British Residents' Association of Switzerland

AGM and Lunch: Saturday, 16 May at the Casino, Berne

Saturday morning in Berne was rather cool and cloudy, disappointing for those who had come from sunny Geneva! Some 40 members found their way to the Casino Restaurant where the AGM was to be held in the very pleasant Berner Stube.

Michael Rogers, in his inimitable way, guided us through the business in record time, so that we were able to start on the aperitif before midday. This took place in the main hall: during our absence the remarkably able and helpful restaurant staff transformed the Berner Stube from a meeting room to a restaurant.

After welcoming Ambassador John Nichols and his wife Suzanne, and thanking outgoing Chairman, Michael Rogers, for having kept the BRA ship on even keel these past six months, the incoming Chairman, Michael Type, noted that the BRA was living in a very different world since it was founded in 1946. The Association had to change to meet the challenges it was facing, particularly with regard to retaining and recruiting members. The global financial situation was affecting everybody and it was essential that the BRA delivered value for money to members.

The lunch which followed was excellent in terms of quality, presentation and service. It was clear from the animated conversation and noise level that members were enjoying themselves, perhaps stimulated by some good wine from the Canton of Berne and Stellenbosch in South Africa.

Finally came the highlight of the day, the talk by our Patron in Switzerland, John Nichols, which proved to be both amusing and informative. He talked initially about his career and how after joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, he had first learned Hungarian in London from an equivalent of James Joyce (which turned out to be as useful in modern Hungary as classical Greek would be in Greece today!) His subsequent postings and the wide experience he gained enabled the Ambassador to give us an insight into the differences between Hungarians and their neighbours, in particular in their migration to Britain following the enlargement of the European Union. In his wide-ranging talk, the Ambassador noted the effect of the current financial crisis in East and Central Europe, especially the problems in the Baltic States. In Hungary, householders who had taken out low-interest mortgages denominated in Swiss Francs were suffering from the weakness of the Forint.

In response to questions following the talk, we heard that the right wing in Hungary originated as the extreme left! Also that despite the legacy of Soviet days, the country is, with the help of the EU, now making great strides in reducing pollution.

Michael Type concluded the luncheon by expressing warmest thanks to the Ambassador and presenting a bouquet to wife Suzanne. On leaving the very pleasant atmosphere of the Casino, we were delighted to find that after the gloomy start to the day, the sun was shining, the sky was clear and there was a magnificent view of the mountains of the Bernese Oberland from the terrace.

Nigel Coombs

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• Terry Waite, 27 March 2009