1. The Anglo-Belgian Society was formed in London in 1983 to incorporate The Anglo-Belgian Union (founded in 1918) and the Cercle Royal Belge de Londres (founded in 1922). It now has nearly 500 members comprising British friends of Belgium, Belgians residing in Britain and companies with Belgian interests.
2. Its object is to maintain and develop on a personal level the friendship which has always existed between the British and Belgian people and to commemorate the brotherhood in arms which arose from their mutual loyalty to the treaty of 1839. Its counterpart in Belgium is The Royal Belgo-British Union.
3. The Society organises receptions, lectures, cultural visits and other activities, often linked to important Belgian events. In particular, the Society holds a Summer Reception in June and an Annual Dinner in November to celebrate King’s Day.
4. The present officers of the Society are:
President: Lord Grenfell of Kilvey
Chairman: Mr David Colvin CMG
Vice-ChairmanLady Logan
Chairman of Events Committee: Mr Jean-François Dor
Hon. Secretary: Mr Patrick Bresnan
Hon. Treasurer: Mr Donald Spokes
5. The Society enjoys close relations with the Anglo-Belgian Club and the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. Together these make a close-knit trio covering three important aspects of Anglo-Belgian relations, bringing British and Belgian people together for social and cultural events in the case of the Society, providing club and residential facilities in London in the case of the Club, and providing assistance in the world of commerce in the case of the Chamber.
6. Representatives of the Society join the Amicale des Anciens Combattants Belges en Grande-Bretagne on three important annual events: the parade at the Cenotaph in July marking Belgium’s National Day, the ceremony at the Belgian War Memorial at Brookwood Cemetery, and the Kindling of the Torch at Westminster Abbey in November.
7. By courtesy of the Anglo-Belgian Club, the Society often holds its functions at the premises of the Club in Knightsbridge. Although both the Club and the Society further the same object of Anglo-Belgian friendship, the two organisations are nevertheless distinct. The Club offers residential, restaurant and other facilities to its members, while the Society organises social and cultural events at different venues for the benefit of its own members and, on some occasions, their guests. Membership of the Society does not include membership of the Anglo-Belgian Club.
8. The Society’s annual membership subscriptions are currently: Single member £15; Couple £25; Corporate (Companies) £40; Life Membership £225; Joint Life Membership £375.
Membership form Subscriptions are payable by cheque with applications.
To apply, please download the application form (Microsoft Word).
Under
the patronage of Her Majesty The Queen
and of His Majesty The King Of The Belgians
Incorporating the Anglo-Belgian Union
and the Cercle Royal Belge de Londres
Address for correspondence:
The Honorary Secretary
The Anglo-Belgian Society
5 Hartley Close
Bickley
Kent BR1 2TP
Tel./Fax.: 020 8467 8442
