1987-2017

   2017 ESU France celebrates its 30th anniversary

The English-Speaking Union France was founded by Beatrix de Montgermont Keil, in 1987. 

An extract from Gerard Noel's book: Journey of the English Speaking Union:

The English Speaking Union France was launched in Paris in 1987. It's beginng is best described in Gerard Noel's new book "Journey of the English Speaking Union".

The relatively early entry of France into "the ESU family" was very much facilitated by the efforts of Madame Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil, whose efforts in Europe on behalf of the ESU show that the entente cordiale is alive and well. The French launch was held with a grand dinner in the Senate Presidential rooms. It was hosted by Pierre-Christian Taittinger, Vice-President of the French Senate, Honorary President of ESU France and a member of the famous champagne-producing family.

In 2007 another dinner was held at The Jockey Club in Paris to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of ESU France. Reminiscences included the following:

[Lord Watson:] "When ESU France was founded twenty years ago everyone thought it remarkable, if not hazardous. Now it seems self-evident that the ESU should be here in France and doing so well in France». Undoubtedly, France, which has brought four branches into the ESU fold, is a great success story. Representing France at the eighty-fifth anniversary of the ESU, Madame Beatrix de Montgermont-Keil was «so proud to fly the flag of France in Westminster Abbey»".

ESU France has four branches with about 210 members:   

ESU Paris, 1987

ESU Strasbourg, 2001.

ESU Anjou became the ESU Loire Valley, 2010. 

ESU Bordeaux, 2009.

The work of ESU France is to create new branches, to advise and help existing ones and to represent the French ESU abroad.

It is important for France to be a member of the ESU because we believe in the benefits of mutual understanding, cross-cultural exchanges and friendship between peoples worldwide through the use of English, the global language of the 21^st century.

The branches, supportive of the aims of the ESU, organize educational programmes, parliamentary internship, cultural visits, meetings, conferences, round tables, debates, public interviews, networking, informal meet-up groups, theatre workshops.

The French educational system does not enable the students to get involved in the programs having very little time for extra-curricular activities.

However, the Loire valley branch is particularly active and efficient in supporting the IPSC and sends a finalist to London every year. They work in partnership with the English Language Library in Angers: ELLIA and with the Maison de l’Europe d’Angers to prepare students in their region for the IPSC and to fund the competition. 

The Paris branch is a member of the British Community Committee, France-Amériques, Tower Bridge association. It offers a wide range of cultural activities in connection with the English-speaking world, and organizes visits and trips. It has been involved in the successful parliamentary internships for more than a decade now.

Strasbourg being the headquarters of the European Parliament, the ESU branch there, organizes meetings and debates at the Strasbourg press club,  and occasionally joint meetings with La Maison de l’Europe et de l’Alsace.

The Bordeaux branch initiated the now very popular “English café”. It has started a theatre workshop with a South African cultural association.

All the branches volunteer to propose an extensive program of activities in English, enabling people to participate, improve their English, broaden their horizon, build friendly relations.

ESU France Committee:
President: Beatrix de Montgermont Keil

Jean Fragnier ( treasurer): jean.fragnier@orange.com

Lucia Dumont ( Vice-President and president of the ESU International Council):esufrance@esufrance.org, l.dumont@wanadoo.fr

Françoise Bensaude : frabens@noos.fr

 Website: www.esufrance.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ESUFrance

ESU  Bordeaux

Number of Individual Members: 19

Chairman/President: François BELLY
Committee: Treasurer Sophie CROCI, Vice President Frederic DENIAUD

Contact details:
email : esubordeaux@gmail.com

 ESU  Loire Valley

Number of Individual Members: 66 full members, 12 associate members (who spend less than 6 months a year in the area) = 78 in total

Chairman/President: Patricia Curd
Committee: Julie Dufour (Vice-Chairman); Jackie Sheppard (Secretary); Roy Powell (Treasurer); Chantal Bertrand, Terry Orner, Gaëtan Wehry

Contact details: 

Tel: 00 44 (0)2 41 59 56 90
email :  patricia.curd@wanadoo.fr

Website:  www.esu-loire-valley.fr

Twitter:  -

Facebook:  @ESU.Loire.Valley

ESU Strasbourg

Number of Individual Members: +-40

Chairman/President: Jack Hanning
Committee: Sue Moller, Jane Griffiths, Matthieu Kroon Gutierrez, Fabienne Martin, Marie-Ange Rebert, Filiz Demirbuker, Joana Pavlova.

Contact details:
email : esustrasbourg@gmail.com

Website: www.esu.org

Twitter:none

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/English-Speaking-Union-Strasbourg

ESU Paris

Number of Individual Members: 60

Chairman/President: Luce Loussouarn
Committee:

Vice-president: Dr Maria Al Salem

Secretary: Marilyn Lhuillier

Treasurer: Agnès Sagot

Cultural affairs: Dr Sophie Loussouarn

Communication: Anne Breteau

Contact details:
email : ljloussouarn@free.fr

Website: www.esuparis.org