Number 68 July Newsletter 2013

In this edition we bring news of the Annual General Meeting; news from members and the postponed article about John Scott OBE. We also have items to amuse and entertain, news of Sales and Rentals and the Editor’s report on her visit to Madeira during the Flower Festival.. The AGM Barnsdale Hall Hotel held on 2nd June working well. 2013 The WiFi systems in both the lounge and poolside work We were indeed gifted with the most glorious weather for well. our meeting this year. The views of Rutland Water and The continued sales of flexi weeks continues to perplex – surroundings were stunning. when will it reach saturation point? There were fewer attending this year than the previous The final batch of sun beds has been delivered. year. It was very special to meet up with members from as far afield as East Sussex, Gloucester and West Staff report more regular salary payments – no more than Yorkshire. We were sad not to meet up again with those a month behind, compared with other hotels whose staff who are now unable to attend for reasons of ill health or suffer greatly. disability. We send them all our very best wishes. The Madeira Regency Palace is doing well and they We were treated to an excellent meal – and the promise combined new TV and WiFi in the future. arrangements were carried out with courteous efficiency; many of the staff remembered us, which was lovely. Treasurer’s Report – details are available on the website. The following is a summary of the day’s business. Full minutes can be found on the MROA website. Subscriptions will remain at £10 per annum

All committee members were present, (with the exception Keith Porteus is re-appointed as auditor. and apologies from Arthur Fowle, who had travel commitments); twenty nine members were present and Howard Stride was thanked for his continuing efforts as thirty eight apologies were received. Treasurer.

Membership is holding steady. Newsletter

Madeira continues to suffer in a recession; the 'Sheng' is There will be three newsletters per year; these will be closed and Amarina continues to struggle. There is no uploaded to the website, with e-mail notification. The imminent sign of the Savoy Hotel rebuild. On a positive Christmas edition will be sent out with subscription note, tourist figures are up with Monarch now offering renewal requests. direct flights, as well as TAP and EasyJet from Gatwick. Web Site Maintenance levels are just about OK, but the pool Though elderly, it is holding up well. There will be pebbles continue to present a problem. changes to the access to the Newsletter section; buying and Klix time share re-sales office is now operating in what selling sections will include rentals and free up the Notice was the Pumps Bar. board for more relevant matters.

Other than the bar only being opened for drinks after 10 Some work is to be completed on the database and e-mail pm in the evening, Maison Blanche lounge appears to be addresses updated to streamline communications.

1 We are likely to return to Barnsdale Hall in 2014; the date their Week(s) will have to settle any arrears - on top of the to be confirmed. agreed sale/purchase price - before the transfer of ownership can be approved. The transfer will also involve Committee a £300 administration fee, payable to the Club, in respect of each ownership certificate issued. Multiple weeks can All existing committee members were unanimously re- be accumulated on a single certificate. elected. I hope you find this explanation both clear and helpful.” Open Forum Colin Grimes

