GNE-Twente Bull aug07 email - Genootschap Nederland

www.nederlandengeland.nl
TWENTE BRANCH
VOL 22 NO. 1 / AUGUST 2007
Secretary: Jan Sizoo,
Borgbos 14, 7543GN Enschede
Chairman: Hans Kräwinkel,
Boddenkampstraat 70, 7522BZ Enschede
Tel 053-4365398 / e-mail jan@sizoo.nl
Editorial contributions: info@alison-morgan.nl
Dear members,
If you've been abroad, welcome back!
Even if you stayed at home, we hope you've had a really
pleasant summer. Although rain may have 'stopped
play' (well, gardening anyway!) for much of the time, just
to remind you of at least one of the glorious sunny days
we've had, on the right is a photo taken at Bingerden in
June (report on p 3).
Since then, the committee has been busy preparing for
the new season (strings and strings of mails have been
exchanged!), the main topic being the search for a new
location for our lectures. The sad fact is: as of January
2008 the ITC auditorium will no longer be available to us.
But... we hope to be able to announce our new venue at
the AGM on 20 September. If you can, do come along!
PROGRAMME 2007 / 2008
Lectures in 2007 are held in the ITC auditorium, Hengelosestraat 99, Enschede, starting at 7.30 p.m. (doors
open at 7.00 p.m.). Venues and starting times for 2008 are still to be announced.
DATE / VENUE
SPEAKER
TITLE OF EVENT
Thur 20 Sept / ITC
starting 7.00 p.m.
n.a.
Annual General Meeting, followed by a film
Thur 11 Oct / ITC
Val Davis
From Cradle to the Grave: the English Education System
Thur 15 Nov / ITC
Peter MacNamara
Two Yorkshire Cities: Ripon and Leeds
Sat 15 Dec / UT
starting 2.00 p.m.
n.a.
Christmas Party, Faculty Club / Boerderij Restaurant , UT
Enschede
Tues 15 Jan
Andrew Lacey
Sir Christopher Wren and the English Baroque
Tues 19 Feb
John de Wit
Late Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts
Tues 11 March
Christian Wolmar
Subterranean Railway
Thur 17 April
Martyn Everett
Art and the Anarchists
Tues 13 May
Heather Woodward
Churchill of Chartwell
Sat 31 May
n.a.
End of Season Event
Admission to lectures is free to members, € 3,50 to non-members and € 1,00 to non-members under 25.
More information on lectures and speakers is available on our website: www.nederlandengeland.nl/GNETwent.html
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Annual General Meeting, 20 September
As usual, this year's AGM will start at 7.00 p.m. (doors open at 6.30) in the ITC auditorium. If you would like a
preview of the annual reports by the secretary and treasurer, drafts of these are available on request two
weeks before the meeting, from Jan Sizoo. The agenda is included at the end of this bulletin.
The formal part of the evening is expected to last about an hour, then there'll be an interval after which a film
will be shown. This one is about the children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, creator of 'Peter Rabbit',
'Jemima Puddleduck' etc. The setting - the Lake District - is of very special interest because it's included in
the proposed itinerary of the ('in-the-planning') GNE holiday next year (for a note on this, please see p 5).
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From Cradle to the Grave: the English Education System
Talk by Val Davis on Thursday 11 October, starting at 7.30 p.m.
We will look at how the English education system has evolved
over the centuries; the development of private and state schools;
the introduction of nursery education; the growth of vocational
colleges since the 50s; the expansion in the university sector; the
success of the Open University; the history of adult education
starting in the last century with Workers Institutes. References will
be made to the place of educational institutions in English
literature and their impact on public architecture. The examination
system is complex and always changing but an attempt will be
made to paint a coherent picture.
Val Davis worked until recently for a Government Think Tank, encouraging English colleges and schools to
make links with institutions in other countries. She has visited the Netherlands six times as a consultant
running courses on managing change for education managers. She has spoken about English education at
conferences in United States, Mexico, South Africa, Italy, Hong Kong, Denmark, Finland and Canada. She
spent much of her time organizing study tours looking at English education for groups from as diverse
countries as Belarus and France. She has published “The shrinking world” that compares education
systems across the globe and published a piece of national research looking at the teaching of foreign
languages in English education – or the lack of it!
