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Heart to heArt for art’s sake and
for the benefit of Baan Mabprachan School
Staff Reporters
The Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa in cooperation
with the Rotary Clubs in Pattaya have an ongoing commitment to help
support and renovate the Baan Mabprachan School, situated near the
Mabprachan reservoir.
To this end many functions have been organized in
recent months, which has helped raise funds to commence the renovation
work.
Chalee
Sodpraset paints a picture of flowers in vase in record time.
The latest effort organised at the Marriott was the
Heart to heArt exhibition of paintings by some of the most talented
artists in Thailand and from abroad.
Some of the valuable oil paintings and sketches on
exhibition were later generously donated by the artists for an auction to
raise funds for the school project.
 Tewan
Sapsaenyakorn shows off his prowess as a musician.
In his opening speech Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
said, “It’s so wonderful to see something like this in my hometown. A
group of world citizens, whose bodies and minds come together for a common
cause. This feeling of caring is intangible. I can truly feel it all
around me at the Heart to heArt exhibition.”
Some artists painted their pieces right on the spot,
much to the delight of the guests. One artist in particular, Niran Pijitr
thrilled the crowd by his unique style of hand painting. To the improvised
yet arousing music of Nab Sotthibandhu playing his violin, Niran dabbed
the canvas with paint using his hands to create a work of abstract art. It
was a sight to behold for those who had never seen anything like this
before.
 Jo
Stetten a connoisseur of fine art admires a painting on display.
Asked later what the picture depicted, Niran said,
“This is an emotional piece painted to Nab’s vibrant music and one
must have a keen imagination to create a picture in one’s mind.”
Other artists who were either present or had their
works of art on exhibit were Chalee Sodprasert, Pratueng Emchalern,
Chalermcahi Kositpipat, Honjon Sanengamchalern, Dinpa G-One, Manosh Wapee,
Kajon Maleerat, Alan Kirkland, Paul Megarry Chalee Sakaprasert and Ingrid
Van der Heyden. Tewan Sapsanyakorn, managing director of Tewan Records,
entertained the guests with his remarkable renditions on the saxophone.
Somsak
Tanruensri, Peter Thorand, Supadit Maneeratjaratsri, Mayor Nirun
Wattanasartsathorn and Drew Noyes at the opening of the charity
exhibition.
The funds raised at this event will go towards the
rejuvenation of the Baan Mabprachan School, which is in dire need of
canteen equipment, a library, a playground and sanitary utilities.
Classrooms will also be renovated whereby new desks will be supplied and
most important of all learning materials, which are constantly needed.
To the
improvised yet arousing music of Nab Sotthibandhu playing his violin,
Niran dabbed the canvas with paint using his hands to create a work of
abstract art.
Peter Thorand, charter president of the Rotary Club of
Taksin Pattaya and coordinator of the project, looked around the room and
said, “The Heart to heArt exhibition was inspired by the helping hands
of all the Rotary Clubs* and other organizations in our community. We are
especially proud that we were able to bring together so much talent from
all over the world to our community and at the same time living up to
Rotary’s ideal of Service above Self.”
All in all a very satisfying evening for art and music
lovers. The event brought out a distinctive quality of Thai and foreign
residents of Pattaya, representing the artistic, musically inclined and
most of all a sense of charity from their hearts.
* There are 5 Rotary Clubs in Pattaya: Rotary Clubs of Pattaya,
Jomtien-Pattaya, Taksin Pattaya, Eastern Seaboard and the Pattaya Marina.
Premruedee
and Purirat Jittiwuthikard (right) made the winning bid for Niran
Pijitr’s hand painted masterpiece.
Nittaya
Noyes receives her paining from Nab Sotthibandhu. |
Toy
Reiser took home her favourite painting. |
Areerat
Kerdsrisook bid for this piece of art. |
Caroline
Brown enjoys her cocktail as Ingrid Van der Heyden speaks to one of
the guests. |
Jamming at the Jazz Pit
Paul Strachan
The Jazz Pit Pub, situated on soi 5 between 2nd and Beach
Road recently held another one if its ever popular jamming sessions.
