We are still in the process of finalising details of our programme for the coming session; we have now finalised dates and speakers until the end of 2026; some details for 2027 have still to be confirmed.

Thursday 17 September 6.45 – 8.45 pm

La cornemuse et ses cousins et cousines:

Gerry Toner, chair of the FSSS Glasgow Branch, offers us an opportunity to explore a range of bagpipes and examine their musical structure. He’ll look at other instruments, stringed instruments, with the same or similar approach to harmony or at least polyphony. Gerry’s presentation will be illustrated with several musical excerpts from YouTube but he threatens to demonstrate a couple of examples himself.

Thursday 15 October 6.45 – 8.45 pm

An introduction to this autumn’s French Film Festival UK:

Richard Mowe, Co-Founder and Director of the Film Festival, returns to give us an early look at this year’s French Film Festival UK. The Festival, now in its 34th year, promises to be as exciting and inclusive as in previous years, catering for all categories and ages of viewers. The presentation will include exclusive clips and top tips from this year’s selection. (This presentation is in English.)

Thursday 19 November 6.45 – 8.45 pm

Meet the Directrice:

Nabila Lakouraï, Directrice of the Alliance Française, Glasgow, will speak on a topic of her own choice. Nabila’s career has taken her from France to Panama, Manchester and Saudi Arabia before taking up her post in Glasgow; her commitment to intercultural exchange and developing language learning is informed by her two Master’s degrees, one in education, the other in sociolinguistics. The Kultur Ensemble Glasgow programme, launched this year, creates a framework for French-German-Scottish cooperation in and beyond Glasgow. Whatever Nabila’s topic, it will be an interesting evening.

2027 Provisional Plans

The dates and details here are provisional and may require to be changed.

Thursday 21 January 2 – 4 pm (note the timing!)

Personnalités royales françaises en Écosse:

Odile Hughson, a member of our Edinburgh branch, will bring us another presentation on the links between French history and the British Isles: on this occasion her topic will introduce us to wide range of royal persons – from medieval queens to 18th century political refugees and some friends of Queen Victoria – who came to Scotland.

Thursday 18 February 6.45 – 8.45 pm

It is hoped that Anne Morddel, one of our own branch members, will dive into a little known aspect of French history: the fates of the American prisoners of war captured and held in France during the Napoleonic Wars. Anne has carried out extensive research and published a book on this topic.

Thursday 18 March 6.45 – 8.45 pm

Our national guest speaker: Professor Helen Drake, Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs, Loughborough University (London), will be speaking to all of our branches in March: Professor Drake’s topic is the current French political scene and she will provide us with an understanding of the rapidly changing political context immediately before the crucially important French presidential elections in April.

Thursday 15 April 6.45 – 8.45 pm

Debussy et la poésie médiévale:

Professor Philip Bennett, General Secretary of the FSSS, and Dr Mary Breatnach, University of Edinburgh French and Francophone Studies, will introduce us to an interesting aspect of Debussy’s music; the presentation will draw on Philip’s wide and deep knowledge of mediaeval poetry and Mary’s knowledge and practical expertise in the music of French composers of the late 19th and early 20th century.