Val has been Mayor of her home town of Leamington Spa and signed the twinning document with
Heemstede in 1986. She served for some years on the County Education Committee. She is a member of
the local National Trust association and of NADFAS.
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Ruins, Wrecks and Volcanoes - their relevance to Romantic art and literature
Talk by John Gilroy on Tuesday 15 May
Mr Gilroy, a lecturer in English at the Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, gave a most interesting talk on
the Romantic movement. He provided a wealth of facts and figures on the key historic events of the period
which were dramatically reflected in the painting, poetry and literature of the day.
Romanticism in the arts and literature appears to have begun around 1750, continuing into the the first
quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Alexander Pope expounded the theory that 'all is for the best in all of best
possible worlds' but we were shown that natural calamities such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and
floods are not always for the best.
The Lisbon earthquake in 1751 was a huge shock to Europe and people began to wonder why such events
occurred. They were also starting to look at matters from a scientific viewpoint. This interest, in turn, became
reflected in literature and the arts.
John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' depicted a landscape based on the aftermath of an eruption of Vesuvius, one
of Europe's most active volcanoes.
Mr Gilroy also told us in some detail of the catastrophic eruption of Mount Tamboro on the Indonesian island
of Sumbawa in 1816 - to date, the largest eruption ever known - with consequences as far-reaching as
Europe and North America. Continuous darkness, torrential rains and failing crops ensured that 1816
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became known as 'the year without a summer'. This disaster found its way into the works of Romantic writers
such as Keats, Coleridge, the Shelleys and Lord Byron.
In that year, Mary Shelley and Byron, confined indoors by the
incessant rain, decided to write a ghost story. This was the
foundation of Mary's novel 'Frankenstein'. Byron wrote a poem
entitled 'Darkness', also inspired by the gloom caused by Tamboro.
After the break, Mr Gilroy talked about shipwrecks and ruins.
Géricault's 1819 painting 'Raft of the Medusa' - a turbulent scene of
shipwrecked men at sea that ushered in French Romanticism - was
given particular attention. Its subject was taken from an actual
disaster, a record of which was left by two survivors. Byron may well
have read this before describing a similar wreck in 'Don Juan'.
Ruins concluded the evening, Mr Gilroy theorising that a ruin can be compared to man's journey through life. He
showed us a piece of the Berlin Wall, brought back by a student, symbolising the fall of an empire and the
resurrection of the German Union. Finally, he talked about 'follies', often erected by wealthy people to look like
ancient ruins. He thought that this was to remind themselves that empires do not just rise but they also fall - very high
minded and moralistic (I had always thought that they were simply built to impress other people with one's wealth!).
We were, indeed, bombarded with information by our speaker, but despite the theme being death and destruction,
it was a far from gloomy evening. It was clear that natural disasters did influence much of the Romantic art and
literature in a sombre way but just as clear that man's eternal optimism shines through. As Percy Bysshe Shelley
wrote, "The past is past but the future has possibilities".
June Nagler
End of Season Excursion 2007, Saturday 2 June
Just after 9 a.m., when everyone had said a bright 'good morning' to everyone else, we set off by coach to
Gelderland. Our group of forty members was in holiday mood, the weather was fine, the 'scenic route' to
Doesburg was beautiful and along the way the driver (from Van Kempen Reizen) had plenty of interesting bits of
information for us.
After about an hour and a half, we arrived at the imposing entrance - over a wooden bridge - to Huis Bingerden.
The first stop was the Orangery where we were welcomed by the owner of the estate, Mevr Eugénie van Weede.
While we enjoyed coffee or tea, accompanied by muffins specially made by Anda Witsenburg, our hostess told us
something of the history of her home.
The estate has been in Mevr van Weede's family since 1666, but was first mentioned as early
as 970, when it was a fortified farm. Over the centuries the house was enlarged and restyled
many times and woods were planted. In the 1990's, the grounds and gardens were converted
by J.P. Posth to form an English-style landscape park. Posth's use of the contrasting effects of
light and shadow is an impressive recurrent theme. We heard how in April 1945 the house
was burnt down by the retreating German army, and how stoically the owner's parents-in-law
dealt with this and other wartime losses. In 1958 the main house was rebuilt in a smaller
version and since 1980 the owners have worked tirelessly to restore the gardens.
