Cambridge Society of Paris

Oxford Society Dinner on Saturday 16th November
2019-11-16 18:00 - 22:00 (Europe/Paris) | Senat, 15ter rue de Vaugirard, Paris, 75006, France
All places available for this event have now been allocated. You may apply to be put on the waiting list, but a place will only be allocated if there are cancellations.
The President and Committee of the Oxford University Society in Paris are pleased to invite you to a dinner at which our speaker will be Dr. Philip Mansel, FRHistS, Chevalier de lâ€™Ordre des Arts et Lettres, who will give us an illustrated talk on
Â â€œLouis XIV and the English: from Francophobia to Francophiliaâ€
Date :Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Saturday, 16th November 2019YouÂ
Time :Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6.00 for 6.30 pm apÃ©ritif, 7.00 pm dinner*
Venue : Â Â Â Â Le SÃ©nat, Palais du Luxembourg,Â 15 ter rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris
Dress :Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lounge suits
*N.B. Please note that the Senate will close its doors at 7.00 pm and that no admission will be possible after that time. So, if you will be attending the dinner, please make sure you arrive WELL BEFORE 7.00 pm.
Bookings are managed by the Oxford Society. Please use their registration form to reserve your places.
Philip Mansel read Modern History and Modern Languages at Balliol (1970) and received his doctorate on the French Court under the Restoration Monarchy from UCL. His first book, Louis XVIII, published in 1981, together with his subsequent works, such as The Court of France 1789-1830 and Paris Between Empires 1814-1852, established him as an authority on the French Monarchy during its Restoration after the French Revolution and the July Monarchy.
In 1995, Philip Mansel founded the Society for Court Studies, together with David Starkey and others. He has also published books related to the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East. He has contributed numerous reviews and articles to well-known newspapers and journals and received many awards and decorations.
It may seem surprising, but despite the wealth of historical writing devoted to the period, Philip Manselâ€™s biography, â€œKing of the World: The Life of Louis XIVâ€, published in July of this year [*], is by far the most comprehensive and up-to-date biography of â€œthe Sun Kingâ€. Going far beyond an account of the public events of the reign which are perhaps better-known, Philip Mansel explores the monarchâ€™s contradictions and his inner life, and presents a masterly depiction of the internal workings of his Court. He has achieved the feat of producing a biography which is both impeccably scholarly and immensely readable!
The dinner will be held in the splendid Salon Pourpre dining room of the Senate.
Prices, which include an aperitif and a 3-course dinner with wine and coffee, are:

members of OUSP, OBA and CamSoc + 1 guest: â‚¬65 per person
junior members <30 years old and current students + 1 guest: â‚¬49 pp
non-member alumni + additional guests: â‚¬75 pp

Payment can be made

either by cheque made out to OUSP,
Â orÂ by bank transfer (details in attached Registration form).

If you wish to join us for the dinner, please complete and return the attached Registration form as soon as possible and in any event for receipt by no later than Monday, 4th November, 2019.
As we are unable to increase the number of places reserved at the venue, we recommend early registration to avoid disappointment. Registrations will be treated on a â€˜first come, first servedâ€™ basis and will be individually confirmed.
Members must provide their full names and those of their guests to be communicated to the Senate beforehand and photographic identity documents may be required for access to it on the evening.
We look forward to seeing you at the dinner.
Best wishes,
Carol Amouyel Kent
President Oxford Society of Paris
[*] A number of copies will be available for sale at a discount.

