Epsom and Ewell French Club

Programme of talks (all in French) at Bourne Hall

2025

Tuesday 16 September, 7pm

Constance Bantman, senior lecturer in French politics and history at the University of Surrey, on the current state of politics in France.   

Tuesday 21 October, 7pm

Award-winning translator Ros Schwartz speaking about her translation of Le Petit Prince - the world's most translated work of fiction.

Tuesday 18 November, 7pm

Karen Serres, senior curator at the Courtauld Gallery in London, on how its founder  Samuel Courtauld went about amassing one of the best collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art in the UK – much of it by French artists. 

Tuesday 16 December, 7pm

Peter Prowse : « I did it my way (comme d’habitude) » - what happens to popular songs when they cross the Channel (or the Atlantic). With (optional) singalong examples and a short quiz.

2026

Tuesday 20 January, 7pm

David Furlong, a bilingual actor and stage director, on Exchange Theatre’s production "Who is Claude Cahun", the French Surrealist photographer.

Tuesday 17 February, 7pm

Annie Kean on the life of Le Marquis de La Fayette and his role in defending freedom and contributing to the USA’s Declaration of Independence.

Tuesday 17 March, 7pm

Christian Michel on 500 years of French colonial rule. 

Tuesday 21 April, 7pm

Mélanie Tuel, on the amazing reconstruction of Notre Dame de Paris after the catastrophic fire of April 15 2019, with reference to the sketchbooks of the young architect Axelle Ponsonnet.

Tuesday 19 May, 7pm

Brigitte Whiteing on the impressive countryside, landmarks, architectural heritage and famous gastronomy of her native Normandy.

Tuesday 16 June, 7pm

Thierry Viennois will tell the story of his uncle Pierrot’s capture and treatment in Germany at the hand of the Nazis in 1943.  This moving talk will last 90 minutes.