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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Jomtien-Pattaya’s fast Rotarians

Hans immortalized

Pattaya’s UK Club donates to Redemptorist Vocational College

The Royal Cliff Wine Club visits Italy

Mama Anne Marie Fuchs celebrated her 90th birthday

BCCT still cautiously optimistic

Jomtien-Pattaya’s fast Rotarians

Forget about the stuffy image of a Rotarian. Today’s Rotarians are vibrant members of society, people who know about life and living, and who appreciate what life has to offer. It is probably that knowledge that gives them the need to help those less fortunate than themselves, those people who are unable to enjoy their lives to the same extent.

Matti Kaikkonen – a fast Rotarian and a fitting champion.

One of those Rotarians, who lives life to the full, is Matti Kaikkonen, a Finnish national, who in his 40’s took up the sport of motor racing. He did more than just take it up, he embraced it and at the end of his novice year had won the Thailand AIM Racing Concept I series.

At the Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club meeting he told his enthralled fellow Rotarians just what a fantastic feeling it was to get out on to the race circuit, something that had just been an “impossible dream” until last year. With encouragement from fellow Rotarian, the Pattaya Mail’s Dr. Iain, himself an ex-racecar champion in Australia, Matti took the plunge and embarked on the fastest learning curve of his life. Within two meetings he was challenging for the lead on the track, and the lead in the points score. For the final meeting in December, Matti was equal on the leader board with a young and fearless Thai driver, more than 20 years his junior. Everything hung on that last race. Showing a coolness that might come from Finland, or more likely from being over 40 years old, Matti never put a wheel wrong and led from start to finish, to become the first non-Thai to win the AIM Concept I championship.

Dr. Iain said at the end of Matti’s address that there are old racing drivers, there are bold racing drivers, but there are no old, bold racing drivers! Matti was seen to be taking this to heart as he enters his second year of motor sport, this time in the Sport Grand Champion class, the next step up from Concept I. Rotarians everywhere can applaud this member’s tenacity and skill. Matti Kaikkonen, a fitting champion.


Hans immortalized

Hans-Dieter Westphal, the genial MD of Rieckermann Thai Engineering, had his likeness set in sponge cake by his employees last weekend. During Hans’ 51st birthday celebrations held at his wife’s Chan’s Bistro, a cake bearing a photographic likeness of the MD was produced by the Rieckermann staff who were on hand to wish him all the best. Amongst those were Barry Soames, who was claiming loudly that their MD was actually 55, but this was vehemently denied by Hans.

Hans-Dieter Westphal (left), and his Rieckermann Thai Engineering team having a great time at Hans’ birthday.

Many friends and customers were also seen dropping in during the evening, which extended well into the small hours from the mid afternoon commencement of festivities.

When Hans was interviewed recently for the Successfully Yours column in the Pattaya Mail, he said, “By nature I am an optimist.” Thinking that he would escape a hangover the day after his birthday was extreme optimism!


Pattaya’s UK Club donates to Redemptorist Vocational College

Members, guests and friends gathered at the Sportsman Pub and Restaurant in Soi 13 for an informal gathering of the UK Club of Pattaya.

Father Patrick Morrisey (left) gratefully accepted a donation of 44,950 baht from the UK Club, represented by chairman Ron Hall (2nd right) and charity chairwoman Christina Boden (right).

During the evening, the UK Club also donated funds to the Redemptorist Vocational College for the Disabled and the cheque was accepted by Father Patrick Morrisey. The 44,950 baht will go towards refurbishing the ladies dormitories and was raised from various functions held in previous months.

The next UK Club meeting is scheduled for Valentines Day. Contact the club for details.


The Royal Cliff Wine Club visits Italy

by Miss Terry Diner

On Tuesday 29th January the Royal Cliff Wine Club will be having a tasting of Italian Cesari wines. The Cesari vineyard was founded in 1935 by Gerardo Cesari. Franco Cesari, Gerardo Cesari’s son, joined the company as well in 1957, following his degree as an oenologist, and long training in France in the Bordeaux area.

