You are invited to the

Cambridge Society of Paris Annual Dinner

with Leigh Turner CMG

19h30 to 23h30 
Monday 14th October 2024

La Maison des Polytechniciens, 12 Rue de Poitiers, 75007 Paris

l’Hôtel de Poulpry

The mansion was built in 1703. The house has accommodated several political and artistic organizations over the centuries. Successive occupants have left their mark with the installation of elegant fireplaces and balconies. The name “Poulpry” comes from one of its owners in the late eighteenth century.

The house is now the base of the Association des Amis des Polytechniciens and is also made available to other groups for their events.

Our Guest Speaker

Leigh Turner (Downing) is a writer and inspirational speaker based in London. He was UK Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna from September 2016 to September 2021. Leigh’s previous roles were as HM Consul General Istanbul and Director General for Trade and Investment Turkey, Central Asia and South Caucasus; HM Ambassador in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Director of Overseas Territories in London, responsible for territories including St Helena, the Falklands and Bermuda. 

Leigh grew up in Nigeria, Exeter and Lesotho, before education in Swaziland, Manchester and Cambridge. After hitch-hiking around 27 of the United States in 1979, Leigh had a 42-year diplomatic career, lessons from which he draws in his September 2024 book “Lessons in Diplomacy”. He is the author of three thrillers and “Seven Hotel Stories”, a collection of feminist black comedies, and is a former writer for the Financial Times. He lectures at the Oxford University Diplomatic Studies Programme, the LSE, Vienna University and the Danube University Krems, and is a Visiting Professor at Graz University.

Leigh has just finished writing his book “Lessons in Diplomacy – Politics, Power and Parties” and it will be published on 24th September 2024.  This book can be pre-ordered from Amazon.fr for €29.56 (or £19.99 from Amazon UK) , but Leigh is offering a discounted price of €15 to our members. You can pick up your signed copy at the Dinner. To reserve a copy of the book, please use the Leigh Turner Book ticket below. Book sales close on 30th September.

Ticket Application

The Cambridge Society of Paris is delighted to invite you and your guests to one of the landmark events of the CamSoc year.

Members of the Cambridge Societies of Paris, Belgium or Luxembourg may apply for one or two members’ tickets. The price for aperitif, dinner and drinks is €75 per person. Additional guests are also welcome, although their ticket price is €85 each.

For our younger members, under 30 years of age, tickets are €55 per person, again with one guest being able to be invited at the same price, irrespective of the age of the guest. Additional guests are €85 each.

Alumni of Cambridge University who are not members of the Paris, Belgian or Luxembourg Societies may also join us, with tickets available at €85 per person.

To apply for tickets, use the plus sign to the right of each ticket type to select the tickets you would like to book. Please note that applications for more than two of the Standard Members tickets or U30 Members tickets will not be accepted. You can also pre-order your copy of Leigh’s book until 30th September.

If you have any questions about the Dinner, please contact Tony Banton, Treasurer.

Dress: Black tie (or lounge suits if preferred).

Please note that refunds will only be possible for cancellations received by Wednesday 2nd October 2024