Central Florida

Online Professional Development Workshop for Educators: “Bringing Shakespeare to Life in Your Classroom with Dr. Nick Walton”
2024-11-23 11:00 - 12:00 UTC
Zoom Workshop, November 23, 2024 at 11:00 am ET

Are you an educator looking to bring the Bard to life in your classroom? The ESU is thrilled to announce this professional development workshop open to teachers participating in the National Shakespeare Competition, TLab, or any of the ESU’s education programs. Led by renowned Shakespeare scholar Dr. Nick Walton live via Zoom from Stratford-upon-Avon, this online session will help educators find fresh, engaging ways to introduce Shakespeare to students.

Dr. Walton is the Shakespeare Courses Development Manager for Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon in the UK. He has decades of experience making Shakespeare accessible, relevant, and fun for modern students. In this one-hour session, Dr. Walton will share hands-on techniques and insights into Shakespeare’s world, giving teachers the tools to spark students’ curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of his timeless works.

This workshop is ideal for high school English and drama educators, particularly those participating in the ESU National Shakespeare Competition. Participants in this online workshop may earn Professional Development credits under the New York City Department of Education.

Don’t miss this opportunity to bring a new level of excitement and insight into your teaching!

December Program with Dr. Tyler Fisher
2024-12-02 15:30 - 17:00 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
Dr. Tyler Fisher spent 15 years studying and teaching at the University of Oxford and the University ofLondon before becoming Associate Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures at UCF. He also served as a Burnett Honors College Faculty Fellow for Global Scholarship Advising. Recently, he was appointed Dean of the Honors College at Florida Gulf Coast University.

ESU Winter Dinner
2025-01-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Winter Park Racquet Club, 2111 Vía Tuscany, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
Our Central Florida ESU Branch dinners are reportedly a highlight of the year for our members and guests. Join us for a delicious formal three-course dinner and entertainment overlooking the lake.

Happy Hour: I Stole a Monet for My Client
2025-01-29 17:00 - 18:00
Sponsored by the ESU Sandhills BranchJoin this fascinating Happy Hour with guest speaker Debra Rhodes Smith who has written a memoir of anecdotes during her 34-year career as a certified arts appraiser and Fine Art Advisor. Many experiences are shared while amassing the art collections for some of the largest corporations and luxury hotels worldwide. In her book, “Tales of Art Beyond the Frame,” Smith describes one of her most interesting assignments involving the acquisition of a Monet for a client and through some quirky circumstances at a Sotheby’s auction, she was able to obtain a million-dollar Monet for well under the valued price. All of Smith’s tales are true, witty, poignant, intelligent, informative, sophisticated, and a fresh perspective of the often-mysterious world of art.

About Debra Rhodes Smith

Since 1977 when I began my career as an art advisor to prestigious corporations, the client list grew throughout the United States and as far as the Middle East and Macao. Not only were there corporate collections, but art placement in the most renowned luxury hotels, healthcare facilities and airline lounges worldwide. This included hundreds of guest rooms and public space art installations. In 1981, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration recognized my expertise and requested I contribute an article to their Journal. Then in 1991, after two years at New York University Appraisal Studies for Fine and Decorative Arts, I joined the Appraisers Association of America. In 2009, I became USPAP compliant.

Cocktail

My favorite cocktail is a Skyy Vodka dry martini using an atomizer of vermouth accompanied with a jalapeno stuffed olive. However, to celebrate the start of the New Year, I recommend Russell’s Reserve Bourbon Manhattan with a splash of bitters. Cheers! This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Sandhills, NC Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required.

Central Florida ESU Branch Shakespeare Competition
2025-02-24 16:00 - 17:30 | Orlando Shakes, 812 E Rollins St, Orlando, Florida, 32802, United States
Annually the Central Florida ESU sponsors a Shakespeare Competition for Orange, Seminole and Osceola county students in grades 9-12. Each student, who is a winner in his or her own school, memorizes and presents a Shakespearian sonnet and also a monologue from a collection of edited pieces provided by national ESU Shakespeare Competition. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. at Orlando Shakes with refreshments served at 5:00 p.m.

Come support students from Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties as they celebrate the Bard!

