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Symposium to mark Arnold McMillin’s 75th birthday



A symposium is being held in the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), University College London (UCL), to mark the 75th birthday of Professor Arnold McMillin.

The event is generously supported by the Modern Humanities Research Association, the Association of Belarusians in Great Britain, the Anglo-Belarusian Society, the Belarusian Catholic Mission and the Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum in London.

The Symposium will be held on Friday and Saturday 24-25 June in the Masaryk Room (Senior Common Room), SSEES (16 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW). Both sessions will probably start at 10am, but this will be confirmed later. The Saturday session will conclude in time for participants to make their way to the Kupalle celebration at the Belarusian House, 52 Penn Road, London N7.

On Thursday 23 June there will be a concert (starting at 6pm, location to be announced) and reception (7.15pm, Masaryk Room, SSEES).

There will be four participants from Belarus: Andrej Chadanovič (poet, chairman of Belarusian PEN), Hanna Kiślicyna (Academy of Sciences, literary critic), Viktar Marcinovič (novelist, journalist, art historian specialising in Chagall), Uladzimir Niakliajeŭ (novelist, poet, candidate in the 2010 presidential elections).

The Professor of Belarusian Studies at the Marie Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Siarhiej Kavalioŭ (playwright), and Professor Zina Gimpelevich of the University of Waterloo, Canada (specialist on Vasiĺ Bykaŭ) will also participate.

Participants from the UK will cover areas ranging from Polish literature to Russian cinema, literature and music, as well as Belarusian studies. A full programme will be available soon.

Attendance at all the events related to the Symposium is free of charge, BUT for catering purposes and – for the Saturday session – for UCL Security, it is essential to know how many people will be attending.

Please complete the symposium attendance form and return it to jimdingley@gmail.com.



November 30, 2023

Kaliady and Batlejka 2023 (Christmas celebration), Saturday 16 December 2023, 3pm-5pm

All members and friends of the Belarusian community in Britain are cordially invited to the traditional Kaliady celebration organised by the Anglo-Belarusian Society on Saturday 16th December 2023, starting at 3pm, at the Church of St. Cyril of Turau, followed by a service and tea with biscuits at the Marian House afterwards. From 4pm there… Continue reading Kaliady and Batlejka 2023 (Christmas celebration), Saturday 16 December 2023, 3pm-5pm

November 30, 2023

An Afternoon with two Belarus Book Authors – Paul Hansbury and Vasil Eudakimau, Saturday 02/12 14:30-17:00

 Talk by Paul Hansbury – “Is There Such a Thing as “Belarus?”, followed by Q & A Vladimir Putin doesn’t appear to think there should be an independent Belarus : in his notorious 2021 essay “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” he argued that Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians were a single triune nation.… Continue reading An Afternoon with two Belarus Book Authors – Paul Hansbury and Vasil Eudakimau, Saturday 02/12 14:30-17:00

October 2, 2023

Vanda Martins’ Reflections as a Translator and Poet in Lithuania and Scotland, Thu 12 Oct 19:00-20:30, Edinburgh

Vanda Martins’ Reflections as a Translator and Poet in Lithuania and Scotland THU 12 OCT 2023 @ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM VENUE : ANATOMY LECTURE THEATRE, SUMMERHALL – 1, Summerhall, Edinburgh, EH9 1PL AGE GROUP: 12+ (UNDER 16S WITH ADULT) PART 1 : SOVIET DEPORTATIONS FROM LITHUANIA – REVELATION BY TRANSLATION – A talk by Vanda… Continue reading Vanda Martins’ Reflections as a Translator and Poet in Lithuania and Scotland, Thu 12 Oct 19:00-20:30, Edinburgh

September 27, 2023

Meeting with Vanda Martins, Sat 7 Oct 14:00, London

On Saturday 7th October 2023 at 2pm, at the Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library in North Finchley, Vanda Martins, a Belarusian poet from Lithuania, will talk about Dalia Grinkievičiūtė’s book “Lithuanians by Laptev Sea”, translated by Vanda into Belarusian. Vanda is also going to present poems from her upcoming trilingual book about Vilnia-Wilnia-Vilnius. This event will… Continue reading Meeting with Vanda Martins, Sat 7 Oct 14:00, London

December 10, 2022

Kaliady celebration, Batlejka and the 25th Anniversary of Narodny Albom

All members and friends of the Belarusian community in Britain are cordially invited to the traditional Kaliady celebration organised by the Anglo-Belarusian Society on Sunday 11th December 2022, 3pm At: Church of St Cyril of Turau & All the Patron Saints of the Belarusian People Marian House, Holden Avenue, London N12 8HY There will be… Continue reading Kaliady celebration, Batlejka and the 25th Anniversary of Narodny Albom

December 10, 2022

Kupalle (Midsummer) Celebration 2023

Saturday 24 June 2023, 3pm-10pm The Anglo-Belarusian Society cordially invites its members and friends to the traditional Kupalle (Midsummer)celebration in the garden of 37 Holden Road, London N12 8HS (the nearest tube stop is Woodside Park). The celebration is organised in partnership with the Francis Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum and the Belarusian Catholic Mission,… Continue reading Kupalle (Midsummer) Celebration 2023

October 31, 2022

Centennial Commemoration of Auberon Herbert

Talks with recollections about Auberon Herbert from Pavel Shevtsov, Jim Dingley and Arnold McMillan. This will give an interesting and informative insight into the high level of activity of the Anglo Belarusian Society in the 1950’s to 1970’s, during Auberon Herbert’s active period with the Society. The meeting will be held both in-person at Marian… Continue reading Centennial Commemoration of Auberon Herbert

September 25, 2022

Queen Elizabeth II has died. 1926-2022

Anglo-Belarusian Society joins the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

June 15, 2022

Kupalle (Midsummer) Celebration 2022

SATURDAY, 25 JUNE 2022 FROM 16:00-22:00 / 37 Holden Road, London N12 8HS £7 for members £10 for non-members The Anglo-Belarusian Society cordially invites its members and friends to the traditional Kupalle (Midsummer) celebration in the garden of 37 Holden Road, London N12 8HS (the nearest tube stop is Woodside Park). Travel: Please note that Rail, Maritime… Continue reading Kupalle (Midsummer) Celebration 2022