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Ambassador in Algarve for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Updated: 11-Jun-2012

Winners of the bowls tournament. Photo: SUPPLIED

The Algarve came in force to celebrate the HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. A special guest at the Algarve Resident organised Gala Dinner last Friday was HM Ambassador to Portugal, Jill Gallard.

BOWLS

Events spearheaded by the Algarve Resident commenced with a Tennis Tournament organised by Jim Stewart at Quinta do Lago.

Tennis was closely followed by Bowls, held at Alvor Lawn  Bowls Centre run by Connie Borrell.  Eddie and Maria de Bie, Royal British Legion members and keen bowlers were delighted with the turnout and Alan Reynolds reported:

As people in the UK geared themselves up for their street parties, members of Bowls Algarve charged their glasses for an afternoon of fun and fellowship.

Before doing so, 50 bowlers, representing all member clubs, took part in an open event for which they added red and blue outfits to their customary whites.  Winners were Carla Kenney, Mike Browning and Vince Cresswell.  Runners up were Jenny and Gerry Jones and ‘DJ’, only missing out by one shot.

Spectators then joined the players for an excellent lunch and presentation of prizes for the various fund-raising activities on offer.

Royal British Legion members who had been invited to attend were pleased to hear that the event, to be known as the Jubilee Cup, will henceforth be included in the Bowls Algarve calendar and played for annually on a club rotation basis.  With a target of €500 for this, the inaugural event, they were also pleased to be told that €713 had been raised.

GOLF

GOLF TEXAS SCRAMBLE – A real celebration in the Algarve has to include a Golfing event and Oceânico’s  Nick Faldo Course  was the challenge for

Lined up and ready for the off Sue Gannon (Lady nearest the pin). Gary and Sylvia pictured with three of the four ‘Oldies’. Photo: SUPPLIED

70 players.  The players enjoyed a lunch in the clubhouse whilst Gary and Sylvia King of The Golf Shack in Alcantarilha worked out the scores for the winners.

With light winds and more humidity than was ideal, players from all over the Algarve enjoyed their golfing challenge with a shot-gun start at 09.30.  The course seemed to be kind to most players and Phillip Pope (MD of Boavista Golf) complimented Oceânico on the exceptional condition of the course.

The winners were The Oldies (Phillip Pope, Paul Wright, Keith Carre and Duncan Lindsey) with a score of 58.0, closely followed by the Oceânico Management Team (Martin Date, Gerry Fagan, Brian Kidd and Chris Burr) scoring 58.7.  Third were DUK Golf with a score of 59.1 (Roger Morwood, David Schofield, Robin Lincoln and Liam). Nearest the pin were Martin Date and Sue Gannon.

Winners received their prizes from Sylvia and Gary King who organised the event and along with Mizuno Golf sponsored all the prizes.

GALA DINNER

On Friday June 1, we welcomed HM Ambassador to Portugal, Jill Gallard

HM Consul to the Algarve Clive Jewell, HM Ambassador to Portugal Jill Gallard, HM Vice-Consul to the Algarve Angela Morado and Honorary Consul to the Algarve Miguel Sengo da Costa. Photo: SUPPLIED

to the Jubilee Gala Dinner held at Le Meridien Hotel. This was heralded as a great event by all who attended. The Ambassador addressed the diners talking on the subject of The Queen; she reminded everyone that Princess Elizabeth was not born to be the Monarch. With the abdication of her uncle and the untimely death of her father, she took on the enormous mantle being only 26 years-old and having two young children. “She is a truly inspirational woman,” said Jill. She then went on: “Speaking of inspirational women, I have a presentation to make to Sheena Rawcliffe.”

20 Matching Bowties and Cummerbunds were the order of the day for Martin Date, Christopher Garveigh, Christopher Burr and Tim Gurnett. Photo: SUPPLIED

Sheena, Associate Director of the Algarve Resident, had the concept of producing events at which as many people as possible could join in. She said: “I had this idea of putting on events which would attract people from all walks of life, here in the Algarve. The intention was to celebrate, integrate and to be financially accessible to all, whilst raising funds for two very worthwhile charities. I am very happy indeed with the way the public got behind these events and made them fun.”

Lloyd Delderfield won the prize for the most quirky red, white and blue item as illustrated in the photograph on page 18.

