Upcoming Events
The Bhutan Society organises several events each year, in London and elsewhere, for Society members.
The next events will be:
2026
Continuing our special interest discussion series on-line…
Rhododendrons of Bhutan and their uses for local people, introduced by Matt Heasman
5th February 6:30pm - online
Matt Heaseman will continue our on-line special interest discussion series by leading a discussion group on the Rhododendrons of Bhutan. He hopes to reveal further information on their general and medicinal uses, if any, and on species found in Bhutan. He will discuss their horticultural merit to the UK and the many gardens that grow some of them. He also hopes to discuss a rare species that has not been seen since it was first found and described over 80 years ago.
Join from the Zoom workplace App
Cultural perspectives of Bhutan: Murals, led by Zara Fleming
4th March 6:30pm
Zara Fleming will continue her exploration of symbolism in Bhutan by discussing murals.
Bhutan is home to an astonishing array of symbols, many of which have been borrowed from Buddhist India and subsequently Tibet. The Eight Auspicious Emblems, the Seven Precious Gems, the Five Sense Offerings and the Four Guardian animals (dragon, tiger, garuda and snow lion) plus the Wind Horse found on prayer flags.
But one also finds murals such as the Four Friends, the Old Man of Long Life and Training the Mind. We will explore this infinite variety of symbolic subject matter and their many layers of meaning.
13th May in person and on-line: Annual General Meeting, and talks by Dr Charles Coughlan and Scott Steedman on the work of the Trust Fund covering some of the exciting projects being funded.
Venue: Salonik Room, Polish Hearth Club, 55 Princes Gate, London SW7 2PN
6.00pm Bhutan Society of the UK AGM, members only
6.45pm The AGM will be followed by a talk open to members and guests followed by an opportunity to catch-up over a drink.
There will be a £10 collection for the event from paying members and guests staying for drinks.
Please inform Scott Steedman secretary@bhutansociety.org if you are planning to attend in person.
Dr Charles Coughlan is a Trustee of the Bhutan Society Trust Fund and a hospital doctor specialising in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine. He is based in London and from September to December 2024 worked in the Internal Medicine department at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu.
Charlie maintains strong clinical and research links with Bhutanese colleagues. He will provide an overview of Bhutanese health services, the health needs of the population, and his own experiences of volunteering in Bhutan, before outlining an exciting fungal diagnostics project being supported by the Trust Fund.
Scott Steedman is the Secretary of the Bhutan Society and also a Trustee. He will talk about the Mountain Dentist project, founded by Dr Tenzin Dorji, which was funded last year. Dr Tenzin was a Chevening Scholars at King’s College, London where he took a Master’s Degree in Dental Public Health. His aim is to bring improved oral health practices and dental services to communities in remote mountainous areas of Bhutan, where dentistry is largely unknown. The Fund supported Dr Tenzin to purchase a portable dental X ray machine and to carry out camps in Lingzhi, Merak and Sakteng to demonstrate the value of the work. Scott will talk about the success of the project and Dr Tenzin’s plans for the future.
