Sunday 27 September 2026, at 14h30: ‘Croquet in the City’ followed by optional meal at a nearby Italian restaurant

We had a great Croquet day in the City on this Sunny Sunday!! As you can also see on LinkedIn, we had a lovely bunch of Oxford and Cambridge alumni, friends, families and Freshers gathered in Parc Pescatore for our annual Oxbridge Croquet in the City.

There was a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere as Light and Dark Blues tried their hands at croquet, with varying degrees of expertise!

Crémant and soft drinks, cakes and other treats kept everyone going between games, and it was particularly good to welcome some of this year’s new Oxbridge students alongside familiar faces from both societies.

Many thanks to our friends at the Cambridge Society of Luxembourg, and especially to Rakesh Bhana-Lauer, for organising the whole afternoon, to Fanny Dedenbach for bringing the essential equipment, and so once again making this such an enjoyable annual Oxbridge tradition.

A lovely way to spend an unexpectedly summery September Sunday in Luxembourg

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Invitation:

It is time to brush up on your croquet skills, as this is the month of the annual Oxbridge meet-up, arranged by Camsoc: a fun afternoon of croquet, drinks and chat. We are waiting for the City Council to confirm a date to Camsoc, but it will be announced as soon as we have it.

Those who wish then round off the ‘sports’ with a pizza nearby. Freshers from both societies are particularly welcome.

The rules of croquet will be recapped before we begin, so all can participate – and you can also just have a drink and chat.

When? : Sunday 27 September 2026 at 14h30
Where? : at Parc Pescatore in the middle of Luxembourg
What to bring? : Camsoc will bring along the equipment to play croquet, a few drinks and some reusable plastic glasses. Please feel free to bring along some nibbles, drinks, picnic gear, etc.

Post-croquet dinner: those who feel famished after the sports usually go to for an informal meal together at a nearby Italian restaurant.

Sign-up with Camsoc: rakeshbhana@yahoo.com, cc to chair@oxford.lu

18-20 September 2026: The Annual MEETING MINDS weekend in Oxford

It’s time to factor in the annual Meeting Minds Weekend in Oxford. As usual it is packed with irrisistible talks, workshops, guided tours and more. Over three days, you’ll have the chance to hear from the researchers tackling the world’s biggest challenges, revisit places both familiar and new, and connect with fellow members of the Oxford community. 

Bringing together curious minds across generations, this is a uniquely Oxford opportunity to explore the ideas shaping our collective future. 

Whether you’re returning for the first time in years or a regular visitor, you’ll discover how Oxford continues to change lives around the world – and how you can play a part in its future. 

For info click here

If you are planning to attend, you may wish to let us know (chair@oxford.lu). We will keep a list of Oxford alumni who are going so that you can connect with one another.

Well met in Oxford!

17 September 2026: it’s time for a cruise ladies and gentlemen! The MS Princesse Marie-Astrid sails from Grevenmacher at 18.30.

Insead has kindly extended an invitation to Oxford and Cambridge to participate in a leisurely cruise on the Mosel, enjoying a good drink and nice finger food .

This will be a great chance to meet our colleagues from Insead for a relaxed evening aboard the iconic MS Princesse Marie-Astrid – the very same boat where the Schengen Agreement was famously signed.

Date and Time:
18h30-22h

Tickets: €85.00 (there may be a very small surcharge from Eventbrite). Tickets include drinks and finger food.

Sign-up and Payment: Kindly click here to sign up. If you like, you might wish to send us a quick email (chair@oxford.lu) to tell us you have signed up, so we know how many of our ‘own’ will join.

Location:
MS Princesse Marie Astrid
10 Rte du Vin
6794 Grevenmacher
Luxembourg

For all additional information kindly contact Prash Chandrasekharm, Chair of Insead, on: prashanth.chandrasekhar@insead.edu

The Annual OUSL Freshers Dinner at Chiche! Thursday 17 September 2026 at 19h30

We had a great Freshers Dinner at Chiche where OUSL committee members and representatives of our staunch mock interviewers joined us in welcoming four of our seven new students at Oxford.