The Wine Club members will have the opportunity to taste the following stunning examples:

1) Mitico - Chardonnay delle Venezie 1998, Barrique aged Chardonnay

Mitico Chardonnay is the result of years of extensive research aimed at determining the optimal marriage of vine and vineyard. Special attention has been given to clonal section, trellising, soil composition and vineyard exposure. Controlled fermentation is followed by two years of ageing, much of which is spent in 225-liter barriques. This wine is served chilled but not cold.

2. Mitico - Merlot delle Venezie - 1998, Barrique aged Merlot

Mitico Merlot is produced from carefully selected grapes grown on gently rolling hills near the town of Verona. The vineyards southern exposure allows the grapes to attain a complexity, which is tempered by 14 months of ageing in 225-liter barriques. The intense colour and elegant bouquet give way to a rich, full-bodied wine with ripe fruit and polished tannins.

3. Franco Cesari Barolo d.o.c.g. 1995

Obtained from Nebbiolo grapes grown in a narrow area called “Langhe” and takes the name from the homonymous town Barolo. A wonderfully rich wine yet velvety and delicate. Dark red colour. Ripe fruits, leather, cedar and smoky spicy complexity on the palate. The wine is aged for 3 years, with at least two years in oak barrels before release.

4. Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella, Classico 1997

A stunning red wine produced from Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes. Its production is a long and precise one requiring the grapes to dry before pressing and aging.

5. Cesari Recioto della Valpolicella, Classico 1998

Deep crimson. Sweet, seductive, slightly burnt nose. Hugely concentrated and firm with cooked fruit dominated by juicy blank cherries. Dry almond finish and good length.

The evening will start at 6 p.m. with a sparkling Italian wine reception and registration at the Siam Ballroom A in the Main Building, with the tasting itself commencing at 6.30 p.m. sharp. The tasting will be run by the Wine Club captain, Ranjith Chandrasiri and wine connoisseur Joao Carlos Vale of Cesari wines in Italy who will fly in to conduct the event. He will be assisted by Erik Cornetet and Kritkasem Panyarachun of Ithalthai cellar, Cesari Wines’ local agent in Thailand.

This looks like being another of the Wine Club’s excellent wine appreciation tastings, and is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys fine wines, but bookings are essential and it is restricted to wine club members only. However, the Royal Cliff Wine Club is still accepting members. For applications or inquiries, call 038 250 148 or email [email protected]


Mama Anne Marie Fuchs celebrated her 90th birthday

It was an evening of joyful excitement, emotional felicitation and merriment. The 1,500 staff and a large number of regular guests of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort joined in celebration of a jubilee unlike any other. Mrs. Anne Marie Fuchs, an extraordinary lady, recently celebrated her 90th birthday at the Grill Room of the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel. Accompanied by her daughter, Ms Isabella Fuchs, she was welcomed by friends and well-wishers, flying in from all over the world to join in this happy occasion.

General manager Andrew J. Wood (left) and managing director Panga Vathanakul (right) extended their heartfelt wishes to Mama Fuchs on her 90th birthday.

A regular visitor to the RCBR for more than a decade, Mama (as she is affectionately called) is one of the most well-liked and respected guests at the resort. In spite of her age, she travels extensively and remains a very active and lively person, known for her remarkable joie de vivre.

Those who know her well are quick to point out that the years have had little effect on her happy and cheerful disposition. Still witty and intelligent, Mama Fuchs displays a great sense of humor, as well as a keen grasp of world events.

This lovely Swiss lady from Baden has had a wonderful time at the resort during her annual 2 month vacation, with sunset cruises around the bay, regular dinner parties with friends and frequent trips downtown to visit her many friends.