The resident Jazz Pit band kicked off the evening. These
are professional musicians from all over the globe, and each has a wealth of
experience.
 Guests
relax at the Jazz Pit under a portrait of HM the King who is a renowned jazz
musician in his right.
The resident band consists of Ramil Medyarov on piano.
Ramil’s credentials include recording 14 LPs with numerous radio and TV
recordings, as well as participating in a variety of jazz festivals around
the world including the USA, Moscow and Rwanda.
Guitarist Thomas Reimer, who has a degree in mathematics
and was a music-teacher at Paedagogic Academy Vienna, has toured all over
Europe with famous jazz artists like George Benson.
Priscella Limbaga is the singer whose wonderful voice has
been heard in Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and at many of the top hotels
here in Thailand.
 Bobby
Durham was simply world class.
The drummer, Hans Kallen, first studied the cornet and
later changed to drums. He has also appeared at many festivals and toured
with the likes of John Hendricks, Donna Hightower, Stuff Smith and Alice
Day.
These fine musicians make every evening a special one at
the Jazz Pit - however, this time the billing was boosted by the inclusion
of top international stars who had flown into Thailand from America and
Italy.
The line up included Dwight Dickerson on piano
(Dwight’s virtuosic playing is just as enthralling to watch as it is to
listen to); Alex Sergienko on bass; Roustem Galiullin on trumpet, and this
was all held together by Bobby Durham on drums who played for 10 years with
Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald.
 Alex
Sergienko’s strokes on the bass inspired the rhythm of the music.
The group played for 2 hours, putting a new slant on old
favorites like ‘There will never be another you’. At one point, Bobby
left the drums to perform a great rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the
Rainbow’. Bobby’s vocal style is reminiscent of Jimmy Smith.
Also in attendance were vocalist James Sore, John
Biangazzo on percussion and Poul on trumpet.
It was another great evening of entertainment, with that laid back vibe
that only Jazz can offer. Reminder: if you play an instrument or just love
the sound of Jazz remember that there is live music at the Jazz Pit Pub
every night.
Dwight
Dickerson’ tinkling of the ivories was enthralling.
Zena
Tarasena representing the Pattaya Mail presents a bouquet of flowers to the
entertainers.
The
‘jammers’, a lovely and talented group of musicians.
Virtuoso
Roustem Galiullin on trumpet was electrifying. |
Dr.
Sunya Viravaidhya chats with Bobby Durham. |
Hans
Kallen, ever lovable on the drums. |
Thomas
Reimer on guitar as Ramil croons to the crowd. |
Christmas gets underway at the PSC party
Mike Franklin
Pattaya Sports Club held its annual Christmas Party on
Wednesday December 14, with the anticipated sell-out and all tickets being
taken up by members and their guests. The venue, the Town in Town Hotel, was
unchanged and deservedly so as the service from the staff is always of a
high standard.
 PSC
Party Chairman Doug Powell (left), Mike Gerrard (right) and their lovely
assistant begin the lucky draw.
The extensive range of buffet dishes and BBQ, personally
selected by PSC party chairman, Doug Powell, was excellent and so
attractively presented that a large number of voracious partygoers were
plating food well in advance of the formal announcement to eat. Drinks
flowed freely throughout and the Californian table wines were particularly
good.
Mike Gerrard emceed with his familiar enthusiasm and
crystal clear personal sound system. If only all PA systems at functions
like this were as good!
 Mike
Franklin interviews PSC Charity Chairman Bernie Tuppin for Pattaya Mail on
TV.
PSC President Gerry Carpenter gave the traditional
Christmas party welcoming speech and briefly spoke about the carefully
planned charity work that PSC had undertaken in 2005. One has to sympathize
with the president, that not all of the assembled gathering is prepared to
give him the courtesy of the floor for the few minutes that it takes to
report about the valuable charity work their club is doing.
