British Association of the Putting people and social needs together since 1998 Association loi 1901 www.baofthevar.com June 2012 Newsletter No 121

FETE DE LA MUSIQUE

This celebration of music takes place every year on 21 June all over , and now has spread to many other countries also. It was started in 1982 in France by the then Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, and is open to any musicians, amateur or professional, and encompasses all forms of music. The musicians are asked to perform for free and all the concerts are free, taking place in streets, squares, parks, chapels, museums, railway stations, etc and encouraging musicians to perform in venues new to them.

The Fête de la Musique is well represented in , with classical music in chapels, and rock music, salsa, country, jazz, barber shop, chanson française - any genre you can mention – in evidence in the streets and outside cafes and restaurants, who all stay open to feed the good- natured crowds wandering from one musical experience to the next. However, your local village will almost certainly be involved as well so check the website at your Mairie or Tourist Office nearer the time so you don’t miss out on this very French occasion.

If you are involved in your local festivities, do send us a report afterwards.

Forthcoming Events Summer is around the corner; our visitors are for your diary arriving and looking for books to read under the June shade of the trees.

Summer Soiree & Finger Supper Shirley and Pauline would like to with Boules Tournament invite you to a

Wednesday 13 June – La Motte GIANT BOOK SALE Committee Meeting on Monday 18 June

Monday 18 June at GIANT BOOK SALE ********, Monday 18 June – Lorgues (off the main road from Lorgues to )

Painting Group Books available 10h30 – 12h30 Tuesday 19 June – Carces If you wish to donate books please bring them

1BATs show “Keep Smiling” For enquires contact: Shirley 04 ******** or Thursday 21 June - Pauline 04 ******** Friday 29 June - Plage de Gigaro

Handmade Cards Workshop Monday 25 June – Lorgues LIVE THEATRE in ENGLISH is BACK! Digital Photography Group

Contact: ********@yahoo.co.uk BATs are back! The BAV's own drama group are Happy Boules currently rehearsing a brand new show - 'Keep Contact: *******@hotmail.com Smiling', an anthology of poetry, prose, songs and nonsense, guaranteed to amuse and lighten Neighbourhood Networks the gloom of the current world recession. Please see page 4 July The even better news is that they are maintaining Lunch with a Financial Digestive the same cost for admission as was charged two Thursday 5 July – Les Arcs years ago, ie 10€ per head, to include one glass of wine on arrival and apéritif nibbles.

www.baofthevar.com The first performance will be held in the garden

Also see Forthcoming Events of Rob and Esther Flanagan, ******, *****************, Villecroze, on Thursday and Latest News on our BAV website 21 June.

The second performance will be held in the Reminder! garden of the beachside home of Paul and Carla Peter and Shirley Rowson invite you Washbourne, ****************************, to join them for a La Croix Valmer on Friday 29 June.

Summer Soiree & Finger Supper The audience is invited to arrive between 18h30 with Boules Tournament and 19h00. As before, bring your own picnic to enjoy after the show. Due to the cost and 18h00 - Wednesday 13 June logistics of transporting tables and chairs, these 10€ will not be provided, so PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN garden chair and a picnic table (or rug if Books on Sale weather permitting you prefer) and also, please, be prepared to take

your rubbish away with you! Please complete the Booking Form and return to Shirley and Peter by 4 June at the latest. Booking Forms are attached to this Newsletter.

