Page 4 - Demo

4 JANUARY’19-JUNE’19
THE REVIEW
PUNE AGM 2018
Then, branches that were turned around... branches that were in troubled waters and the Governing Body members of those states deserve our acknowledgement. Mysuru: They had to deal with issues, but Charles Lewis and his team did a great job. Mysuru, thank you for turning things around. Podanur, my favourite turnaround story. When Oscar Nigli is here, have no fear, things will be turned around! Podanur, thank you for coming. Villupuram-Pondicherry: It was Villupuram
and then we said, ‘Why not Pondicherry?’ Let’s give Villupuram-Pondicherry a warm round of applause also. Devlali-Nasik turned around and is turning around and turning around and turning people’s heads—fantastic! It won the award for most improved branch yesterday. Bilaspur—being turned around much better than before. Very specially—I won’t say turned around, but in
six weeks they had a function which 204 people attended, and they’ve got a new president and he and his committee are doing wonderful things already—the Delhi branch, led by Eddie Jones.
We have new presidents, who have taken over this year. Erode: This is a wonderful example
of a real stalwart—and I’d like to pay a tribute here to Don Woolridge, who did a wonderful job and we salute him; he stepped down because his wife is not keeping well—and we have Crayston Marcar, the new dynamic President. Within a few weeks of taking over, he organised a youth group of 33 youth members. Bangalore: big branches have big problems, and big problems require big solutions from big people. My definition of big
is people who make things happen. We have had our problems there for various reasons; but the new President, Clive VanBuerle, within a couple of weeks refurbished the office that was built in Bernard Hereford’s time. Clive, well done and keep up the good work. Ooty—a real turnaround branch, thanks to the Laidlaw School and the
board, and thanks to Gary Everett and his lovely wife, and Norman Wood and Charles Corfield. Well done, Ootacamund and keep it up. Asansol also has a new presidentin Yvette Beale, a teacher. We welcome all the branches where there is a new start happening.
We’re very happy to have with us, after a long time, Kolar Gold Fields and Jhansi: thank you for coming here after many years. I very specially welcome all our stalwarts, our MLAs, ex-MLAs, Governing Body Members: a very warm welcome to each one of you who have been MLAs in the past and are still very supportive. Mrs June Chaudhary and other ex-MLAs. A warm welcome to all veterans and senior citizens. We miss some of them, particularly Uncle Mally, who put the Association before his own life for the last couple of decades surely, and Mrs Phyllis Wright: she was always quiet, while Colonel Wright her husband did all the talking at the meeting. Mr Thomas, of the Pallavaram branch was there at every AGM; tall, lanky gentleman who stood by the Association rock solid. We miss all these people, we remember them, and I would like you to really put your hands together for them, and wherever they are, they will hear us.
The Community
We have about 385 registrations from outstation and 150+ from Pune—we have close to 540 Anglo- Indians from all over the country here! Somebody said, ‘Where are the Anglo-Indians? They’re all going away!’ Well, that’s no longer true. I will be talking about immigration not happening to that extent today. But here is the better news: When
I was young, uncles and aunties were the young ones at the AGM. It was mostly grandads and nanas, and sometimes even great grandads and nanas, and we young people were all outside. Well,