The second Cambridge Cutting Edge Lecture:Â Professor Sir Roger Penrose
2019-10-23 12:00 - 14:00 | Conservatoire des Arts et MÃ©tiers, 292 rue Saint Martin, Paris, 75003, France
BOOKING NOW OPEN
SECOND CAMBRIDGE CUTTING EDGE LECTURE
PROFESSOR SIR ROGER PENROSEÂ
â€œHAWKING POINTS IN THE COSMIC MICROWAVE SKYâ€
12 noon Wednesday 23rd October 2019
Conservatoire National des Arts et MÃ©tiers
292 Rue Saint-Martin, 75003 Paris
MÃ©tro Arts et MÃ©tiers (lines 3 or 11) or RÃ©aumur-SÃ©bastapol (lines 3 or 4)
Following the resounding success of the first Cambridge Cutting Edge Lecture delivered by Sir Venki Ramakrishnan at the Institut Pasteur, we are immensely lucky to have another scientist of world renown for the second lecture, Professor Sir Roger Penrose, and to have been permitted most generously by the Conservatoire National des Arts et MÃ©tiers to hold this lecture in their beautiful, historic amphitheatre AbbÃ© GrÃ©goire. This event is very highly recommended.
Sir Roger Penrose OM FRS is an English mathematical physicist. He studied at University College London and at St Johnâ€™s College Cambridge and is now the Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of mathematics at Oxford.
The son of a psychiatrist and geneticist, grandson of a physiologist, brother of a physicist and of a chess grandmaster, Roger Penrose has won numerous prizes and awards and is one of the most important living scientists in the world. He worked closely with Stephen Hawking and appeared in the film, a Brief History of Time.
The work undertaken by Roger Penrose has been wide ranging and of immense importance. Taking but two examples: in 1964 he revolutionised the mathematical tools used to analyse the properties of space time and, later, his epoch-making paper â€œGravitational collapse and space time singularitiesâ€ lead to the cosmology of Big Bang and Black Holes which he worked on with Stephen Hawking.
In lighter vein, Roger Penrose also devised the Penrose Triangle which he described as â€œimpossibility in its purest formâ€ which he conveyed to the artist M.C. Escher.
The topic of Professor Penroseâ€™s Cambridge Cutting Edge Lecture is â€œHawking Points in the Cosmic Microwave Skyâ€ in which he will reveal his theories of cosmology and his scientific belief that our Universe is in fact just one of a series of Universes, or eons, each commencing with a Big Bang that had its origins in the dim distant past of a preceding Universe.
Having attended one of Roger Penroseâ€™s lectures in London, I can only say that it was utterly astounding. Deep, cutting edge, completely incomprehensible science delivered in a way that was, anyway superficially, understandable by all, holding the audience enthralled. By the end, my head was spinning with ideas and revelations beyond my wildest expectations.
Over and above, there will be the delight of seeing the Conservatoire National des Arts et MÃ©tiers and the beautiful historic amphitheatre AbbÃ© GrÃ©goire, built in the 1840s, named after the founder of the Conservatoire, an important political figure during the French Revolution depicted in Davidâ€™s famous painting The Serment du Jeu de Paume.
This lecture by Professor Sir Roger Penrose will probably be a one-off ever and a landmark experience for many. It is definitely not to be missed.
Andrew Lyndon-Skeggs
President
Cambridge Society of Paris

Challenge Debate against Trinity College Dublin
2019-10-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Irish Embassy Paris, 12 avenue Foch, Paris, 75116, France
Thursday 10th October at 7 pm – Challenge Debate against Trinity College Dublin
Booking has now closed for this event
THIS HOUSE BELIEVES THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME
In similar fashion to our challenge to the Cambridge Union, two years ago, the Cambridge Society of Paris has challenged Trinity College Dublin to a debateÂ and we will be speaking in favour of the motion that the best is yet to come.
Our speakers, Andrew Lyndon-Skeggs and Edward Archer, will be joined by Alan Riding as guest speaker. Alan graduated from Bristol University and was, for 30 years, a foreign correspondent for The New York Times. Alan spent two decades covering Latin Americaâ€™s dictatorship, armed rebellions, drug wars and economic meltdown. He was later the newspaperâ€™s Paris bureau chief and European cultural correspondent. He is author of books on Mexico, Shakespeare and Opera and, most recently, of â€œAnd The Show Went On: Cultural Life in Nazi-occupied Paris.â€ He remains a resident of Paris. Andrew and Edward need little introduction to most of our members, Andrew being the current President and Edward a past President of our Society.
TCD have put forward an impressive team, with Edward Donalon, Declan McCavana and their guest speaker David Doyle. David is H.E Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO of St. Kitts and Nevis, while Declan is President of the French Debating Association. Edward is a Barrister and worked for the OECD before becoming an independent consultant in Regulatory Management.
HE Ambassador of Ireland to France Patricia O’Brien has kindly agreed to host the debate, which will take place at the Irish Embassy, 12 Avenue Foch, 75116 Paris. The Debate will be followed by drinks and the event is expected to conclude at 8:45 pm.
Tickets are now on sale: â‚¬20 per person for Society members and their guests, with a discounted price of â‚¬10 per person for members or guests under 30 years of age. Early booking is recommended as we anticipate that demand may exceed the number of places that have been allocated to us. For members who are not able to book their place through the website, a PDF booking form can be obtained by contacting Tony Banton on admin@camsocparis.org.
Unless all tickets are sold before, the final date for booking your place is Sunday 6th October, as the list of participants then has to be provided to the Embassy’s security staff.
As the debate takes place in the Irish Embassy, members and guests must bring photographic ID in order to be admitted to the event.

Glory Days of Paris 3 - Guided Walk in Montparnasse
2019-09-28 14:00 - 16:30 | Montparnasse, Paris, 1 Rue campagne PremiÃ¨re, Paris, 75014, France
GLORY DAYS OF PARIS
Guided Walk in Montparnasse to accompany the third lecture of the Glory Days Series
“The Artists and Writers of the 1920s and ’30s”
Unfortunately, because of ill health on the part of our Lecturer, Mary McAuliffe, the third lecture in the Glory Days of Paris series has had to be postponed. However, the accompanying guided walk will still take place at:
14h15 on Saturday 28th September
Meeting point: 1 rue Campagne PremiÃ¨re
End of walk: La Coupole, Bvd. Montparnasse (approx 16h30)
Price: â‚¬17 per person
There will be either tea or an aperitif at La Coupole at the end of the walk, although the cost of this is not included in the price.
“Paris is a feast” wrote Hemmingway. This guided walk, full of interesting and amusing anecdotes, will illustrate the history of Les AnnÃ©es Folles in Montparnasse, an area of Paris already well known for its festivity, its Guingettes and the Rue de la GaÃ¯tÃ©. Maud Hacker, our guide, will reveal secrets of the wild evenings that took place enlivened by the rhythms of jazz and the dance of Josephine Baker. We will also discover the painters’ studios of Picasso, Modigliani, Foujita, Man Ray… and their muse Kiki of Montparnasse. Hidden courtyards and gardensThe famous cafÃ©s around Rue Vavin: Le DÃ´me, La Rotonde, Le Select and La Coupole. And there we shall stop for a cup of tea or, 1920s style, an aperitif.
Hope to see you on Saturday 28th September.