Numbers are limited, so send off your application ********@gmail.com NOW to avoid missing out on an evening of fun ********* and entertainment. All bookings must be paid by 83920 La Motte 04 94 50 38 46 cheque in advance. Page 2

“What’s On” A Lunch with a Financial Digestive hosted by The deVere Group 2 June - La Motte - La Nuit des Vignerons 2 June - : Fête du Vélo “Wealth Retention in 2 June - : Chez Mathias et Sophie Taxing Times” 04 94 85 51 22: Pottery Workshop 3 June - Chateau de Berne, Lorgues: Pain et Lunch on 5 July at midday at Café De La Tour - Les Arcs sur Argens Fromage 3 June - : Brocante Menu 10 €

9 June - : Vide Grenier Civet de Porc 16 June - Les Arcs sur Argens: Vide Grenier or 17 June - Tourtour: Vide Grenier Salade Niçoise 21 June - Fete de la Musique (dessert and wine extra) 23 and 24 June - Villecroze: Course de Côte, 1km motor race Lunch is to be followed by an informal 23 June - Le Luc: Vide Grenier presentation and discussion by a new member 24 June - Lorgues: Journée des Métiers d'Art of the BAV, Paul Howard of the deVere Group

Please reply by Booking Slip by 22 June Les Anglaises ont la Côte

English classic cars at the port of on Sunday La Nuit des Vignerons, 10 June, 10h00 to 17h00. Come and admire the La Motte - 2 June Morgans, Triumphs, Minis and MGs, etc. For more details:06 82 00 62 72 or An annual evening event in the village centre www.lesanglaisesontlacote.org showcasing the best of Provençal life - wine, food, music, and ambience. Buy a wine glass for €5 and CAD Vocal Concerts you can taste the wares of all the local wine domains as often as you like! There is Provençal 23 June, - “Messiah”, Handel music and dancing, a barbecue and other food 11 July, Tourtour - “Lumières”, Jaques Loussier stalls. It is always well supported by all ages so 22 July, Bagnols-en-Foret - “Messiah”, Handel come and join in. 4 August, Pourrières - “Messiah”, Handel 11 August, - “Lumières”, Jaques Loussier http://www.ensemblecadvocal.fr/

Music's Best Kept Secret

There is a little known international music academy in the Var called Académie Musicale De Villecroze located in the small village of Villecroze and each year, between March and October, FREE concerts are held in the former Chapelle Sainte Victor. The chapel is located just off the D51 road between Villecroze and Salernes and is clearly visible as you leave the village. International musicians are flown into the village to be trained over 2 weeks and then they perform a concert before leaving. Seating is completely first come first served and concerts are often over-subscribed. Details can be obtained from www.academie-villecroze.com The next few concerts (all at 20h30) are:

1 June - Violoncelle by Frans Helmerson 6 July - Musique de Chambre pour Instruments à Vent - Philippe Bernold 31 August - Hautbois - Maurice Bourgue 21 September - Chanson Française - Juliette 5 October - Quatuor à Cordes - Alfred Brendel and Miguel Da Silva 19 October - Violon - Jean-Jacques Kantorow Page 3

NEIGHBOURHOOD NETWORKS British Association of the Var new Welfare Coordinator Cabasse, Carces, Correns, , Ann Mitchem and Le Val 04 ******** or 06 43 86 49 01 [email protected] The next meeting will take place on Friday 29 June at 10h30. Contact: Michael Wharton 07 ********* ********@cam.ac.uk Welfare Coordinator Ann Mitchem Grimaud/Cogolin As you will have seen in this month’s BAV We meet twice monthly, 10h30-11h50 2ndTuesday - th Newsletter I am the new Welfare Coordinator. Clem Bar, Grimaud: 4 Tuesday - Brasserie Leclerc, Cogolin. Contact: Pat Heal Since joining the British Association I have been 04 ********* ********@vol.lu involved in helping to cook for events. Last year we started up the Neighbourhood Network for La Motte and Villecroze, Tourtour Salernes and . I

We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and the have lived in Villecroze with my husband Maurice next meeting will be 12 June at Bar des Cascades in for 15 years, permanently for the last 4 years. La Motte at 10h00. Contact: When we first came to the area we helped set up Alexandra Lewis-Smith the Entrecasteaux Cricket Club and until last year 04 ******** ********@bbox.fr I served on the committee.