Nearly 140 diners enjoyed a wonderful buffet prepared by Executive

Angela and Jill cutting the cake. Photo: SUPPLIED

Chef Bernard and his team and were served with wines sponsored by Quinta dos Vales and port sponsored by Taylor’s.

The toast to The Queen was proposed by Martin Date, CEO of Oceânico and the toast to the President of Portugal was proposed by Nigel Anteney-Hoare, MD of Sovereign Group in Portugal.

Sheena then presented Jill with a framed photograph of an Algarve sunset by local photographer Dave Sheldrake.

Royal British Legion Chairman Des Briggs spoke of the great honour and pleasure of welcoming HM Ambassador Jill Gallard to the dinner, particularly as she is the President of the Royal British Legion in Portugal. Des asked Jill to present a certificate to Connie Borrell of Alvor Lawn Bowling Centre to recognise her great effort in raising funds over the years. A certificate was also presented to Sheena Rawcliffe for her work in supporting the Royal British Legion. Sheena said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive this certificate. I was brought up in a Christian family to believe that you do as much as you can to help others.”

Lloyd Delderfield won the prize for the most quirky red, white and blue item. Photo: SUPPLIED

Of course no celebration would be complete without a cake and, once again, Executive Chef Bernard had excelled. HM Ambassador Jill and HM Vice-Consul to the Algarve Angela Morado cut the beautiful creation.

In what was a truly busy evening, Martin Date then introduced Brian Kidd, Assistant Manager of Manchester City. Brian, a footballing legend and a genuinely nice man, spoke of his time in football, answering many questions from the floor. David Trubshaw asked him how young he was when he realised that football was to be his life. “I really don’t remember exactly,” said Brian, “but football was always there. Of course so much in anyone’s life relies on a certain amount of luck; and having the best support from those around you. I was lucky. Firstly, I had total support from my parents and then when I married this continued with my lovely wife Margaret.”

Sheena welcoming Jill. Photo: SUPPLIED

Brian was also asked about the 2012 tournament, about which there has been controversy already. Martin pointed out that a television programme had been screened showing unsavoury activity with particular regard to racism. “There is no room for racism in football, indeed in life,” said Brian.

Following Brian’s lively session, Chris Winstanley of Moveison took the microphone and engaged the audience in a great auction with many wonderful prizes. Chris, with his usual sense of humour, infected the diners who dug deep into their pockets and the sum raised was over €2000.

The proceedings were wound up by HM British Consul to the Algarve Clive Jewell, who stated that it had been a memorable evening, particularly as it was held in the company of our British Ambassador. Clive said he hoped that the dinner along with other events had offered residents and tourists the opportunity to enjoy the celebrations as well as raising money for the two charities – Madrugada and the Royal British Legion (Portugal Branch).

THE GARDEN PARTY

The staff at the Sheraton Pine Cliffs turned the area generally used for

Ema Santos-Rawcliffe and Ana Rowatt trying to Splat the Rat, assisted by RBL member Barry Wills. Photo: MARK RAWCLIFFE – ALGARVE RESIDENT

weddings into a delightful area for a Garden Party. Whilst numbers of attendees did not meet expectations, those who did join in the event were treated to great Pimms and cucumber sandwiches.

Entertainment from The Teds and Alison Blair was top class with the music chosen to reflect the 50s when Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne.

There was a superb display of classic cars – one for each decade of the Queen’s reign. Jaguar XK 120; Aston Martin DB6; Jaguar E Type; Aston Martin V8; Aston Martin DB7 Vantage; Aston Martin Vanquish; and the up to date Jaguar FX.

The RBL stand had plenty to offer including home-made produce. Photo: MARK RAWCLIFFE – ALGARVE RESIDENT

And, of course, any Royal celebration has to have a fly-pass. This was generously supplied by Ken Tomset and friends. Ken flew his own Chipmunk over the Sheraton at 17.15 and delighted the revellers with three excellent loop-the-loops.

The Algarve Resident was proud to be able to offer so much to those in the Algarve at this very important time. We could not have done it without our partners and sponsors, to whom we are very grateful. We had no idea that so many individuals and companies would also show their affection by celebrating HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. We hope that they all enjoyed the experience as much as we did. The accounts for our events will be sent for audit as soon as the final donations are received and we look forward to reporting the figure raised and to passing the funds to Madrugada and the Royal British Legion.