had been day full of reminders of the horror and tragedy of war.
The following morning, we went to Arras to visit the Carrière Wellington, a museum created 20 metres underground in a section of the tunnels dug by the British Army in WWI. The work of the New Zealand Division is particularly commemorated. Over 20,000 soldiers of the Commonwealth were gathered in this secret subterranean base to prepare a surprise attack on German positions in April 1917. The tunnels connect with original tunnels and quarries dating back to the Middle Ages. We emerged blinking from this dark and chilly setting into bright hot sunshine.
We visited the Ploegstreert Memorial to the Missing before looking at the site of the famous Christmas Truce of 1914 (now an anonymous looking field of crops).
In the afternoon, we visited the Worcestershire Regiment Memorial, where by remarkable chance a member of our group discovered the grave of a relative. We went to the Passchendaele Museum, which recalls powerfully through images and films the 500,000 casualties of the offensive which was meant to knock the Germans out of the war. But the breakthrough did not come. We went on to the enormous Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest of its type in the world, where 12,000 bodies lie, and finally to Ypres. The original town, reduced to rubble by the war, has been rebuilt as it was before. There we attended the deeply moving Last Post Ceremony, which takes place every evening under the Menin Gate, inscribed with the names of some 55,000 men whose bodies were never found. It had been day full of reminders of the horror and tragedy of war.
The following morning, we went to Arras to visit the Carrière Wellington, a museum created 20 metres underground in a section of the tunnels dug by the British Army in WWI. The work of the New Zealand Division is particularly commemorated. Over 20,000 soldiers of the Commonwealth were gathered in this secret subterranean base to prepare a surprise attack on German positions in April 1917. The tunnels connect with original tunnels and quarries dating back to the Middle Ages. We emerged blinking from this dark and chilly setting into bright hot sunshine.
We visited the Ploegstreert Memorial to the Missing before looking at the site of the famous Christmas Truce of 1914 (now an anonymous looking field of crops).
We then returned to our cultural theme at the elegant Musée Louvre-Lens, opened in 2012 on the edge of this former coal-mining town.
Its stunning minimal modern design is the work of the Japanese architects Sanaa.The huge and beautiful exhibition space displays works from the collections of the Louvre in Paris, from early antiquity to the 19th century, displayed with a timeline so that one can relate objects from different civilisations but same period of history. We were given an admirable guided tour. We also coincided there, by chance, with an interesting if sombre exhibition entitled “The Disasters of War 1800-2004” in a variety of media.
Its stunning minimal modern design is the work of the Japanese architects Sanaa.The huge and beautiful exhibition space displays works from the collections of the Louvre in Paris, from early antiquity to the 19th century, displayed with a timeline so that one can relate objects from different civilisations but same period of history. We were given an admirable guided tour. We also coincided there, by chance, with an interesting if sombre exhibition entitled “The Disasters of War 1800-2004” in a variety of media.
Early on Sunday morning, we drove through quiet streets to Douai to visit the Musée de la Chartreuse, an art museum in a former Carthusian monastery with fine paintings from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. In the afternoon, we went to see some very different art at the Matisse Museum in Cateau-Cambresis, the artist’s birthplace. The fine collection is housed in the Fenelon Palace, displayed according to his precise instructions. We were given a detailed tour by an expert guide, which was a treat for those of us - I include myself - who are fans of Matisse. We were surprised to come upon a work by Rothko at the end of our tour. Our guide explained that it was on loan in exchange for a work lent to Tate Modern for their major exhibition of Matisse cut-outs. We returned to Lille for a convivial dinner together at a restaurant close to our hotel.
We set off next morning on our return journey, stopping off at the charming walled town of Montreuil sur Mer - the sea has receded over time. The town played a major part in WWI as the location for the General Head Quarters of the British Army. On arrival, over refreshments, we were told by a British resident about the plans of the Expeditionary Trust to establish a museum to recall in detail Montreuil's historic role; the plans had stalled because of a change in the team at the Town Hall. We visited an interesting temporary exhibition on this theme and walked around the ramparts to enjoy superb views of the surrounding countryside.
We continued on to the Tunnel and back to London at the end of what, by common consent, had been a successful tour. For this we thank the organisers, our excellent guides and our superb good-humoured driver, whose skill in manoeuvring our bus through the often narrow streets was remarkable. We thank especially Kate Brayn, whose last trip it was as Executive Secretary. Finally, thanks to all the group for making it such an enjoyable trip.