Les Arcs, Le Luc, Taradeau and I am a mother of two children and grandmother of seven. Before retiring, we lived in Somerset where we had a dairy farm on the Somerset We meet on the 2nd Friday of the month at the levels. My initial occupation was a State Café de la Tour, Les Arcs at 10h30 till noon. registered nurse and midwife. I became a district Contact: Jim North nurse/midwife before marrying and when my 04 ******** ********@wanadoo.fr children were in school I returned to nursing as a practice sister in our local medical centre. I also Les Issambres served on various committees in our area.

We meet every other Tuesday at 11h00 at L'Arpillon Taking over from Shirley is not going to be an café next to Casino. Contact: Richard Tolaini easy task, as she has put so much effort into the 04 ******** or 06 ******* *******@aol.com job and I would like to thank her for the help she is giving me now and hopefully in the future! Roquebrune-sur-Argens - Village & La Bouverie I know we have a list of people on whom we can call in different areas to help with welfare cases We continue to meet at the L’Auberge d’Argens on but if you are not on the list and feel you are the 1st Tuesday of each month at 10h30-12h00. willing to help please contact me or another Contact: Lesley Honeywell member of the committee. 04 ******* *******@wanadoo.fr Bargain Basement St Raphael & Frejus Sales and Wants printed free for members Please contact Diane Jenkins for details of future Email your ads to [email protected] meetings. Lexmark X5075 printer/copier/scanner/ 04 ******** ********@wanadoo.fr fax. Little used and in full working order, with full users’ guide, installation discs and all Villecroze, Salernes, Tourtour and power/USB leads. 2 years old, complete with Entrecasteaux two spare ink cartridges, worth 60€. 30€. Mike Milner 04 ******** We meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 10h30 ********@orange.fr at the bar Cercle de l'Avenir in Villecroze. Please American single bed with 3 drawers - as new check the venue, we may rotate to another village. - linens available - 200 €. Call: Contact: Ann & Maurice Mitchem Dianne 04 ******** 04 ******** ********@hotmail.com Page 4 Chairman’s Notes Bring and Share Lunch at I would like to welcome all new members who have joined during recent months.

We have a number of events planned for this year which should appeal to everyone - including lunches, card making, mosaic design, chateau visit etc.

With an ever growing membership, it is difficult to identify new members at some of these functions because of the numbers attending. We would like to give a particularly warm welcome to them and On Saturday 19 May, 23 members enjoyed the so I ask that new members please make trip to Provence Verte, to Terry and Jane Joyce’s themselves known to one of the Committee who home near Tavernes for a Bring and Share Lunch, will introduce them to other members. which as usual was a gourmet feast. Despite rain the previous day, the sun shone and we were This is also very much an issue with single able to sit outside and enjoy the lovely scenery. members and, once again, we would like to Old friendships were renewed and new ones integrate all single members with the guests. It made, which is the joy of these informal may be a good idea if you are single to go along gatherings. Many thanks to our hosts, and to all to one of the Neighbourhood Network coffee who provided food. mornings or specialist interest meetings (card ______making, mosaic, boules, photography etc) in order to break the ice and possibly join local New Members members in coming to an event. If not, again please contact a Committee member. You don’t A big welcome to three new members - Brigitte necessarily have to wait until the event - you can Rupp from Nice, and Tony & Stella Levitt from La also contact us in advance so that we are aware Motte. that you are coming and can look out for you. The Bereavement Support There is absolutely no reason to feel alone at one of these functions and indeed the whole raison Network of the Var(BSN) d’être is to bring members together and socialise. This organisation exists to support not only the On the subject of events, please don’t forget the bereaved, but also those who are terminally ill, Summer Soirée on 13 June, another excellent and their families & friends. If you, or someone opportunity to mingle and meet other members. you know, could benefit from our confidential, Also, we have a new member, Paul Howard, free support, then please contact: presenting a financial talk following lunch on Sandra – 04 94 84 64 89 or 06 32 35 31 24, Thursday 5 July and it will be a good opportunity email [email protected] or go to our web site to meet with him informally in order to discuss www.bsnvar.org for further information. any financial concerns.

