Although the 2023-2024 season for the Edinburgh Branch ended with the AGM on 15th May 2024, there were a few extra events our members found interesting.

On 21st May, Catherine Guiat from the Institut invited the author Anne Berest to talk about her prize-winning book La Carte postale The event was well attended and the post talk discussion was both lively and informative.

On 31st May at the French Institute, Les Belles des jeux from pioneers like Alice Millat, creator of the Women’s World Games in 1922 to great athletes such as Christine Caron, Marie-José Pérec, Laure Manaudou, and Simone Biles, the exhibition showcases the spectacular path travelled by sportswomen from near exclusion to equal status.

Anne-Colette Lequet and Tom Wight attended a preview of the Exibition on 31st May was also the occasion when the French Consul, Stéphane Pailler, welcomed pupils from St Andrews who were running from Paris to St Andrews in honour of Eric Liddell.

The Exhibition is open to the public and runs until the 16th August

On 5th June 2024 there was a French Film Cinéma experience at the Fraser Centre, Tranent

The Edinburgh Branch arranged transport for a group of students studying French at Lasswade High School. The film, La petite bande (The Little Gang) was screened at the Centre. The film was introduced by Sylvia Davidson and Richard Mowe from the French Film Festival, and by Anne-Colette Lequet and Tom Wight from the Edinburgh Branch.

Anne-Colette Lequet, Warden Black and Tom Wight were guests of the Association franco-écossaise in Paris where they attended a lecture about James Brown.

They enjoyed the talk and met the new Présidente de l’Association as well as old friends and members.

The event took place on 12th June 2024 at the society's headquarters the ancien collège des écossais in Paris.

The subject was on Sports et Ecosse au 20e siècle : la FIFA, les jeux Olympiques et les carrières transatlantiques d'une famille de sportifs écossaise.

James Brown est un historien du football et de la Coupe du Monde de la FIFA.

Il est le petit-fils de Jim Brown, l’un des plus grands footballeurs écossais de la période d’avant-guerre et qui a joué pour l’équipe américaine lors de la Coupe du Monde en 1930 avant de rejoindre des grands clubs anglais – Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Clyde FC et Brentford FC.

James Brown a écrit son premier livre intitulé Mud, Blood and Studs dans lequel il retrace l’histoire des générations successives de sa famille et de ses grands sportifs au rugby et foot, qui ont marqué la scène internationale sur trois continents.

Originaire de l’état de New Jersey, Etats-Unis, James Brown habite en Seine-et-Marne où il est éditeur et rédacteur technique de contenu informatique.

As part of the Vive le Fringe 2024

The event will be held at the Institut français between 2nd and the 26th August

Concerts of progressive pop band Dunewind Electronic artist COLIBRI, the dance performance by Pan African Dance Heritage and Kyvi Mime Theatre, the poetic and cinephile show All Eyes and Ears by Zic Zanzou and the musical adventure for children Singing Willows by Alexandra Borghino.