On Thursday, October 19th, we are getting together at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne for lunch and a look at their exhibition, ” Turner at the Towner”. As part of their centenary celebrations, the gallery is hosting the Turner Prize 2023. Since 1930, Towner has developed one of the largest public collections of work by Eric Ravilious and also features works by his contemporaries such as Edward Bawden which will also be possible to see. Entry is free but if the exhibition doesn’t appeal, then come for the lunch and perhaps explore Grand Parade and the Promenade afterwards. Lunch is booked in the Gallery’s newly refurbished and redesigned restaurant Light on the second floor with skyline views. The menu looks intriguing and is locally sourced. The table is booked for 12.15 and I’m happy to meet people from the Lewes train arriving at 11.51 (and in theory a similar time for trains from the East) and we can make the 15minute walk together! There are plenty of car parks and surrounding roads and the address is Towner Gallery, Devonshire Park, College Road, BN21 4JJ. Please let me know asap (heatherjay1234@btinternet.com) if you would like to take part in one or both options and before 2/10 so I can confirm numbers with the gallery and restaurant. Let me know if you want to meet at the station too. We hope to see you !! Heather, Terri and Richard.

Summary Minutes of ExCo meeting 22 March 2023 The complete Minutes of the meeting may be found on the Publications page under Executive Committee Archives.

Online members can now read our latest newsletter by clicking on the link below. For those who still prefer to receive a paper copy, these will be landing in your postbox in the next couple of weeks. Newsletter No.84, Autumn 2023 The Autumn Newsletter contains detailed information on the 2024 Annual Reunion (AR), to be held in Bath, 19-21 May.  The newsletter includes two loose leaf inserts on the event which can be downloaded below: AR 2024 Invitation with Booking Details AR 2024 Registration Form  

The BAFUNCS-WMW region organised a social gathering on 3-5 September 2023 at the Hilton Stratford-upon-Avon on Arden road, however other regions had also been invited to join. We initially did not have enough people to cover the minimum number of bookings needed, but with the help of information published in the newsletter and the website we were able to hold the event with just enough people. There were several “locals” who joined in for the Sunday evening 3 September dinner at the Hilton, which made it a more fun and sociable evening. It appeared that a few people knew each other and had worked in Geneva for the same UN agency or had lived in the same countries. There was a nice connection and rapport in the group. Overall the event went off very well and of course the fabulous weather played a big part in that. It was not too hot yet and on Monday 4 September we had a nice leisurely day out to Charlecote Park, a National Trust property not far from Stratford. As we were a fairly small group, we were able to transport everyone in our own cars. After the NT property visit, we had a light lunch booked at the Charlecote Pheasant, where we enjoyed a nice meal, after which we all went back to the hotel for a rest and or people went for a stroll around the town. In the early evening on Monday we had a pre-theatre dinner booked at the Arden Hotel Restaurant, where we found ourselves guided to a lovely private function room, which had been beautifully set for our three course dinner, complete with name cards and the meal order for each person. The food was excellent and we all had a marvellous evening. As a thank you, very kindly, I  was presented with a lovely bouquet of flowers and a beautiful box of chocolates by the group. After dinner, four people in the group went off to the RSC to see the play “The Empress” and the rest of the group had been kindly invited to visit Dr John and Mrs Angela Doherty’s nearby apartment for after dinner drinks. The play was excellent, with a marvellous cast, music, a fabulous stage setting  and great costumes and we enjoyed it very much. The rest of the group had a jolly time with the Doherty’s and then returned to the Hilton hotel. On the Tuesday morning, before everyone travelled back home, we had agreed to meet up in the bar/lounge area of the Hilton for a coffee, so that we could say goodbye to each other. We all agreed that we had a fun few days, socialising and catching up with each other and there were questions whether there would be lunches again in the near future. Meanwhile, everyone has returned home safe and sound and they all said that they had a very nice few days out. Unfortunately, there were two members who were unable to attend, due to unforeseen circumstance and or injury. They were missed and we hope that they are able to join future BAFUNCS social gatherings. Click Here to view a Photo Album of the event. Kind regards, Edith Davis BAFUNCS-WMW edithjdavis@yahoo.com