This work, organized by the PSC charity chairman, Bernie
Tuppin, primarily directed at underprivileged children, is extensive and
often carried out in co-operation with other charitable organizations such
as the Jesters and Pattaya International Ladies Club. The next completed
project of this type will be the opening of a new Chonburi Emergency Shelter
in January 2006.
 Guests
anxiously check their lucky draw tickets.
The lucky draw once again featured a wide range of
valuable and interesting prizes, including gold, electronic items, cell
phones and more gold. A slight difference this year was the qualification of
‘starter’ draw tickets for the paying members.
Party Chairman Doug Powell, who claimed to be doing it
only for the second time, did an admirable job and put a very enjoyable
evening together. The band, ‘Four plus One’ played well and had dancers
on the floor early on without any encouragement from the energetic Mr.
Gerrard. Mike Gerrard also performed selected songs and gags from his act
that always go down well with the audience.
The two young dancers, Paul & Wella, were superb,
performing what I can best describe as Spanish style sport dancing. Very
attractive to watch and much appreciated by all.
The pictures say the rest.
The evening was a good mix of wining & dining, excellent music and
entertainment, an exciting raffle with gold to be won, and a look forward to
July 2006 and the next PSC summer party. Well done Doug Powell.
Top,
center and bottom: The food and wine flowed freely as the PSC annual
Christmas Party got into full swing.
A solid mix for final networking night 2005
Brendan Richards
The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) held
the final Eastern Seaboard networking evening for 2005 at the Art Cafe on
Friday December 9 – the third networking night within just 5 weeks. A
mix of familiar and new faces joined the evening sponsored by Boral
Thailand Concrete & Quarries.
 (L
to R) Andrew Mercer, managing director of Boral Concrete (Thailand)
Limited., John Keppel, development manager of Boral, Jitra Wongjuan,
administration of AA Insurance Brokerage Co., Ltd. and Paul W. Bland,
Ph.D., head of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering &
Technology of Asian University mingle at the networking evening.
Jo Stetten and his team laid out the food for the BCCT
networkers around the restaurant’s pool area as the Boral team, led by
country manager Andrew Mercer in matching shirts mingled through the
evening with regulars such as Katoen Natie’s Alain Deurwaerder, Pat
Gosset of Transpo Tiger, George Strampp, Bruce and Judy Hoppe, Kevin
Fisher, and the AA Insurance Team. Jate Sopitpongstorn, Horseshoe Point
general manager was seen discussing business with a number of people about
the resort’s new up-market housing project scheduled to begin next year.
(L to
R) Bruce Hoppe, VP Emerson Climate Technologies, Asia Operations, Jate
Sopitpongstorn, general manager of the Horseshoe Point, Judy Hoppe, past
president of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Patrick T. Gossett,
Eastern Seaboard sales manager of Transpo International Ltd., and Peter
Malhotra, MD of Pattaya Mail are obviously enjoying the night.
The Indian community was well represented with Sheri
‘E’ Punjab’s Binny Singh and Pattaya Mail’s Peter Malhotra
conducting court with Graham Macdonald, BCCT Eastern Seaboard chairman.
John Keppel, Boral’s Development manager was vocal
about the company’s progress in Thailand and its move throughout the
world region after having 30 years work in the industry.
Boral is well known in Australia for a variety of
businesses, including gas and concrete. In Thailand, the company’s
acquisition of Hanson Plc in 2004 firmly planted their stake in the
concrete and quarry business. Boral has plants around the country,
including 11 here on the Eastern Seaboard.
The last BCCT networking night for 2005 was a laid back affair with
Greg Watkins, BCCT executive director, promising bigger and better things
to come in 2006.
