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Ĉar ĵus publikiĝis por membroj numero 998 de La Brita Esperantisto, 997, de vintro 2024, estas nun disponebla al ĉiuj:

The 46^th Annual General Meeting of EAB was held at Pendulum Hotel, Manchester on April 6, 2025.

As usual, the members voted on the trustee candidates for the following year. All four incumbent trustees stood again for election, with Gabriel Beecham the only candidate for president.

The results were:

All trustees were duly elected, with Gabriel Beecham appointed president, succeeding Clare Hunter, elected to the position in 2024 but intentionally standing for a single year as the sole incumbent up for election in that year.

Eblas trapasi KER-ekzamenoj surloke dufoje en 2025: en Toronto dum NASK (en la 11-a de julio), kaj dum la Universala Kongreso en B(u)rno (en la 1-a de aŭgusto).

Samtage estos eble trapasi la ekzamenojn rete:

Precizajn informojn trovu ĉe edukado.net. Se vi loĝas en Britujo, EAB repagos viajn ekzamenkostojn post sukcesa trapasado, tamen ne nur: ankaŭ la atestilon (kaj ĝian liveradon al vi)!

Eblas prepariĝi per provekzamenoj ... EAB antaŭpagis por britaj esperantistoj, do se vi loĝas en Britujo, tion vi povos fari senpage!

Forpasis Renato Corsetti, unu el la grandaj esperantistoj de la lasta duonjarcento, en la aĝo de 83 jaroj. Li loĝis en Londono kun sia edzino, Anna Löwenstein, de 2015, estis kerna motoro malantaŭ la reviviglo de la Londona Esperanto-Klubo, kaj reprezentanto de EAB kiel Komitatano A de UEA inter 2019 kaj 2022. Naskiĝinte en Italujo la 29-an de marto 1941, li mortis en Londono en la 1-a de februaro 2025.

Longas la litanio de postenoj dum vivo dediĉita al Esperanto:

• Prezidanto de TEJO (1971–1973)
• Honora prezidanto de TEJO (1973–2025)
• Vic-prezidanto de Universala Esperanto-Asocio (1998–2001)
• Membro de la Akademio de Esperanto (1998–2025)
• Sekretario de la Akademio de Esperanto (1999–2019)
• Prezidanto de Universala Esperanto-Asocio (2001–2007)
• Honora Membro de Universala Esperanto-Asocio (2011–2025)
• Honora Prezidanto de Universala Esperanto-Asocio (2023–2025)

Esperanto-Asocio de Britio funebras la morton de sia altestiminda membro, Renato Corsetti, kaj kondolencas liajn familianojn.

Ĉar ĵus publikiĝis por membroj numero 997 de La Brita Esperantisto, 996, de somero 2024, estas nun disponebla al ĉiuj:

En tiu tago, en kiu ni rememoras Klara Zamenhof, la edzinon de la inicitatinto de Esperanto cent jarojn post ŝia morto, EAB havas la plezuron povi anonci, ke Meta Auld afable konsentis al invito fariĝi honora membro, kiun proponis EAB dum la jaro, en kiu centjariĝus ŝia edzo, Vilĉjo Auld.

La rakonto de Meta spegulas tion de Klara. Ambaŭkaze, la edzoj ricevis la atenton kaj admiron de la esperantistaro, kaj kontribuis majstre al Esperanto. Iliaj atingoj ne estus eblaj sen la oferado de la edzinoj. Klara Zamenhof devis resti en Varsovio kun du infanoj, dum senkopeka Ludoviko klopodis enspezigi en Ĥersono kaj Grodno. Simile, Meta Auld transprenis la endomajn kaj administrajn taskojn de Vilĉjo por ke li havu la liberon investi en Esperanton sennombrajn horojn. Ŝi estis la fortikaj radikoj, kiuj ebligis al Vilĉjo bunte disfloradi por Esperanto.

Meta kun Vilĉjo en la sepdekaj jaroj. La foton oni trovis en lia monujo, kiam li mortis.

EAB dankas al Meta (kaj al Judith Auld, la filino de Meta kaj Bill) pro ŝia bonkora helpo rilate nian projekton Fest BAULDTON, kiu celebras la vivojn de nia elstaruloj Vilĉjo Auld kaj Marjorie Boulton, en la jaro en kiu ili centjariĝus.

On the day in which we remember Klara Zamenhof, the wife of the creator of Esperanto, one hundred years after her death, EAB is proud to announce that Meta Auld has kindly accepted an invitation to become an honorary member, offered to her as we celebrate the centenary of her husband, Bill Auld.

