Newsletters 2011


THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF MARBELLA – BAM
NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2011
May Joan and I thank you for your kind wishes. We both had an extremely enjoyable trip to New
Zealand and Australia. – if you want to see the 1800 plus photographs I took I will by special
appointment arrange a unique viewing!!
As last year, Pat booked us at Club Naranja, Calahonda for our traditional BAM Christmas lunch.
It was a great success. Many thanks go to Pat for all her efforts. The food was excellent and the
general knowledge quiz was most entertaining. Our thanks to Trinny of Lloyds Bank for their
contribution of some of the well earned prizes. You can see that some of the committee members,
at least our Secretary and Treasurer enjoyed the event:
Violette has kindly agreed to arrange the next monthly lunch. It is to be held on Thursday 26th
January at 1:30pm for 2:00pm as usual – at the Jaipur restarant on the Paseo Maritimo ( by Hotel
el Fuerte). If you wish to enjoy this event, please telephone Violette to book your
place. The total cost which includes a drink and the service tip will be 14 Euros for members and 16
Euros for guests
I am pleased to say that the Press Release of BAM's donation to The Age Concern was reported in
last week's Costa Del Sol News plus this week's edition of SUR in English.
The Salon Varieties Theatre is staging a musical extravaganza of Dick Whittington (The Pantomime).
Pat is booking tickets for Sunday 8th January. Please contact Pat
us; Pat has all the details.
Please do not forget to invite new members to join us every Wednesday at 11:00 for a coffee
morning at the café Acebuche (Hotel Baviera).
Our thoughts go out to all our friends we have not seen for the past few weeks and months.
Let us hope Lynne is soon out of hospital and we can enjoy her company at our next function.
On behalf of the BAM committee, I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF MARBELLA - BAM
NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2011
It’s hard to believe that it’s November already – but it is – we’ve done the clocks and the trick and
treating and now we eagerly await Christmas and all that that has in store for us!!
Let’s go back to the end of October – our monthly lunch was held at the Bodega el Duende and very
good it was too. The quality of the food, the presentation and the service we go were superb. There
were only 21 of us but the atmosphere was convivial and there was only one person who didn’t
enjoy the food or the occasion – so we count that as another success I think.
Last Wednesday Mary had invited Richard and a female colleague from the deVere group of financial
advisers and they had private chats with individual BAM members about money, insurance, Spanish
wills etc. If any of your members would like to meet them again please let Jan or Pat or me know,
and we shall arrange this for you.
At the AGM it was decided to make a donation to Age Concern and to Las Clavelles. I have been
in touch with Eileen Dry of Age Concern (well, left a message for her to call me back). I want
to arrange for her to come to a coffee morning at the café Acebuche (Hotel Baviara) on either
Wednesday 9th or 16th November so that we can present the cheque to her and hopefully get some
photographs into the Sur in English, Costa del Sol news and maybe the Olive Press and Euro Weekly
News. I shall have to add a p.s. to this when I have the information. It would be greatly appreciated
if people who rarely or never come to the coffee mornings could make an effort to be there for this
presentation – we need the publicity and this could be one way of increasing our membership –
which would be a very good thing.
Mary has kindly arranged the November lunch – 1.30 for 2 as usual – at the Sol de Europa on the
Paseo Maritimo on Thursday 24th. The cost
will be 11 Euros for members and 13 Euros for guests. This includes a drink and a tip. By the time
you start ‘phoning me I should have from Mary the choices of meat or fish. At the moment Mary
thinks the restaurant will only require a choice of the main course – we wait and see!!
There doesn’t appear to be a great deal of news – except of course the sad passing of Jeremy. Our
thoughts and prayers go out to Norma, William and all family members. The news about Lynne
Andrews is very sparse (and varied). If, or when I get an update I will keep you informed.
It just remains for me to wish Jan (our fearless leader) and his long suffering wife a safe and
enjoyable trip to New Zealand and Australia – and to wish all our members good health and
happiness.
