THE ANGLO-Portuguese Society’s annual dinner and dance was a happy occasion. Held in the Music Room of the London Landmark Hotel, the event drew together people with business, social and family connections in Portugal and in the UK.
Members and guests were welcomed by the society’s president, Fernando Andresen Guimarães, the Portuguese Ambassador to the Court of St. James, accompanied by his wife Dona Graça, and by the society’s chairman, Gavin Trechman, accompanied by his Portuguese wife Dona Angela. Guest of honour and speaker was Privy Counsellor Lord Garel-Jones, president of Canning House, where the APS has its London base.
Toasts were drunk to Her Majesty the Queen, to the President of the Portuguese Republic and to Anglo-Portuguese Friendship. Top prize in the raffle were two return tickets to Portugal, courtesy of TAP, and a novelty this year was an auction conducted by Irishman Will O’Reilly, courtesy of Christie’s. Bids soared as Will endeared his audience to take away two watercolours and a print on Portuguese themes, donated by British artists John O’Connor, Albany Wiseman and Francesca Shakespeare, all three have lived and worked in Portugal.
Throughout the year, the Anglo-Portuguese Society holds many events in Canning House at 2 Belgrave Square or at other venues in and around London. In May 2006, members of the society will be visiting the Ribatejo and Estremadura areas and the chairman’s wife, Angela Trechman, will be doing a reconnaissance visit early in December with Jane Fernandes, the society’s local representative. Anyone interested in learning more about the society is welcome to contact Jane on e-mail [email protected] or the society’s secretary in London, Dame Ann Waterfall, on e-mail [email protected]