We had the joy of meeting two freshers and two postgrad students: Maria, Rüzgar, Lisa and Jemima over a glass of wine (or water!) and a wealth of delicious platters of Lebanese food to share.

The conversation ranged from studies, Luxembourg, politics, and not least the importance of Oxford pubs!

We wish our new freshers and postgrads all the best luck and prosperity during their time in Oxford!

Our new students at Oxford!


Thank you all for coming!!

Invitation:

In line with our long-established tradition we are inviting our new freshers for an informal Dinner at Chiche! together with committee members, mock-interviewers and other who have helped with education and outreach.

This is an informal and congenial evening where we get to toast the new students and wish them all the best for their forthcoming studies. We also hope to foster a lasting bond so that we can stay in contact with the students and reconnect when/if they return to Luxembourg.

This year, the main organiser of the OUSL Freshers Dinner is our committee member for Outreach, Dan Schmit. Should you have any questions please contact Dan Schmit, and chair@oxford.lu.

Saturday 12 Sep: The acclaimed Duo Natalia was back to regale us at our memorable dinner-concert at Cercle Münster


I am proud to say that we had a simply wonderful evening at Cercle Munster last night, 17 Sep. 2026! Co-hosted by Cercle Munster and OUSL, with Cercle Munster generously sponsoring the music, we were delighted to welcome 44 members and guests, young and old, for a superb performance by Duo Natalia. Natalia van der Mersch (violin) and Natalia Kovalzon (piano) kept us spellbound as we journeyed together through the romantic music of Dvořák, Franck, Kreisler and Wieniawski to the jazz-inspired Ravel, ending with the bravura encore of Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance.

The concert was followed by a lively cocktail and dinner in one of Cercle Munster‘s freshly redecorated banquet rooms. What a way to open the autumn season!

Many thanks to Duo Natalia, to Cercle Munster, and to everyone who joined us.

Below, a little picture cavalcade:

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Invitation:

You know them from their many concerts and recordings and we had a ten-minute taster of their art at the Tripartite Dinner last year at the Golf Club Grand-Ducal. I promised you then to broker a proper concert and this is now done!

So do join us (plus 1’s are welcome) on Saturday 12 September 2026:

Timing: Welcome: 16h45 | Concert: 17h | Cocktail: 18h15 | Dinner: 19h: 

Dress Code: Jacket & Tie

Sign-up: please register with chair@oxford.lu, with cc to reservation@munster.lu

Payment: €110/ticket. Once your space(s) has/have been confirmed you will be asked to settle the payment in favour of OUSL.

See this link for a glowing review from Duo Natalia’s concert in Vienna in Bösendorfer Salon, Wien

Thursday 27 August 2026: it’s the traditional Fish Dinner at Schueberfouer!

Once again, we were invited to join Cambridge for the annual Oxbridge Fish Dinner at Schueberfouer.

And once again, it was a convivial and cheerful crowd of Light and Dark Blues – around twenty in all. Thanks a lot to John Speed of Camsoc for continuing to arrange this festive, annual get-together.

See Camsoc’s invitation below:

Oxbridge Drinks: Thursday 30 July 2026

Although we don’t tend to have Oxbridge Drinks over the Summer, John Speed is kindly arranging one in July – so do join us for some summer drinks at Atmos.

Venue: Atmos Bar. 32 Rue de la Poste, 2346 Ville-Haute Luxembourg

Date & Time: Thursday 30 July, 19h

Sign-up: This is necessary in order to book enough seats, so please write to John Speed on president@cambridgesociety.lu, with a cc to chair@oxford.lu.

Talk & reception with Nobel Laureate at Hotel Royal 9 July 2026

We are delighted to offer you the opportunity to attend an upcoming talk and cocktail reception in Luxembourg with 2025 Nobel Laureate in Economics, Professor Joel Mokyr. This invitation-only event is being organized by the Luxembourg School of Business. Members of our society can express interest in attending. We will then facilitate an invitation. Kindly be reminded that should you receive an invitation, you are expected to fulfill the commitment of attending.