John and Susan Franklin requested clarification on non- payment of maintenance and possible consequences. Our visit to the Funchal Baptist Church Colin Grimes confirmed that MRC had a two year default window, after which ownership would revert to the Club Members will probably know of the ‘English Church’ in and no further maintenance would be payable Funchal, even if they have never visited it. However, I would like to bring the ‘Igreja Baptista do Funchal’ to Val and Geoff Roberts raised the issue of sales staff your attention. operating too freely in the reception and Yacht bar area. It We had heard that there was was agreed by all members that this was the case and the a Baptist Church in matter should be reported in a letter to Roger Brooke. Funchal, but there was a lack of information both at It was confirmed that there are no plans to incorporate the hotels and at the usual WiFi into the apartments. Many members felt that it was information centres, so it unnecessary. took a little effort to discover its whereabouts. Godfrey and Sue Edwards asked about payment of We eventually found the maintenance now that cheques were no longer accepted. information via their web Jenny Mathieson pointed out that details of the London site, (see below). On a bright, beautiful morning, John, Jan and I decided to bank appear on the right of the slip; payments could be make the steep climb from the seafront up to the little made directly to that bank by cheque. David Tomlin and Baptist Church above the main streets of the town. Our Colin Grimes suggested payment directly on the Internet, rewards were great. We were given such a warm greeting then e-mail a copy to Joel; however, MRC would accept by Roy Edens, (Sunday morning worship leader from a cheque, if you insist! Penzance in Cornwall; now living full-time in Madeira), Pastor Ed Potter, (an American Baptist missionary from Margaret Oakley raised the issue of non-receipt of Colorado), and his wife Abbie, (pianist and musical direc- certificates. Tim Bulmer suggested contacting the trustees tor). in I.O.M. as they have been helpful in the past. (see Page Pastor Ed Potter, started the work in Madeira in 1976. He is a translator and American consular agent on Madeira. 7) Despite a small congregation, the singing was enthusias- tic, (I knew all the tunes and most of the words), the Colin Grimes sent the following - “in response to preaching was meaningful and appropriate to the occasion members’ questions and to explain the "default" position of Pentecost and one got the impression of a team of of owners wishing to sell.” enthusiastic Christians who genuinely made all visitors welcome. It was a very warming experience to meet Members who wish to sell their Apartments have to fail to members of the regular congregation for refreshments pay two years maintenance fees before they are after the service. Their regular congregation is made up of designated as defaulters by the MRC Management various nationalities; Russian, Portuguese, Madeiran, Committee and their weeks passed over to the Camachos American, British...... All delightful people. by Resolution at the AGM held in November. Anyone The church is physically very compact. I believe it was who has paid 2013 maintenance fees has until February converted from a garage, but they have recently had the 2015 to sell. During this time they remain the registered opportunity to acquire the building adjacent to their owners of the Apartment(s)/Week(s) in question. There is church for additional outreach and ministry to the people no obligation to cede ownership before the full two years of Madeira. have elapsed. I would strongly recommend members to pay the Baptist Church a visit and see what they are achieving there. Of course, they will not be able to occupy their Apartment Although we chose to walk, it is probably easier to go by during any year for which they have not paid their bus. maintenance fee. In addition, anyone agreeing to purchase

2 The 26 bus is the best choice as it starts near the quay on The English Church 18, Rua do Quebra Costas, 9000-034 the sea front at about 10.45 and goes past the door in time Funchal. Tel: (+351) 291 220 674. for the service. The 22 bus leaves the bus station near the cable car at about 10.10 and stops at the end of the road E-mail [email protected] (see map) a short while later. Funchal Baptist Church (Igreja Baptista do Funchal) Website. www.holytrinity-madeira.org 126 Rua Silvestre Quintino de Freitas 9050-097 Funchal Pastor: Edgar Potter Telephone: Ed Potter 965443568 (mob) Catholic Church Roy Edens 961041705 (mob) There is a Catholic Mass, in English on Sundays at 10am Email: [email protected] at the Penha da França Chapel, off the Rua da Imperatriz Web: www.funchalbaptistchurch.org www.madeirabaptist.blogspot.com Dona Amélia, (Members will recognise this as the little Sunday services: Chapel next to Madeira Regency Club, side entrance). English - 11.00 a.m. to about 12.30 p.m. Russian – 4 p.m. Portuguese– 6 p.m.

Walking up Turn right off Rua 31 de Janeiro on one of the three main roads (Rua do Carmo, Rua Bom Jesus or Rua Elias Garcia). Then turn onto Rua das Hortas and follow onto the tree-lined Rua Pedro Jose Ornelas. Or: Go up the main road past the Market and Anadia Shop- ping and turn left up the narrow, steep Rua Silvestre Quintino de Freitas. Either way the hills are quite steep! Walking down into Funchal after the service, on the tree lined Rua Pedro Jose Ornelas, can be quite pleasant.

Newsletter Appraisal

It has been some years now since I first volunteered to edit and help produce a regular Newsletter. Over the years, there have been several changes. We now deliver, on average, eight pages per issue; most of these can now be read on-line by those with . access to the web.

This has allowed the team to publish the last few editions in colour and allowed me to give better photographs and illustrations than black and white would allow.

