Since our October Update, members have continued to sign up to our Annual Reunion in ever increasing numbers. As of this week, with six months to go before the Coronation and before we meet again in the hallowed halls of the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL), over fifty of us have booked their place for three days of Reunion, cultural events, visits, entertainment and recession-beating retail therapy. CLICK HERE to book your place And so to our programme:  as you know, our speaker at the Gala Dinner will be Sir Roderic Lyne KBE CMG, former Ambassador to Moscow, Permanent Representative at UKMIS Geneva and later, member of the Chilcott Enquiry. Since the Autumn Newsletter, many of you have expressed an interest in the Edward Mortimer Memorial Lecture on the morning of Wednesday 10 May. We are delighted to inform you that our speaker at this event will be Gideon Rachman, winner of the Orwell Prize for Journalism in 2016, chief  foreign affairs columnist since 2006 and Edward Mortimer’s successor at the Financial Times. The lecture is now planned to take place at the Overseas Development Institute, a close intellectual partner of the United Nations on development issues, at  Blackfriars Road, a few stops on the Jubilee Line from Green Park. Many have now indicated their interest in the additional events, and we expect to see more choices being made in the coming weeks; so do let us have your polling forms for these as you register. Towards the end of the year, your Committee will make final choices for the events based on the poll. A booking form will be sent out to you early in the New Year, together with early information about theatre, exhibitions and other cultural events so that we can make bookings  at Fortnum and Mason, or the Swan,  the Charterhouse or Hampton Court, as you choose, and you can start making your bookings for other entertainments. We are aware that members have continued to encounter delays in booking their rooms at the Royal Over-Seas League and thank them for their patience. This is to reassure members that all the bookings made to date have been confirmed. Nevertheless, the matter remains under close review by the Organising Committee, which has discussed it in person with ROSL management in the last few days.  Apologies were given. As previously indicated ROSL is holding some rooms available for BAFUNCS members until 30 November (next Wednesday) and has promised maximum flexibility thereafter. With the Coronation creating additional demand, members should not delay if they wish to reserve a room there.  Bookings by email should be made as advised previously, with a copy to Sofia Munoz at smunoz@rosl.org. Hotels including the three Premier Inns we highlighted in the original communication still have rooms available, often with a revised range of room prices. Finally, online payment procedures are sometimes proving difficult and time-consuming. Progress comes at a price, and these too call for angelic patience ….. Please also ensure that you spell out “BAFUNCS” – British Association of Former United Nations Civil Servants – in full in your bank transfers. Frederick Lyons, Chair of the Organising Committee

Draft Agenda of ExCo Meeting to be held on 24 November 2022 at IMO and on Zoom   Draft ExCo Agenda 24 November 2022 Rev.1

Summary Minutes of a Meeting of the Executive Committee held at the Royal Over-Seas League, London on 17 March 2022.   Summary Minutes of ExCo meeting at ROSL on 17 March 2022

Dear all, A small group of us made the visit to the Harcourt Arboretum on Thursday 20th October, 2022. The weather tried to put us off, but we changed the plan and headed to the Seven Stars in Marsh Baldon for some early lunch. It was ideal for a quick light meal, with the only minor challenge that they had no draught beer on tap, as they had just changed the barrels over. After lunch, we went to the Arboretum and the sun joined us. The radiant maples were in their vibrant best colours, glistening in the Autumn sunshine, and the giant conifers always impress! It’s always a great place to visit, and changes its face through the seasons. Here are a couple of photos from the visit:   We look forward to seeing those of you that can make it to our Christmas Lunch on 1st December, and I’ll be sending out the menu tomorrow to ask for your choices.  All the best, Stephen