Amy Grech, Chair of the British Ladies Club of Luxembourg (BLC);
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Thursday 11 December 2025, the British Ladies Club of Luxembourg (BLC) hosted its Christmas Lunch at the Parc Hotel Alvisse in Luxembourg-Dommeldange, in the presence of British Ambassador to Luxembourg, Joanne Olivier.
The festive event welcomed more than 60 guests and featured a Christmas market where attendees could relax and purchase a variety of Christmas gifts and seasonal produce before lunch was served.
Amy Grech, Chair of the BLC, gave an opening speech in which she welcomed Ambassador Olivier and those in attendance and thanked those involved in the organisation of the Christmas Lunch. She noted that 2025 had seen the successful reintroduction of certain events into the association’s calendar, including the Gala Night, and highlighted the ongoing success of the BLC’s traditional car boot sale and quiz night events. She also announced that in 2026 the BLC will host a “startup pitching event”, where selected members will have the opportunity to present their business ideas and receive assistance and feedback.
In her speech, Ambassador Olivier thanked the BLC for its invitation and highlighted her enjoyment in attending the various events the BLC had held throughout the year. She said: “I have only been here in Luxembourg for eight months but I have really enjoyed the times where I have had an opportunity to see the club in action, to see your events […] and it has given me a chance to actually meet kindred spirits and British women and I hope to continue to do that, to support this club, to help amplify your events and help your network grow.”
Joanne Olivier also spoke of her journey to becoming British Ambassador to Luxembourg and noted how she was “absolutely determined and extremely happy to get this job”. She added: “I think that showed a bit of British grit and I see plenty of British grit in this group of women.”
In closing, she said: “I think you contribute to what makes Luxembourg great, because the British community here is quite big and you have already been playing your role for many, many years. […] I am really proud to be part of this club and I hope that we continue to go from strength to strength. I look forward to holding that relationship close in all my years while I am here.”
Lunch was then served and began with a Crémant apéritif, followed by a three-course Christmas-themed menu.
The event also featured a charity raffle, which included prizes donated by English book shop Ernster, a hamper from "expat shop" Home from Home and a one-night stay for two people at the Parc Hotel Alvisse. The proceeds from the raffle will be donated to Femmes en Détresse (FED) and Kanner-Jugendtelefon (KJT), two charities selected by the BLC at their Annual General Meeting.