Date: Thursday, 09 July 2026

Time: 18:00 – 21:00

Location: Le Royal Hotel Luxembourg

Sign-up with Mette Ahlefeldt-Laurvig. no later than 18 June.

Cost: the event is free, but sign-up is obligatory

Professor Joel Mokyr is an economic historian and the Robert H. Strotz Professor of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University. His work is highly relevant to Luxembourg, as it champions the strength of public and private institutions, density of knowledge workers, and openness to the world as critical elements to economic growth. Luxembourg exemplifies many of the very dynamics Professor Mokyr has spent his career explaining. 

Nobel Prize Banquet Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wlzkpmgsck

The talk will be followed by a social cocktail reception, where attendees can reflect on the ideas shared and connect with other guests who will represent a wide array of public and private sector interests in the Benelux region. Confirmed guests include ambassadors, central bank governors, c-level executives and academic leaders.

TWO Summer invitations: 3rd and 4th July 2026: opening of Turner Exhibition; and picnic and opera

3 July at 18h: Invitation to the opening of the Exhibition: Grand Tourists to Turner: British Artist in Europe, 1750-1850. The Museum Director, Guy Thewes, is very kindly inviting all members of OUSL to come for the opening – and indeed to visit the exhibition for its duration (4 July – 11 October 2026). 

To register for the opening evening 3 July, please write to: info@2musees.vdl.lu, or ring: +352 4796 4566.



4 July, from 20h onwards: Join ’the other place’ for a relaxed picnic while enjoying the ‘Summerconcert op der Kinnekswiss’. 

John speed writes:

On Saturday 4 July, 2026 the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra will hold its magnificent end-of-the-season outdoor Summerconcert on the Kinnekswiss, starting at 21h00. Martin Rajna, the new conductor of the orchestra will take the baton for the first time, in a concert entitled “Bella Notte: Puccini and Verdi”.Last year the Society occupied a patch on the grass of the Kinnekswiss for the members of the Society and their friends and families, and it was such a fun evening that we are doing the same thing this year. So come along, with your picnic blankets and cushions, low-folding chairs, and your picnic, whatever you fancy.

Click https://www.philharmonie.lu/fr/programme/2025-26/bella-notte-puccini-verdi-000000e9001a049ahere for the Concert programme

Click here for the Concert programme
What should I bring?
Your picnic and drinks. Bring what you want for yourselves, it’s also nice to have some things that you can share with the other participants, as we do at the Boat Races events, it makes the event more convivial. So perhaps some salady things, or a cake? All sorts of drinks are allowed, alcoholic and soft. And don’t forget your (picnic) cutlery, plates, and “glasses”;Something to sit on, i.e. picnic rugs/blankets, cushions, low folding chairs (but not high-backed deckchairs, they tend to annoy the neighbours behind!)suitable clothing for the weather conditions. 
Remember that at the end of the evening you must take everything away with you, we have to leave the space clean and tidy.
Registration:
Click here to Register
so that we know roughly how many people are coming, we would like you to register by completing the form below. Camsoc is kindly opening this picnic to members, friends and family from both Oxford and Cambridge.
Where will we be?
We will be where we were last year, on the right-hand side of the Kinnekswiss looking towards the stage, where the ground slopes upwards.
We will aim to have some identifying items so that you can find us easily.
Timing:
We recommend that you come along from 20h00 onwards so that we occupy the space well in advance of the concert which begins at 21h.
Any Questions?
If you have any questions, please send an email to Rakesh Bhana at rakeshbhana@yahoo.com, with a copy to me at President@cambridgesociety.lu
This is a great event in the Luxembourg summer calendar, and it is very popular. There will be a good crowd, of that we can be assured. We hope to see lots of you there, enjoying the outstanding entertainment.