Meta's story mirrors Klara's. In both cases the husbands were the focus, and achieved great things for Esperanto. Their achievements would not have been possible without the sacrifices of their wives. Klara Zamenhof was left alone with two children in Warsaw whilst a penniless Ludoviko moved to Kherson and Grodno in search of income. Similarly, Meta Auld was responsible for giving Bill the freedom to put in the enormous hours that he did. She was the strong set of roots which allowed Bill to flourish for Esperanto.

Meta with Bill in the 1970s. The photo was found in his wallet when he died.

EAB thanks Meta (and Judith Auld, Meta and Bill's daughter) for her kind assistance with our project Festjaro BAULDTON, which celebrates the lives of our luminaries, Bill Auld and Marjorie Boulton, in the year when they would have turned 100.

On the day when the greatest contributor to Esperanto from these shores would have turned 100, the Esperanto Association of Britain held a ceremony in memory of William “Bill” Auld in the National Library of Scotland, to which he donated his vast collection of works in and about Esperanto in 2001. His widow, Meta Auld, now 98, was unable to participate owing to frailty but did receive on the same day flowers and a card in the name of British Esperantists.

In all only six Esperantists were present, plus a representative of the National Library of Scotland and Tim Owen, who led the ceremony. The early arrivals received a guided tour courtesy of Graeme Hawley, who is curator of several specialist collections, including Bill Auld's.

Tim Owen welcomed the guests, explaining that the ceremony would start with a message sent by Humphrey Tonkin, who first met Bill Auld in the early 1950s. Afterwards, the director of EAB began to present the life and works of Auld:

Following the introduction came the poems. From Spiro de l' pasio – the collection of Auld in Kvaropo (1952) – the participants heard Ebrio, in Auld's own delivery. Donald Scott's translation into English, Crapulence, was read out by Graeme Hawley:

1956 was the year in which Auld twice became a father. His and Meta's daughter, Judith, was born, as was his 25-verse epic, La infana raso. Martin McClelland declaimed the first verse, interspersed with Tim Owen reading out some of Roy McDonald's translation:

From Unufingraj melodioj (1960) came Elegio en malnova tombejo, declaimed by Geoffrey Wood:

D.B. Gregor's translation, Elegy in an old Graveyard, was read out by Tim Owen. The final poetic contribution came from Humoroj (1969). Once more the voice of Bill Auld himself was heard, who Incitnudiĝo in the 1970s. Roy McDonald's translation, Striptease, was read out by Ed Robertson:

Following the poems were listings of all the various magazines which Auld had edited, his essays, textbooks and translations, and his works for Esperanto's centenary in 1987. It wasn't possible to avoid the conclusion that he was a particularly outstanding contributor to Esperanto's literary culture. This was acknowledged in a message from Nicola Ruggiero, representing the Akademio Literatura de Esperanto, which was read out by Tim Owen.

Bill Auld did not restrict his contributions to just the literary sphere; within the Esperanto Movement he held several prominent positions. He was a member of the Akademio de Esperanto from 1964 to 1983; during the last four years he was its president. His successor, Probal Dasgupta, sent a message on behalf of the institution, in which he expressed his regret, that the Akademio at that time did not reappoint Auld as president in 1983. Hugh Reid read out the message in Esperanto, and Tim Owen the translation, which had been polished by Brian Moon.

From 1977 to 1980, Bill Auld was vice-president of the World Esperanto Association. The current president, Duncan Charters, contributed a warm video in Esperanto and English. Here is a clip of the Esperanto version from the presentation, in which Charters presents the kindness of Auld, when one eminent member of the Esperanto world gave of his time to help another in daily life:

The ceremony ended with a summary that Bill Auld had three times been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature for his Esperanto works, and was, in 1998, the inaugural Esperantist of the Year. Hugh Reid, president of the Esperanto Association of Scotland, closed the ceremony, speaking about a man he had known well for several years:

The ceremony lasted a little over two hours. The participants enjoyed some sparkling wine and snacks afterwards, before heading on their way.

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On the following day there was a presentation of some of the pearls from the Auld Collection. Tim Owen presented them in English, so that the employees of the National Library of Scotland who were present could understand. There followed a presentation by Doctor Beatrice Alex about how she and Professor William Lamb were developing AI to transcribe handwriting in Gaelic to text, and were working hard on a programme to subtitle audio material in Gaelic to text, with the aim to match the human standard of 95% accuracy.

The Esperanto Association of Britain expresses its thanks to the National Library of Scotland for its goodwill in hosting the ceremony.

