Events 2009

Mannerheim and the Far East – A Horse Reaches China

18 November 2009

Jonathan Clements, author of Mannerheim: President, Soldier, Spy, told us of Mannerheim’s adventures in Manchuria, his epic ride across China and his forgotten espionage in Japan and argued that without Mannerheim’s far eastern experiences Finland’s fate in the 20th century would have been very different.

Angels and Visitations: Archetypal Images in the Music of Eino-Juhani Rautavaara

26 October 2009

Samuli Tiikkaja, journalist and music critic, provided an introduction to the music of Rautavaara. He was ideally placed to do so as he was writing his doctoral thesis on the harmonic processes in Rautavaara’s music and he was also writing a biography of Rautavaara in English.

Lambeth Palace Library

20 May 2009

Matti Watton, one of the archivists at the Library told us of the history of the Library and read extracts from correspondence and reports relating to connections between the Church of England and Finland.

Vappu Dinner at Garbo’s

1 May 2009

30 members of the Society and their guests enjoyed the smörgåsbord dinner at Garbo’s restaurant.

Film evening

25 March 2009

AGM at the University Women’s Club

24 February 2009

Thanks again to Mrs Helena Henderson, we were able to hold the AGM at the University Women’s Club. After the formal business of the AGM, Prof. Mead read extracts from his translation of the diary of Pehr Kalm recording his visit to London in 1748. The evening ended with a canapés and drinks.

Contemporary Finnish Theatre

27 January 2009

Raija Koli, Director of the Finnish Institute, presented a short history of theatre in Finland and drew on her experience as a former head of production at the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki and work with the avant garde group, Viirus, to talk about the current state of theatre in Finland.