"Wilton Park" is amongst the most important conference centres in the UK and assembles decision makers and opinion leaders from around the world around themes of international concern. The conferences, which number around 40 annually, have the support of the Foreign Office and other sponsors and take place in the Victorian country estate Wiston House in the south of England.
Its origin goes back to 1945 when the centre was created on the initiative of its later rector, Sir Heinz Koeppler. From the beginning of 1946 it provided an opportunity for German prisoners of war to debate the German past and become acquainted with the democratic society of Great Britain. As early as 1948 Wilton Park was transformed into an academy which united German opinion leaders and influential Britons to discuss issues of bilateral concern in politics, social and economic development, etc. Many leaders, some of whom are still prominent in public life, participated in the early conferences in Wilton Park and learnt to appreciate the special atmosphere of open debate. Subsequently, many Germans and Britons from all walks of life - politicians, business people, trade unionists, scientists and students - came to Wilton Park.
In 1957 the future of Wilton Park was cast into doubt since the Foreign Office was unwilling to shoulder the financial burden for this centre alone. Thanks to the high esteem that Wilton Park had acquired in Germany, the Association of the Friends of Wilton Park was founded and provided intellectual and financial support for the institution. That initiative came from the former State Secretary in Bavaria, Karl Weishäupl, who acted as its president from 1957 till 1989. The fact that the Association became in important element in German-British relationships is due to his efforts.
Wilton Park continued to make important contributions to friendly relationships between Germany and Britain, as well as to Germany's integration into the West. And it now became possible to widen the focus to relationships between European nations and issues of general political concern. That widening led to the foundation of Friends of Wilton Park Associations in other European countries, the United States and Canada. Today, the Friends of Wilton Park in many countries take every opportunity, such as a symposium in Düsseldorf in 2001, to maintain the links and plan joint ventures.
Ever since its foundation in Munich in 1957, the non-profit-making "Verein zur Förderung von Wilton Park e.V." has devoted its efforts to the promotion of international events in Wilton Park and the body of ideas underlying German-British and international relations. It aims to
Since 1997 the association has been awarding a prize for an outstanding Master's or other university degree thesis that focuses on some aspect of German-British relationship. The name of the prize commemorates its founding president, former State Secretary, Karl Weishäupl. The association increases its cooperation with other institutions which pursue similar goals and has a membership of some 120 throughout Germany.
[Last update: Wednesday, 25 January 2006]