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After the coffee break, Mevr van Weede took us on a leisurely stroll around the 9-hectare estate, which includes a
children's garden, a 'mount' with a view over the grounds, a rose garden against the back of the house, the formal
garden with its famous topiary yew hedges (they're more than 120 years old), an ornamental kitchen garden and,
of course, the extensive park with its open lawns, woods and meandering moat. In that peaceful, sunny
landscape it wouldn't be too much to say that the beauty of the place was stunning! All too soon it was time to
leave, and at around 1 o'clock we returned to the bus, to be driven the short distance to Doesburg. On the way we
were able to study a handy guide to the town, supplied by Janny de Jong.
Lunch in the charming old conservatory of the restaurant 'La Fleur' was animated and
the service friendly. Having satisfied the inner man (or woman) we made our way to
Doesburg's famous mustard factory and museum, where we were treated to a most
entertaining lesson on mustard by the owner. Who'd have thought that mustard could
be so fascinating!
The rest of the afternoon (about
an hour and a half) was 'free
time', in which we explored
Doesburg, perhaps 'pausing' at an
inviting café terrace on the way.
The historic centre of this small
Hansa town is delightful, with its
cobbled streets and quaint
houses, its beautiful church (the
'Grote' or 'Martinikerk') and gabled buildings such as the old
inn, 'De Waag', as well as a choice of little shops and galleries.
When it was time to go, we really had to force ourselves away,
so as not to keep the coach waiting!
There's another chance to look back at our super day out, by visiting the site at http://www.alison-morgan.nl:
16080/Doesburg-2-06-07/
Alison Morgan
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'Ingezonden brief'
The funeral of Henk Bijlsma took place on 1 June and was attended by many of our members.
Else has asked us to publish the following letter.
Dear GNE friends,
After a sad, difficult time, Henk died on the 28th of May. He suffered much pain during his last weeks and wanted to die.
I have received many letters and cards, which were a great help to me and my family. Thank you all for this sympathy.
'Langzaam is hij uit ons leven weggegleden,' and that is what happened.
Henk asked me to thank everybody for all the love and friendship he received.
Else Bijlsma
We wish Else and the family much strength.
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NEWS AND NOTICES
Two 'English Book Club' evenings at the Volksuniversiteit, Enschede
As announced in the VU's programme booklet for 2007, this literary activity (reference code L&S911) gives
participants the opportunity to read and discuss an English novel under the guidance of Valerie Zwart, who
studied English literature at the University of Toronto. There will be two meetings, the books to be discussed
are as follows:
Tuesday 23 October (8.00 p.m. - 10.00 p.m.):
Margaret Atwood, 'The Robber Bride', Virago Press 1994
Tuesday 27 November (8.00 p.m. - 10.00 p.m.):
J.P. Donleavy, 'The Ginger Man', Delacorte Press, 1966
The cost is €26,-- . There is to be a follow-up activity in the spring of 2008.
More information from the course secretariat (open Mon-Thurs 8.30-16.30 hrs, Fri 8.30-13.00 hrs),
Stichting Volksuniversiteit Enschede, Molenstraat 27, 7514DJ Enschede.
Tel (053) 4323304, e-mail info@vuenschede.nl
Website www.vuenschede.nl
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A new GNE-Twente book club? (Or something similar?)
While on the subject of book clubs (see the above item), from time to time members hint that it would be
rather nice if our branch had another small book-reading club. (The two existing ones are 'full'.) Well... is
anyone out there prepared to initiate and/or lead such a club? Or, perhaps, a variation on the book club
theme? A play / prose / poetry-reading group, for example? It doesn't have to be excessively learned or
formal. If you're interested in initiating or participating in this or a similar activity, please get in touch with
either Hans Kräwinkel or Alison Morgan.
Castle Concerts
The new season of 'Kasteel Concerten' (September '07 to June '08) once again offers an enticing
programme of concerts, each in a different historic setting in Overijssel, Gelderland and the Achterhoek.
Many of the castles/estates are privately owned and therefore not normally open to the public. Much
attention is given to the way in which the music would have sounded to the original audiences; where
possible, authentic instruments are used. Added to this, the historic ambience makes each performance
extra special. Highly recommended by several of our members, it's a good idea to book soon as these
concerts tend to sell out early!
