Louise Benjamin was overwhelmed by the response when the announcement came that she would be the next president of the British-Luxembourg Society: “I received more messages than when I got married!”

The British-Luxembourg Society, BLS for short, has been around for nearly 75 years, strengthening ties between the two countries in the form of cultural events, lectures and talks, study trips and language classes, frequently collaborating with other associations and the British embassy.

Louise Benjamin is the first female president in the Society’s 74-year history. Having served as Vice-President for the past two years, Benjamin succeeded David Clark in early March, who after having successfully relaunched the Society has stepped down from the Council.

Speaking to RTL Today, Benjamin says she’s excited about making the Society flourish, despite taking over the position in uncertain times amidst a global pandemic and Brexit.

The former has meant the Society’s members have had to flock to Zoom to host virtual gatherings, but the UK’s departure from the European Union is even more of a reason to keep the mutual interest and friendship between Luxembourg and the UK alive.

Benjamin said that she would "relish the challenge of helping to encourage the deep bonds of friendship which were so tightly held between Luxembourg and the UK.”

Impressive list of guest speakers and extensive programme

One of the events Covid-19 has put on hold is the annual Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Lecture.

Last year’s edition would have seen Lord Patten of Barnes, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, speak in Luxembourg.

This event will now be held virtually on 18 May with details of the lecture title to be announced shortly.

“A reason in itself to join the BLS”, notes Benjamin. Past speakers have included Margaret Thatcher (PM, when in office), Eddie George, (Governor of the Bank of England) and Lord Hurd of Westwell (Former Foreign Secretary).

The British-Luxembourg Society was founded in 1947 by a group of 23 Luxembourgers, among them the future Prime Minister and “father of the euro” Pierre Werner, motivated by a joint admiration and gratitude to the UK and its people for their fight against Nazi Germany.

Since then, it has developed its famous language courses even further and supports the activities of other societies involved in promoting British culture in Luxembourg.

A frequent misconception is that members have to be British or Luxembourgish to join.

Quite on the contrary; everyone with an interest in either of the two countries is very welcome. “Some people might join because they enjoy British humour!”

Membership for students is free, individuals pay €30 and partners/spouses a combined €40 per year. Rather than being a more political and business-oriented organisation, such as a Chamber of Commerce, BLS is focused on forging cultural ties.

Recent events include poetry performances and an upcoming art competition. The BLS has a line up of talks on science, education, music, literature and virology.  The Society has also collaborated with the University of Luxembourg.

Benjamin was previously the Chair of STEP Benelux and has been living in Luxembourg since 2002. She is married to a Luxembourger and an active mother of 3 children.

Besides her full-time career as a Luxembourg lawyer specialised in corporate law, she is also involved in charity work, including Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y), a charity that supports disadvantaged youth become actors in their own lives by funding education programmes and helping them find jobs. More information on the charity can be found on it’s website, flyer and in this video.

For the British-Luxembourg Society, visit their website here.