Latest News

Das Konstanzer Europakonzil

We have just received this report from Lisa Schommer in Konstanz.

“From 2nd-6th November 2017 the young ambassadors & delegates from Fontainebleau, Tabor, Konstanz & Richmond will be discussing the future of Europe. The focus is on how to enthuse young adults about town twinning. What new formats & projects do the participants want for the future? What networks, especially for young Europeans, can be constructed & how can they be kept alive & productive? Experts from the fields of business, administration & politics will provide professional input. On 5th November there will be a presentation & the award of the Konstanzer Konzilpreis.

EU Fahne — Our young ambassadors meeting their fellow ambassadors in Konstanz in May

The town of Konstanz is organising the event & providing host families for the delegates. The Richmond in Europe Association & St. Mary’s University support the project very much. e.g. By helping to recruit young ambassadors. Schools, twinning committees & local youth clubs in Fontainebleau, Tabor & Lodi promote Europakonzil too.

Omega & Jack — Our young ambassadors, Omega Love & Jack Lewis

In May two young ambassadors from each twin town met in Konstanz for the first time in order to define the topics for the full council, to discuss project ideas & the further course of action. They decided that the following topics will be discussed:

Brexit.

The refugee crisis

Threats to Europe

Our lost generation

Trust in the media.”

Lisa Schommer, Konstanz. 22nd August 2017

josephine

Josephine Levedaq (left) & Hajna Nagy are the two French Ambassadors to the Konstanzer Europakonzil. They are, in fact, German, but are studying in Fontainebleau. They speak 3 languages and are excited to be part of the project because they think that Europe offers so many opportunities to young people. Josephine writes,” The Richmond in Europe Association sounds very interesting. We like the idea that a lot of English people are still very interested in Europe, even after Brexit, and find it very important.”

For further information please scroll down.

40th Anniversary Celebrations in Richmond

Arrangements for the 40th anniversary of the twinning with Fontainebleau have just been announced. Richmond will be hosting the celebrations to which delegations from Fontainebleau, Konstanz & Lodi have been invited.

There will be an official reception for our guests at Strawberry Hill on the evening of Saturday 7th October. REA committee members will be there to welcome them.

At 9.30 a.m on Sunday 8th October there will be a commemorative service at St. Mary’s Church, Twickenham to which everyone is invited.

This will be followed by an official unveiling by the mayors of Richmond & Fontainebleau of a commemorative plaque in the grounds of Orleans House. This again will be open to everyone to attend.

A exhibition of memorabilia from 40 years of twinning with Fontainebleau will be staged in Orleans House. This will be open to the public from about 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. If any members of REA have memorabilia for the exhibition please could you let us know.

The official guests will be given an opportunity to visit the exhibition before being taken on a guided tour of Hampton Court Palace.

hampton court palace on 19th April 2005 005 - Version 2

Finally at 7.30 p.m. there will be a concert in the Live Room at Twickenham rugby ground to celebrate 40 years of friendship between Richmond & Fontainebleau. The 60 strong European Youth Orchestra, which comprises musicians from Richmond, Fontainebleau, Konstanz & Lodi, will be performing.

european youth orchestra

Programme

Dukas Fanfare from La Peri

Mozart La Clemenza di Tito

Verdi Extracts from La Traviata & Rigoletto

Berlioz Hungarian March

Britten Soirée Musicale

Members of REA are invited to attend this special event. (Entrance is free).

Das Konstanzer Europakonzil Update

Jack Lewis & Omega Love met their fellow ambassadors from France, Italy, the Czech Republic & Germany in Konstanz in May to prepare the way for the 100 delegates who will be taking part in the full council from 2nd-6th November.

sdr — The International Youth Ambassadors with the topics they discussed.

Jack said, ” The Pre-Council was an incredible opportunity to meet other young people with a passion for European unity in these difficult times.”

Jack & Omega contributed to a multi-lingual presentation on the harbour shore to the residents of Konstanz. Despite the rain the turn out was impressive. To see the presentation please click on the following link.

Flights have already been booked for our 20 delegates. They will be departing from Heathrow on 1st November & returning via Zürich airport on 7th.

The town of Konstanz is meeting all the travel & accommodation costs of the delegates. Incredibly a couple of vacancies remain. If you would like to take part in this exciting venture please write to

richmondineurope@hotmail.com

or telephone 0208 890 0202

For further information please see the brochure below.

Konstanz enjoys a stunning location on the border with Switzerland, overlooking Lake Constance.

Sonnenuntergang 3 — Sunset over Konstanz

Theatre

16th – 23rd September 2017 Richmond Shakespeare Society is performing “Kindertransport” mainly in English, but partly in German at the Mary Wallace Theatre, Twickenham Riverside.

For further details please click on this link.

Recital

Saturday 30th September Violinist Pierre Frapier will be performing Schubert, Franck & Saint-Saëns at the Riverside Arts Theatre, Sunbury on Thames. 10.15 for an 11 a.m. start. Tickets available at the door. £10 including coffee & croissant. For further information please ring 01932 765498

Foreign Language Films

Watermans in Brentford is screening the following films:

22nd & 26th-28th September Back to Burgundy/Ce qui nous lie (2017)

23rd September French Impressions From the Land of the Moon (15) Mal de pierres Film talk at 1 p.m. Screening at 2.30 p.m.

A free spirited young woman is in a loveless marriage & falls in love with another man.

For further details see the Watermans website.

Richmond Film Society screens foreign language films at 8 p.m. in the Pete Postlethwaite Picture House, St. Mary’s University, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham TW1 4SX. Tickets. Guests £6 or students £4.

All films not in English are shown with subtitles.

The new season will start in September 2017. Details on: http://www.richmondfilmsoc.org.uk/

Highlights include:

13th March 2018 Outside the Law/Hors la Loi France (2010)

After losing their family home in Algeria, three brothers & their mother are scattered across the globe. Messaoud joins the French army fighting in Indochina: Abdelkader becomes a leader of the Algerian independence movement in France & Saïd moves to Paris to make his fortune in the shady clubs & boxing halls of Pigalle. Gradually their interconnecting destinies reunite them in the French capital, where freedom is a battle to be fought & won.

10th April Toni Erdmann German-Austrian comedy-drama (2016)

A practical joking father tries to reconnect with his hard-working daughter by recreating an outrageous alter ego & posing as her CEO’s “life coach.”

26th January 2018 Richmond Adult & Community College will be screening Untouchable/Intouchables, a French comedy drama with English sub-titles.

A rich aristocrat & habitual thrill seeker becomes quadriplegic after a paragliding accident. Alone in the world & unable to care for himself, he employs a young Senegalese émigré as his carer. Despite their very different backgrounds & outlooks on life, the two men quickly form a strong bond, teaching each other important life lessons about acceptance, respect & the true meaning of friendship.

Curzon Richmond also screens films in French & German with English sub-titles.