Happy Hour: King George IV: The Worst Ruler in British History?
2025-03-12 18:00 - 19:00
Sponsored by the ESU Richmond Branch.British historian, Sir Spencer Walpole, described King George IV (1762-1830) as “a bad son, a bad husband, a bad father, a bad subject, a bad monarch, and a bad friend.” The Duke of Wellington was more charitable of the king, “[King George IV] was indeed the most extraordinary compound of talent, wit, buffoonery, obstinacy, and good feeling–in short, a medley of the most opposite qualities–with a great preponderance of good–that I ever saw in any character in my life.” King George IV was known for his manners and charm but also for his drunkenness, spendthrift ways, and scandalous love life. Learn more about King George III’s son, who left the Crown weaker and less popular, but immeasurably richer in architecture, the fine and decorative arts, in this ESU Happy Hour hosted by James C. Kelly, Ph.D., of ESU’s Richmond Branch, who recently retired after a half-century-long curatorial career. This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Richmond VA Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required. All Happy Hours take place on Eastern Time.

ESU 2025 Founder’s Award Gala Honoring Dr. E. Quinn Peeper
2025-03-14 17:00 - 2025-03-15 21:00 | Winter Park Racquet Club, 2111 Vía Tuscany, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
The English-Speaking Union (ESU) is proud to announce the upcoming Founder’s Award Gala, a prestigious event dedicated to honoring Dr. E. Quinn Peeper who will receive the organization’s highest accolade for his exceptional contributions to the English-Speaking Union. The gala will serve as a platform to recognize Dr. Peeper’s unwavering commitment to the mission of the ESU and his significant impact on both local and national levels.

Register Here

Event Summary

Special Guest Caroline Emma Stanley, Countess Derby of Knowsley Hall

Read the press release

About the ESU Founder’s Award

About the 2025 Honoree Dr. E. Quinn Peeper

About ESU Holiday Weekend at Knowsley Hall

Hotel Information

The following hotels are offering a special group rate:

SpringHill Suites Winter Park

199.00 USD per night – Last Day to Book : Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Booking Link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1732215030357&key=GRP&guestreslink2=true

Hilton Garden Inn Winter Park

189.00 USD per night – Last Day to Book : Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Booking link: https://group.hiltongardeninn.com/iaav6g

Guests can make their reservations using the link or inputting the code ESU in the area of the website.

March Program with Wolf Burchard
2025-03-17 15:30 - 17:00 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
“Nation of ShopKeepers”

The British design and decorative arts galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York highlight British entrepreneurism through furniture, silver, ceramics, tapestries, sculpture, and other artworks.

In this talk, Wolf Burchard will provide a virtual tour, discuss the galleries’ history, and share plans for future installations.

Wolf Burchard, Curator of the Met’s British Galleries, joined the museum in 2019. Previously, he served as Furniture Research Curator at the National Trust and Curatorial Assistant at the British Royal Collection. He holds an MA and PhD in art history from Courtauld Institute, London.

Happy Hour: Huck Finn’s America: Mark Twain’s Masterpiece and the Era That Shaped His Masterpiece with Andrew Levy
2025-04-02 18:00 - 19:00
Sponsored by the ESU Indianapolis Branch.Award-winning author, Dr. Andrew Levy, explores the historical and cultural context in which Mark Twain wrote “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Levy delves into the social issues of Twain’s time, such as race relations, childhood, and the American identity, to provide a deeper understanding of the novel’s themes and its enduring relevance. Levy’s book “Huck Finn’s America: Mark Twain and the Era that Shaped His Masterpiece” examines how Twain’s personal experiences and the political climate of the late 19th century influenced his writing. Levy’s analysis offers a fresh perspective on a classic work, making it accessible and engaging for both scholars and general readers.

This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Indianapolis Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required.

About Andrew Levy

Andrew Levy received an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars in 1986 and a Ph.D. in literature from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. Levy is the Edna Cooper Chair in English at Butler University. He is a distinguished professor and author of 35 books including critically acclaimed works such as “Huck Finn’s America” and “A Brain Wider Than the Sky.” He also directs the Writer’s Studio, the MFA program, and teaches American literature and creative writing at Butler.Levy has published essays in Harper’s, Dissent, and The American Scholar, book reviews in the Chicago Tribune and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and has written or co-edited several books on American literature and writing. Levy is the winner of the Slatten award for Biography (2005), reviews of his work and public appearances include Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, NPR’s All Things Considered and This American Life, Spin, Sports Illustrated, C-Span, Salon, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and more. Levy lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Siobhan, and their son, Aedan.

