Finnbrit

Welcome the summer with Finnbrit at our relaxed potluck picnic in the beautiful Sinebrychoff Park, Helsinki. Usually held on Whit Sunday, this year we will be holding it on Sunday, 7 June 2025 from 12:00–14:00.
Bring something to share and a blanket to sit on – Finnbrit will provide non‑alcoholic refreshments. It’s a family‑friendly afternoon with music, laughter, and a special visit from The Helsinki Morrisers, keeping alive a traditional Whitsun celebration.

Everybody is welcome – come and enjoy the spirit of Finnbrit 100 together.
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Finnbrit goes to the Museum!
Tuesday, 9 June 2026
Welcome to the sources of William Morris’s inspiration: a dreamlike garden, the realms of history and legends! The Didrichsen Art Museum presents the first exhibition ever in Finland devoted to the work of William Morris (1834–1896). Morris was a reformer of design and a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, whose rich and fairy-tale-like wallpapers and textiles remain timeless even today. The exhibition’s objects and original sketches are on loan from the collections of the William Morris Gallery and the William Morris Society in the United Kingdom.

The participants pay for their own entry ticket: Participants are recommended to have the Museum Card, which gives free entry to museum venues all over Finland.
The guided tour is funded by Finnbrit. The tour is free for members, and others pay 10€.

Picture credit: Pimpernel Wallpaper William Morris 1876 © The William Morris Society

🏔️ Sir Edmund Hillary visits Finnbrit!
In 1953, just weeks after reaching the summit of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary paid a visit to the Finnish‑British Society during a stop in Helsinki.
A newly rediscovered Finnish newsreel shows his arrival in Finland, where he is greeted by Sir Andrew Noble. The film then takes us inside the Society’s premises, where Hillary meets local academics and Finnbrit members. Look closely and you’ll even spot furniture still in use today in our Club Room!
Read the full article via the link in the comments.
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A Brief History of Morris Dancing at Finnbrit
How did Morris dancing find its way to Finnbrit? As part of our Finnbrit 100 series, we spoke with Tony” Shaw, one of the founders of the Helsinki Morrisers, about music, tradition and joyful memories.
From early rehearsals in the mid‑1990s, inspired by Sweden’s Eken Morris, to international exchanges and memorable gatherings like the 2004 Morris Ale in Helsinki, the story is one of curiosity, community and keeping traditions alive in new places.

Today, the Helsinki Morrisers continue to dance at Finnbrit events and around the city – bells, ribbons and all.

👉 Interested in joining? The mixed‑gender side is keen to welcome new dancers and musicians. No experience needed. Contact Finnbrit to find out more.

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Join us for the next session of the Finnbrit Gardeners’ Meet on 28th May.

If you have green fingers, or if you are a growing novice, come along! We’ll discuss the plants we know and like, experiences of gardening in Finland, offer any tips we have, and more – any gardening related topics are welcome. Come and share your knowledge, your stories and your photos.

This meeting will be at the Vallilan siirtolapuutarha. Sign up for further details!

Ageing Well in Finland
Monday, 18 May 18:00

Are you spending your golden years in Finland? Want to learn some tips from an expert on how to improve your psychological well-being after the age of 65?

Clinical Psychologist Annabel Battersby is an Australian-trained psychologist who was previously employed in Melbourne Health’s Aged Person’s Assessment and Treatment Team and is now a practicing psychologist and psychotherapist in Finland. She has conducted and published research on well-being in older adulthood, focusing on meaning in life for people over the age of 65, as well as training psychologists in how to work with older adults.

This presentation is in English and will be specifically for those older adults who have migrated to Finland as adults, covering aspects of ageing as well as issues of migration.

Remembering Joe White
Joe White embodied Finnbrit’s values for decades. Arriving in Helsinki in the early 1970s, he contributed as a Council member, teacher, journalist, musician, actor and organiser — always generous with his time, talent and wit.
From the Finnbrit Folk Club to the Finn‑Brit Players, and later through his music with Dog in a Bucket, Joe played a lasting role in nurturing cultural exchange and a creative community. His presence at Finnbrit events continued to the end — a testament to his commitment and love for the Society.
A warm and thoughtful tribute written by Anthony Shaw. Finnbrit 39/100
Read the full article to learn more about Joe White’s remarkable contribution to Finnbrit. Link in the comments.

🎉 Memories of Finnbrit’s 50th Anniversary in 1976

Finnbrit’s golden jubilee was celebrated in true style at Adlon, the elegant restaurant in Helsinki’s Stock Exchange building. It was a decidedly posh affair — with Mark Shackleton acting as Master of Ceremonies, dressed (at the insistence of the Ladies’ Committee) in a red coat and white trousers.

The guest of honour was acclaimed British novelist Margaret Drabble, adding literary sparkle to the evening — even if a late‑night invitation to dance was politely declined. Perhaps it was the white trousers.

A witty and memorable snapshot from Finnbrit history, shared as Finnbrit 38/100.
Tag someone who might remember Finnbrit celebrations from the 1970s.