Estonians in BritainWelcome to the Tulevik Web site! We are a group of second-generation Estonians (together with our children) living in Britain. Although most of us live in England, including the main Estonian centres of London, Leicester and Bradford, some members live as far afield as the North of Scotland or the South of Wales. Previous members of the group now live throughout the world - including the USA, Canada, Australia and Ireland. We hope that through this Web site we can inform not only our current members of what we are doing, but also those members who have maybe lost touch with us. We hope that this site will act as a means of communication for all our friends throughout the world, and for anyone who is interested in learning more about Estonians in Great Britain and the Estonian culture and its people. Initially, this will be quite a basic site, but we hope that with the help of our members and friends it will become a dynamic site that grows and develops. Tere! Tulevik on grupp eestlasi, kes elavad suurbritanias. Suuremosa meist elab inglismaal aga mõned elavad põhja shotimaal või lõuna walesis.
Events: The Tulevik YearTulevik members meet together four times a year at the Latvian centre, Catthorpe Manor, near Rugby in England. Weekends are held in March, May and November, and many members also come for a weekend at the end of Children's Summer Camp, helping to ensure that the end-of-camp concert is a success. An important part of our get-togethers is the continuation of the Estonian culture - including singing old and new Estonian songs and dancing traditional folk dances. Certain weekends are associated with certain events:
Dates for the Diary 2001
Football: World Cup QualifierHolland v Estonia 5 September in Eindhoven TOPHistory
Pete Sheldon (musical director) has been told that he plays the guitar like Eric Clapton ... right handed!!! Hothorpe Hall Many of you will remember happy weeks spent at Hothorpe in the summers of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and even the early 80s. There was something magical about the place - sleeping in what had been stables, playing Capture the Flag in the Japanese Gardens, the Rec Hall, the outdoor chapel...Summer camp is still going strong at Catthorpe Manor; in 1999 the camp celebrated its 50th anniversary. The camp is now run by members of Tulevik. For more information, go to the section on the Children's Summer Camp. Visit the Hothorpe Hall Web site. Send us your memories of summer camps, Tulevik weekends, other happy times spent with your Estonian friends from your youth. Mail Linda KullChildren's Summer CampEach summer, members of Tulevik give up a week of their holidays to run the Estonian Children's camp at Catthorpe Manor. Many of the parents who send their children to camp attended camp themselves when they were young - many are now members of Tulevik but, equally, many have otherwise lost touch with the Estonian community in Britain. This is one opportunity for their children to familiarize themselves with the Estonian language and culture through Eesti keele tunnid, laulmine ja tantsimine (Estonian language lessons, singing and dancing). Summer camp 2001Next summer camp will be held from August 12 to 18. More news on next year's camp will follow in early 2001. To book your place, contact Kristy Sheldon. Fiftieth Anniversary Summer campAs part of the Rein Vahter Memorial Fund, Tulevik subsidised a group of children from Estonia who joined in with our own children for the week. [Photos and material will be added to this section.] A day in the life of summer camp, 2000Our intrepid photographer spent a day following the children and counsellors around the camp. Here is their day through pictures and the children's own words. [Pictures and words to follow] End of summer campAt the end of camp each year the children, their counsellors and other members of Tulevik put on a concert for parents and friends. The children sing as part of a choir; those who can play an instrument perform solos or duets; and they all dance traditional folk dances (rahvatantsud). Contact usThe Tulevik committee is:
Please send us your feedback, photos, memories or messages!!! Related sitesHere are some links to other sites of interest to Tulevik members or related to Estonia:
 
Linda Kull E-mail: lindakull URL: http:www.tulevik.org.uk Page last updated: 5 June 2001 |
Originally known as the Estonian Youth Group (Eesti Noorte Grupp), Tulevik was founded in 1974 by a group of teenage friends who had previously attended the children's summer camps. When they became too old to participate in the children's camp, they realised that there were no facilities for Estonians of their age to get together. Initially, the group met at Hothorpe Hall, near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, England, but by the time the Lutheran church sold Hothorpe in 1982, Tulevik had found a new venue for their meetings - Catthorpe Manor near Rugby.