The evening started with champagne and flowers, followed by a special birthday dinner cooked by executive chef Walter Thenisch. In order to make Mama’s 90th birthday celebration truly special, the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s own staff choir was called into action. This 20-member choir spent much of their own time practicing a beautiful rendition of the Thai song “Auay Porn Wan Kerd” [Happy Birthday] by Arisaman Pong Ruang Rong. The choir, as well as the executive team and other members of the staff, greeted Mama Fuchs at the stairs leading to the Grill Room restaurant, but when she saw them holding lotus candles, emotionally singing the dulcet birthday hymn, it brought tears to Mama’s eyes, so overwhelmed was she by the outpouring of love and affection.

This affection is certainly well-deserved. Mama has touched the hearts of many people from different corners of the world, many of whom came to Thailand especially for this joyous event. They fondly recalled many occasions when Mama provided a sympathetic ear, invaluable advice and much needed support in difficult times. Their sentiment is universally shared by all members of the resort’s staff, who know Mama as a wonderfully kind and charming lady.

It is the first time in the history of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort that so many members of the staff came together in order to express their genuine admiration and affection for one of the resort’s guests. Such display of affection, however, is not at all surprising. Over the years, Mama Fuchs has not only become a regular guest of the resort, but many here think of her as a dear friend.

The celebration ended with a specially commissioned cake from the bakery of the Royal Cliff and a 3-metre wide birthday card, presented by managing director Panga Vathanakul, general manager Andrew J. Wood, and the entire executive team of the resort, who wished Mama Fuchs good health for many years to come.


BCCT still cautiously optimistic

The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) held another of their networking evenings on the Eastern Seaboard last weekend. The venue was Shenanigans, who were also the sponsors of this first networking evening for 2002.

Asian University of Science and Technology was well represented by (L to R) Thomas McNeill, Ph.D., Paul Bland Ph.D., Michael Catalanello Ph.D. and physicist Dr. Donald Burridge, who has more letters after his name than space permits, all of whom were veritable fountains of knowledge.

The range of industries and interests covered by the BCCT members is always amazing, from people such as engineer Paul Williams of MVA (Thailand) consulting in traffic solutions, to Shaun Burke from Cromwell Tools who arrived complete with an illustrated brochure covering his company’s products, Gordon Sutton of the promotions company the Sutlet Group who was sporting new business cards with his new address, to quiet academics such as Dr. Donald Burridge, a physicist who now works with the Asian University of Science and Technology.

(L to R) Shenanigans landlord Kim Fletcher (a pillar of the business community who not only helps shape the future of business on the Eastern Seaboard by bringing into Shenanigans the area’s top businesspeople, but also instigates and/or supports much of the charity work done in the area), Dham Dhamodharan, plant manager of TRW Chassis Systems, Paul Dobbs of Santa Fe Global Silverhawk, and the man voted to once again lead the Eastern Seaboard division of the BCCT, Graham Macdonald, are all smiles during another successful event.

Chairman of the Eastern Seaboard division of the BCCT was the ever-affable Graham Macdonald, voted in for another year, to be ably supported by Paul Dobbs of Santa Fe Global Silverhawk. In an interview, Graham said that the various sections in the BCCT had some divergent views on the rate of recovery of the local economy, but said that the consensus was that much would depend upon the government’s decisions over the next few months. All agreed, however, that the economy would continue to improve, albeit sometimes slowly.

(L to R) Daniel Cavin of Unithai Shipyard and Engineering Ltd., David Eggleston of TwinTek Solutions, Greg Watkins, chairman of BCCT and George Leslie of Smith Hodgkinson talk business at Shenanigans.

The next local BCCT networking night will be held in February, and advance notice of the date and venue will be given in the Pattaya Mail.

(L to R) Shaun Burke from Cromwell Tools, David P. Davey of Kiwi Fire Protection, Kim Fletcher from Shenanigans and Poonsawat Panichwarapun if Colbree Thailand toss back a pint or two in the spirit of the evening.