British Residents' Association of Switzerland

Pam / Steve - - Click thumbnail for more pictures

It was a day which dawned with the promise of rain and wind but fortune smiled on the BRA Queen’s Birthday Party in Geneva. Unfortunately, the weather outlook earlier in the day caused the 40 strong orchestra of the Harmonie nautique to cancel their traditional participation. But that did not stop the Party being a most agreeable occasion with some 120 members and guests present at the residence of the United Kingdom Ambassador to the United Nations, Peter Gooderham and his wife who also participated with UK Mission and Consulate General staff.
Fortunately, the gloomy weather forecast turned out to be wrong, as is so often the case, and those present were able to enjoy ample canapés and drinks in the garden of the residence with a magnificent view overlooking Lake Geneva.
Ambassador Gooderham took the opportunity to review some events of the past year affecting the British Community and then proposed the Loyal Toast and a Toast to the President of the Swiss Confederation. This was followed by Suisse Romande Chairman, Michael Rogers, reading out a message from Buckingham Palace in reply to one of Loyal Greetings. The message from the Private Secretary’s Office was as follows:
“I have been asked to thank you and Members of the British Residents’ Association of Switzerland for your message of Loyal Greetings to The Queen, sent on the occasion of Her Majesty’s birthday which you are celebrating on 10 June in Geneva. Her Majesty much appreciates your kind words and thoughtfulness in writing as you did. In return, The Queen sends her warm good wishes to all those who will be present for a most enjoyable and successful event”.
And indeed, the day did turn out to be enjoyable and successful!

Michael Type