Queens' College Choir will be in Angers
2019-09-21 20:00 - 2019-09-22 11:00 | Angers, France
Alumni and guests are invited to join Queens’ College Choir for their concertsÂ in AngersÂ from the 21stÂ – 22ndÂ September.

Saturday 21 September 8pm – Concert in the Palais Episcopal, 2 Rue du Chanoine Urseau, with La MaÃ®trise de la CathÃ©drale d’Angers
Sunday 22 September at 11am – Morning Mass in La CathÃ©drale d’Angers, with La MaÃ®trise de la CathÃ©drale d’Angers

These events are open to the public, so do go with your friends.

Freshers' Welcome Drinks
2019-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Frog Revolution, 9 rue de Bastille, Paris, 75004, France
Each year, CamSoc takes part in the Universityâ€™s world-wide program of events for those students who have recently been successful in gaining a place at Cambridge, whether as an Undergraduate or a Graduate.
The aim is to give them an opportunity to meet other new students coming from France and to chat to members about their experience in Cambridge so they are better prepared on arrival in their College at the end of the month.
We have again booked the upstairs room of the Frog Revolution, 9 rue de la Bastille (metro Bastille) with drinks and snacks provided.
There will be a charge of â‚¬20 per person for members, although admission is free for all current students of the University whether members of CamSoc or not and, of course, the Freshers.

Queens' College Choir is coming to Paris
2019-09-14 18:00 - 2019-09-18 16:00 | Paris, France
Alumni and guests are invited to join Queens’Â College Choir for their concertsÂ in Paris from the 14th – 18thÂ September.

Saturday 14 September at 6pm – Evensong in the American Cathedral, 23 Avenue George V in the 8th
Sunday 15 September at 11am – Morning Eucharist in the American Cathedral, 23 Avenue George V in the 8th
Monday 16 September at 8:30pm – Concert in St-Eugene Ste-Cecile, 4 Rue du Conservatoire in the 9th
Wednesday 18 September at 4pm – Concert in La Madeleine, Place de la Madeleine in the 8th

These concerts are open to all, so do come along with your friends.

Homerton's Charter Choir visits Central France
2019-07-13 20:00 - 2019-07-15 20:00 | Central France, France
Alumni and guests are invited to join HomertonÂ College Choir for their concerts in FranceÂ FromÂ Saturday 13th July – Monday 15th July.

Saturday 13Â July atÂ 8pm -Â St-GenÃ¨s des Carmes, Clermont-Ferrand – Free
Sunday 14Â July at 11am -Â Notre-Dame de ChamaliÃ¨res – Free
Sunday 14Â July atÂ 7pm -Â le Chambon-sur-Lignon Protestant Church – Free
Monday 15Â July atÂ 8pm -Â Notre-Dame Cathedral, Moulins -Â 15 euros, (10 euros concessions) Tickets can be purchased on the door

Dordogne Cambridge Society Summer Visit
2019-07-05 10:00 - 14:30 | Cadouin, Place de l'Abbaye, Le Buisson-de-Cadouin, 24480, France
Join the Dordogne Cambridge Group for their upcoming visit to the Cloisters of Cadouin.
This is a break with tradition: dwhen our group began, most people lived in this part of the Dordogne and had already seen the main places of interest in the area, so those places were not usually chosen for group outings, but some conversations last summer made me realise that so many of us live in other parts of the region that many members have never visited the Dordogne sites.
So this is a chance to see one of the most beautiful of them all, which draws people from all over the world. Even if you have been there before, you will definitely not be bored: the opulence of the carving is incredible.
A bonus is that our tour will be followed by lunch at much-appreciatedÂ Restaurant de lâ€™Abbaye which is just across the road.
More info on this too will follow soon, so we can make the necessary reservations in good time.

Glory Days of Paris - Guided Tour of the Destribats Collection
2019-07-02 09:00 - 10:30 | Christies’s Paris Office, 9 avenue Matignon, Paris, 75008, France
We are delighted to announce thatÂ an event has been added related to the second Glory Days of Paris lecture, on Dadaism and Surrealism. Christie’s has agreed to give us a private guided tourÂ of the outstanding Destribats collection, at Christie’s Paris, at 9am on Tuesday 2nd July.
The Books Department of Christie’s, in partnership with experts Jean-Baptiste de Proyart and Claude Oterelo, are arranging the sale of the Avant-Garde Library collected by Paul Destribats (1926-2017).
This exceptional jewel of books and manuscripts has been kept jealously for sixty years – only a limited number of researchers and a few friends have had access. The Avant-Garde Library comprises 6,000 books, leaflets and manifestos from the 20th Century. The first three sales will include more than 600 titles spanning from 1910 to 1945 including many works by members of the Dada and Surrealism movements in Paris. The sales will take place on 3rd, 4th and 5th July in Christie’s Paris.Â A fuller description, in French, can be downloaded here.
This really is a special opportunity to see these works that have been kept secret for so long and you can attend the guided tour whether or not you come to the lecture on Friday 28th June.