April Program with Jeremy Dibble
2025-04-07 03:30 - 17:00 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
Central Florida ESU Branch presents Professor Jeremy Dibble.

“Florida Influences on British Composer Fredrick Delius”

The ESU Central Florida Branch hosts many prominent authors and scholars including ESU’s own Evelyn Wrench Lecture Series named after our founder. These renowned British and American speakers present programs on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to, current events, history, language, literature, art, architecture, and travel. Our programs not only include top-notch speakers and topics, we also provide refreshments and the opportunity to connect with the community!

3:30 p.m. Refreshments

4:00 p.m. Lecture

2025 ESU National Shakespeare Competition – Finals Weekend
2025-04-26 08:00 - 2025-04-28 17:00
Mark your calendars! From Saturday, April 26 to Monday, April 28, 2025, NSC Branch Champions from across the country will gather in New York City for an unforgettable weekend of inspiration, learning, and performance.The weekend will culminate with the Final Competition at Juilliard’s Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center on Monday, April 28.The ESU is thrilled to bring together such extraordinary young performers from across the country. Let the countdown begin—we can’t wait to see our Central Florida Branch winner, Adam Bouchachia from Lake Nona High School, shine on stage!

Annual Branch Meeting & May Program
2025-05-05 15:30 - 17:00 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
We will meet for our annual meeting to celebrate our 2024-25 accomplishments and vote in a new board. Directly following these proceedings, Professor Melissa Ridley Elmes, Medieval Scholar will deliver an enchanting lecture on “Ethics and the Arthurian Legend.”

3:30 p.m. Refreshments

4:00 p.m. Brief Annual Meeting

4:10 p.m. Lecture

ESU 2025 Patron Tour: Nelson on Shore and at Sea: A Life of the British Admiral
2025-07-06 12:00 - 2025-07-14 12:00
The English-Speaking Union In Partnership with Sea Cloud Cruises Presents2025 National Patron Tour Nelson on Shore and at Sea: A Life of the British AdmiralWith Author and Lecturer Flora FraserJuly 6-14, 2025Naples to MaltaSet sail on an extraordinary journey through history aboard the magnificent Sea Cloud Spirit, retracing the footsteps of one of Britain’s greatest naval heroes, Admiral Horatio Nelson. This exclusive voyage, co-hosted by the English-Speaking Union and Sea Cloud Cruises, offers a unique blend of luxury, adventure, and intellectual stimulation.By day, explore picturesque ports and historic sites central to Nelson’s career and private life. By night, dine under the stars and engage in stimulating conversation with fellow history and adventure enthusiasts.Tour Highlights•Sail from Naples to Malta on board Sea Cloud Spirit, ranked among the best luxury passenger ships in the world.•This three-mast windjammer’s 28 sails are hoisted by hand for authentic sailing experience.• Enjoy lectures by renowned biographer Flora Fraser• Visit key locations in Nelson’s Mediterranean campaigns• Visit the ports of Naples, Capri, Trapani, Palermo, Naxos, Syracuse, and Valletta, Malta• Experience the thrill of sailing on a tall ship in Nelson’s wake• Indulge in luxurious accommodations and gourmet cuisineAbout ESU Patron ToursThe ESU National Patron Tours enhance our Patrons’ engagement with the ESU community through bespoke experiences of cultural enrichment, educational exploration, and unforgettable adventures.

For more information about the tour and how to sign up please contact Rossana Ivanova at rivanova@esuus.org, (862) 224-4244.

Happy Hour: The Battle of Britain
2025-08-20 16:00 - 17:00
June, 1940—In the past two months, Nazi Germany has conquered Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Great Britain stands alone against the formidable German war machine. Now, Germany decides to bring Britain to its knees. In order to do that, Goering’s Luftwaffe must win air superiority over the English Channel and Southeast England. The Battle of Britain is about to begin. It is up to the outnumbered British Royal Air Force—”The Few”—to stop the Germans.

Please join Seattle’s Museum of Flight volunteer Bob Fishman for an in-depth look at a turning point in history—how the RAF defeated the Luftwaffe and saved Britain and perhaps the world from Nazi domination—the aircraft, the strategy, and the tactics including the first use of radar & ground control to manage an air battle. This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Seattle Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free to attend, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

Speaker Information

About Bob Fishman

Bob Fishman has been a member of Seattle’s Museum of Flight and twelve years ago, as a volunteer, began giving tours of the Crew Compartment of the Full Fuselage Trainer. He also trained other volunteers. Bob has been an active member of the Museum Speakers’ Bureau, giving talks on World War II, aviation, and space history.