Fran.
01.11.2011

 THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF MARBELLA - BAM
NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2011
The Annual General Meeting was held on 29th September 2011. Violette and Tim kindly
made their home available for the meeting and generously provided refreshments for all the
attendees. Many sincere thanks to you both for kind hospitality.
The AGM followed the same pattern as before, with the following being elected for the next
year:
President: Jan Jennings
Vice-President: Francis Newman
Secretary: Joan Jennings
Treasurer: Pat Conville
Other committee members:
Cultural Activity Assistant: Jutta Bayer
General Assistant: David Dawson
Publicity Assistant: Mary Mc Kechnie
As is normal the minutes of the AGM will be issued separately.
However, during the meeting thanks were given to all members that made a contribution to
the organisation and functioning of the Association. Special mention was given to Jean Lord
who has been a member for 24 years and a working committee member for 11 years.
I am pleased to inform you that my first official task was to make Jean a life member of the
BAM.
I must also thank Violette for all her efforts in selecting and booking the restaurants
throughout the past year, an excellent service to BAM. Now that we do not have her on the
committee we are recruiting for help in performing this worthwhile job. Please let me know
if you can be of assistance. It has not yet been booked, but we are considering having the
October lunch on Thursday 27th October at Bodega El Duende, 1.30 for 2 p.m., priced in the
region of 11-12 Euros for members.
During the AGM it was discussed and agreed that the Christmas lunch format of last year
was very acceptable and that if it could be arranged again for this year it would be much
appreciated. It was also suggested that if a Thursday was not available a Saturday would be
acceptable to those present. I am pleased to say that Pat has booked us at Club Naranja for
lunch, 1.30 for 2 p.m. on Saturday 17th December, 2011.
More details for both lunches will follow in the next newsletter. Please let Fran
know if you are likely to attend either or both events.
Joe Molitor has throughout the year taken our newsletter information and forwarded it to
various local newspapers with the result that we have seen copy in the SUR in English and
EuroWeekly News. During the AGM and lunch Joe took many photographs. During the next
few weeks it is our intention to make several press releases using the pictures and additional
text to obtain further copy.
After the AGM we joined other members at the El Capitan restaurant for the monthly
BAM lunch. I think it can safely be said that the lunch was enjoyed by all 31 members who
attended.
The committee is committed to continue with our weekly coffee morning and monthly lunch
events, but is also looking to offer other opportunities for enjoyment. To do this we believe
we must enlarge the membership numbers, so need to get as much advertising as we can.
As has been mentioned before, we would also like to hear from members (especially
members who never come to the coffee mornings) of any suggestions you may have for
outings – perhaps to Malaga to Museums or Galleries – followed by lunch – or any other
ideas which BAM members might enjoy. In fact, on 18th September five BAM members
enjoyed an evening of entertainment by the International Theatre Studio in aid of Cudeca,
held in the beautiful setting of Parque Torre Leonnera, Benahavis. During the interval a
feast of a picnic was kindly provided by Yutta, Violette and Mary. Many thanks to Yutta for
organising this excellent event.
Yutta, always comes up with many ideas for theatres, concerts, etc. but we all
should be helping with ideas.
A gentle reminder for some members; BAM annual subscriptions (12€) are now due again for
the period 2011-2012, please pay Pat as soon as possible.
03.10.11.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION of MARBELLA
NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2011
I hope you have all enjoyed this summer and possibly, like me, rather glad that the
cooler nights have returned.
Our August luncheon held at the café Acebuche was very well attended. All enjoyed
an enormous meal of meat, couscous and vegetables. We were delighted to see
Jeremy Tait in attendance again and looking so well. Thanks to the staff was given by
Jean Lord with a very special vote of thanks to Violette for ensuring that everything
went smoothly on this, the penultimate, luncheon that she will organise. It will be
difficult to replace her.
