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We will hold our AGM at the Finnish Church and formal notice will be sent to members nearer the date. Following the formal business of the AGM, Arna Davis will give an illustrated talk entitled “Finnish Art in Support of Finnish Independence – a Love Story”.

Riitta Jallinoja, Professor Emerita of Sociology at Helsinki University, will give a talk on “Strong Finnish Women at the Turn of the Century and their Influence of Finland’s Independence.” The meeting will be held at the Finnish Institute.

For six centuries Finland was part of Sweden and then for another 100 years part of Russia, yet, by the mid 19th century the Finnish language had not only survived but was deemed fit to be used for administration, higher education and literature. Marjatta Bell will explain how the Finnish language managed to survive when in other European countries native languages have been all but lost.

This event will be at 6.30 for 7.00pm at St Giles International, 154 Southampton Row, London WC1. Prior registration is essential – please contact the Hon. Secretary if you would like to attend.

Internationally acclaimed storyteller and singer, Nick Hennessey will lead us on a journey from our own shores to the snow-filled forests of the far North. The programme is a collection of stories from the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala. We will hear stories of the creation of the world, of the sweet-voiced fish-bone harp, of the gap-toothed witch of Pohjola who steals the Sun and Moon, locking them in an iron mountain, and of how Old Väinö and the Smith set out to free them.

The performance will be at the Finnish Church in London, 33 Albion Street, SE16 starting at 7.00pm and ending at about 9.00pm. There will be one 20 minute interval.

Tickets £10 at the door or £8 in advance from the Hon. Secretary. Payments in advance can be paid by cheque (please use the contact form to request details) or you can pay using PayPal

A Reception at the London Library on the occasion of the donation to the Library of over 100 books from and about Finland to give greater depth to the Library’s Finnish collection. This event has been included in the official calendar of events marking the centenary year of Finland’s independence. Prof. Henrik Meinander will give a talk entitled “Earned Independence? The birth of the Republic of Finland, 1917-1919.”

Nigel Litchfield worked for Nokia from 1990-2014 during which time he held a number of senior positions culminating in becoming the first President of Vertu, Nokia’s luxury phone division. He spent six years in charge of the Asia Pacific region when Nokia rose from 4th place to being market leader. His talk will be an insider’s perspective on “The Rise and Fall of Nokia Mobile Phones”.

The meeting will be held at 6.30 for 7.00pm at St Giles International, 154 Southampton Row, WC1. If you wish to attend, please notify the Hon. Secretary in the usual way.

For this event, we invite members to bring along a favourite Finnish book, or a book about Finland, talk a bit about it and perhaps read an extract. It might be a classic piece of literature, a modern detective story, a biography, a children’s book, history, travel, architecture, or whatever you like, so long as it is likely to be of interest to others. If you would like to participate or just to attend, please contact the Hon. Secretary in the usual way. The meeting will be at 6.30 for 7.00pm at St Giles International, 154 Southampton Row, WC1.