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and subsequently earned Master’s and Doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering. After eight years on active duty as a Naval officer, he had a 40-year career in the electric power generation business as an engineer, project manager, and executive. In 2023, Bob returned to the U.S. Naval Academy as a Distinguished Visiting Professor in Engineering where he is teaching the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps leaders.

Bob attended the National Test Pilot School in Mojave, CA and is an instrument-rated private pilot with over 3,200 hours in fifteen different aircraft models.

Featured Happy Hour Cocktail:Bob’s Favorite spirit:Glenlivet 12-year-old single malt, served neat.Drinking whiskey “neat” means that it’s served at room temperature and without any mixers or anything that would dilute the serving, like ice or water. In 1824, a businessman named George Smith applied for one of the first licenses in the Speyside region of Scotland and opened the doors to The Glenlivet Distillery. Glenlivet, translated from Gaelic, means “valley of the smooth flowing one” and is most likely referencing the nearby River Livet.

Happy Hour: J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth & Modernism
2025-09-10 16:00 - 17:00
J.R.R. Tolkien was a towering figure in the world of twentieth-century English letters. His labors on Beowulf continue to shape the literary landscape, his work on the Oxford English Dictionary still serves, and his groundbreaking thoughts about the role and purpose of fairy stories gave focus to the thoughts of C.S. Lewis and other Inklings. The Rev’d. Andrew Lazo returns to speak to the ESU about Tolkien’s approach to myth and language in his own period—an approach that still speaks call on our age as well.

This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Central Florida Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free to attend, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

About Andrew Lazo

The Rev. Andrew Lazo is an internationally-known speaker and writer specializing in C.S. Lewis and the Inklings. Andrew earned his Master’s in Modern British Literature from Rice University where he was a Jacob K. Javits fellow in the Humanities. He is a frequent speaker around the U.S. and U.K. and has authored several articles on C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. In 2009, Andrew published Mere Christians: Inspiring Encounters with C.S. Lewis. In 2014 he also was honored to transcribe, edit, and publish a previously unknown book by C.S. Lewis, “Early Prose Joy,” which was Lewis’s very first spiritual autobiography. For ten years he taught English and C. S. Lewis at St. Thomas and Houston Christian High Schools in Houston.After finishing studies for an M. Div. (with Honors) at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA in May 2022, Andrew was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in January 2023 and serves as the Apprentice Rector at Church of the Messiah in Winter Garden, FL. He is also pursuing his doctorate in Romantic Theology at Northwind Seminary, where he serves as a Distinguished Lecturer. Andrew is married to author and speaker Dr. Christin Ditchfield Lazo.For more than fifteen years, Andrew has been working on a long-awaited study of Till We Have Faces, making groundbreaking discoveries all along the way. The results of his ongoing research have led him to give talks to the Mythopoeic Society in 2016 as Scholar Guest of Honor; in the summer of 2017, Andrew served as a plenary speaker at the C.S. Lewis Foundation’s 2017 Summer Institute in Oxford and Cambridge. The talks in the Myth of Love series will be published as chapters of his forthcoming book.

“Teenage Shakespeare” – PD Workshop with Catherine Loomis
2025-09-20 12:00 - 13:00
With wit, insight, and passion, Professor Loomis brings Shakespeare to life in ways that are both entertaining and inspiring. In this one-hour Zoom session, she will share strategies for engaging your students and providing rich historical context through her presentation, “Teenage Shakespeare.” This session will explore what life was like for teenagers in Shakespeare’s time, as well as what the Bard himself experienced during his formative years.

Annual TLAB Scholar's Reunion
2025-09-24 17:00 - 18:30 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
ESU Members and guests are welcome to attend this fun evening full of the stories that have inspired the TLAB scholars our branch sent abroad. It’s time to celebrate their summer adventures!

Our Scholars:

Alison Dimino (Boone High)

Marlene Alguila (Lake Nona High School)

Laurie McLeod (Evans High), Xan Kahn (Ocoee High)

Amy Hughes (Odyssey Middle School)

Anne Hering (Orlando Shakes Director of Educatio

Happy Hour: Vampire Literature: An Anthology
2025-10-01 17:00 - 18:00
Co-Authors Dr. Robin Werner and her colleague, Dr. Elizabeth Lewis, will discuss their book titled Vampire Literature: An Anthology. Specifically, they will talk about the anthology’s inspiration and the challenges of the creation process.