Glory Days of Paris lecture: The philosophical framework, Dadaism and Surrealism
2019-06-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Christies’s Paris Office, 9 avenue Matignon, Paris, 75008, France
Glory Days of Paris is a series of six lectures delivered over two years, 2019 and 2020, focusing on the Parisian literary and artistic world of the 1920s and â€˜30s, with an introductory lecture to precede this period and a concluding lecture set in the â€˜50s and â€˜60s. The lectures will be held in iconic locations reflecting the topic of each lecture and, over and above, there will be ancillary events including themed walks, visits and exhibitions, in Paris and the UK.
The first lecture, The Artists of Montmartre, was given on 16th May at the MusÃ©e des Arts Forains. Booking is now open for the second lecture in the series, The philosophical framework, Dadaism and Surrealism, which will take place in Christieâ€™s Paris auction rooms, where so much of the art to be covered in the talk goes under the hammer.
The modern world that burst upon Paris during the inter-war years was not just an artistic revolution that questioned and destroyed perceived convention, it was also the fruit of philosophy. First, the Dada movement founded in Zurich by artists such as Tristan Tzara and Hans Arp, and then Surrealism under the aegis of AndrÃ© Breton, drawing into its vortex artists and intellectuals including RenÃ© Magritte, Man Ray, Max Ernst and Salvador Dali.
Speaker: Dr Alyce Mahon, fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, reader in Modern and Contemporary Art History.Â Dr Mahon specialises in the dynamic between the body and the body politic in modern art, photography and film, from Dada to Surrealism and the sixties. Author of Â Surrealism and the Politics of Eros, and curator of a major forthcoming exhibition at Tate Modern on Surrealist Dorothea Tanning.
Tickets are â‚¬25 per person. To apply for tickets please complete the booking section. By booking through this site, you can pay

by cheque, to be sent to Tony Banton, Hon. Secretary, 39 rue de Bazeilles, 59200 Tourcoing
by bank transfer to the Society’s SociÃ©tÃ© GÃ©nÃ©rale account IBAN: [REDACTED] BIC: SOGEFRPP. Please use the reference box to record â€œGlory Days 2 June 2019â€ with your surname
or, NEW, by credit card directly on the site

Annual General Meeting
2019-06-17 19:00 - 21:30 | Maison de la Vie Associative et Citoyenne du VIIe, 4 rue Amélie, Paris, 75007, France
Annual General Meeting
Presentation by David Klemperer, a 2018 Trevor Brown Bursary student, on:
â€œThe Development of Neo-Socialism in 1930â€™s Franceâ€
Our AGM will be held on Monday, June 17th 2019 at 19:00 at the Maison de la Vie Associative et Citoyenne du VIIe/VIIIe, 4 rue AmÃ©lie, 75007 Paris (nearest Metros Invalides et Tour Maubourg).
After the meeting, one of the students awarded a Trevor Brown Bursary in 2018 will give a short presentation on his project. Guests are most welcome to attend the presentation, although of course they will not be able to vote at the AGM.
We look forward to seeing you on 17th June as there will be an excellent opportunity for you to help shape the future of our Society as well as enjoying the fruits of the Trevor Brown Bursary.

Shakespeare in the Bois de Boulogne: The Merry Wives of Windsor
2019-06-04 18:30 - 21:30 | Shakespeare Garden Bois de Boulogne, AllÃ©e de la Reine Marguerite â€“ Route de Suresnes Le PrÃ© Catelan â€“ Bois de Boulogne, Paris, 75016, France
Tue 4th June – Shakespeare in the Shakespeare Garden, Bois de BoulogneÂ (PrÃ© Catalan)
The Merry Wives of WindsorÂ by the Tower Theatre Company
The Women of Windsor take on Sir John Falstaff and his cronies, in a garden party extravaganza of Shakespeare’s classic comedy. Laundry baskets at the ready!
Ford and Page have a problem. Sir John Falstaff is broke, and plans on seducing them in order to get to their husbands’ money. But Falstaff is a creep, and the Wives are cunning. They’ll outmanoeuvre his tricks and humiliate him instead. In a town and society with men at the centre, the women of Windsor must come together, and teach them all a lesson they’ll never forget.
To book your tickets

Tickets are â‚¬22 per person (â‚¬12 for children under 14). This includes the play as well as strawberries and champagne at the interval.
To book, please download theÂ reservation form and send itÂ to Clare Hohler, either by email or post as indicatedÂ on the reservation form. Â Tickets will be issued at the gate from 6.30pm. but if you would like prior confirmation of your booking please request this by email to Clare.