(L to
R) Stuart Saunders, David P. Davey, managing director of Kiwi Fire
Protection Co., Ltd., Frank Timmons, facilities director of Wood Group
Heavy Industrial Turbines (Thailand) Ltd., Russell White from Thai
Leighton, Graham Macdonald, vice chairman of the BCCT, Alain Deurwaerder,
managing director of Katoen Natie (Thailand) Ltd., and Peter Stirling,
managing partner of Milan Crosse Partners enjoy the outdoor ambiance of
the meeting.
(L to
R) Brendan Richards, Kevin D. Fisher, manager Far East region of Cranes
and Equipment Ltd. Europe-Middle East-Asia, Jeffrey M. Burrows, consultant
of MBMG International Co., Ltd., and John Keppel, development manager of
Boral relax over a beer or wine.
Jaidee Appeal JW Drunkathon –
charitable fun had by all
The annual Jaidee Appeal JW Drunkathon, which involves a
day of sporting events with a heavy accent on the social side, was a huge
success again this year.
The record total of 301,000 baht is almost treble the
amount raised last year and this sum will be presented to the Camillian
Social Centre Rayong.
 Middy
about to dissect the fairway.
The Jaidee Appeal is an ongoing initiative to help the
children orphaned by and/or born with HIV who live under Father Giovanni
Contarin’s care at the Camillian Centre, Rayong.
Whilst the title ‘Drunkathon’ may conjure up
visions of people behaving badly by over indulging, this is far from the
reality. The title actually reflects the light hearted nature of the event
which included an array of sporting events.
The day began early at the Royal Thai Navy Nine Hole
Golf Course where competitors teed off. Jaidee Appeal founder Noel Thomas
said the course was ‘enjoyable’, but challenging: “Rather than
relive the pain of the some two hours or more with a blow by blow account
of the debacle, let’s just say I will retain my very amateur golfing
status for the foreseeable future!”
 Richard,
playing golf for the first time, on his way to his first points!
Under the organisation of Alan Lewis, the man behind
the fund raising tournament, the golf was followed by an adjournment to
the nearby Bang Saray Club for refreshments, and then it was on to the ten
pin bowling venue.
The final pool leg was held in the Harley Pub, which is
part of the Eden Complex on Soi 17 South Pattaya.
Local butcher Wayne Harper provided pork pies, sausage
rolls and other snacks for participants and the crowd of onlookers.
Noel Thomas said, “Thanks go to Wayne, and of course
to Steve the Harley Pub manager and to Jamie the owner of the
establishment for their respective efforts in hosting the evening
festivities and making all welcome.”
Alan
Lewis is out to take no prisoners!
Several members of the local Masonic Lodge Pattaya West
Winds were in attendance, having also lent their support by participating
in the day’s activities.
Richard ‘Middy’ Campbell MBE took the opportunity
to honour one of the female participants in the tournament for a separate
achievement. Susan Norris, the sister of lodge member and Jaidee Appeal JW
Drunkatholon event organiser Alan Lewis, was presented with an award
recognizing her tireless efforts in raising funds in the UK to support the
Masons in their tsunami relief programme earlier in the year.
 Ao’s
style caused a few gasps, not only from the ladies in her group!
Father Giovanni Contarin, who runs the Camillian
Centre, brought proceedings to a close by presenting trophies to the
winners at the end of the evening, but the real victor was the centre
itself.
A superb effort was made by the website thailand-uk.com
which alone raised the truly remarkable sum of 103,000 baht, equalling the
total sum raised last year.
The annual Jaidee Appeal JW Drunkathon was held this
year in memory of Aom who recently died of AIDS. The moving story of
Aom’s fight for life prompted members of the website to raise money
under the Jaidee Appeal umbrella for the Camillian Centre. Aom’s former
partner was responsible for bringing this to the attention of the website.
Further details of the fundraiser and the Jaidee Appeal can be found at
www.bahtbus.com
What
did you say, David, ‘practice’ swing?
You’re
all going down!
Was I
right or was I right?
Sue
Norris bowls ‘em over for the very first time!
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