Vampire Literature: An Anthology is the first anthology designed specifically to introduce students and general readers to the history, theory, and cultural impact of the literary vampire. With coverage from the early nineteenth century to the twenty-first, Vampire Literature: An Anthology brings together a wide range of texts from many eras and collects work by American, British, Irish, and Caribbean writers. The focus is on shorter prose texts, primarily short stories and novellas; in a few cases, longer works are excerpted. A range of illustrations, from political cartoons to film stills, is also included.

Don’t miss this discussion on an often-misunderstood genre of literature by highly acclaimed authors who bring considerable research into the topic. This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Atlanta Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free to attend, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

About the Co-Authors:

Dr. Robin A. Werner and Dr. Elizabeth M. Lewis are instructors in the Department of English at the University of New Orleans. Dr. Werner received her B.A. from St. Lawrence University and both her M.A. and Ph.D. from Tulane. Robin’s research and pedagogical interests are in Victorian Literature, Women and Gender Studies, Theatre History, and Fantasy and Horror Literature. She has taught a variety of special topics courses on children’s fantasy literature, supernatural fiction, and Victorian gender roles.

Dr. Lewis’ doctoral degree is in British and American Modernism and Performance Studies. In addition, she has a dance background and taught classical ballet for many years. Her specialty is dance in literature and her dissertation “Dance for the World is Dead” examines the centrality of dance aesthetics to the style and structure of modern epics, including James Joyce’s Ulysses, William Carlos Williams’ Paterson and H.D.’s Helen in Egypt. She has given numerous conference papers and has published in the field, as well.

Dr. Lewis teaches undergraduate literature courses in drama, fiction, American and British literature, as well as New Orleans literature, both onsite and online, in addition to courses in Women’s Studies.

Cocktail:Mademoiselle d’Styria1.5 oz dudognon champagne cognac•1 oz Lilette Rosé •1 oz Giffard pêche du vigne•0.5 oz Pierre Ferrand dry curaçao•0.5 oz lemon juice•2 dashes Angostura bitters Shaken & served up in a coup glass with a lemon twist

November Program with Dr. Vaughn Scribner
2025-11-03 15:30 - 17:00 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
You’re invited to hear Dr. Vaughn Scribner as he presents this November’s lecture, “Under Alien Skies: The British Experience in our Revolutionary War.”

The ESU Central Florida Branch hosts many prominent authors and scholars including ESU’s own Evelyn Wrench Lecture Series named after our founder. These renowned British and American speakers present programs on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to, current events, history, language, literature, art, architecture, and travel. Our programs not only include top-notch speakers and topics, we also provide refreshments and the opportunity to connect with the community!

3:30 p.m. Refreshments

4:00 p.m. Lecture

Happy Hour: The Lost Heirs: The Rise and Fall of the D’Oyly Carte Dynasty
2025-11-05 16:00 - 17:00
Sponsored by the ESU Central Pennsylvania Branch

The name D’Oyly Carte is recognized throughout the world because of Richard D’Oyly Carte’s partnership with Gilbert and Sullivan, which produced fourteen famous comic operas during the last quarter of the 19th Century such as H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado.

Richard D’Oyly Carte (1844-1901) was one of the greatest impresarios of his age as well as a shrewd businessman who realized the potential of Gilbert and Sullivan’s work and worked closely with them to produce and promote their operas. The company became renowned for its high-quality productions featuring talented singers, musicians, and actors. It was the success of these operas that paved the way for D’Oyly Carte’s other achievements—building his own theatres and establishing a chain of luxury hotels that included The Savoy Hotel, Claridge’s and The Berkeley in London.

A gripping new book by author James Stebbings sheds new light on the untold story of the D’Oyly Carte family – and the tragic loss of two heirs that ultimately led to the dynasty’s downfall. ‘The Lost Heirs – The Rise and Fall of the D’Oyly Carte Dynasty’, tells the story of Lucas and Michael D’Oyly Carte, the son and grandson of the legendary theatrical impresario and hotelier, Richard D’Oyly Carte.