The Glory Days of Paris lecture: The Artists of Montmartre: The guided walk
2019-05-28 14:30 - 16:30 | Metro Anvers, 41 Boulevard de Rochechouart (near to), 75018, France
THE ARTISTS OF MONTMARTRE – Â Guided walk in Montmartre on Tuesday 28th May at 2:30pm

There is no name more evocative of Bohemian life, of high spirits, decadence, poverty and revolutionary art in Paris than Montmartre, home to some of Franceâ€™s greatest artists. Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and Picasso would paint canvases that would shake the very foundations of Western art. This lecture sets the scene for Glory Days, leading from 1870 to 1910 when Picasso moved from Montmartre to Montparnasse, the start of our mythical Ã©poque.
NB: the Artists of Montmartre Lecture and the Guided walk are two independent events so you can opt to do either or both, but the walk will be limited to 25 participants

The Annual Garden Party
2019-05-23 18:30 - 21:30 | British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris, 39 rue du Faubourg St-Honoré, Paris, 75008, France
Thursday 23rd May at 6:30pm (sharp) The Oxford & Cambridge Garden PartyÂ at the British Ambassador’s Residence

The British Ambassador, Lord Llewellyn, has again agreed to welcome us at his Residence for our annual Garden Party. This year, in addition to members of the Oxford Society and their guests, members of the Cercle Franco-Britannique of Sciences Po Alumni will join us in the beautiful garden of the Residence.
The Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Lord Patten,Â andÂ Pierre Heilbronn, Vice-President, Policy and Partnerships at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,Â will speak on the subject ofÂ European Identity

Venue:
The British Ambassador’s Residence, 39, rue du Faubourg Saint HonorÃ©, 75008 Paris.
Cost:

â‚¬ 48 each for members under 30 and first guest
â‚¬ 69 each for membersÂ and first guest
â‚¬ 78 each for additional guests and non-members

Booking procedure:
The Oxford Society is managing registrations this year. Please click here to download the reservation form, which should be sent to Charles Tatham of the Oxford Society (payment details are included on the form) by Thursday 16thÂ May at the latest.
For security, The Embassy requires a list of names in advance; please provide your own name in full, together with those of your guests, as per their photographic ID (passport or ID card) which must be presented at the gate to gain access.
Once your payment has been received, you will be sent a “Pour MÃ©moire” invitation as a confirmation of your registration.
This is traditionally an enjoyable evening and a prestigious event in our season, so make sure you book as soon as possible.

A weekend in the Aude at a ChÃ¢teau and Winery
2019-05-17 - 2019-05-19
Fri 17th May 19:30 to Sunday 19th May 16:00 â€“ A weekend in the Aude, at a ChÃ¢teau and Winery
Graham Nutter (Fitzwilliam 1996) runs the ChÃ¢teau St Jacques dâ€™Albas, a wine chateau in the Minervois region of France, approximately 20 minutes from Carcassonne and 90 minutes from Toulouse. He proposes that Cambridge Alumni come along to meet and enjoy the area, including scenic walks, historic sites â€“ and of course to partake in some regional wines, accompanied by regional dishes. Peter Elliott (Trinity 1971) lives nearby and will be leading one of the walks and bringing wine from Rose + Paul MalpÃ¨re for a tasting.
He has put together what we hope you will find to be an attractive programme, from the evening of Friday 17th May to late afternoon on Sunday 19th May, with an option to stay on for Sunday night for those who would prefer to travel home on Monday.
Here is the link with all the information, but highlights include:

A tour of the St Jacques winery, with wine tasting
Visits to the propertyâ€™s 11th Century Chapel, a tour of the nearby historic town and Abbey of Caunes, a visit to the Gouffre de Cabrespine,
A piano concert of Bach, Chopin and Ravel given by David Bismuth
A morning walk on Sunday, either round the St Jacques property or on a guided walk â€˜Following the Tracks of the Visigothsâ€

The cost, excluding accommodation, is â‚¬230 per person covering the activities and all meals except Saturday lunch (which will be paid directly to the restaurant by each guest). For accommodation, 13 options ranging from gÃ®tes to hotels are suggested in the on-line brochure and participants should contact their preferred location and make their own arrangements.
This is an excellent opportunity for those alumni living in South-West France to spend some time with fellow alumni and is an excellent initiative by Graham and Peter.
To book, please compete the attached reservation form and send it Â to Tony Banton, either by email or post as indication on the reservation form.

