Latvian Press Association England Branch

The organisation of the writers, poets and journalists in Britain was the result of the writer Peter Aigaram, who was at the time working for “Londonas Avīzē”. On March 10, 1963, he met a group of 7 journalists who decided to set up a Latvian Press Society to work with the central board of the Latvian press society in the USA and they elected a temporary board. The first members' meeting took place on 6 July 1963 at the DVF House in London and they elected a full board with Peter Aigars as the Chairman. After his death in 1971, Austra Liepiņa became chairman of the Board. When the Society was founded, it had 17 members and in 1987 it had 35. The budget of the group consisted of membership fees, donations, and revenue from events. Among the members of the group were writers, poets, publicists, journalists, editors and contributors to newspapers and other publications.

Goals and targets of the Society:
1. Promote and maintain the basic principles of the work of the Latvian independence press.
2. To ensure that the principles of journalism's work are not violated in the Latvian press in exile.
3. Take care to attract new staff to press work, promoting interest in journalism and newspapers in the younger generation. 4. Promote and support Latvian cultural life in Great Britain by organising literary events and honoring and remembering Latvian writers, poets and publicists with relevant papers, readings, and discussions.
5. To raise awareness of political evaluations in the Latvian press by organising political reports and discussions.
6. All possible means to support subscriptions to Latvian newspapers and other editions and to increase the number of readers.

To achieve these goals, Peters Aigars, Jānis Frišvalds, Margarita Ausala, Zigrīda Daškevica, Teresa Lazdiņa, Austra Liepiņa, Jānis Rolavs, Austris Veichelis, Indulis Kažociņš were particularly active. To attract the younger generation, members of the group often participated in ELJA England department seminars with papers and practical instructions. Seminars always paid close attention to the use of the correct and accurate Latvian language. Starting in 1968, once or twice a year the group issued a "Press Bulletin" with news about members' activities, on LPB activities and decisions, and articles on current journalistic problems. Commemorative evenings have been held, dedicated to Linard Tauns, Jans Rozentals, Rūdolfs Blaumanis, Edward Virza, Janis Jaunsudrabiņš, and Atim Kronvalds. Young people are often involved in the development of these evening programmes. Literary evenings invited authors to participate with readings of their works. Press parties were held quite regularly. The centenary of Eduarda Līča, a LPB honorary member and lifelong companion of the English community, was celebrated on 25 March 1984, which was celebrated with the publication of the his poetry book “Gadi un dzeja” ("Years and Poetry"). When he died at the age of 103, Austra Liepiņa and Zigrīda Daškevica settled his inheritance, and arranged an archive, which was transferred to the cultural store at "Stramenos ". The group also published his final book “Atmiņas par laikiem un ļaudīm” ("Memories of Times and People").

The group often held evening meetings with authors who came to visit England from other countries, including the critic John Rudzīt, editor Fred Laungu, writer Indrus Gubiņu and Ainu Zemdega. In 1988, in response to the invitation of Ualentina Lasmane, the group collected 560 pounds for the installation of Rudolph Blauman's commemorative plaque in Finland and on September 4, 1988, Austra Liepiņa took part in the unveiling celebrations. In 1988, the writer Gunars Janovski was elected an honorary member of the LPB. In the 1990s, LPB in England was led by Zigrīda Daškevica and on 11 October 2000 Janis Frišvalds was elected as LPB President, following by Ingrīda Lāčėju. Most of the members of the group were also involved in the work of other Latvian public organizations – LNPL and DVF –and in Latvian education work.

The guest book, launched on March 2, 1964, records 77 meetings, 47 events and 12 public meetings and 14 other activities up to 1994.

Starting with the third Awakening in Latvia, the group's cooperation with guests from Latvia was enhanced. One of the first guests was the poet Māra Zālīte. From then on, other cultural, artistic and scientific staff with previews and film performances were also invited to visit regularly. The last “LPB Bulletin” was published in April 2008, after Sandra Kalniete visited the LPB. Then there were 32 members. With it, the Society also ended.

Latvian Book Club. Lecture about young Latvian poets – Austris Grasis, Uldis Grasis, Pāvils Johansons and Juris Kronbergs. 14 October 1973.