2013 Diary of Events

After a stunning 2012 filled with Jubilee celebrations, the Olympics and great Victoria League events, 2013 certainly has a lot to live up to. But we are sure youll find something to entertain in our very full Diary of Events for this year. Highlights for 2013 include: a visit to the Geffrye Museum and restored historic Almshouse; a walking tour of beautiful Kew Gardens in the height of its Spring glory; a tour of the Duke of Wellingtons London home, Apsley House; the Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace; our annual Victoria League Summer Luncheon; and a tour and private concert at the Handel House museum. We also have all the usual favourites, from Lunch at the New Cavendish Club, to the Commonwealth Day Observance, Trooping the Colour and the Garter Parade. We hope you can join us for some (or all!) of these wonderful events in 2013.

How to Book
To book any events in this Diary: Send the Booking Form with your cheque, if the cost of the event is known, to Victoria League Headquarters Office. Book by telephone and pay by giving your credit card details over the phone. Tel: 020 7243 2633

For confirmation of dates, details of times, prices and further information regarding our events, please contact: Bonnie Rozorio Membership & Administration Officer The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship 55 Leinster Square, London, W2 4PW. Tel: 020 7243 2633 Email: bonnie@victorialeague.co.uk

Dates for your Diary

JANUARY
S M T W T F S

JANUARY
No Events

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

FEBRUARY
RCM Chamber Music Concert Wednesday, February 6 Lunch at the New Cavendish Club Tuesday, February 26

FEBRUARY
S M T W T F S

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

1 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 26 27 28

2 9 16 23

MARCH
Commonwealth Day Observance Monday, March 11 Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race Sunday, March 31

MARCH
S M T W T F S

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

APRIL
Apsley House Tour Thursday, April 18 Anzac Day Dawn Service, Wreath Laying & Commemorative Service Thursday, April 25 Lunch at the New Cavendish Club Tuesday, April 30

APRIL
S M T W T F S

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

MAY
MAY
S M T W T F S

Walking Tour of Kew Gardens Monday, May 20

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

JUNE
Trooping the Colour Saturday, June 1, 8, 15 Beating Retreat Thursday, June 13

JUNE
S M T W T F S

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

Queens Cup Final Polo Match Sunday, June 16 Garter Procession Monday, 17 June Geffrye Museum & Almshouse Wednesday, 19 June

JULY
S M T W T F S

JULY
A Midsummer Nights Dream Globe Theatre Tuesday, July 2 Annual General Meeting Wednesday, July 3 Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace Saturday, July 13

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

AUGUST
S M T W T F S

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

Summer Luncheon Tuesday, July 30

AUGUST
No Events

* Events from September to December will be confirmed in

the next Newsletter & Diary Update, due out in April.

SEPTEMBER
S M T W T F S

SEPTEMBER *
Handel House Museum Tour and Private Concert Thursday, September 12

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

OCTOBER *

Admiral Phillip Birthday Celebrations Friday, October 11

OCTOBER
S M T W T F S

Lunch at the New Cavendish Club Tuesday, October 29

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

NOVEMBER *
Commonwealth Countries League Fair Saturday, November 9

NOVEMBER
S M T W T F S

Service on HMS Belfast Monday, November 11

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

DECEMBER *
Victoria League Christmas Lunch at the Rubens at the Palace Hotel Tuesday, December 3 Commonwealth Carols Service TBC

DECEMBER
S M T W T F S

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

* Events from September December will be confirmed in

the next Newsletter & Diary Update, due out in April.

Forthcoming Events January - July 2013

Chamber Music Concert
Wednesday, February 6 at 1:05pm Royal College of Music, London SW7 2BS. Tickets: Free, but please book early. Join us for a Chamber Music concert by some very talented student musicians at the Royal College of Music. We have a limited number of tickets for this, so please book early.

Lunch at the New Cavendish Club

Tuesday, February 26 at 12:30pm The New Cavendish Club, London W1H 7BS Cost: 25.00 Join us at one of our regular lunches at the New Cavendish Club to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. The luncheon is always delicious, and its a great opportunity to hear news of the Victoria Leagues activities. For VL members and their guests. An informal occasion with Lunch (choice from Menu) and Wine.

Commonwealth Day Observance

Monday, March 11 at 2:45pm (seated) for 3:15pm Westminster Abbey, London. Tickets: Free. Bookings close 2 weeks before the event. This multi-faith Observance will be held in Westminster Abbey in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and H.R.H The Duke of Edinburgh. The theme of the Observance in 2012 is Opportunity Through Enterprise, celebrating economic innovation and our shared commitment towards youth, social and sustainable enterprise.

Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race

Sunday, March 31, departure time to be confirmed. Departs: Festival or Westminster Pier (TBC). Cost: 25.00 Watch the finish of this thrilling race from the comfort of the cruiser Suerita, with a light luncheon and cash bar. We will depart from Festival or Westminster pier (TBC) to a mooring near the finish line of the race. After the race we will travel with the boat back in to London.

Tour of Apsley House

Thursday, April 18 at 2:00pm 149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner W1J 7NT Tickets: 9.50 / 8.50 (or 3.50 for English Heritage Members) Apsley House, also known as Number One, London, is the London townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington. Boasting one of the finest art collections in London, the house is very much as it was when Wellington lived there after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo. We will have a guided tour of the house, hearing about its history, artworks, and the Dukes of Wellington.