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Links:

 Humphrey Tonkin

 Humphrey Tonkin

 Nicola Ruggiero

 Probal Dasgupta

 Probal Dasgupta

 Duncan Charters (text)

 Duncan Charters (text)

 Duncan Charters (video)

 Duncan Charters (video)

Okaze de la centjariĝo de la plej elstara kontribuinto al Esperanto de nia insularo, Esperanto-Asocio de Britio okazigis ceremonion memore al William Auld ĉe la Nacia Biblioteko de Skotlando, al kiu Auld, en 2001, donacis sian vastan kolekton da verkoj en kaj pri Esperanto. Lia vidvino, Meta Auld, nun 98-jara, ne estis sufiĉe fortika por partopreni, sed ricevis samtage florkronon kaj karton nome de la brita esperantistaro.

Entute partoprenis nur ses esperantistoj, plus reprezentanto de la biblioteko kaj Tim Owen, kiu gvidis la ceremonion. La fruajn alvenintojn ĉiĉeronis tra la bibliteko Graeme Hawley, kuratoro pri diversaj kolektoj, inkluzive de la Kolekto Auld.

Tim Owen bonvenigis la celebrantojn, kaj klarigis, ke tutunue oni aŭdos mesaĝon senditan de Humphrey Tonkin, kiu unue renkontis Bill Auld en la fruaj 1950-aj jaroj. Poste la direktoro de EAB komencis prezenti la vivon kaj verkojn de la celebrato:

Post la enkonduko alvenis la poemoj. De Spiro de l' pasio – la poemaro de Auld en Kvaropo (1952) – oni aŭdis Ebrio, deklamantan de Auld mem. La anglalingvan tradukon de Donald Scott laŭltegis Graeme Hawley:

1956 estis la jaro en kiu Auld dufoje patriĝis. Naskiĝis la filo, Roy, kaj lia 25-ĉapitrojn longa epopeo La infana raso. La unuan verson deklamis Marteno McClelland, kaj Tim Owen la tradukon verkitan de Roy McDonald:

El Unufingraj melodioj (1960) aŭdiĝis Elegio en malnova tombejo, kiun deklamis Geoffrey Wood:

La tradukon de D.B. Gregor, Elegy in a Graveyard, laŭtlegis Tim Owen. La lasta poezia kontribuo venis el Humoroj (1969). Plian fojon aŭdiĝis la voĉo de Bill Auld, kiu deklamis Incitnudiĝo en la 1970-aj jaroj. La tradukon de Roy McDonald, Striptease, voĉaktoris Ed Robertson:

Post la poemoj venis listigo de la gazetoj, kiujn redaktis Auld, liaj eseoj, lerniloj kaj tradukoj, kaj verkoj okaze de la jubileo de Esperanto. Ne eblis ne konkludi, ke li estis elstara kontribuanto al la kulturo de la lingvo. Tion atestis Nicola Ruggiero, kiu, reprezentante la Akademion Literaturan de Esperanto, sendis mesaĝon al la ceremonio, laŭtlegitan de Tim Owen.

Siajn kontribuojn Bill Auld tamen ne limigis al la literatura flanko; ene de la movado li tenis diversajn postenojn. Li estis membro de la Akademio de Esperanto de 1964 ĝis 1983; dum la lastaj kvar jaroj li estis ĝia prezidanto. Lia posteulo Probal Dasgupta sendis mesaĝon nome de la Akademio de Esperanto, en kiu li esprimis bedaŭron, ke la tiama Akademio ne reelektis Auld kiel prezidanton en 1983. Ĝin laŭtlegis Hju Rid, kaj anglalingvan version poluritan de Brian Moon aŭdigis Tim Owen.

De 1977 ĝis 1980 Bill Auld estis vicprezidanto de UEA. La nuna prezidanto, Duncan Charters, sendis varman mesaĝon en Esperanto kaj la angla. Jen eltiraĵo, en kiu li videbligas la laboremon kaj bonkoremon de Auld, kiam la eminentulo helpis en la ĉiutaga vivo al alia:

La ceremonio finiĝis per memorigo, ke Bill estis trifoje kandidatigita por la Premio Nobel pri Literaturo pro siaj verkoj en Esperanto, kaj en 1998 estis la tutunua Esperantisto de la Jaro. La lasta kontribuo venis de Hju Rid, prezidanto de Esperanto-Asocio de Skotlando, kiu konis Bill Auld persone dum multaj jaroj:

La ceremonio daŭris iom pli ol du horoj. La partoprenintoj ĝuis poste ŝaumvinon kaj manĝaĵetojn, antaŭ ol foriri.

