From: tibetlondon@gn.apc.org (Tseten Samdup)

Source: World Tibet Network News, Friday, September 8, 1995

The Tibetan Community in Britain will hold a three-day celebration to mark its Silver Jubilee in October 1995.

The Community was formed on 25 September 1970. From about 40 Tibetans in the late sixties, the community today numbers 186 Tibetans including non-Tibetan spouses and their children.

The first known coming of Tibetans to the United Kingdom, however, dates back to 18th century. Since then Tibetans in small numbers have periodically visited or lived briefly in the UK.

After the unsuccessful Tibetan National Uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959, over 80,000 Tibetans escaped to India, Nepal and Bhutan. In the early years of exile, small groups of Tibetans were invited by various groups in the West. In 1963, a group of 22 Tibetan children were invited by the Pestalozzi Children's Village in Sussex. This marked the first real 'community' of Tibetans of any significant size in Britain; the number has only continued to grow steadily since.

The members of the Tibetan community will hold a celebration over three days from 26 -28 October at the October Gallery in London.

The programme includes a photographic exhibition on Tibet; an exhibition of Tibetan medicinal herbs and minerals; the screening of video films on Tibet; live song and dance performances by both adult and child members of the Tibetan community. There will also be talks conducted on Tibetan history, culture, religion and medicine by eminent speakers: Sogyal Rinpoche, Geshe Tashi Tsering, Phuntsog Wangyal, Dr Tamdin Sither, Robbie Barnett, John Billington and Timonthy Nunn. The special speaker will be Mr. Gedun Richen - a human rights activist who recently escaped Tibet.

There will be an open workshop on Tibetan song and dance, and painting and quiz contests for children, a Tibetan kitchen and market stalls selling momos, butter tea, chang , and books, artwork and handicraft.

For further information contact:

Mr Tsering Dhondup

Secretary - Tibetan Community in Britain

Tel: 0181-458 6174