In the meantime hopefully you will all have thoroughly enjoyed the Jubilee Lunch. ______

For next month’s Newsletter

Please let us have your advertisements, articles and reports for the July issue by Friday 22 June All contributions to [email protected] or Shirley Rowson, ********************, 83920 La Motte Page 5 The Sisters at Lunch with a Financial Digestive

Sadly, an era is coming to an end. Fifteen years The deVere Group is the world's largest ago, three people were asked to see if it would independent international financial consultancy be possible to form a branch of the British providing expert advice to expatriate clients and Association in the Var; one of these was Sister investors in 109 countries around the globe. The Jean Powell. When the branch was successfully group states that it has a commitment to deliver formed, Jean became a founder member of the premier, custom built advice to each of its clients first committee and took an active interest in all ensuring that it helps them create value and aspects of our work and particularly welfare. wealth in an otherwise competitive marketplace. When she stood down from the committee after Size can matter, and due to its global market several years, her place was taken by the Revd. position it allows its clients to complement their Sister Cécile, who served for several more years. financial planning with products that are simply

not available through any other source. Both Jean and Cécile were involved in the annual

Carol services of the branch and on a number of Having expanded its operation into France in occasions Cécile officiated. The BA owes much to January 2011 it now has 3 offices here and the the Sisters for their work in the earlier years of nearest to the Var is Nice. With 2 more offices the branch. Now they have decided to take their planned to open in France this year the operation retirement and return to their order in Devon. is following in the footsteps of the developments A farewell lunch was held at which over sixty 5 years ago in Spain where Mr Paul Howard (who people were present and the Sisters were each is based in Nice and now a BAV member) was the presented with a book with over a hundred pages country manager of Spain and opened 5 offices of photos of people and events at Prasada, their there in as many years. home in Montauroux. Our photo shows the Sisters with their presents. Paul says that he knows the group have been well supported by two or three very respectable companies and individuals over the years and he wants to compliment this by introducing people to the deVere way and share some ideas with you in a very informal post luncheon 20 minute chat. He will also be available after the address to have a brief conversation individually if you should wish.

It only remains to thank Jean and Cécile most sincerely for all they have done and to wish them a long and happy retirement in Devon.

Alastair Ross

Correction

Last month’s obituary for Jim Blyth was written by Alastair Ross, former BA chairman, as a personal tribute. We omitted to include his name as the author and apologise for this.

The Newsletter Team

Page 6 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS Painting Group

For information about the group and details of our next meeting in Carces please contact:

Jane Bartlett 04 ******** ********@nordnet.fr ______

Handmade Cards Workshop Mosaic Lessons - Salernes You are invited to attend a Workshop on how to Danielle Jamme is offering to give lessons in make Handmade Cards for all occasions. Pat making mosaics in her atelier in Salernes at 4€ Powell will be at the home of Shirley per person with the suggested time of 10h30– Wrigglesworth to help you achieve your ideal 12h30 once a week (day to be agreed). Materials card. She will supply all the materials needed at used will be charged for at cost price. the cost of 10€ for 3-4 cards. All levels of interest are welcome including beginners. There will be a maximum of 3 or 4 people per lesson. Most of the lesson will be in French, Date: Monday 25 June though parts may be in English. The first lesson Time: 10h30 - approx 16h30 would be very much an introduction to the art of Venue: Lorgues - full details to be given when making mosaics. If people were interested in booking. taking subsequent lessons, they would be Tea, coffee, wine and cold drinks will be supplied. expected to buy their own special mosaic cutters. Please bring your own picnic lunch.