Richard D’Oyly Carte’s empire spanned both the worlds of theatre and luxury hotels. Yet, the story of two of his heirs, Lucas and Michael, has long been overlooked – until now. James Stebbings delves into the lives of these two young men who were destined to carry on the family legacy, but whose untimely deaths sent shockwaves through the D’Oyly Carte family.

Today, the legacy of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company lives on through recordings, revivals and adaptations of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, which continue to be loved by audiences around the world.

James Stebbings’ presentation is coming to ESU audiences from his hometown in Norfolk County, England. His talk is illustrated with rare photographs and images. If you are a fan of Gilbert and Sullivan, a theatre history enthusiast, or anyone intrigued by the dramatic rise and fall of one of Britain’s most celebrated dynasties, this Happy Hour is for you, sponsored by the ESU Central Pennsylvania Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free to attend, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

About James Stebbings:

James Stebbings has had a life-long love of the theatre, especially the musical theatre and the world of drama and theatrical entertainment, participating whenever he has had the opportunity. Before retirement, James worked in financial management in London for a US energy company, but his passion was always the musical theatre about which he writes and talks. After his retirement he moved to Norfolk in the East of England which gave him time to focus on subjects he loves. This includes organizing music festivals, managing and representing some professional performers, creating and performing in historical enactments for a local museum, and performing in a musical duo. His newest book, The Lost Heirs – The Rise and Fall of the D’Oyly Carte Dynasty, was just published in April, 2025.

James is a familiar figure with ESU Happy Hour audiences giving presentations on Gilbert and Sullivan in 2021, the story of the sinking of the Lusitania in 2022 and, also in 2022, James was a featured speaker at four ESU US Branches in the Evelyn Wrench Lecture series. Cocktail:T.N.T. CocktailThe Fifth of November in the UK is known as Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night remembering when, in 1605, Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the British Parliament. I thought it appropriate therefore that we mark it with a T.N.T. cocktail from The Savoy Cocktail Book.

Equal parts:Canadian Club WhiskyAbsintheInstructions:Fill a mixing glass with ice cubesAdd the whiskey and absintheStir well until chilledStrain into a chilled shot glass or coupeStir, don’t shake: Though Prohibition-era recipes often called for shaking, modern practice suggests stirring spirit-only cocktails to chill them without adding air, which gives them a frothy texture.

Exploring Shakespeare’s Women: A Professional Development Workshop
2025-11-15 01:00 - 13:00
Join the ESU for an exclusive online professional development workshop live via Zoom from Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Explore four of Shakespeare’s most fascinating women—Juliet, Lady Macbeth, Beatrice, and Hero—through an interactive session connecting critical writing with rehearsal-room practice. Gain fresh strategies for engaging students with themes of gender, relationships, and power in Shakespeare’s works.

Ideal for secondary English and drama teachers, especially those involved in the ESU National Shakespeare Competition. Participants may be eligible for Professional Development credit.

The Earl and Countess of Derby Invite the English-Speaking Union to A Magical Holiday Weekend at Knowsley Hall
2025-11-20 08:00 - 2025-11-23 17:00
The Earl and Countess of Derby Invite the English-Speaking Union toA Magical Holiday Weekend at Knowsley HallPrescot, Merseyside L34 4AG EnglandNovember 20–23, 2025

Step into the enchantment of the holiday season with an exclusive invitation from the Earl and Countess of Derby to spend a luxurious weekend at historic Knowsley Hall, a magnificent estate nestled in the English countryside.

Knowsley Hall has been in the ownership of the Stanley family for over 600 years. Set within 2,500 acres of a private walled estate, located near Liverpool, the hall has been welcoming royalty and distinguished guests since 1495.

Executive Plus/Deluxe Suite $2,800 pp double occupancy, $3,900 pp single

(Executive Suites at $2,500 pp double / $3,400 pp single are sold out)

For more information or to secure your reservation contact Rossana Ivanova, rivanova@esuus.org, (862) 224-4244.

December Program with Dr. Barbara Perry
2025-12-01 15:30 - 17:00 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
You’re invited to hear Dr. Barbara Perry as she presents this December’s lecture, “Monarchs and Presidents: Anglo-Americans.”

The ESU Central Florida Branch hosts many prominent authors and scholars including ESU’s own Evelyn Wrench Lecture Series named after our founder. These renowned British and American speakers present programs on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to, current events, history, language, literature, art, architecture, and travel. Our programs not only include top-notch speakers and topics, we also provide refreshments and the opportunity to connect with the community!