All performances take place on Sunday afternoons, starting at 3.00 p.m. (except the concert at the
Buitensocieteit, Zutphen, 10 February, which starts at 2.30 p.m., and the 'Pinksterconcert' on in Laag-Keppel
which is on Monday, 12 May).
One of the concerts has a British theme, featuring the music of Dowland, Purcell and Byrd; it takes place on
11 November at Kasteel Oldenhof, Vollenhove.
In our own region there are concerts at Huis te Breckelenkamp, Denekamp (14 October) and Singraven,
Denekamp (1 June 2008). Other relatively nearby venues include Vorden, Zutphen and Warnsveld.
For information and reservations you can contact:
Stichting Oude Muziek De Graafschap, Joke Smitlaan 88, 7207 GJ Zutphen
Tel (0575) 529978, e-mail graafschapmuziek@planet.nl
Website: www.kasteelconcerten.nl
Open air performance by Illyria at Schovenhorst, 9 September
We are considering organizing an excursion to Schovenhorst on Sunday 9
September, to see Shakespeare's 'Much Ado about Nothing' as performed by the
ever-energetic English open air theatre company, Illyria. The play starts at 2.00 p.m.
but we'll aim to be at about midday so as to unwind and enjoy our picnic lunch
before the performance. As last year (when we saw Illyria's 'Macbeth'), travel costs
will be shared, car-pooling will be arranged and we'll leave 'loosely in convoy' from a
selected car-pool area. Everyone contributes something to eat or drink. Last year
the event was enjoyed hugely by all. In other words, this excursion is, without a
doubt, highly recommended!
If you're interested in coming along, please contact Hans Kräwinkel before 2
September, tel 053-4331839, or mail hans@jeweha.demon.nl .
This is what Illyria has to say about the play:
Love, laughter and practical jokes abound when soldiers come home from war, but when a joke goes too
far, revenge can be murderous… What can be done to restore broken hearts, resurrect the innocent dead, and the greatest lost
cause of all unite the argumentative Benedick and Beatrice? Illyria performs Shakespeare’s best-loved comedy on our own unique
Globe-style stage.
For 'further reading' you may like to visit http://www.schovenhorst.nl/ . Illyria's own site is at http://www.illyria.uk.com/
High tea
'Taking high tea' seems to be the 'in' thing in the Netherlands these days, and the more faithfully they follow
English traditions, the better! A new book, entitled 'High Tea in Noordoost-Nederland' (publisher Maan, price
€12,50) by Angelique Dekker and Maaike Kremer describes 26 approved establishments in Groningen,
Friesland, Drenthe, Overijssel and Gelderland. It can also be ordered via www.uitgeverijmaan.nl
GNE TWENTE - summer holiday 2008!
GNE-Twente's group holidays to the UK have been organized every other year since 2002 and members
always return with enthusiastic tales of what they've seen and done in Great Britain. In response to 'popular
demand', another GNE group holiday to the UK in 2008 is a distinct possibility. Hans Kräwinkel has indicated
that he's willing to organize a two-week trip to County Durham and the eastern part of Northumberland. The
proposed period would be between the weeks 24-25-26 and the crossing by ferry would mean 2 nights on
board (there and back) with 11 or 12 nights in hotels. The itinerary would include Hadrian's Wall and the Lake
District and more... It's early days, but if you're seriously interested, please do let Hans know now.
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COMING SOON....
Our new improved website will be launched very, very soon. That's the plan! The new design is all ready;
just a couple of minor adjustments are required... you know how it is...
This is simply to let you know that an upgraded, professional site - one we can all be proud of - is really on
the way and we're sure you'll find it a pleasure to visit!
The site designer is our very own Joop Bökkerink.
A few pilot pages can be viewed at www.nederlandengeland.nl/2007 . Please note: this is not the definitive
version - it's just a sneak preview to give you an idea of 'the look'!
Watch this space for the official opening announcement...
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M I S C E LLAN Y
'Artsenbezoek'
with apologies for the bilingual text; you'll see why as you read on.
Recently I paid a visit to my doctor's surgery. Nothing urgent, nothing
serious; I just wanted to make an appointment. Since his practice is
just around the corner from our house, I'd decided to present myself
in person at the reception.
'Hoe mag ik u helpen?' asked a stern-looking young assistant, as her
phone rung incessantly in the background.
'Ik wou graag een afspraak maken,' I replied.