The Glory Days of Paris lecture: Artists of Montmartre: The Pilgrims of Babylon
2019-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Les Pavillons de Bercy – Musée des Arts Forains, 53 Avenue des Terroirs de France, Paris, 75012, France
Thurs 16th May -Â The first Glory Days of Paris lecture
Artists of Montmartre; the Pilgrims of Babylon : Douglas Lyndon-Skeggs
There is no name more evocative of Bohemian life, of high spirits, decadence, poverty and revolutionary art in Paris than Montmartre, home to some of Franceâ€™s greatest artists. Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and Picasso would paint canvases that would shake the very foundations of Western art. This lecture sets the scene for Glory Days, leading from 1870 to 1910 when Picasso moved from Montmartre to Montparnasse, the start of our mythical Ã©poque.
The lecture will be given by Douglas Lyndon-Skeggs who read fine arts at Magdalene College Cambridge, has lectured on art and history since 1980, is the author of several books, creator of TV documentaries, and was a former director of The New Academy of Art Studies.
The talk will also be supplemented by a private guided tour of Montmartre at 14:30 on Thursday 28th May, commencing at Metro Anvers.
NB: the Artists of Montmartre Lecture and the Guided walk are two independent events so you can opt to do either or both, but the walk will be limited to 25 participants
Metro: Court St. Emilion: Line 14: 5 minutes from ChÃ¢telet
Bus:Â Lines 24, 109 and 111: Stop: Terroirs de France
Car Parking:Â Bercy Cars, 6 Rue des Pirogues de Bercy

Cancelled - Visit to the Catacombs
2019-04-13
Sat 13thÂ AprilÂ â€“ Visit to the Catacombs
Trinity College Dublin Alumni in Paris has invited CamSoc to join them in a visit with a difference to the Catacombs. Audric de Campeau is a beekeeper with hives located on several rooftops in Paris. He makes mead in the Catacombs from his honey. The visit will include a presentation of his work and of course tasting of the mead…
Full details to follow.

Last Supper in Pompeii
2019-04-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Les Noces de Jeannette, 14 rue FavartÂ and 9 rue d'Amboise, Paris, 75002, France
The President and Committee of the Oxford University Society of Paris are pleased to invite our members and guests to aÂ dinnerÂ which will be addressed by:Â Dr. Paul Roberts, Â Sackler Keeper of Antiquities at the Ashmolean Museum and governing body Fellow of Wolfson Oxford, MA Cantab (Downing 1980)Â on the subject of the exhibition he is curating:Â “Last Supper in Pompeii“Â onÂ Thursday,Â 11thÂ April,Â 2019 at 19:30Â atÂ Les Noces de Jeannette,Â corner ofÂ 14 rue FavartÂ and 9 rue d’Amboise, 2Ã¨meÂ (MÂ°s Richelieu Drouot, OpÃ©ra; RER Auber)

Dr. Robertsâ€™s research interests focus on the archaeology and art of the Classical Mediterranean, in particular the day-to-day lives of ordinary people, from 4th.century BC to 6th. century AD. He has excavated in Britain, Greece, Libya, Turkey and in particular Italy, where he directs excavations in the Sabine hills near Rome and near Campobasso in Molise. The exhibition Paul is curating, which will be held at the Ashmolean from July of this year until January 2020, will demonstrate the important role of food and drink in Roman society, from dining to religion.Â New research from Oxford and Italy has unveiled secrets from vineyards, graves and even the people of Pompeii themselves; and Paul will illustrate his talk with slides.

The price of the three-course dinner, â‚¬55pp for members and their guests (â‚¬65pp for non-members and their guests), includes anÂ apÃ©ritif, red and white wines, mineral water, coffee or tea.

If you would like to attend, please complete the attached registration formÂ and return it to paris@ousoc.oxon.org at the latest by Friday, 5th. April, 2019

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â either indicating your payment by bank transfer,
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â or indicating that youâ€™re also sending a hard copy of it with your cheque to Carol Amouyel Kent, 16 avenue de la Grande ArmÃ©e, 75017 Paris.

Â The Oxford Society looks forward to seeing as many of us as possible for what should be a fascinating journey back in time to Ancient Roman cuisine while we enjoy 21stÂ century fare.

April-Monthly Drinks
2019-04-03 08:00 - 17:00 | Murphy’s House, 10 rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, 75009, France
Wed 3th April 19:00 – Monthly Drinks
Come and join us from 7pm to meet up for an informal evening. All Oxford and Cambridge Alumni and their friends are warmly welcome.Â This month we have invited alumni from UCL to join us.

We have renegotiated the deal with Murphyâ€™s and you will need to present a copy of the offer voucher attached to benefit from the prices agreed. Details of the drinks and snacks included are given on the voucher.
Murphy’s offer voucher

Murphy’s House – 10 rue de la ChaussÃ©e d’Antin, 75009 Paris.Â Metro OpÃ©ra – RER Auber – vÃ©lib: station 2015 rue Louis le Grand.

Meet with the Vice Chancellor, Stephen Toope: The Global University in an Age of Anxiety
2019-04-02 19:00 - 21:00 | HSBC Building, 109 Champs ElysÃ©es, Paris, 75008, France
Tue 2nd April 19:00 â€“ Meet with the Vice Chancellor, Stephen Toope