A final reminder that our AGM will be held on Thursday, 29th September at
Violette’s home. Jan has kindly provided a map showing it’s location at the end of
this newsletter. If in doubt please telephone Violette.
The meeting will start promptly at 12.30pm and it would be most appreciated if
attending members could be seated at least 5mins. beforehand.
The meeting will be followed by the monthly luncheon at El Capitan at the usual
time of 1.30pm for. 2.00pm. Cost 12€ for members and 14€ for guests including tip,
drinks NOT included..
B.A.M. annual subscriptions (12€) are due again for the period 2011-2012 and I will
be collecting these at some point during the day.
Nominations have been received for the posts of President, Vice President, Treasurer
and Secretary and you are reminded that further nominations (with the consent of
the nominee) must be received by Jean  no later that Thursday 15th
September 2011.
The Salon Varieties Theatre is staging an evening of musical entertainment on
Friday 9th until 11th September. Please contact or Yutta 
The ITS Theatre presents FUN IN THE PARK, in Parque Torre Leonera, Benahavis
(bring your own picnic including drinks) on Sunday 18th September starting at
6.30pm. Cost 12€, being a voluntary donation to CUDECA. Transport can be
arranged. Please contact Yutta .
We are happy to report that Lynne Andrews continues to make good progress and we
look forward to seeing her again very soon.
Hasta luego Pat.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF MARBELLA - BAM
NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2011
I think it can safely be said that the July lunch was enjoyed by everybody who attended.
The variety of the dishes was mind boggling and the huge amounts of food very extravagant
and several people took doggie bags too – so a bargain!! Marion Winter – the president of
Las Claveles – gave us an update on the progress (or lack of it) of the radiotherapy unit and
cancer research facility at the Hospital Costa del Sol. Work has recommenced following
an agreement between the Mayor of Marbella and the Junta de Andalucía over the car park
construction and the unit could be up and running next year (one year later than had been
planned). The Junta has installed the infrastructure and has agreed to install equipment – but
more funds are urgently needed by Las Claveles to ensure that the equipment is state of the
art. Meanwhile, the excellent oncology team is ready and waiting to use the facilities – but
they will have to curb their impatience because bureaucracy knows only 2 speeds here – dead
slow and stop!!
Whilst on the subject of food – the lunch on 25th August will be at the café Acebuche (Hotel
Baviera) – 1.30 for 2 p.m. On offer will be couscous – either chicken, beef or vegetarian with
all the trimmings – price in the region of 11-12 Euros for members.
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 29th September. Violette has kindly offered the
use of a room at her home for the meeting and afterwards we shall walk to El Capitan for the
monthly lunch. We shall of course be choosing a new committee and would be grateful to
hear your nominations for the post of President, vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and 4
other members to serve in non-specific roles on the committee. We would also like to hear
from members (especially members who never come to the coffee mornings) any suggestions
you may have for outings – perhaps to Malaga to Museums or Galleries – followed by lunch
– or any other ideas which BAM members might enjoy. Yutta, I know, comes up with
many ideas for theatres, concerts, etc. which are given, at best, a lukewarm response. Very
disheartening!
I had a telephone call from Lynne Andrews’ daughter this weekend. Lynne has been very
unwell for several weeks. There has been unbelievable confusions among her many medical
professionals – which resulted in exacerbation of the situation – but now, the daughter
assures me, Lynne is very much better, able to eat small quantities of very dull sounding
food, so hopefully the improvement will continue apace and Lynne will be able to come to
coffee and lunch before long. We send both Lynne and her daughter our very best wishes for
a full recovery.
Last, but by no means least, Jeremy Tait. I spoke to the lovely Norma last week, and she told
me that Jeremy had had a stroke – was in hospital for some days – lost the use of his legs –
but now he is home and able to lurch around from room to room and the medics predict a full
recovery very soon. Our thoughts are with Norma and William and of course to the big man
himself.
Until next time – take care and keep well and happy,

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