We are pleased to announce that the Rt.Hon. Andrew MItchell MP will be speaking at our 2025 Annual Reunion in Norwch. Mr Mitchell first became an MP in 1987 and has been representing Sutton Coldfield since 2001. During his career as a Conservative politician, he has taken a keen interest in international affairs generally and Africa in particular. In the process he has held a wide variety of government posts including Secretary of State for International Development and Deputy Foreign Secretary.

All KSX members and guests are cordially invited to our Festive Season Lunch at Cote Restaurant, 115-116 Church Street, Brighton BH1 1UD on Thursday, December 5th 2024 at 12.00 for 12.30. The 3 course menu is £39.95pp plus tea/coffee if wanted and a mandatory 10% service charge will also be added.  Drinks are ordered separately and payment is on the day and by card only. There is an additional charge for the sirloin steak and don’t forget to let us know how you would like it cooked! There is a gluten free option so please tell us which menu your choices are from to avoid confusion and let us know if you have any allergies. See below for the menus. Please send your replies and orders to Terri (terrijezeph@yahoo.co.uk) and Heather (heatherjay1234@btinternet.com) by the 21st November.   Getting there: If coming by train, exit the front of the Station, and take a short 5 minute walk down Queens Road for approximately 400meters. Turn left into Church Street and walk down the hill and Côte in on the left opposite the Brighton Dome. A taxi from Brighton Station is approx £10, the taxi rank is at the rear of the station, exit by platform 8. For car drivers there are various car parks.  Churchill Square is cheaper but a slightly longer walk.  Closer is the NCP Theatre Royal car park and can be pre-booked, approx £20 for 4hr slot. Buses stop in Churchill Square, North Street and Queens Road and are within a 10 minute walk of Côte. Looking forward to seeing you in December. Best wishes Heather, Terri and Richard.   Xmas Cote main menu  Xmas cote gluten free menu  

The Northern Region held a regional event in Nairn, Scotland, on 24 to 26 September 2024.  This would not have been possible without the wonderful help of our member, Professor Ron Skeldon, who is fortunate to live in Nairn. Nairn is a former royal burgh, an ancient fishing port and market town, 17 miles east of Inverness.  Boasting a sunny and dry micro-climate, it has been a popular seaside resort for over a hundred years.  It has three beautiful beaches with stunning views of the Moray Firth and the Black Isle.  A perfect place for us to visit! We stayed two nights at the award-winning Muthu Newton Hotel, a splendid baronial pile and favourite hotel of Charlie Chaplin.  After checking in, we were fortunate to have Ron lead us on a walking tour of the town.  In spite of Nairn’s reputation as being one of the sunniest places in Scotland, we were subjected to squalls of rain and wind, but as intrepid BAFUNCS explorers we donned our raincoats and hats and learned about Scotland’s pioneering educational establishments, its waves of emigration and its building of transport links.  As a reward, the rain stopped and the sun came out as we stopped for dinner at the four-star Sun Dancer Restaurant, located on the beach and with beautiful views of the sunset over the sea, where we were presented with a double rainbow. The next day we travelled to Culloden Moor, the site of the last land battle on mainland Britain; it marked the end of the Jacobite Rebellion in 1746 and its attempt to restore the thrones of Britain to a Stuart king.  It has a very impressive visitor centre with a 360-degree cinematic presentation of the battle.  That, together with the desolate landscape, made for a very moving and evocative experience.  In less than an hour, about 1,300 men were killed, about 1,250 of them Jacobites.  It signalled the end of clan life in the Highlands. We then travelled to the south-west of Inverness where, after lunch, we boarded a cruise through the awe-inspiring scenery of Loch Ness.  In spite of valiant attempts we failed to spot the elusive Loch Ness monster, but it was a relaxing and restorative time after our visit to Culloden Moor.  Upon our return to Nairn, Ron and Grania generously invited us to their home for pre-dinner drinks before we walked to the nearby Italian restaurant for dinner.  Being in Scotland, we had to retire to the hotel bar for an after-dinner drink of whisky! Initially I was disappointed in the low turn-out of members from our region, but four members joined us from other regions for which I will be forever grateful.  It meant that we had more time to socialise with each other and to appreciate the benefits of our BAFUNCS membership. Nikki Feirn, NOR Regional Representative

Members from other regions  are welcome! Our Christmas Lunch this year will take place on Tuesday, 3d December 2024 at the Angel Inn, Angel Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0AU. You are invited to arrive from 12.00pm for drinks at the bar followed by lunch at 12.30 pm. Lunch arrangements:  Lunch will include choices for all tastes including vegetarian.  The cost will be £32 for 3 courses, £26 for 2 courses or £20 for 1 course. VAT and gratuities are included. Drinks, teas or coffees should be paid for at the bar. If you would like to join us  or need further information Please email   Annie Kean at stuartkean@aol.com Christmas lunch menu 2024 with tip  Transport and parking: For those travelling by car, there is parking behind the pub.  Additional parking can be found further down Angel Road and in Thorkhill Road (1st left down Angel Road) or on the far side of the green on the opposite side of Portsmouth Road (turn into Giggs Hill Road and turn left.) Thames Ditton rail station is about a 15 minute walk from the Angel Inn. If you are travelling by bus, the bus stop to alight is Angel Road. From Kingston, the buses will either depart from Cromwell Road bus station or from Eden Street bus stop D1, depending on whether the upgrade to the bus station has been completed. Options are: the White bus, No. 458 to Staines via Esher, which leaves at 20 minutes past the hour; or the Falcon bus No. 715 from Kingston to Guildford via Esher, which leaves at 45 minutes past the hour. Both journeys take about 15 minutes. The Falcon buses 514 and 515 stop at Thorkhill Road, which is the stop before Angel Road. From Walton upon Thames you can take the White bus, No. 458 to Kingston. This leaves Walton on Thames (The Bear) at 06 minutes past the hour and Walton upon Thames rail station at 13 minutes past. The journey takes about 30 minutes. From Guildford the Falcon bus No. 715 to Kingston leaves from Friary Bus Station at 20 minutes past the hour and takes approximately one hour. We look forward to seeing as many members as possible. BAFUNCS Surrey Region Committee