“Havel´s Place” was installed at Oxford University Park. The memorial already situated in six world cities is a part of the network of public places where people could meet and have dialogue, perhaps about Havel and his philosophy.
Michael Zantovsky, the Czech Ambassador, presented his biography of Vaclav Havel, which was published under the title “Havel” by Atlantic Books in the UK. He was joined in a discussion about Havel by Timothy Garton Ash, journalist and Oxford scholar.

At Harris Manchester College, a new student house was inaugurated during the Velvet Day festivities. “Axe House” is a project sponsored by the Czech developer Mr Ludek Sekyra. At St Anthony´s College, Professor Tomas Halik, the 2014 Templeton Prize winner, gave a lecture about Vaclav Havel and John Paul II focusing on the moral and intellectual dissent in Czechoslovakia and Poland.

The events of the Velvet Day organised by Czech and Slovak students in Oxford were attended by a number of distinguished guests, including Mr Pavel Belobradek, the Czech Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Daniel Herman the Czech Culture Minister, and Ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. Oxford University was represented by Professor Andrew Hamilton, University´s Vice-Chancellor.

For more pictures from this special event. please visit the Czech Embassy Facebook page.