Anglo-Austrian Circle

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is the old, i.e. pre-2011, AAC Website, which is online purely for nostalgic reasons. You can find our current website here.

The Anglo-Austrian Circle / Anglo-Austrian Society

The Anglo-Austrian Circle was established on 2nd December 1945, seven months after the end of World War II. At the time, Graz was the administrative capital of the British zone of occupation, which encompassed the Austrian provinces of Styria and Carinthia. In a joint initiative between the British Military Government, the Province of Styria, and local intellectuals, it was decided to form a society to promote cultural and economic ties between Britain and Austria and strengthen relations between the occupying forces and the local population.

Since 2010 the AAC is named the AAS (Anglo Austrian Society), and still promotes ties between Britain and Austria, organising various cultural events and assisting visiting students. The AAC Students Club was the younger, wilder branch of the AAC and organised a weekly Stammtisch and other trips and events for visiting students, ex-patriates living in Graz, and English-speaking Austrian students. Since the AAS is now organising a variety of events, including those for students, and since we were rather attached to the name “AAC”, the Anglo-Austrian Circle is now a separate entity. Our new website can be found here.

The AAS is a non-profit organization which solely lives on membership fees and donations. So if you feel like doing something good today, print the form and become a member! For further questions please consult the AAS’s official website: www.anglo-austrian-society.at

Former Organizing Committee Members

Flo Krueger, Vice-Master of the Universe
20th July 2006 - present
Flo was born in a little village near Graz. He grew up there and now (finally) moved to Graz to enjoy his future life as a student at the FH Joanneum. Flo became famous for fighting with the Aussenministerin over a Latin book at Prince Charles.

Kay Bierbacher, Aussenministerin
15th September 2005 - present
Kay was born in Graz but was raised in the sweet state of New Jersey. After a long stay in the U.S. she finally returned in 2004 to explore her roots. Kay is also the coach of the Graz Gladiators Women's Lacrosse Team. You can send her mail at: kay(at)graz-gladiators.com.

Angelika "Angi" Mende
November 2008 - present
Angelika is originally from a tiny little town in Upper Styria. She joined the AAS Stammtisch already in 2002 – the year she moved to Graz to major in ‘English and American Studies’ at Graz University. She is a devout ‘Stammtischer’ and therefore regularly attends masses on Thursdays. Angelika recently organized the wine trip to a Buschenschank which we all enjoyed very much!

Rhys Lloyd, President
1st August 2003 - present
Rhys was actually born in Graz (from a Grazerin mother) but was raised in South London, Croydon, England. He came to Graz in 1999 and worked for nearly five years for an Austrian parquet manufacturer in the sales department. Rhys has spent a lot of time traveling the world, which is one of the few things that keeps him away from the Thursday Stammtisch. In May 2006, Rhys formed Kentwood Flooring GmbH. Supplying beautiful and unique hardwood flooring to the trade. www.kentwoodfloors.com Also known as "(Dis-) Organator" of Hash House Harriers in Graz.

Max Werschitz, Kommunikationsminister
7th October 2006 - present
Max was born in Graz but grew up in Admont (Upper Styria), then did a two-year Graphic Design college in Vienna. Although he finished his English/American Studies at Graz University in June 2007, Max joined the AAS Stammtisch only in early 2006 after having been convinced to do so by Bob at a jaws release party. By now he not only is a devoted regular Stammtisch attendee but is helping with all design-related matters (e.g. the AAS Students Club website, posters etc), something he just enjoys very much.

Hedi Seidel (vegetarian), Documentalist
24th November 2005 - 21st July 2007
October 2008 - May 2009
Hedi was born in Graz and has lived here ever since. She graduated from Graz University in June 2006 where she was a student of English and American Studies in combination with Media Studies. After that she did a university course called ‘Library and Information Studies’ and worked part-time at the UCI cinema in Graz. Currently she is living and working in Vienna.

Uli Kilian, Aussenminister
Autumn 2007 - February 2009
Uli is originally from Cologne, and came to work in Graz in 2001 actually only by accident, but then enjoyed it so much that he decided to stay. (He is an extraordinarily gifted "3D lighting, rendering and compositing" specialist, working as a freelancer at the moment). Uli has always been a faithful - and not to forget very fun - Stammtisch participant, and usually takes the running lead at the Hashes. In early 2009 he moved to London to work and live there.

