An ambassador punches a horse and gets involved in a fight with the coachman.
Two hundred years later, another ambassador in the same city initiates a series of discussion evenings named after his predecessor.
Why?
Lord Charles Vane-Stewart, Third Marquess of Londonderry, was the first British Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of Austria and served in Vienna for nine years from 1814 to 1823. He attended the Congress of Vienna with his half-brother Lord Castlereagh as one of the British team; and earned a reputation for unorthodox behaviour.
He was also the great-grandfather of Sir Winston Churchill.
When I arrived in Vienna in 2016, I was keen to ensure I had the best possible understanding of Austria and its relationship with the rest of the world; and good links to decision-makers and opinion-formers. I therefore asked my team in the Embassy to suggest a format for what was once known as a “Salon” – an informal evening gathering to exchange views and develop relationships.
When someone suggested we name our salons the “Charles Stewart Conversations”, I was hooked.
We hold the Conversations every month or two, and invite a range of interlocutors from politics, business, the arts and any other sector relevant to Austria and the UK. Subjects range around politics, business, foreign affairs and the arts. Sometimes someone is kind enough to kick off proceedings with a short talk.
As the proceedings are held under the Chatham House rule and are designed to be informal, I will not name any of those attending here. But I have been delighted with the response, with high-level attendees and fascinating, wide-ranging discussions. The working language is German.
Above all, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have attended for taking part with such passion and engagement. I look forward to further “Charles Stewart Conversations” as relations between Austria and the UK continue to develop.