What a lovely day this was! Our former Chair, Andrew Hallam, led us through a path in the beautiful Müllerthal. On our way we passed the waterfall and walked through the narrow path of Eulenberg towards the top with its stunning view. Our group was certainly not alone on the tracks which we shared with a lot of enthusiastic runners competing in various races, so it was a busy but fun hike. Afterwards we enjoyed a good lunch at Heringer Millen and by the time we left, the sun had come out, making it a perfect day out. Thanks again to Andrew for being our expert trail finder and to David for initiating this event, despite being unable to join us.
There was a great turn-out for the annual Oxbridge Fish Dinner at Restaurant Friture Armand amid the bustling Schueberfouer. As usual, the evening was expertly arranged by John Speed from ‘the other place’ and it was a most enjoyable evening.
Beim Lentz, 2, rue de l’Eau, 1449 Ville-Haute, Luxembourg Although there is no strict sign-up, we would be grateful if you would kindly let John Speed know (president@cambridgesociety.lu, cc Mette Ahlefeldt on chair@oxford.lu) if you are thinking of going, so that sufficient seats can be reserved.
Thanks to the kind help of Sally and Nicholas Forwood, the commune chalet and BBQ site on Bierger Bierg in Junglinster was booked for Saturday 19 July. Alumni from Oxford and Cambridge had a lovely picnic together.
What an evening! Glorious weather, sparkling company, beautiful music, and excellent food made our Tripartite Gala Dinner at the Golf Club Grand Ducal a true summer highlight. Guests enjoyed drinks on the terrace overlooking the greens, and we were honoured to count H.E. Joanne Olivier, British Ambassador to Luxembourg, among us. After the drinks, we repaired to the banquet room and the evening began with a musical treat from Duo Natalia — Natalia van der Mersch (violin) and Natalia Kovalzon (piano) — who performed Gluck and Sarasate with beauty and fervour. A warm thanks to the Natalias, to Ambassador Olivier, and to all our guests who met up in festive spirits and helped make this a wonderful and memorable summer evening!
The acclaimed Duo Natalia enchanting the guests at the Tripartite Gala DinnerSir Nicholas, the UK Ambassador, and all the festive gala guests.H. E. Ambassador Olivier with our long-standing Oxonian member Francis CarpenterH. E. Ambassador Olivier and guestsDuo Natalia regaling us with sparkling music (Table Remich, left, Table Schengen, right)H. E. Ambassador Joanne Olivier (Table Schengen, left) and the ‘Remich’ Table, right.Oxonians, Cantabrigians and LSEs enjoying the warm summer’s eve Three societies, many nationalitiesDuo Natalia playing Gluck and SarasateThe Grevenmacher TableThe Mondorf TableThe Echternach TableThe Müllerthal TableThe Wiltz TableThe Vianden TableThe Grund TableTable Clervaux (left), Table Grund (right)The Mondorf TableClaudio Zucca thanking our pianist Natalia KovalzonOxford Chair’s welcome words
As Beim Lentz was closed for Ascension Day, we had to find a new venue this month. Thanks to Norry (Camsoc), we secured a table at Bazaar instead. Although many members were out of town, a good group still gathered to enjoy a lovely evening together.
We just had our AGM at the Kirchberg Campus and I thank all for the good turnout. We said goodbye to three members (Henri Dupong, Linda Chirila and Katia Volodine) and hello to three new members (David Clark, Lidiya Cherneva and Bob Kieffer). The meeting was followed by a blind tasting champagne quiz arranged by Jos van Bommel, which was very popular – even if nearly all of us failed it!
For the Chairwoman’s report please go to the About page.
With very best wishes,
Mette Ahlefeldt-Laurvig Chair, Oxford University Society of Luxembourg (OUSL)
On on a sunny 6 May, The society held its very first New Members Welcome Drink at Café des Capucins (now Mezza)— and made the start of a new tradition! Over the course of our two-hour cocktail reception, we had a lively and cheerful get-together with a great turnout of both new and long-standing members. Gathered around Mezza’s long bar, everyone enjoyed a format that offered a wonderful opportunity to connect and mingle. The team at Mezza was efficient and friendly throughout, and the food and drinks were both generous and delicious. The Committee wishes to thank everyone who joined us and helped make this such a successful launch of what is definitely set to become an annual tradition.
What a fantastic day the OUSL had on 12th April, when we met at the Villeroy & Boch’s
(“V & B”) headquarters in Mettlach. The outing was brilliantly organised by Jan Könighaus in cooperation with Baron Paul de Schorlemer, a member of the V & B family.
We were honoured to count Their Excellencies, the Ambassador of Japan to Luxembourg, Tadahiro Matsubara and his charming wife, among our party, and we had a very good crowd of Oxonians and partners, and families with young children.
With the sun beaming from a blue sky, making it a summer’s day in the middle of April, we began our day at the Schinkel fountain in front of the headquarters which are housed in old abbey buildings.
Our enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide took us through the beautiful park full of rare, century-old species of trees. Among other, she showed us the romantic remnants of the oldest church in the region dating from the 9th century and an impressive modern art installation “Map of the living world” created by Stefan Szczesny for the Expo 2000 in Hannover with five walls covered in thousands of small, jigsaw puzzle-shaped tiles.
We then moved inside the headquarters in the old abbey and saw a selection of the beautiful rooms where the modern V & B business is still housed. After the tour, we visited the brand-new’ V & B World’ – a gem of a museum which was informative to grown-ups and fun for the young ones.
Rich with impressions we repaired to lunch at the wonderfully situated Schloss Saareck. Here, Count Felix von Hardenberg made us feel very welcome as he joined our party as we were treated to a delicious meal at an elegantly dressed long table in a private dining room.
The meal at Schloß Saareck was truly delicious.Count Felix gave a wonderful speech to the Japanese Ambassador. HE the Ambassador of Japan to Luxembourg trying on the V & B tie!After a congenial lunch, most of us made our way back to the V & B Headquarters for a brisk shopping trip in the V & B Outlet.HE Ambassador Tadahiro Matsubara flanked by Oxford Chair, Mette Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, and Paul de Schorlemer of the V & B family.
A truly wonderful day out with the OUSL!!
Schloß Saareck, once a Boch family residence, now serves as a Villeroy & Boch guesthouse and has an excellent restaurant.
