(Standing) David Clark, Chairman of the Oxford University Society; (facing camera) Pierre Gramegna, Luxembourg's Minister of Finance, surrounded by UK Ambassador Fleur Thomas and guest speaker Dr Hubertus von Morr;
Credit: Oxford University Society of Luxembourg
On Thursday evening, the alumni societies in Luxembourg of the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics (LSE) held their annual black tie gala dinner.
The event took place in the Salle des Chevaliers of Bourglinster Castle. 85 guests attended including Luxembourg's Minister of Finance, Pierre Gramegna, and the British Ambassador to Luxembourg, Fleur Thomas. David Clark, Chairman of the Oxford University Society of Luxembourg, was Master of Ceremonies.
Dr Hubertus von Morr, a former German Ambassador to Luxembourg and current Secretary General of The International Club La Redoute in Bonn, gave a speech on the recent German federal elections. He spoke of what he deemed to be the almost total absence of debate on international and European matters during the campaign. He also stressed how young voters strongly supported the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens, adding that question marks hang over the future of the large traditional parties, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the CDU / CSU Union parties, who each only managed to garner around 25% of the vote.
Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna toasted to His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and spoke of the importance of the international community to the Grand Duchy. British Ambassador Fleur Thomas toasted to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Martin Curwen, President of the Cambridge Society, then toasted Luxembourg, whilst Nigel Williams, President of the LSE Alumni Association, toasted the three universities and thanked the Oxford University Society for undertaking the organisation of this year’s event.