Professor Stephen Toope, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, is coming to Paris and we have set up an opportunity for our members to meet him and get first hand information on how he sees the future of the University and what is being done to mitigate against the potential impact of Brexit.
Members and guests will be welcomed in the presitigious Dining Rooms of the HSBC Headquarters on the Champs-ElysÃ©es. Professor Toope will give aÂ talk onÂ “The Global University in an Age of Anxiety”, including a Q&A session, before we mix informally for you to be able to chat with the Vice-Chancellor over a cocktail.
Professor Stephen Toope
Professor Stephen J Toope joined Cambridge after a distinguished career as a scholar and academic leader. He was Director of the University of Torontoâ€™s Munk School of Global Affairs (2015-2017), and before that President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia (2006-2014). He served as President of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation (2002-2006), and as Dean of Law at McGill University (1994-1999).Â On 2Â October 2017Â Professor ToopeÂ became the 346th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
Born in Montreal, Canada (1958), Stephen Toope studied History and Literature at Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude (1979), before earning degrees in common law and civil law at McGill University (1983). He is an alumnus of Trinity College, Cambridge, where he completed a PhD under the supervision of Sir Derek Bowett (1987).
Professor Toopeâ€™s academic interests are in international law, human rights, international legal theory and international development.Â
He has been Chair of the Board of Universities Canada, and President of Canadaâ€™s Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. He is a past Director of the Public Policy Forum, of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, and of the Royal Conservatory of Music â€“ from which he received an Honorary Fellowship.
Among the distinctions he has received are the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (2012), the United Way of Canada Presidentâ€™s Award of Distinction (2014), various honorary degrees, and the John Read Medal of the Canadian Council of International Law (2015). Â In recognition of his service and accomplishments, in 2015 he was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada â€“ one of Canadaâ€™s highest honours.Â
Stephen Toope is married to speech therapist and musical theatre composer Paula Rosen. They live in Cambridge and have three adult children.

Oxford and Cambridge Talk : The Menace of Monolinguism
2019-03-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Czech Centre, 18 Rue Bonaparte, Paris, 75006, France
Thurs 28th March – Oxford and Cambridge Talk :Â The Menace of Monolinguism
Is Monolingualism harming us? Does the study of language benefit the individual and society? Can multilingualism contribute towards our health and well-being, social cohesion and diplomacy?
Who better to answer these questions than Wendy Ayers-Bennett, Professor of French Philology and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge and Professorial Fellow in Linguistics at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge.
Wendy Ayres-Bennett obtained her BA and MA studying Modern Languages, French and German, at Girton College, Cambridge and has since specialised in the evolution and history of the French language and the history of linguistic thought. She has had six posts as a Visiting Professor in France and is a Principal Investigator on the MEITS project, Â Multilingualism; Empowering Individuals, Transforming Societies. Her books include a History of the French Language and Problems and Perspectives; Studies in the Modern French Language.
The lecture is taking place atÂ 18 rue BonaparteÂ where we are the guests of the Czech Cultural Centre. This property has close ties to the history of Czechoslovakia, having been used by a number of Czech organisations, including the Sokol movement, and was the base from which Edward Benes, future President of Czechoslovakia, with T.G. Masaryk and M.R. Stefanik organised a Czecho-Slovak army to fight for the Western Allies in France.

Corpus Christi Choir at the Travellers
2019-03-15 19:30 - 21:30 | The Travellers Club, 25 avenue des Champs-Elysées, Paris, 75008, France
Fri 15th March – Corpus Christi Choir at the Travellers
British Luncheon (1916) and the Cambridge Society of Paris invite you to a recital by the choir of Corpus Christi College Cambridge at the Travellers Club, 25 Avenue des Champs ElysÃ©es, Paris at 7.30 pm Friday 15th March.
The choir will consist of Choral Scholars and volunteers, 24 in total, including the College Chaplain Canon Jeremy Davies, Director of Music Robin Walker, the College Fellow in Music Nick Danks, and Organ Scholar Benedict Turner-Berry.
The programme will combine sacred music with a lighter secular repertoire including well-loved songs such as A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Shenandoah.
This concert follows a highly successful tour in Malta and Hong Kong, and the concert will conclude with a champagne reception. It promises to be a highly enjoyable evening and we do hope that you will be able to join us for this very special event.

The Cambridge Cutting Edge Lecture: Gene Machine
2019-03-07 12:00 - 14:00 | Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, Paris, 75015, France
Thurs 7th March 2019 â€“ The Cambridge Cutting Edge Lecture: Â Gene Machine
The race for the structure of the ribosome â€” a study in the sociology of science
Everyone has heard of DNA â€” the molecule that seems to hold the secrets of all life, but hardly anyone has heard of the ribosome. While DNA is the blueprint for life it rests inertly within our cells. The ribosome is an enormous molecular machine, even more ancient than DNA that translates the information in our genes into proteins. These proteins in turn make up much of our bodies and catalyse thousands of processes within our cells.
A ribosome is a machine no cell can do without, but until recently, how this machine worked was a mystery. As well as being essential for life, its practical importance also lies in the fact that the ribosome is the target of many major antibiotics. A knowledge of the structure of the ribosome is the key to the development of new treatments against deadly infections, so crucial for the future of mankind.
In his lecture Venki Ramakrishnan will outline the extraordinary race between groups of scientists around the world to be the first to uncover the structure of this central element of the human body. It is a story of high science, rivalry, generosity and mutual support. In other words it is a story of humanity uncovering one of the secrets of humanity!
He will also talk about what he calls the Politics of Recognition in science. It is a well-known adage that the essential first step to a Nobel Prize is to work in a lab where there are already Nobel Laureates â€” is this true and, if so, what does this mean? There have been 12 Nobel Prizes for staff of his own lab since it opened in 1958, as well as 11 for scientists who have spent time there as visitors.
Venki is group leader at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. In 2009 he was awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on ribosomal structure and was knighted in 2012. He is a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina and EMBO, and a Foreign Member of the Indian National Science Academy. In 2015, he was elected as President of the Royal Society for a five-year term.

