Friday 2 December 2011
Alan Riding (Reuters 1966-1971), whose later career included being European cultural editor for The New York Times, informed us that his English-language book “And the Show Went on - Cultural Life in Nazi-occupied Paris” would be published in French next month by no less than the Plon publishing house, publisher of General de Gaulle’s memoirs!
That an English-language book entirely devoted to events which occurred in France is translated and published in French, especially by such a prestigious editor as Plon, is extremely rare. A paperback edition of the original English-language version just appeared in the United States (Vintage) while a British paperback is set for June (Duckworth).
Félicitations Alan!
Pictured (L-R) are: Bernard Edinger, Phil Wardle, Fay Winning, Yolande Williams, John Stephens, Donald Armour, Keith Luckcuck, Terry Williams, Tony Winning, Martin Leeburn and Alan Riding.
● Alan Riding’s books
● REVIEW
Mammoth meal for the Dinosaurs
Tuesday 31 May 2011
Several generations were present since current Paris chief correspondent Catherine Bremer was born in 1972 when several of those at the table were then already members of the Reuters office – and some others present had already left the company after several years’ service in Paris and elsewhere.
Pictured are (clockwise starting with Martin Leeburn from London, closest to camera): Martin Leeburn, Donald Armour, Paul Taylor, Nick Bray, Catherine Bremer, Charles Bremner, John Stephens and Bernard Edinger (both standing), Alan Riding, Peter Kayser from Tuscany and Iain Smith from Lisbon.
After lunch, Catherine and Paul went back to the office, Charles, now The Times’ Paris bureau chief, flew to the Hague on an urgent story while the – ahem – slightly more mature (ie older) Dinosaurs went off for a relaxed end of afternoon. Martin and Bernard discovered a nearby street named after British wartime secret agent FFE Yeo-Thomas, the White Rabbit of SOE fame and the only foreign spy after which a Paris street is named in recognition of his services to France.
Dinosaurs brave icy blasts
Friday 3 December 2010
Bitterly cold weather disrupting transport links kept many people at home, making the latest Paris Dinosaurs lunch a small, intimate affair. Those swapping tales at Friday's lunch – Charles Bremner, Bernard Edinger, Keith Luckcuck, Barry May, Julian Nundy and Alan Riding – were sustained by the excellent food and wine at the Club de la France Libre before venturing out to the icy blasts of the 13th arrondissement. Among those whose travel plans were thwarted by the snow and other causes: Alan Cowell, Ian MacKenzie, Chris Peterson and John Stephens.
Pictured, left to right, Barry May, Bernard Edinger, Alan Riding, Julian Nundy, Charles Bremner and Keith Luckcuck.
Dinosaurs afloat on the Seine
Friday 25 June 2010
The Paris Dinosaurs’ amphibious (and gastronomic) assault on the Seine was a smashing success with 19 participants embarking on the good ship Cristal for a lunchtime cruise in beautiful, hot summer weather.
Present were (from Britain) Rina Fenby, Barbara and Manfred Pagel, Fay and Tony Winning, David Christian-Edwards, Alex Frere, Phil Wardle, (from New York) Evelyn Leopold and Dennis Lyons, (from the Geneva area) Doodie and Bob Evans, (from southern France) Yo and Terry Williams and (from Paris) Claude Fillet, John Stephens, Yo and Gilbert Sedbon and Bernard Edinger.
Photos: Bernard Edinger
Dinosaurs flock to Paris
Friday 4 December 2009
A record 22 Reuterians assembled in Paris on Friday for the latest Dinosaurs’ lunch.
The Dinosaurs are mostly people who worked for Reuters in Paris or who now live in France, and many of those attending came over from London especially for the event at the usual venue, the Club de la France Libre, a private club for veterans of General de Gaulle's wartime volunteers.
Those at the table, some pictured, were Tony Austin, Charles Bremner, Bernard Edinger, Annette Farrell, Tom Heneghan, Mike Hughes, Mark Jones, Keith Luckcuck, Barry May, Colin McIntyre, Ingrid Montbazet, Julian Nundy, Chris Peterson, Michael Reupke, Alan Riding, Gilbert Sedbon, Iain Smith, Steve Somerville, John Stephens, Phil Wardle, Terry Williams and Tony Winning.
Spot the pigeon fancier
Friday 10 July 2009
Which one of these Reuterians used carrier pigeons to file?
It was Alan Cowell (second from right) who got his story out from the deepest bush of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, in 1979.
Cowell, now working in The New York Times’ Paris bureau, told the story at the latest Paris Dinosaurs’ lunch held once again at the Free French Club in Paris. Pictured with him, left to right, are lunch organiser Bernard Edinger, Marcus Ferrar and Bob Evans from Geneva, Charles Bremner, now The Times’ Paris bureau chief, and Paul Iredale from London.
Paul Taylor was also there but missed the photo call – he had to get back to Reuters’ Paris bureau where he writes columns on European policy.
...and a jolly time was had by all
Saturday 7 March 2009
We spent FOUR hours at the table and left slightly tired and emotional, Bernard Edinger reports after recovering from the latest edition of the Paris Dinosaurs’ lunch on Friday.
The Dinosaurs include people who worked for Reuters in Paris or who now live in France. We meet at the Club de la France Libre, a private club à l'anglaise for veterans of General de Gaulle's wartime volunteers in Britain and elsewhere.
Toasts were raised to Lionel Walsh and Michael Reupke and, in the words of the youngest in spirit at the table (Gil Sedbon) "to all our friends, past, present...and future!"
Most everyone purchased a Free French tie so there were quite a few Crosses of Lorraine on neckwear going back to London on the Eurostar later that afternoon.
The next lunch should be late May-early June, probably again on a Friday (for those who want to stay in France for the weekend).
Please check your diaries and advise if some major tennis or rugby match (the usual reason people prefer to stay home) is scheduled around then.
Churchill, De Gaulle, the Queen Mother and 17 Reuterians!
Friday 3 October 2008
Seventeen former Reuterians gathered at the Free French Club in Paris on Friday for an extremely friendly lunch under the portraits of Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle and...the Queen Mother.
"The meal was fine, the wine flowed freely (as did the usual anecdotes about Reuter heros of times gone by) and the price – 37 euros – was just right," said Bernard Edinger, who organised the gathering.
Present were Martin Leeburn, Alison Maitand, Gilbert Sedbon, Gordon Hanson, John Bartram, Paul Majendie, Terry Williams, Phil Wardle, Meg Bortin, John Stephens, Donald Armour, David Christian-Edwards, Bob Evans and Doodie Evans, Charles Fleming, Nick Bray and Bernard Edinger.
Dinosaurs dine in Paris
Friday 20 June 2008
Seven "Reuter Dinosaurs" met in Paris on Friday for the latest in a series of hearty meals shared in the French capital by people who either served in Paris or who live in France or who just like French food, Bernard Edinger writes.
Three of those present came from Britain, one from the Franco-Swiss border area and one from south-central France. A good time was had by all and the usual anecdotes about ghosts of the glorious Reuters past were bandied about liberally.
A message was read from Gilbert Sedbon who was away in southern France and unable to attend. Apologies also came from Nick Bray, Donald Armour and Jack Gee who had to cancel at the last moment for health or other reasons.
We also remembered the late Alan Thomas and had kind thoughts for Lionel Walsh and Michael Reupke who have been hit by illness.
Our next meal is scheduled for October. Anyone interested should contact ● Bernard Edinger.
In the photo are, left to right, Bob Evans, John Morrison, Bernard Edinger, Terry Williams, John Stephens, Phil Wardle and Brian Mooney.