3:30 p.m. Refreshments

4:00 p.m. Lecture

Free

Happy Hour: A Brief History of Toys for Tots
2025-12-10 17:00 - 18:00
From its humble beginnings in 1947, the wife of a Marine Reserve Major wanted todonate dolls to a charity that would distribute the toys to children in need. Sheconvinced her husband to create one. He looked to fellow Marine reservists to get thejob done. The project was a huge success and was officially adopted by the MarineCorps in 1948 and went nationwide almost immediately.

Today, Toys for Tots is recognized as an official activity of the Marine Corps and part ofthe official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve. For the past 77 years, the Toys for Totsprogram along with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve have led a campaign to collect newand unwrapped toys, providing millions of gifts annually to underprivileged childrenduring the holiday season.

Today’s Happy Hour guest speaker is Major Gunnar Spafford, USMC (Ret.) who is theDeputy Vice President of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The Foundation hassupported Toys for Tots since 1991. Major Spafford will describe the history of Toys forTots and how it has become a worldwide program. The Major will also explain the goalsof the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Sandhills Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online, free to attend, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.

About Major Gunnar Spafford, USMC (Ret.)

Major Spafford joined the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in August 2023 as the Deputy Vice President of Business Development working within the Marketing & Development department. Major Spafford served in the United States Marine Corps as both an enlisted infantryman and a military police officer before being competitively selected for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program to receive education and training to become a Marine Corps Officer.

As a Military Policeman, he served in multiple billets to include Assistant Special Operations Chief, Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of a weapons storage facility, Watch Command, Patrol Supervisor, Special Reaction Team (SRT), and SRT sniper. As an officer, Major Spafford served as Deputy Provost Marshal, Executive Officer, Operations Officer, and Senior Operations Officer before fulfilling his final role as a Manpower Program Manager for Headquarters Marine Corps, Manpower & Reserve Affairs.

After 25 total years of service, Gunnar retired from the Marine Corps and continued as a strategic and innovative Project Management Professional with a diverse background in program leadership and process improvements, most recently working as the Deputy Director for Manpower & Personnel for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

2026 Shakespeare Competition
2026-02-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Orlando Shakes, 812 E Rollins St, Orlando, Florida, 32802, United States
Please join us for the Central Florida Branch Shakespeare Competition! School winners from our participating tri-county schools will take the stage to compete for the opportunity to represent our branch in the National Competition in New York City!

March Program with Dr. Martin Greig
2026-03-02 15:30 - 17:00 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
You’re invited to hear Dr. Martin Greig as he presents this March’s lecture, ““British Empire and World War I.”

The ESU Central Florida Branch hosts many prominent authors and scholars including ESU’s own Evelyn Wrench Lecture Series named after our founder. These renowned British and American speakers present programs on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to, current events, history, language, literature, art, architecture, and travel. Our programs not only include top-notch speakers and topics, we also provide refreshments and the opportunity to connect with the community!

3:30 p.m. Refreshments

4:00 p.m. Lecture

April Program with Dr. Kevin James
2026-04-06 15:30 - 17:00 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
You’re invited to hear Dr. Kevin James as he presents this April’s lecture, ““Why Scotland Made Britain: The Extraordinary Story of How a Small Country Shaped a Modern Nation and Empire”

The ESU Central Florida Branch hosts many prominent authors and scholars including ESU’s own Evelyn Wrench Lecture Series named after our founder. These renowned British and American speakers present programs on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to, current events, history, language, literature, art, architecture, and travel. Our programs not only include top-notch speakers and topics, we also provide refreshments and the opportunity to connect with the community!

3:30 p.m. Refreshments

4:00 p.m. Lecture

May Program with Daniel Stashower
2026-05-04 15:30 - 17:00 | University Club of Winter Park, 841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789, United States
You’re invited to hear Daniel Stashower as he presents this May’s lecture, “The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes.”

The ESU Central Florida Branch hosts many prominent authors and scholars including ESU’s own Evelyn Wrench Lecture Series named after our founder. These renowned British and American speakers present programs on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to, current events, history, language, literature, art, architecture, and travel. Our programs not only include top-notch speakers and topics, we also provide refreshments and the opportunity to connect with the community!

3:30 p.m. Refreshments

4:00 p.m. Lecture