Anzac Day Dawn, Wreath Laying & Commemorative Service

Thursday, April 25 5:00am: DAWN SERVICE Australian War Memorial, Hyde Park Corner A non-ticket event. Approx 40mins long. 11:00am: WREATH LAYING SERVICE The Cenotaph, Whitehall A non-ticket event, but please carry photo ID for security checks. 12:00 noon: COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE Westminster Abbey Complimentary tickets are required to attend this service. Please book early.

Lunch at the New Cavendish Club

Tuesday, April 30 at 12:30pm. The New Cavendish Club, London W1H 7BS Cost: 25.00 Join us at one of our regular lunches at the New Cavendish Club to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. The luncheon is always delicious, and its a great opportunity to hear news of the Victoria Leagues activities. For VL members and their guests. An informal occasion with Lunch (choice from Menu) and Wine.

Walking Tour of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Monday, May 20 at 2:00pm. 26 West Park Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DA Tickets: 16.00 / 14.00 The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, comprises 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses. Our guide will be giving us an in-depth tour of part of the gardens as we enjoy the spring weather and blooms, while learning about the history and work of Kew.

Trooping the Colour**

1st Rehearsal Major-Generals Review Saturday, June 1. A limited number of free tickets will be available 2nd Rehearsal Colonels Review Saturday, June 8. A limited number of tickets will be available. Cost: 10.00 Her Majesty The Queens Birthday Parade Saturday, June 15. A limited number of tickets will be available. Cost: 25.00

Beating Retreat
Thursday, June 13 at 9:00pm Horse Guards Parade Ground, Whitehall Cost: 15.00. Please book early as we order tickets via a third party. An unforgettable evening as 300 musicians, drummers and pipers perform this age-old ceremony. Beating Retreat is a major event in the Armys ceremonial calendar, delivering an evening of spirited marches as well as poignant and evocative hymns and anthems.

Queens Cup Final Polo Match**

Sunday, June 16 at 3pm. Gates open 10am. Smiths Lawn, Windsor Great Park Cost: 40 Englands premier high goal handicapped polo championship, the Queens Cup is a highlight of the polo year. You may take your own picnic or buy lunch at the food and bar facilities available. Enjoy a truly different and memorable day out watching this Game of Kings.

Garter Procession**
Monday, 17 June Windsor Castle. Entry 12 noon 2pm. Procession begins at 2:40pm. Tickets: Tickets to view this event are issued by ballot and we have applied for an allocation. We will have a very limited number of tickets so early booking is recommended. Every June, the Knights of the Garter gather at Windsor Castle, where new knights take the oath and are invested with the insignia. The knights process to a service in St George's Chapel, wearing their blue velvet robes, the badge of the Order and black velvet hats with white plumes.

** All Royal Events are extremely popular and tickets go quickly. As ticket availability is limited, please book events as soon as possible, to avoid being disappointed.

Geffrye Museum & Almshouse

Wednesday, 19 June at 1:45pm Cost: 2.50. The Geffrye explores the home over the past 400 years, from around 1600 to the present day, focusing on the living rooms of the urban middle classes in England, particularly in London. We will have a guided tour of the almshouse, which has been restored to its original condition, followed by afternoon tea at 4:00pm (not included in cost). You will also have time to explore the museum and gardens at your leisure. Due to the size of the museum and almshouse we have a maximum of 20 places on this visit.

A Midsummer Nights Dream, Globe Theatre

Tuesday, July 2 at 2:00pm Shakespeares Globe Theatre Cost: 22.00 Join us at the Globe Theatre for an afternoon of comedy as we enjoy the authentic atmosphere, the fantastic acting, and even get to meet the cast after the show!

Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, July 3. To be confirmed in the next Diary Update.

Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace

Saturday, July 13 Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA Cost: 30.00. A very limited number of tickets available. The Coronation Festival, in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace, will celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Queen's Coronation. The Festival will be open to members of the public; giving visitors the opportunity to explore the Gardens and buy, sample and experience the wide range of products and services from the exhibitors, all of whom are Royal Warrant holders.

Summer Luncheon
Tuesday, July 30 12:30pm at the Victoria League House. 55 Leinster Square, London W2 4PW. Cost: 10 Our annual Summer Luncheon provides the opportunity of mixing with old friends and meeting new ones, getting to know students at the Victoria League House, and enjoying the summer weather in the garden. Always well attended, the lunch is a catered buffet.

Information on Events organised by our Westminster Branch may be obtained from The Chairman, Mrs. Eileen Davenport, on 020 8839 8662. The Diary of Events is open to all U.K. and overseas members and friends of The Victoria League, to members of The Royal Over-Seas League, The Royal Commonwealth Society, The Britain-Australia Society, Womens Corona Society and other Commonwealth organisations.

PLEASE NOTE
Members should be aware that some of our events may require a certain amount of standing, walking and climbing stairs. Any Member who may have difficulties with mobility should ensure they bring someone to assist them. If you have any questions about access at particular event, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Events from September December will be confirmed in the next Newsletter & Diary Update, due out in April.

Booking Form
Please complete this booking form and return with your cheque to: Bonnie Rozorio Membership & Administration Officer The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship 55 Leinster Square, London, W2 4PW. Alternatively, you may wish to phone and pay by credit card. Name Address Phone Email No Tickets / Places

P/code Mobile

Event

Date

Name of Guest/s

I enclose my cheque in the sum of The Victoria League. Signature:

made payable to