The Bhutan Society of the UK
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The 10th Annual Dinner of the Bhutan Society

The Tenth Annual Dinner of the Bhutan Society of the UK took place in the superb surroundings of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London on Friday 18th October, 2002. Our President, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn presided, and the Society was honoured by the presence of HRH The Crown Prince of Bhutan as our Guest of Honour. We were also delighted to welcome as our special guests HE Bap Kesang and his wife, delegates from nine fellow European Bhutan Societies and 11 Bhutanese students currently studying in the UK. In total, 235 friends of Bhutan attended the dinner and it was an excellent evening.

The artist Michael Blooman A.R.C.A. generously donated a fine watercolour painting of Taktsang Lhakhang to be auctioned, raising the splendid sum of £801. This money, together with other sums raised by the Society, will be donated to the Bhutan Health Trust Fund.

Photo: HRH The Crown Prince of Bhutan presents a model of the Thimphu Memorial Chorten to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Bhutan Society. The gift was accepted by our President, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, on behalf of the Bhutan Society.

HRH The Crown Prince is greeted by a Guard of Honour of the Chelsea Pensioners on his arrival at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
HRH The Crown Prince with three Bhutanese
currently resident in the UK.

The Great Hall, Royal Hospital Chelsea, London.
HRH The Crown Prince congratulates the Bhutan Society on its Tenth Anniversary.


The Convention of European Bhutan Societies

The second Convention of European Bhutan Societies took place on the following day, 19th October, at St. Paul's Walden Bury, the home of our Chairman, Simon Bowes Lyon.
The Convention was opened by HRH The Crown Prince of Bhutan, and we were delighted that both he and HE Dasho Bap Kesang were able to attend. Our President, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn presided. The 20 delegates represented nine European Bhutan Friendship Societies: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. We were also joined by a delegate from Athens, Greece, who is interested in eventually setting up a Greek Bhutan Society.

Delegates discussed the similarities and differences between our societies and our approaches to promoting knowledge and understanding of Bhutan in Europe. Ideas for further developing our links in the future were also explored. HE Dasho Bap Kesang then briefed the delegates on recent developments in Bhutan, followed by questions and a discussion.

Simon and Caroline Bowes Lyon provided an excellent lunch, which was followed by the chance to see a clip from the forthcoming film of the Bhutan-Montserrat football match that took place in Thimphu earlier this year.

St. Pauls Walden Bury was a perfect venue for the Convention and delegates were able to get to know each other and 'network' while enjoying a walk through the beautiful and historic gardens in the autumn sunshine. All in all, it was a most valuable and pleasant occasion. It is envisaged that a Convention of European Bhutan Societies will now take place every two years.

HRH The Crown Prince of Bhutan, Lord Wilson of Tillyorn and Simon Bowes Lyon
accompanied by HE Dasho Bap Kesang and delegates from nine European Bhutan Friendship Societies
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