Association France-Grande-Bretagne: how Britons in France can meet local people

When German troops entered Paris in 1940, they went straight to the offices of the Association France–Grande-Bretagne (AFGB). They found them empty. The organisation had already burned its membership lists and archives to protect its members, then suspended its activities for the duration of the occupation. It was a dramatic episode in the history of an association created to bring French and British people closer together.

AFGB was founded in Paris in 1916, while soldiers from both countries were fighting alongside each other on the Somme and at Verdun. A sister organisation, the Franco-British Society, was established in London at about the same time. The first Paris president was Paul Deschanel.

The association originally attracted prominent intellectual and political figures. “It can still seem elitist because many members have links with English language and culture,” says Gérard Hocmard, AFGB’s honorary vice-president. “But it is much less elitist than it used to be. In the past, it operated more like a club, although it was always open, with no sponsorship system,” he added.

Today, the Paris association has around 100 members and coordinates a wider network of roughly 15 independent local associations, representing about 2,000 people.

Branches operate in areas including Nantes, Lyon, Limoges, Quercy, Toulon, Touraine and the Côte Basque. Each is legally and financially independent, decides its own programme and manages its own membership.

The network was once much larger.

“After the war, in the 1950s, we had 79 local associations,” says Mr Hocmard.

Many subsequently closed because committees and activities were not renewed, he adds. The strongest branches today are those that have passed responsibilities to younger members and continued developing new ideas.

Activities vary considerably according to location. Paris focuses on talks, debates, cultural visits and trips. Since 2022, AFGB and the Centre de recherches en civilisation britannique have jointly organised six conferences a year, generally at the Lycée Henri-IV and online.

Recent subjects have ranged from Northern Ireland and Britain’s constitution to George Bernard Shaw and the history of the British motor industry. The talks are free, although registration is required.

Regional groups may offer language workshops, walks conducted in English, book and plant exchanges, social gatherings, excursions and visits to little-known local sites.

“The basic profile is someone interested in British culture or the English language,” says Mr Hocmard. “But the social side is just as important: regular meetings, exchanges and travelling together. It is the variety that keeps members.”

Britons have never formed the majority. Historically, Mr Hocmard estimates that they represented around 20% of members, often as part of mixed French-British couples. Some British residents join to integrate into French life; others prefer expatriate clubs where most members share the same nationality.

For a British newcomer, AFGB therefore offers something different: direct contact with French people who already have an interest in Britain.

“The great advantage is meeting French people, often fascinating people from a wide range of social and economic backgrounds,” says Mr Hocmard.

Members can also join activities they might not otherwise discover, including specialist lectures and visits.

Brexit caused disappointment among both French and British members, but the association argues that its purpose has become more important, not less. Mr Hocmard says the two countries have very different institutions but often face similar political and social questions, creating opportunities for useful discussion rather than retreat.

Its main challenge is generational renewal. Traditional weekday lunch debates are poorly suited to younger working people, while evening events, student rates and practical language groups can attract new audiences.

Paris membership currently costs €60 for an individual, €85 for a couple and €15 for students under 26. Travel is reserved for members, while some other events are open to non-members.

More than a century after its creation, AFGB’s central idea remains simple: friendship between neighbouring countries needs places where people can meet, talk and understand each other. Visit the website.