Holy Trinity Church I am very gratified by the positive feedback I receive from readers and members. Many of you have sent articles and reports Our English speaking members may also attend Holy of visits which makes my job so much easier. Trinity church in Funchal. It was originally built for the English community on the I always do my utmost to include the most up-to-date island in 1822. information that time allows and will only edit articles if they are too long to squeeze in or (God forbid), too derogatory. If there It is now part of the Anglican Diocese of Europe and caters is anything which I have not previously covered in a Newsletter, for a wide cross section of people from many countries and or anything you would like included, please, send in your different traditions. It is set in a tranquil garden which has requests or an article and I will gladly pass on the good news. recently been considerably changed to cater for additional Helena Bell, Editor. parking, etc. Sundays 8 am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)

Parish communion 11 am,followed by a reception in the garden. (For a small fee, a glass of Madeira, cup of coffee Julia Child, quoted in The Wall Street Journal fruit juice and cake or biscuits are available). 3 While in Madeira in economic advisory work led him to East Africa again and again. February, this year, I He considered Kenyatta to be far from the dangerous villain met Mary Scott, who portrayed by the West. gave me a copy of her husband’s obituary. John’s first position as a political economist was as a lecturer at Who could have Edinburgh University. Then he was back to Africa for 2 years as imagined that the elderly a lecturer in a very new London University College in Salisbury, gentleman who so S. Rhodesia, (now Harare, Zimbabwe). studiously walked (John became aware that he was under surveillance during his around the pool every time there). John’s liberal views did not accord too well with the day, using a pair of right wing Smith government, and when he left after two years sticks, then sat in a chair, or so in Salisbury, he did so hurriedly under the belief that provided by the pool deportation was imminent. boys, could have led such a fascinating life?The following is extracted from both the Daily Telegraph and The Herald Next was Tanzania, in 1963 from early in its independence under (Scotland). (My notes in brackets) President Myerere.

JOHN G SCOTT, O.B.E. (1932-2012) His life was fascinating in so many ways. On a visit to Zambia, while at a dinner with President Kaunda, a signal was brought to John Scott had a remarkable career, as a distinguished Kaunda telling of an assassination attempt on President Amin, in international civil servant and latterly as a freelance economist, Uganda. “Successful, I hope”, remarked Kaunda. John also met travelling much of the world, living and working in at least a Amin himself, and the first president of Malawi, Banda. dozen countries in 3 continents – Africa, Europe and North America, and contributing in his work as a political economist Then he spent a year or so in Washington, at the World Bank, to even more countries. However, his prime focus – and passion followed by nearly two years in the Foreign Office in London, – was Africa, while nevertheless retaining his love for Scotland working on sanctions for Smith’s Rhodesia. After that, he was and maintaining substantial footholds there. He retired back to Washington from 1968/72 with the Ford Foundation. ultimately, with his wife Mary, to Boat of Garten. Next John joined the EU Commission in Brussels. Thereafter he He entered Dollar academy in 1939 travelling from his home in had a series of positions to which he was seconded or promoted Bridge of Allan, leaving in 1951 as Head Boy, as well as head by the Commission,( at the same time) researching for and of house. writing his substantial contribution to a major study of Botswana, published in 1988 – and then in South Africa. He His academic career at school was always marked by some worked with Mandela during this time, and also in Namibia and success, especially in the history class, and it was when he Mozambique. reached the 6th form and at university that his considerable ability really shone through. And he had strong ambition. He retired, for the first time, in the early 1990's.

That ambition had its focus on Africa. Two cousins of his father Finally, he caught the attention of Georgia, (ex USSR), where he were senior colonial administrators. Sir Robert Scott, who was spent a far from comfortable 5 years in Tblisi*, from 1993 to Governor of Mauritius in 1954-59, was one. There are also 1998, playing some part in the setting up of a British Embassy family connections with some of southern Africa's best known there., but primarily advising the government of its first Scottish pioneering families, such as the Moffats, from president, Schevardnadze, on the formation of an economic Livingstone’s wife’s family, who were and remain family planning unit to assist economic reform. He was awarded the friends. OBE for that work.

