‘Can a small push in someone’s life turn out to be so crucial that it originates in that person a sense of gratitude that lasts a life-time? This seems to be the case of hundreds of Portuguese, me included, regarding the British Council’, so wrote João Carlos Espada in its column in Expresso newspaper on 4 February 2008.

There were in fact several hundred people at the 70th anniversary of that institution, held at the Academia das Ciências on 24 January’, continues Espada. ‘A book by Alison Roberts – entitled A Small but Crucial Push was launched at the event, and included several such statements of gratitude. (…)

‘These small pushes’, he concludes, ‘are worth more than dozens of centralised plans, complicated bureaucratic organisations and dull propaganda campaigns.’

Over its first 70 years, often difficult ones for Portugal, the British Council has remained objective open and impartial, as one commentator, Jorge Silva Melo, observed the British Council ‘is like the Queen’.

Another guest, Melissa Caldeira, wrote ‘In the 11 years that my daughter has been a student at the British Council, I’ve had the opportunity to witness the excellent work carried out by this organisation in our country.  It has brought us not only the excellence of the language, but also the professionalism of the organisation and a wider world perspective. It is this openness to the world, brought to us by exhibitions, book etc., that is most appreciated. Those who study or come here always find something of interest, excellent service and a culture that is open to the world and always brings us the best of it.’

The 70th anniversary event offered something for everyone, but unlike in the launch in 1938 there were no white ties. It was anything but stuffy, with music, animation, entertainment and original refreshments. As one of the 20,000 young people studying and taking exams with the British Council wrote on the guest book: [my time with the British Council] ‘has been a blast!!!’  

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