'Bent u artsenbezoeker?' she asked.
Hmm, I thought. She wants to know if I 'visit' this doctor. That must
be another way of asking if I'm his patient.
'Ja,' I confirmed cheerfully.
My smile was not returned. Instead, the lady snapped,
'De arts heeft geen tijd voor u. U mag helemaal geen afspraak
maken.'
Somewhat taken aback by this reaction, I asked timidly,
'Mag ik dan 'zo maar' naar binnen lopen?'
The assistant appeared not to believe her ears.
'Ik ZEI u dat de arts VEEL TE DRUK is! U mag hem NIET zien, begrijpt u?' she thundered.
I stared at her open-mouthed before stammering,
'En... als ik ziek ben? Moet ik dan een andere arts vinden? Ik ben toch ZIJN patient!'
'Ach! Waarom heeft u dat dan niet GEZEGD?' sighed the assistant.
Well, to cut a long story short, I now know that artsenbezoekers are not just innocent patients-in-waiting. No,
they're sales reps and, as often as not, none too popular with the medical fraternity. Anyway, my doctor's
assistant became much friendlier once our little misunderstanding had been cleared up and I did get my
appointment. But that visit to the surgery certainly left me wondering if it isn't too late - after three decades in
the Netherlands - to put my name down for an inburgeringscursus.
Alison Morgan
Acknowledgement: illustration on p 3 by Ronald Searle, from 'Down with Skool!' by Geoffrey Willans
COMMITTEE, GNE TWENTE, 2006-2007
Hans Kräwinkel Chairman (053-4331839)
Jan Sizoo
Secretary (053-4365398)
Alison Morgan
Vice-chair, editor
Bulletin (074-2594407)
Anda Witsenburg 2nd secr., coordinator, coeditor Bulletin (074-2426905)
Lenie Schijf
Treasurer
Joop Bökkerink
Graphics/web adviser
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Couples: € 42,-Singles: € 25,-Under 25s: € 7,-The membership year runs from 1 July to
30 June. If you're interested in joining,
please contact Jan Sizoo, address at the
top of page 1.
ADDRESSES
The Twente Branch address list is
available on request to members only. For
the latest edition, please contact Jan
Sizoo.
BANK
Postbank Enschede,
account no. 4698021
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INVITATION
to attend the Annual General Meeting
on Thursday 20 th September 2007 at 19.00
venue: ITC - Enschede
AGENDA
1
Opening by the Chairman
2
Incoming mail
3
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 19th October 2006
4.
Annual Report 2006/2007
5.
Financial Report 2006/2007 and budget 2007/2008.
6.
Proposal to maintain the annual membership contributions as is for 2007-2008 season despite
relocation of venue from ITC Enschede.
7.
Auditing Committee Report
8.
Election of members and a reserve member for the Auditing Committee
Mrs Marieke Elias-van Bokhoven resigns and Mr Theo Meijer and Mr Nico Gerzee will be members
during 2007/2008.
A proposition for a reserve member will be made during the meeting.
9.
9a.
Resignation and re-election of Committee members:
The schedule of the present Committee member’s resignations in the coming years is as follows:
2008
Mr J. Sizoo
( 6 years member of the Committee)
2008
Mrs A.Witsenburg
( 9 years member of the Committee)
2008
Mr J. Bökkerink
(13 years member of the Committee)
2009
Mrs A. Morgan
( 6 years member of the Committee)
2009
Mrs H. Schijf
( 6 years member of the Committee)
2010
Mr H.O.H. Kräwinkel
(10 years member of the Committee)
9b.
Mr Kräwinkel is available for a further term of 3 years. The committee proposes to re-appoint him.
Members can put forward names of counter-candidates. Such a proposal requires the signatures of at
least five members plus a statement of willingness by the counter candidate.
The Secretary, Mr. J. Sizoo, Borgbos 14, 7543 GN Enschede, should receive such proposal on or
before 6 th September 2007.
10.
Programme and further plans for the 2007-2008 season.
11.
Any other business.
12.
Closure of the meeting.
Please note that copies of the annual- and financial reports, as mentioned under items 4 and 5, will be made available, 2 weeks
prior to the AGM to those members, upon request, who wish to “pre-read”.
Please e-mail (jan@sizoo.nl) or contact the secretary by phone 053-436.53.98.
Note:
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