The South-West Branch of the English Speaking Residents Association kicked-off the 25th year of its existence with a record turn out at its Annual General Meeting.
More than a hundred members crowded into Restaurant Real de Vellon to hear Chairman David Barter deliver a well-received report on the previous year's activities and to elect the Committee for the coming year.
Members expressed their appreciation of the events held during the year, which included subsidised trips to Lluc Monastery, the trotting races at Manacor, a visit to Sineu market and a guided tour of Palma Cathedral.
There were illustrated talks on such varied subjects as David Livingstone, the experiences of a young lieutenant in the Malayan Jungles during the Emergency, Majorcan Possessios, walking in the Pyrenees and Professor Isobel Moreno on The Living Beach.
There were the fiercely-contested inter-district, table quizzes, local variations on such TV shows as Call My Bluff, Desert Island Discs, Name That Tune and Mr and Mrs .
For exercise, members were taken on fortnightly guided walks around the Calvia area and a guided walk with commentary around the Casco Antiguo in Palma.
And, apart from the weekly, Thursday meetings, on other days members took part in specialist clubs for Petanca, Duplicate Bridge, 10-pin Bowling, Floral Art, Line Dancing, Mahjong, Rummikub, Sewing, and a Writers' group.
But South-West members also found time to raise over 6'000 for charities during the year, including 1'700 euros to Fundacio Respiralia, 2'000 to Alzheimers , 500 to Downs Syndrome Association, 500 to Multiple Sclerosis, and 500 each to the Salvation Army and to DIME for cancer relief.
Chairman Barter's outgoing Committee was re-elected for another year in office.
Discussions are underway on a major celebration of the Silver Jubilee of South-West and meanwhile, members can look forward to another year of interesting, informative and entertaining meetings.
So, if you are not already a member and would like to join, you should contact the Membership Secretary, Carmel Deakin phone 971 681 422 or preferably by eMail carmeldeakin@hotmail.co.uk