His time at St Andrew’s (University) distinguished. Before * Electricity was in such short supply that in order to get enough graduating with a First in Political Economy and History in hot water for a bath, it had to be booked a fortnight in advance. 1956, he had won an exchange scholarship to study economics at Queens College, Kingston, Ontario for a year in 1953/54. He In 1995 he married Mary, whom he had known from her went on to Balliol College, Oxford to study Developmental childhood, and with whom in retirement he continued to enjoy Economics in 1956/57 working for the Royal Commission in its his love of travel, moving between Boat of Garten and their flats Report on Development in East Africa. in Edinburgh, Brussels, London and Devon, as well as a bit further afield , to North Cyprus and Madeira. He cut that short for two years of National Service. After commissioning in the Royal Engineers as a surveyor, he went His last years were severely and increasingly restricted by to Kenya, preparing army maps. He met Jomo Kenyatta, the hereditary blindness, and failing general health, but he kept up former professor in London who years later, in 1963 was to be with his family and friends by telephone, and with the world at the first President of Kenya after leading it to independence. He large by radio – he was always up to date with the latest in the also met and talked with Kenyatta in later years, when John’s political scene in the UK and in much of the world.

4 Letter to the Editor Restaurants. Dear Helena, Very hot and tired from our Thanks for another good newsletter and for the comments time in the city, where we had re refurbishing. We own weeks in P11 and even though it been watching the Flower cost us quite a lot when apartments were refurbished it Parade, and visiting the has soon deteriorated. In fact by the time we visited P11 various exhibitions, we had after refurbishment the material that had been stuck on intended to eat at the Regency over the cupboard doors had already started peeling off. Club, but found that there was nothing ‘special’ planned The curtains have holes in them and the carpets are badly for that day. So we opted instead to try the Istanbul worn. It is nice to see reception etc being done up and it restaurant. (Rua Imperatriz D. Amelia). We were creates a good impression, However if you buy an orange pleasantly surprised to find that everything is ‘barbecued’ it doesn't matter how good the outside looks if the inside to order and that there was a very wide range of meats and is bad!!. We really do love being owners at the Club but vegetables available, with traditional accompaniments of feel we deserve a little more consideration in the upkeep pita bread, yoghurt, sauces etc. The service was very slick of apartments. and we thoroughly enjoyed trying some different flavours. The staff were very pleasant; Faith Stuart, the Manager; It’s a real shame about Amarina and the mini market but Catra our waitress and the chef, Orlando Viverros. with the current economic climate and the surrounding competition, she has done well to keep going this long, we have known Amarina for many years now and watched MOSTLY TO AMUSE her family grow up and as and when she is not there she will be sadly missed. We stayed at the club for Christmas and New Year and compliment the chef for all meals that John Moreton, in the spirit of the London Transport we had in house. The Fireworks from the roof were once anagrams, kindly sent in the following - “There are some again spectacular and we purchased the video containing wonderful opportunities for anagrams in East Anglia. the decorations and firework display from a photographic Here are a few”. Most of them are near Norwich where shop in Funchal. We do try to use the Club as often as we John lives. (You may need to find a map of the Norwich can. area!)

Arthur and Jenny Cobbett SLOG NOT, NUT HAMMY DOWN INCH ROW FOOTSTEWL Harry Cotton kindly sent an article on the British ASHAMBLIGORD YOU HARM TARGET Cemetery in the Rua Sao Joao. For an insight into the NIGHRMARSHE BRIDGET SNOUT history of British visitors and residents of Madeira, why THESE WELL TEXANS MUESLY END not visit this very lovely, quiet place. I will publish the LET ROUGH BOAT DOTH FRET article in full in a future newsletter. Thank you, Harry. NOT GASTON RAT EASTRN CRAB ANTON HUNTS MAKE MATH DROWN Scams to watch out for MARBLE TOP, EH? NOT TWINER PAL SING ALE REST CLOCHE BUSTY DRUM DENS REHEATS MEAD Truancy fee The "Education Welfare Service" CAGEBIRD ‘M’ TOTNESS rings and tells you your child has skipped school, and that you need to pay a truancy fee over the phone. HUNT, PROBE, HARM!

Damp proofing A door-to-door salesman offers Thank you John! you a free damp survey. They find some "damp" that needs urgent attention, quote a price and ask for a Maths Test for the Cerebrally Challenged deposit. What is the square root of 1,524,157,875,019,052,100? Safe account Some "policemen" tell you someone is trying to steal money from your bank account. They ask you to transfer your savings into a "safe account" A) 1 while they investigate - but ask you not to tell the bank clerks as they are under surveillance. B) 1,234,567,890 Council tax A cold-caller tells you you’re owed a council tax rebate and asks for your bank details so C) You can’t fool me, that you can be refunded. roots aren't square. Energy saving Someone offers you a "cut-price" £99 plug-in gadget that will supposedly cut your electricity use. It won't. Prize scam You are told you have won a prize, but that to claim it you need to call a premium-rate number.

