20 years old in October 1999

A short review by Marja Salo

The Federation was founded on 14th October 1979 in Oulu in connection with the Annual Conference of local societies. The Federation was formally registered in 1984.

Anglophile Societies in Finland go back to the mid twenties. Still, only after the Second world war did the number of these societies really swell and suddenly there were local clubs and societies all over the country. So it was only natural that contact between them should develop and a programme evolve. Over the years a framework for the Conference was implemented with formal business sessions and an informal exchange of views and opinions hour.

The first Annual General Conference of Finnish-British Societies convened in 1946 and year after year proved a more and more important event, providing a useful forum for teachers and Society representatives. Cooperation developed, joint plans and programmes were designed but, on the other hand, individual societies were free to decide whether or not to implement the resolutions of the Conference.

Gradually the need and wish to be formally recognised grew stronger and time to take the step to form a centralised organisation for all the Finnish-British Clubs and Societies had come. Founding a central organisation was seriously and profoundly discussed at the Annual Conference in 1977 and it was proposed that the Central Committee should prepare suggestions for the rules and take steps so that it could be founded in 1978. Proposed rules were sent to each society for its approval.However, In Mikkeli in 1978 the Federation was not yet founded. A few more bridges had to be crossed, a few more things prepared.

It took another year before the Federation saw daylight and was formally founded. Finally, in Oulu at the Annual Conference on 14th October 1979, seven Finnish-British Societies signed the foundation charter. The number seemed small judging from the members present and total number of local clubs with similar activities. The low number was, however, due to the fact that only officially registered societies were able to join the central organisation.

A year later the number was fifteen. A further fifteen clubs that for formal reasons were not members but ran similar activities were able to enjoy the services of the federation and attended the annual meetings.

The Annual Conferences, ever since they started, have been informative and enjoyable occasions, where teachers and society representatives meet. The event travelled all over the country, from south to north, from west to east, not forgetting central Finland. This soon developed into an organised two - three day weekend seminar, the programme including a special seminar topic with lectures, workshops and discussions. In the evening there was a dinner party or ball with a play or some other event. On Sunday there was a sight-seeing tour introducing the special sights and history of the town to the guests from other societies. Very often the conference location was chosen to be held where a local society was celebrating a special anniversary year thus giving local colour and variety as well as making the annual conference every year a unique occasion.

The main functions of the Federation were the recruitment of teachers, publication of the magazine, running seminars, arranging annual meetings, finding speakers and programmes for the local societies, administering in cooperation with the Helsinki Society the National Writing Competition for sixth formers. It's tasks also include being an information centre, keeping and developing contacts with organisations working in the same field as well as trying to help the local societies, not forgetting promoting cultural exchange programmes and links between Britain and Finland.

The administrative centre of the Federation during the very first years was in Kuopio and then 1985-2000 in Helsinki the the connection of the Helsinki Finnish-British Society.

From 2000 onwards own office in Helsinki Etelä-Haaga.