Coscan Magazine 2014/1
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T&Cs apply. 1895 .indd 1 01/04/2014 09:41 Confederation of Scandinavian Societies of Great Britain and Ireland Contents: CoScan and societies 2 From the Chairman of the Editorial Board 3 Message from the President 4 Chairman’s message 4 Obituaries 7 Anglo-Danish Society: Lisbeth Ehlers 11 Manchester Swedish Meetup Group: Tony Bray 13 Nordmanns-forbundet: Norgesskolen: Lisbeth Bø Håverstad 14 News in brief Language and culture 15 Guest writer: The Revd Canon John Toy 18 Scotland’s first Vikings in Ardnamurchan: Peter Addyman 20 Interview on the Viking exhibition in London: Kåre Odgaard Gade 22 1814 - Annus Mirabilis: Per Steinar Raaen 26 Anna Sophie’s Kitchen: Anna Sophie Strandli 27 From the bookshelf, presentations and reviews: Ian Cumpstey, Eva Robards, Harriet Podmore, Mark Elliott Travel awards 32 CoScan Trust Fund 2014: Brita Green 33. Prize winning report: Rosie Hoggmascall 34 Other arctic expeditions - report extracts 36. Swedish healthcare: Joseph Malone Contact details 38 Member Societies 2014 39 Executive Committee 40 Trust Fund, Editorial Board, CoScan Patrons Next deadline for contributions to the Magazine: 1 October 2014 Send to [email protected] From the Chairman of saint’ of YASS), and Peter Addyman draws our attention to recent discoveries the Editorial Board of a Viking boat burial in Scotland. Additionally, of course, there are the Iain Robertson usual features such as Anna Sophie’s Kitchen and contributions from those who have been given CoScan Travel Awards. It has been my privilege to serve as chairman of a board consisting of such gifted people. However even the most gifted people cannot produce material out of nowhere, so I hope that all our readers will consider whether they might have something to say which would interest our readership. We look forward Regrettably, this will be my last to receiving your contributions. submission as Chairman of the Editorial Board. Why, it may be asked, withdraw New to the Editorial Board after so short a time? The answer is that life as a retired person can become Dr Louise Sørensen is a Research very complicated (don’t believe the Associate at the University of Sheffield. myth about retirement being a golden Louise has a background in Scandinavian autumn!). I find that there are so many languages and history and is particularly demands on my time that I cannot fulfil interested in how we uncover the them all. I will not be leaving the Board, experiences of ordinary people in the however, just playing a more minor role. past. Her PhD thesis investigated English And there is good news: Louise phrasebooks and ‘teach yourself’ manuals Sørensen of the University of Sheffield for Scandinavians in the 19th century. Centre for Nordic Studies has agreed Following that she worked on Ola to join us. The editorial work will Nordmann Goes West, a project applying continue to be done by members of virtual world technology to research the Board, and Brita Green has agreed into Norwegian emigration to America to take over to chair our meetings. in the late 1800s (see CoScan Magazine Some articles in this issue look back 2013/2), and a project that explores the to the Viking age. One covers the current experience of those who have come across exhibition at the British Museum, which the North Sea to live in the UK in modern some of our readers will have seen, while times. Until August stories can be sent to: another features a recent rune-stone [email protected]. discovery in Orkney. Our guest writer Above all, with Louise on the Board, John Toy tells the complicated story of the we will have a good injection of youth a 11th century St Sigfrid (who is the ‘patron new ideas. 2 Message from the President Mark Elliott One of the excitements of CoScan is our constant change of venue. Last year, at this time, I was able to write of the joys of Tallinn in Estonia. 2014 was a year for the Annual General Meeting to be a home fixture, and the Norwegian Scottish Association (NSA) nobly took on the task of arranging a programme for us in their home city of Edinburgh. Around fifty of us, representing development process, and a new recruit thirteen different societies, were gathered for the magazine’s Editorial Board. Our for the occasion. Almost as if we were in finances are reasonably healthy, and a foreign city (and there were inevitably we are beginning to attract advertisers a few comments to the effect that it might and perhaps even sponsors. There indeed soon be so, with the Scottish was real debate on some issues, and a referendum less than five months away measure of constructive disagreement. and the outcome in the balance), we Most encouraging of all, perhaps, were welcomed at a diplomatic reception was the brief statement from a new given by the Norwegian Consul-General, society, the Manchester Swedish, a bare taken around some of the main historical two years old. Its founder told us that sites and viewpoints by a highly- half of his 200-plus members are under professional guide (an NSA member), 35, recruited through the social media and presented with a bag of local and meeting often just for the pleasure delicacies. Even the sun shone, now and of the company. Groups of this kind, then. We met old friends and made a few with a Scandinavian/Nordic interest, are new ones, in a very happy atmosphere. (he said) now much more commonly found. There is real hope for a vigorous But what struck me most was the st warmth of our formal meeting, the future, if CoScan can adapt to the 21 AGM. I heard comments from some of century way of doing things – and we those not familiar with CoScan events are very willing to learn new ways. As about how interesting it all was, and at always, we need new blood, new people the same time how relaxed. Things are to take CoScan forward. As always, clearly happening – nine new member we shall be delighted to hear from societies over the last 24 months, anybody with ideas. I am increasingly a new-look website well on in the confident that we shall find them. 3 Chairman’s message We are sad to report the death Eva Robards of three people who worked with dedication for CoScan. Poul Hougaard Nielsen (1936-2014) by Mark Elliott Of Poul Nielsen’s long and active life, It’s good to be Scandinavian in the only five years were devoted to his work UK these days. Wherever you look, at the centre of CoScan. But in that short there is something Nordic to find: in time he drove forward a new initiative film, literature, music, food. Nordic to expand CoScan’s membership, with Noir has become a household name and unremitting and productive vigour, and even has its own magazine, and in the won universal respect. The news of his TV series Scandimania earlier this year death in January 2014, after some years Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall explored fighting against ill health, saddened us all. ‘the happiest countries in the world’. Poul was elected to CoScan’s Riding on this interest in the North, Executive Committee at the Oslo we can be proud to present ourselves and Conference of October 2005, and at our activities. But at the same time, we the first committee meeting two days should be aware that we can make our after the AGM volunteered himself for own presence stronger by collaboration. the new role of Membership Secretary. Part of this is knowing what’s going on in CoScan at the time was reeling from the other CoScan organisations, but also joint decision of the five Nordic Embassies events are valuable. Since the last issue of in London to cease their annual grant the Magazine there have been two events to us of £250 each, and developing the to which CoScan fellow members have concept of individual membership was been invited: Lucia in York Minster, seen as one way of bridging the financial and the Scandinavian Day at the British gap. Increasing the number of affiliated Museum. There may be more to come, societies was also vitally important. Poul’s but above all, let’s keep in contact! new role was crucial for our survival. He tackled it with a determination and persistence which became legendary. Danish by birth, he tended to focus his efforts most sharply on Danish 4 organisations and individuals, with Director of Cabico Ltd (distributor of immediate and considerable success. European cakes in the UK). His work took But no potential target was forgotten, and him travelling around the country, which failure to reply to an approach from Poul made it possible sometimes to catch simply meant that he went on trying. our Scarlet Pimpernel. When caught, His sustained effort was extraordinary. he was full of enthusiasm and ideas, Receipts from members and member many of which have been implemented.