5 Madeira in May caves and came close to concussion. The bump and bruise took several days to die down!). It had been about sixteen years since my daughter, Jan, had visited Madeira. The last occasion had been when we were The Old Town in Funchal goes from strength to strength. It now relatively ‘new’ to Madeira ourselves and Jan had a very young has many attractions for strolling and eating out, both during the child to care for. We made the decision that with just two weeks day and the evening. The door paintings are still very much in at our disposal, we would try to fit in as much of Madeira as evidence and there are art galleries and other little stalls, etc. to possible, without actually hiring a car. This meant using the be enjoyed. island bus services, booking on one organised excursion, and lots of walking! Festival of Flowers (Festa da Flor da Madeira) – May 2013 An early visit to Monte with the intention of going up to Terreiro da Luta seemed to indicate that, in May, there is no Having been blessed with longer a frequent little bus up to the Railway museum and perfect, warm weather for restaurant. We made the decision instead to cross the valley by our trip into Funchal on cable car to the Botanic Gardens. The ride was beautiful and the the preceding Saturday, valley was very green and colourful with spring growth. We we were delighted with were, however, slightly disappointed with the ‘official’ all the static exhibitions in plantings at the Botanic Gardens and had expected more colour marquees, on the streets in May. (Private gardens were spectacularly colourful at this and in the parks. Avenida time). The formal gardens of cacti and succulents had received Arriaga was full of stalls a lot of attention, as had the tree palms and fruit trees and all selling food, drink, was looking very smart. flowers and produce. We hardly dared to hope for such beautiful weather for the Flower Processions Our visit by bus to Curral do Freiras turned out to be one of the the next day. We could not have best outings of our stay. The journey was comfortable and we asked for better conditions; if saw the island at its very best, with an abundance of wild anything it was too warm. Having flowers, trees and ‘fruitful’ gardens. The weather was near visited the English church in the perfect and we had a lovely meal and walk before catching the morning, we settled for a simple bus back to Funchal. lunch in the sunshine before making our way to the sea front to seek a Our walk to Camara do Lobos, from Praia Formosa, could not good ‘pitch’ to wait for the have been more delightful. We found plenty of time to explore festivities to start. We were the cobbled streets, visit the little church, enjoy food and drink fortunate to find a grassy spot in in the sunshine and return on foot to Praia Formosa. front of the Sao Laurenco Palace Not to miss out on the opportunity of levada walking, we settled and settled to waiting the two hours for the fairly easy walk from above Camacha on the Levada do for the start. Surrounded by an ever Faial towards Val Paraiso and Choupana Hills. We then increasing crowd, we were kept well dropped down to pick up the Levada dos Tournos in the entertained by their general air of direction of Monte. We were fortunate indeed with the weather, excitement, stray dogs, and water as this turned out to be a very long walk before we arrived very sellers. It was a blessing that we had tired from the climb down the valley, then up again, past the sun hats and umbrellas, (as cable car stations to Monte. Never was a cup of tea so welcome! parasols), as the sun beat down from a cloudless sky. Another day found us hopping onto a bus to Cabo Girao. We seemed to arrive in the middle of a fiesta. There were many At last, we heard the sounds of the stalls selling local breads, barbecued chicken, beer, poncho and samba and in the other local delicacies. However, this activity was confined to distance a float full of the roads in the vicinity of the little church there and it was flowers, and lines of relatively quiet at the cliff edge. Much fun was had watching colourful dancers. visitors daring to walk on the glass platform. (See other article) Nothing I had read or been told could have The following day found us on an all-inclusive trip to Sao prepared me for the Vicente caves. We found this very good value as the services of brilliant colours, the a guide, both on the bus, and in the caves, was included in the ingenuity of the price and we were given time to visit both Sao Vicente and the costumes and the sheer trip along the north coast as part of the excursion. (I numbers of dancers. These ranged from tiny babies to unfortunately walked into a door pillar as I was leaving the ‘veterans’. And all gave everything they had to entertain us Continued Page 8