The 2019 Annual Dinner â€“ with our Guest Speaker Sir Christopher Meyer
2019-02-22 19:30 - 23:00 | Maison de Polytechniciens, 12 rue de Poitiers, Paris, 75007, France
The 2019 Annual Dinner â€“ with our Guest Speaker Sir Christopher Meyer
We have just received confirmation that Sir Christopher Meyer has accepted our invitation to speak at our Annual Dinner. The date and the venue have yet to be fixed, but we are sure you will not want to miss this.
Christopher Meyer was 37 years in the British Diplomatic Service, with postings to Moscow (twice) and the EU before ending up as Ambassador to Germany and then to the United States. He spent almost 6 years in Washington under the George W. Bush and Bill Clinton presidencies, the longest serving Ambassador there since the Second World War. His term of office (1997-2003) included 9/11 and the preparations for the invasion of Iraq. After retiring in 2003, he was Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission for 6 years. He has run his own consultancy, published three books, and made several documentaries for television and radio, notably the 6-part Networks of Power for Sky Atlantic in 2012. He is now a member of the advisory boards of Pagefield Communications and British-American Business; a director of the Arbuthnot Banking Group; and a Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and of the Royal United Services Institute. He is a regular media commentator on international affairs and is writing a novel. He is married to the Baroness Meyer CBE of Nine Elms, the founder of Action Against Abduction. They have four sons between

February-Monthly Drinks
2019-02-06 19:00 | Murphy’s House, 10 rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, 75009, France
Wed 6th February 19:00 – Monthly Drinks
Come and join us from 7pm to meet up for an informal evening. All Oxford and Cambridge Alumni and their friends are warmly welcome. This month, Alumni from Trinity College Dublin will also be joining us.
We have renegotiated the deal with Murphyâ€™s and you will need to present a copy of the offer voucher attached to benefit from the prices agreed. Details of the drinks and snacks included are given on the voucher.
Murphy’s offer voucher
Murphy’s House – 10 rue de la ChaussÃ©e d’Antin, 75009 Paris.Â Metro OpÃ©ra – RER Auber – vÃ©lib: station 2015 rue Louis le Grand.

Cheese and Wine in Cambridge
2019-02-01 19:00 - 21:00
Fri 1stÂ February 2019 â€“ Cheese and Wine in Cambridge

You are invited to the Cambridge Society of Paris event in Cambridge on Friday 1st February at 7pm at the University Centre Wine Bar, Granta Place, Cambridge.
The Cambridge Society of Paris has enjoyed inviting new students to the Annual Freshers’ Welcome event in Paris each September. Attendees have been encouraged to join the Society – free membership being offered to all current students – and there are now over 70 such members in the Society. This has led to a joint initiative, together with the French Society in Cambridge to organise a cheese and wine evening in Cambridge. The aim is to allow those members in residence there and their friends to get together, naturally with a French theme as cheeses will be brought over from France specially for the event, and you will be able to enjoy them with wines provided by Cambridge Wine Merchants in good company.
Tickets are Â£8 each and can be obtained on line through the following link – Getqpay registration form – there are still about half-a-dozen left.

Oxford Dinner
2019-01-24 19:00 - 22:00
ThursÂ 24th January – Oxford DinnerÂ
Our members are invited to a Dinner organised by the Oxford Society on Thursday 24th January.Â John Whelan, who was in charge of renovating a number of French brasseries, in Paris and in the provinces, will talk about his work and the Aesthetic Movement at Brasserie Floderer. Full details to follow.

January-Monthly Drinks
2019-01-02 19:00 - 22:00 | Murphy’s House, 10 rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, 75009, France
Wed 2ndÂ January 19:00 – Monthly Drinks
Come and join us from 7pm to meet up for an informal evening. All Oxford and Cambridge Alumni and their friends are warmly welcome.
We have just renegotiated the deal with Murphyâ€™s and you will need to present a copy of the offer voucher attached to benefit from the prices agreed. Details of the drinks and snacks included are given on the voucher.
Murphy’s House – 10 rue de la ChaussÃ©e d’Antin, 75009 Paris. Â Metro OpÃ©ra – RER Auber – vÃ©lib: station 2015 rue Louis le Grand.

Christmas Concert
2018-12-22 20:00 - 22:00
Sat 22ndÂ December 20:00 – Christmas Concert
The Ensemble Via Luce, Musical Director Peter Vizard (Gonville & Caius), is performing at the Mairie du 15e, 31 rue PÃ©clet, 75015 Paris on Saturday 22nd December at 8pm. They will be performing music by Mozart, Richard Strauss and Johann Strauss. Admission free.
