ESU 2026 Founder’s Award Dinner and National Patron Tour “Ovid and Shakespeare’s Metamorphoses”

07/13/2026 12:00 AM - 07/16/2026 11:55 PM ET

Admission

$500.00 - Deposit- ESU 2026 Founder’s Award Dinner and In and Around London
$500.00 - Deposit - ESU Founder’s Award Dinner Only

Summary

Under the theme of Metamorphoses and guided by Dr. Catherine Loomis, our program in and around London will feature a series of specially arranged visits to palaces and cultural institutions, offering behind‑the‑scenes access and opportunities to meet members of historic families, distinguished scholars, and individuals whose work and insights illuminate the week’s theme. These exceptional experiences, together with intimate receptions and shared moments with the international ESU community, will be punctuated on Tuesday evening, July 14, with the Founder’s Award Dinner at the Oxford and Cambridge Club, honoring our dear friend Donald Best.

Description

The English-Speaking Union invites its Patron Members to a commemorative week in London from July 13 to July 17, 2026, themed "Shakespeare and Ovid’s Metamorphoses" and guided by scholar Dr. Catherine Loomis. The itinerary begins on Monday with a private visit and lecture at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, followed by the Dutch masters at Kenwood House, punctuated by a Dinner at the Oxford and Cambridge Club, celebrating Donald Best. On Wednesday, the group travels to New College, Oxford, for a celebratory international lunch, while Thursday features a visit to the architectural layers of Hampton Court Palace, Apsley House, and a final cocktail reception. For those staying through Friday, the week concludes with the International Public Speaking Competition Finals at Dartmouth House, offering a complete immersion into the literary and cultural traditions of the ESU’s global community.