6 For Sale, Rent or Wanted Apartments

Apartments for sale (in apart- 409 Weeks 22&23 ment sequence) Correct at Weeks 31&32 403 04/06/2013 502 Week 29 P21 Week 52 P36 Week 42 508 Weeks 12&13 Weeks 30&31&32 P22 703* Weeks 25&26 & Week 47 514* Week 5 Weeks 33&34 P23 202 Weeks 47&48 & Week 46 602 Week 48 Weeks 36&37 P25 205 & 602 Week 20 603* Weeks 10&11 Week 37 P26 902* Week 28 & Week 41 606* Weeks 30&31 Weeks 38&39 P31 P26 Weeks 40&41 804 Weeks 38&39 Weeks 40&41 P35 P31 & 401 Weeks 49&50 902 Penthouse* Weeks 6&7 Week 42 P36 P21 Weeks 5&6 903 Penthouse* Week 9 Week 46 P38* P23 Weeks 47&48 Apartments WANTED for Week 47 104 rental P22 Weeks 38&39 None currently Weeks 51&52 202 401 Weeks 13&14 Apartments for rental & possible sale (in week order) Week 52 203&501 040 & 502 Weeks 51&52&1 Weeks 5&6 P36 & 308 Pxx - poolside 308 *Two bedroom Weeks 5&6 Weeks 7&8 508 & 611 Full details can be found on 315* www.mroa.org Weeks 39&40&41 Weeks 11&12 106 & 805 401 The FNTC Isle of Man contact for Weeks 51&52 Weeks 13&14 help with ownership Certificates is 202 402 Scott Wilson I.O.M - 01624 630635 Weeks 22&23 Week 13 P26 Make sure to have all your 403 paperwork handy. Weeks 22&23 Week 15 I have found them very useful - P33 please keep me informed, 406 Weeks 34&35 Week 20 Tim Bulmer Weeks 42&43 P25

7 Some Images of the AGM at Barnsdale Hall Hotel

Helena Bell Jenny Mathieson Editor Committee

Howard Stride Tim Bulmer Treasurer Chair Members enjoying pre-meeting refreshments

Festival of Flowers (Continued from Page 6) Cabo Girao. with singing and dancing. The procession took approximately two hours to pass us and not one float or dance team There is now a glass floor at Cabo Girao which allows the disappointed us. brave to stand directly over the 580 metre drop to the sea. (Scary, but worth a try!) The area has been much The only ‘black cloud’ to spoil the whole event is the developed, with a little gardens to sit in the sunshine, toilet on-going renovations and re-building of the Marina area. facilities and a holiday village close by. Frankly, the area between the city streets and the Marina/Sea front is a mess. One can only hope that this will We caught the bus to Cabo Girao. There are several which not continue beyond 2013 or I predict a serious loss of go within a twenty minute walk of the cliff. We got off the visitors. From the harbour to the Fort, it is not possible to bus when we saw the ‘Cabo Girao’ bar. It is a pleasant, see the sea at all and the area adjacent to the Electricity moderately easy walk along the road and it is signposted. Museum is a sprawl of concrete and corrugated iron, hiding (The 154 goes to the attraction). Returning in the direction what was once pretty, tiled pavements. We live in hope! of the bus stop, we broke our journey at the said ‘Cabo Girao Bar’ and enjoyed coffee for two and a shared cake STOP for €2.05! We had a longish wait for our return bus. There PRESS is a long gap in midday services, but at €2.70 on the Rodoeste bus, very good value.(Buses. 4/8, 142,and 154), There are other buses which pass the area en-route to other destinations - almost too many to list, but mostly early morning services and infrequent.

MROA CONTACT DETAILS All MROA correspondence should be addressed as follows:

General Postal enquiries: Madeira Regency Owners Association C/o “Ferndale House”, Highgate, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5BA Telephone Jenny Mathieson 01342 823355

All e-mail communications: [email protected] or [email protected]

Newsletter contributions Helena Bell, “Carillon” 15, Barcombe Avenue, SEAFORD, East Sussex, BN25 4DT [email protected]

Membership web site www.mroa.org

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