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Sekvatage okazis prezento de kelkaj perloj el la Kolekto Auld. Prezentis ilin Tim Owen en la angla, por ke komprenu ankaŭ la ĉeestantaj laborantoj de la Nacia Biblioteko de Skotlando. Sekvis prezento pri tio, kiel esploristoj doktoro Beatrice Alex kaj profesoro William Lamb evoluigas artefaritan inteligenton por kribri manskribon en la skotgalea al teksto, kaj klopodas verki programon kapablan subtitoligi aŭdmaterialon en tiu lingvo ĝis homgrada ĝusteco: 95%.

Esperanto-Asocio dankas al la Nacia Biblioteko de Skotlando pro ĝia bonvolemo.

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Ligiloj:

 Humphrey Tonkin

 Humphrey Tonkin

 Nicola Ruggiero

 Probal Dasgupta

 Probal Dasgupta

 Duncan Charters (teksto)

 Duncan Charters (teksto)

 Duncan Charters (videaĵo)

 Duncan Charters (videaĵo)

EAB President Clare Hunter and Director Tim Owen were at Esperanto House a few weeks ago to clean up after a break-in. Although there was no external sign of a new intrusion something caught their eye: “That Waitrose bag has been moved. It had some paper in it.” The bag was now upside-down and empty, its contents scattered among the other debris in the building.

Clearly somebody had been inside the building since their previous visit but it wasn't clear how: the main office door was locked when they arrived, and the door to the library is boarded over. They had to surmise that the office door hadn't clicked close when they left previously: the door frame is warped following a previous intrusion so perhaps they hadn't pulled the door hard enough when shutting it, although this seemed unlikely.

Tim Owen was on site again recently when something else caught his eye: the door to the boiler house at the side of the building was flapping in the wind. And then all became clear: the lock had been smashed off, and vandals had destroyed the boiler unit:

A look skyward revealed something else: a hole suitably large for a person to pass through. Somebody had entered the top floor of Esperanto House via the ceiling.

A second's glance in the bedroom named after William Auld showed that they'd been in there:

They had smashed the bathroom up:

And had some fun doing the same to the other bedrooms:

This prompted Tim to check the downstairs toilets: one of the “delights” of visits to Esperanto House since May is the lack of electricity or water, so there had been no reason to check the toilets: after all, nobody was going to steal the spare toilet paper. Spoiler: they had! And they'd smashed them up, too:

And that was that. There was nothing worthwhile for them to take: the bookstock and artwork was removed following the initial break-ins in 2022, the library collection and archive are housed elsewhere, and other thieves had already beaten them to the copper in the water pipes:

A thoroughly dispiriting experience, another of an ever increasing number. And without electricity (previous thieves cut the wires), there's sadly no CCTV footage.

Esperanto House has been broken into again, following burglaries in 2022 and forced entry earlier this year. This instance was particularly destructive and clearly targetted: the perpetrators have ripped down the ceiling panels and stolen the pipes.

They gained entry via a very narrow window at the side of the office, out of sight of cameras:

They've obviously done this before: they knew exactly where to find the stopcock, which they turned off. (It's in the ground-level cabinet with the open door at the back.) Why? Because then they could remove the water pipes for their copper. This involves ripping down the ceiling tiles.

They also cut the electricity. The library is particularly dark because they locked the cover to the fusebox and stole the key.

Assuming it's not a red herring, we might conclude that the perpetrator is a very small man (capable of fitting through that narrow window) called Graham:

An additional shame is that we've seen within the past week that somebody who previously broke into Esperanto House has recently shared photos from within it online. Those images have been shared; we have added comments in one of the places of which we are aware.

Besides the obnoxiousness of sharing images online of somebody else's property you've unlawfully entered, they give an inaccurate representation, showing Esperanto House not as it stands now, but as it was at the time he broke in. That was certainly many months ago: the office door isn't boarded up in his images but has been for a long time, following a previous break-in. Additionally, the archive is viewable in those images which have been shared online, even though it's been held in an external storage facility for months:

And his photos of the library show it partway through our removing its contents as part of a several-year digitisation project, which we've reported to members in the pages of Update and in the Trustees' Annual Report. He shared a photo of shelves which hadn't yet been categorised and boxed up ready for scanning. Here are the same shelves more recently:

We have saved a copy of his Facebook page and reported him to the police for, at the very least, illegally entering the building. We may no longer operate from Esperanto House but we still pay the lease and utilities bills, and should expect to be able to store our property locked up there without people breaking in and, in this latest case, causing massive destruction to the building. 

Ian Carter, President of EAB from 2016 until 2021, died on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. He had been in residential care since early 2021, and died peacefully following a recent operation. Ian was 74.

We will present an obituary of Ian in the next issue of La Brita Esperantisto, and pass on details regarding his funeral once they are known. We have shared our condolences with his brother.