Monica Harper and Jonathan Noakes
‘My Father, Brigadier Lord Lovat, and his part in the D-Day Landings’. Lecture at the French Institute.
In September the Hon Lady Keswick FKC gave us an illustrated talk about her father, Brigadier Lord Lovat. Lord Lovat’s family originates from Normandy, coming over to Northern Scotland following 1066. Simon Lovat was born in 1911 at Beaufort Castle in Inverness and educated at Ampleforth and Magdalen College Oxford. He succeeded his father to the title in 1932 to become 15th Lord Lovat and 25th Chief of the Clan Fraser.
In the second World War the commando training depot for Allied forces was set up by Lord Lovat in Achnacarry in the Scottish Highlands. Among those to undergo the harsh selection and training and to be awarded the coveted Green Beret was the Free French naval unit (Fusiliers Marins Commandos) under Commandant Philippe Keiffer.
At 8.40 am on 6 June 1944 Lord Lovat led 2500 British commandos of 1st Special Brigade on to Sword Beach to the rousing sound of the bagpipes played by his personal piper Bill Millin. Also at Ouistreham and fighting through to Pegasus Bridge* was No 4 French Commando. In the 1962 Oscar-winning film The Longest Day, Lord Lovat was portrayed by Peter Lawford and Philippe Keiffer by Christian Marquand.
On the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the townspeople of Ouistreham joined forces with ‘Shimi’ Lovat’ s family to honour his name, and a bronze statue was unveiled on the beach during a ceremony attended by more than 100 members of the Fraser clan as well as French and British dignitaries.
Brenda Davies
In the second World War the commando training depot for Allied forces was set up by Lord Lovat in Achnacarry in the Scottish Highlands. Among those to undergo the harsh selection and training and to be awarded the coveted Green Beret was the Free French naval unit (Fusiliers Marins Commandos) under Commandant Philippe Keiffer.
At 8.40 am on 6 June 1944 Lord Lovat led 2500 British commandos of 1st Special Brigade on to Sword Beach to the rousing sound of the bagpipes played by his personal piper Bill Millin. Also at Ouistreham and fighting through to Pegasus Bridge* was No 4 French Commando. In the 1962 Oscar-winning film The Longest Day, Lord Lovat was portrayed by Peter Lawford and Philippe Keiffer by Christian Marquand.
On the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the townspeople of Ouistreham joined forces with ‘Shimi’ Lovat’ s family to honour his name, and a bronze statue was unveiled on the beach during a ceremony attended by more than 100 members of the Fraser clan as well as French and British dignitaries.
Brenda Davies
A New Taste in Gardening The rise of the landscape garden in France November 2014
'I found it both an original and inspiring topic, which was extremely well executed by professor Jean Louis Haquette. He showed an interesting array of photographs, paintings, quotes and diagrams to illustrate the rise of the landscape garden in France. The talk suited any age group, and being a young professional myself I left overflowing with ideas of design and composition for the garden in my new home.
The event was captivating and well organised, followed by a dinner at the Bistrot at the French Institute.
Who knew the British had contributed so much to the 'Culture Française!' Melonie Gault
The event was captivating and well organised, followed by a dinner at the Bistrot at the French Institute.
Who knew the British had contributed so much to the 'Culture Française!' Melonie Gault
WINE-TASTING AT BROOKS December 2014
All our thanks to Thibault Lavergne, one of our members, who gave us a tour de France, Corsica included, with his wonderful wine. www.winestory.co.uk
A great evening at Brooks Club St James’s
A great evening at Brooks Club St James’s
‘I am very proud to be a part of the Franco-British Society. Brenda and I look forward to seeing you all at our next event, where you will be able to meet and enjoy the company of new and current members, from both sides of the Channel.
Let’s raise our glasses and toast to the New Year 2015.
With very best wishes’
Isabelle Gault, Executive Secretary FBS
Photographs by David Barrett (Facebook) and by Alan Boswell, Melonie Gault, Richard Gault (Newsletter december 2014)
Let’s raise our glasses and toast to the New Year 2015.
With very best wishes’
Isabelle Gault, Executive Secretary FBS
Photographs by David Barrett (Facebook) and by Alan Boswell, Melonie Gault, Richard Gault (Newsletter december 2014)