If interested, please contact: If you are interested, please contact:

Danielle Shirley Wrigglesworth 06 ******** ********@hotmail.com 04 ******** ********@gmail.com ______

Happy Boules Walk to the Les Arcs

For more details of the venues please contact: menhirs du Terriers Rob Flanagan 06 ******** *******@hotmail.com After postponement due to bad weather and the ______fire risk, the planned walk eventually took place in perfect conditions on Tuesday 17 April. Digital Photography Group Three hours of steady walking along good dry The Digital Photography Group went back to forest tracks zigzagging upwards and around school for a morning last month to learn more forest valleys, brought us to a recently discovered about the subject of ‘lighting’. Under the expert topless Dolmen in a remarkable state of guidance of our tutor, John Wyatt, we discovered preservation. how the quality of light is critical in achieving A little further on we reached the `Sommet good photographs. Using an improvised studio, desTerriers’ and finally, after a short descent, we he demonstrated some of the techniques he arrived at the north facing plateau, on which honed during his days working at the BBC. stand the menhirs. Our extremely knowledgeable For ‘homework’, we were invited to carry out a guide for the walk was Marc Dissard, one of the number of activities which explored the ideas he original discoverers of the site many years ago. demonstrated earlier. Our efforts will be assessed We stopped for lunch here, admiring the by John and we look forward to his feedback. spectacular view of the northern Var, then during

the easier two hour walk back we were taught For more details, please contact: the French names of the copious flora and fauna. Mike Harper ********@yahoo.co.uk Jim North Page 7 Villa for Sale in House Sale

Villa overlooking village of Claviers and For sale: Beautifully restored village house, surrounding hills. Comprising three bedrooms, Villecroze, c. 270 sq m living surface, 5 / 6 bed- two en-suite, and bathroom. Fully equipped rooms, 3 bathrooms, garden and pool, panoramic kitchen, dining room, lounge with insert fire with views. heat ducting to rest of house. Garage, utility Contact: Richard Eliot 04 ******* room, and large store-room which could be ______converted into living accommodation. Covered terrace, swimming pool, and terraced garden of REMINDER! approx 1800 sq m, with about 30 olive trees. To those who pay tax in France, tax returns were Offers around 500,000€. due in by 31 May but can be sent in over the For further information call: internet by 21 June. Details of how to complete Richard or Chris Alexander the tax returns are available from the Connexion 04 ******** or email ********@free.fr newspaper: www.connexionfrance.com – see ______“Helpguides”.

Apartment for Sale PRASADA

from MONTAUROUX to CALLIAN First floor south-facing apartment on secure domaine in “Petit Defend” area of Saint Raphaël, Our church fellowship built in 2004, 59m² + balcony 13m². has moved to Lounge/diner, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, La Pradon Maison de Retraite separate WC. Large basement garage. Domaine in Callian and features pool and tennis court. 269.000€ ono. meets on the first and third Sundays. Holy Communion at 11h00 Contact: ********@btinternet.com or 0044 followed by a bring and share lunch.

19********. To view call Evelyna Jaquet on 06 Full details and directions from: ********. Hilary at 04 94 47 70 67 ~~~ Ark Pastoral Care, Lorgues

every 2nd Sunday at 11h15 Arc-en Provence 1801 Chemin des Pailles Bring and Share Lunch and every 4th Sunday at 11h15 Notre Dame des Anges – Bring your own Picnic For details and directions Contact: Rev Peter or Shirley Massey at 04 94 73 93 37 06 87 94 04 83 www.arc-en-provence.com/oasis

~~~ St John’s for the Var St John the Evangelist - Ave Paul Doumer, St Raphaël - Rev Keith Bretel Holy Communion is held every Sunday at 10h30 followed by refreshments and a monthly lunch. 3 June 10h30 - Special service to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Port Grimaud Church Holy Communion at 17h00 1st Sunday July and August Grimaud Village Church 1st Thursday of each month at 11h00 except July and August Please ring 04 94 60 87 05 for details www.sjevar.com

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