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On March 10th, the OUSL and the Bridge Forum Dialogue organized a conference given by Tom Fletcher CMG, Principal of Hertford College, former UK Ambassador and foreign policy adviser to three British Prime Ministers, bestselling author and Oxford University’s youngest Head of College, who shared reflections on how we can respond to a world in flux.

He was joined by two discussants: Arlette Conzemius, former Luxembourg Ambassador to Belgium and NATO and Urban Gillström Founder and CEO of Greenworlder (Luxembourg). The meeting was chaired by Hugo Woestmann of the Bridge Forum Dialogue and moderated by David Clark.

Digital technology is changing power at a faster rate than at any time in history. Distrust and inequality are fuelling political and economic uncertainty. The scaffolding built around the global order is fragile, and the checks and balances created over centuries to protect liberty are being tested, maybe to destruction. Tom Fletcher gave his view how we – as governments, businesses and individuals – can survive and thrive in the twenty-first century and how we can ensure that technology can make it easier for citizens truly to take back control.
His speech contained elements of his bestselling book “The Naked Diplomat” and his latest book “Ten Survival Skills for a World in Flux”.

The event was hybrid, with the live event held at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, where a large audience actively participated. The even was streamed on the OUSL youtube channel. See the recording below.

On December 8th, we enjoyed an exclusive visit to KNEIP’s Art Collection.
With great enthusiasm Bob Kneip explained to us the process of bringing together the extraordinary collection of Pop Art, including works of César, Döring, Errò, Fifax, Haring, Huart, Strainchamps, Warhol and Wesselmann among others.
Approximately 20 members were invited to a guided tour, with engaging questions and answers. The event ended with drinks and canapés generously sponsored by KNEIP.

On 25 October 2021, the Oxford University Society Luxembourg, the Cambridge Society of Luxembourg, the British-Luxembourg Society, and the Conférence Saint-Yves have invited Sir Michael Edwards to talk about poetry. Sir Michael Edwards is an Anglo-French poet and a member of the Académie Française.
The event was organised in the Evangelische Kirche located in the Old-City of Luxembourg.
After a musical entertainment offered by the major of the Luxembourg Pipe Band, a word of welcome was given by Professor André Prüm, President of the moral sciences and politics section of the Institut Grand-Ducal.

On September 30th, the university alumni societies in Luxembourg of Oxford, Cambridge and the LSE held their much delayed, annual black tie dinner. The event was held in the Salle des Chevaliers of the romantic Château de Bourglinster, where we enjoyed a Michelin star meal and, more importantly, each other’s company.

Eighty five guests attended including the Minister of Finance, Pierre Gramegna and the British Ambassador, HE Fleur Thomas. The traditional speech was given by Dr  Hubertus von Morr, a former German Ambassador to Luxembourg and currently Secretary General of “The International Club La Redoute” in Bonn. He spoke on “The German Elections, what happens now?” mentioning the almost total absence of debate on international and European matters during the campaign. He also stressed how young voters strongly supported the FDP and the Greens, and the question mark hanging over the future of the large traditional parties, the SDP and the CDU/CSU who each only managed to garner around 25% of the vote.

David Clark, Chairman of the Oxford University Society of Luxembourg was Master of Ceremonies. Minister Gramegna toasted to HRH Grand Duke Henri and spoke of the importance of the foreign community to Luxembourg. Their presence helped significantly in promoting economic growth. HE Fleur Thomas toasted to HM Queen Elizabeth II. Martin Curwen, President of the Cambridge Society and Nigel Williams President of the LSE Alumni Association spoke briefly and thanked the Oxford University Society for undertaking the organisation of this year’s event.

More photos are available here, courtesy of John Speed, of the Cambridge University Society Luxembourg.

On an Indian Summer Sunday, September 26th, we played croquet in the Pescatore Park, with friends from the Luxembourg Cambridge University Society. Three mixed teams discussed strategies before employing their mallets to drive balls through hoops or making ‘roquets’ to earn additional ‘goes’.

Of course there was also a lot of catching up too, over crémant and snacks left over from our last outdoor event of before the summer. It was wonderful to meet up with friends again after the somewhat depressing second Covid-summer. We thank Fanny and Rakesh for organizing the event and John for making a wonderful photo album.

Last September 14th, we had our annual Fresher’s Dinner. Two first year bachelor students (Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry) and one beginning MBA student shared an Italian meal with two current students, and seven alumni, some of whom helped with practice interviews.

Stories, advice and directions were exchanged. In fact it was such an engaging evening that we once more forgot to make pictures! So here’s one from the restaurant.

On Saturday July 3rd we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at the Schuman farm sipping pimm’s while catching up after a long time not seeing each other face-to-face.
After a lengthy picnic – barbecue we decided to have crocquet game on the lawn, rather than the traditional cricket, among others due to the lack of cricketers.
The crocquet game was a huge success, and we ended up playing with three teams simultaneously, each consisting of a changing number of members, the youngest being 3 years old.
We discovered crocquet to be a game of skill, strategy and teamwork.
The three teams battled for at least two hours, passing their balls through the hoops until finally, Gérard Schockmel scored the winning shot by placing his team’s final ball against the peg.
We thank Adrian for his hospitality, Fanny for her professional Croquet Set, and the organisers for the pimm’s and other drinks.

On April 7th, during the last days of confinement, our member Jos van Bommel gave an online seminar on the different approaches of investing in stocks, with an emphasis on Value Investing, a time-tested approach practiced by successful investors such as Warren Buffett. From our homes, we had an interactive evening, with plenty of discussion

After two Covid postponements, last October 14 we finally had the opportunity to host the dinner talk with guest speaker Professor Dr. Hardy Bouillon, former student of Jesus College and currently Extracurricular Professor of Philosophy at Trier University.

Prof. Dr. Bouillon enlightened us on the Austrian School of Economics, which in the early 20th century laid the foundations of Economic Thinking. We learned about the different subschools, of von Mises and Hayek, and the philosophical nature of work and their disciples.

The dinner talk led to lively debates at the different tables, easily overcoming the (Covid-) regulatory safe distancing of approximately OUSL 30 members and guests, which included the ambassador of Germany, and the consul of Austria.