Chris Stoeckl, Bundeskanzler
23 September 2004 - 8 September 2005
June 2006 - September 2008
Chris is originally from Tamsweg, near Salzburg. He moved to Graz in 2002 to study English at Karl-Franzens Universität. One of Chris' great contributions to the AAC Students Club are the excellent photos he takes. (Thanks Chris). Chris departed the AAS Students Club in 2005 in order to go abroad to Limerick, Ireland. Then he came back (alive and kicking) to teach the AAC how to drink the Irish way and to reassume his work as AAS photographer. In October 2008, Chris left for New York – we miss you!!!

Sonja Gruber, Vize-Praesidentin
24th November 2005 - 15th April 2007
Sonja was born in Graz. She spent eight months in Dublin, Ireland as an au-pair from 2000-2001. She used to work at a notary (Notar), but has now found a fancy new job at EVG in Graz, She is also a professional photographer and a great cook. Thank you for one and a half years of commitment and great work for the AAS!

Robert S. Laramee (vegetarian/prescetarian)
Vice-President, 22 April 2004 - 16 July 2006
Bob, originally from Dedham, Home of "Champions", Massachusetts, came to Graz in June of 2001 under the world's most complicated agreement between TU Wien, The VRVis Research Center, and AVL. His nomination to an AAS Students Club Office was controversial because he is American. Bob became an anglophile in the beautiful city of Hull, England where he spent a year as an exchange student, thus he is allowed to serve the AAS. Bob voted for John Kerry. Bob left for Swansea in Wales to live and work there in July 2006. We wish you and Nina all the best, Bob! # Thanks for joining us this evening!

Rich Cheese (vegetarian), (Co-)President
1st August 2003 - 28 April 2006
Rich, originally from Salisbury, England, first came to Graz in the early 90's in the name of romance. He currently plays bass for the Shenanigans and teaches English. Rich likes baked beans and believes in ghosts. He left the AAS because he currently has to fulfil duties more important than heavy drinking every Thursday night: He married and became father of a sweet little baby boy in May 2006.

Angelika Tsaros, (Ehemalige) Vize-Praesidentin
17 February 2005 - August 1, 2005
Angie was our only native Grazerin leader. Her Mom gave birth to her in Graz on 5 October 1981. She did American studies at Karl-Franzens Universität and just finished. She did a semester in Thessaloniki, and went to New York on a Fulbright scholarship! Angie is also our official Greek representative of the AAS. Her father comes from Greece and Angie speaks Greek (and parts of other languages). She still occasionally comes to Stammtisch, but is basically off to new shores: the fun land of looking for a "real" job and maybe starting an academic career. Good luck with that!

Henry Briscoe, (Former Co-)President
1st August 2003 - 17 February 2005
Henry was our Scottish representative from Anstruther, Scotland. He originally came to Graz in 2000 as an exchange student He's a student at Karl-Franzens Universität, Graz and has recently become a proud father. That's why we don't see him as much as the other participants. He served as a virtual organising committee member.

Dave Wild, (Former Co-)President
1st August 2003 - 23 September 2004
Dave, originally from Nottingham, England, came to Graz in "the late 90's" in order to work for the amazing AVL as a software developer. He currently lives in St. Neots, Cambridge, England working as a software engineer for PTC. You can visit his web site at DavidWild.com.

Keith Andrews, (Former) President
Oct 1991 - 1st August 2003 (non-continuous)
Keith, originally from Birmingham, England, first discovered Graz while on a back-packers/hitching trip. Currently, he is an Associate Professor at TU Graz. Keith retired as AAS Students Club President on 1 Aug 2003 after serving many long years. He still provides consulting services however.

Organizing Commitee Members have perspective.
This is what former President Rich Cheese looks like when he's teaching English at FH Joanneum:

Organizing Committee Members Help Each Other.
Former vice-President (Dr.) Bob receives a new doctor's medical aid kit at his graduation party (from TU Wien):

Former vice-President (Dr.) Bob treats his first "patient": President Rhys Lloyd!
Thanks to Emily Henderson for taking the photos. Thanks to James Wren for returning the photos to Bob after Bob left them at James' apartment by accident. (If only James would get his arse on the AAC mailing list.)