|
Movie actor visits Regent’s School Pattaya
David J Moses
Gary Stretch, rapidly rising Hollywood Star recently visited the
Regent’s School Pattaya to talk to the students about his impressive boxing
career and his Hollywood acting career.
 Gary
Stretch (left) strikes a pose with Mark Griffiths.
Gary was a highly successful boxer in the early 90s, winning the Light
Middleweight World Championship; he also modeled for Calvin Klein and other
famous brands. He then turned his talents, determination, and hard work to
acting.
Gary, who is 6’ 2”, blessed with good looks and has an enviable physique,
had his hard work rewarded in 2004 when he was cast as psychotic gangster
“Sonny” in Shane Meadows’ gritty cult thriller Dead Man’s Shoes. This
finally earned Gary the recognition he deserved, earning him a BIFA
nomination. He went on to co-star opposite Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie and
Sir Anthony Hopkins in the Oliver Stone blockbuster Alexander (2004).
In Gary’s latest movie, “The Heavy”, he stars alongside Vinnie Jones,
Christopher Lee and Sadie Frost amongst others.
When asked by students about his acting career, Gary quoted his renowned
acting coach, (who coached his favorite actor Marlon Brando) saying, “There
are no stars, it’s your work that shines… If you believe in yourself, work
hard and stick to the task then it’s possible to make it in Hollywood or
anywhere.”
 Regent’s
students interview Gary.
Gary, who recently acted alongside Sean Penn on stage, said when asked, that
there are big differences between screen acting and stage acting. “For
example, a twitch, blink or the wrong look on screen could ruin a shot,
(but) this wouldn’t be noticeable on stage… but there aren’t second takes on
stage.” Gary said that he enjoys both arenas and would be keen to do more
stage work.
Gary was invited to the school to talk with the students by Mark Griffiths,
one of our ESL teachers, who also trains with Gary and the TV Sporting Super
Star icon Brian Jacks.
Gary has agreed, filming schedule permitting, to come back and give some
master classes to the students. We enjoyed his visit immensely and look
forward to his return.
The School Pattaya gives ours thanks to Gary for devoting his time during
his busy filming schedule in Bangkok.
Pattaya School #7
wins recycling award
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The recycling bank program at Pattaya School #7 has won top
honors from the Pattaya Public Health and Environment Office’s recent
recycling competition.
 Students,
teachers and judges listen to youngsters put forth their ideas on how
best to recycle.
The school claimed a 10,000 baht prize by beating out others schools
also hoping to have their recycling efforts judged best by the city.
Other schools participating in the competition put forth ideas such as
organic fertilizer, liquid microbial fermentation, garbage exchange for
eggs, and recycling garbage donations, but the recycling bank idea
proved to be most popular with the judges.
For the recycling bank program, deposits of bottles, metal and plastic
are taken instead of cash.
Ten schools competed in this year’s contest with a total cash pool of
100,000 baht. Pattaya School #3 and School #9 were runners up, taking
8,000 baht each. Pattaya School #5, #6 and Banglamung School received
cash prize of 5,000 baht each.
Northern Thai Realty sees
a need at the Blind School
Joe Sizemore
Staff members and friends of Northern Thai Realty woke up early
on the morning of Sunday September 27 to visit the Pattaya Redemptorist
School for the Blind in Soi 16 Naklua. With the heart-rending statistic
that 96 percent of blind Thai people are never given the opportunity to
go to school, the Redemptorists are working hard to educate and help the
blind children in the Pattaya area.
 Blind
children at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind say thank you
for their breakfast.
Northern Thai group arrived in several cars laden with food, drinks,
toiletries, snack foods for the children and sacks of rice. They also
provided a hearty breakfast for the 140 children and helped staff
members lay the tables and serve food and drinks for the children. In
return, the children sang the school anthem and offered prayers in
thanks to the visitors.
Some of the visiting ladies found it hard to keep dry eyes when they saw
the children and this charity will become a regular trip for the
Northern Thai staff. To help the school further, a donation of money was
made to the school and breakfast was rounded off with the children
thanking the visitors. Even in these difficult times, there is a place
for kindness and generosity.
Donations to the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind can be made
to the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Fund, Siam Commercial Bank,
Pattaya Second Road Branch, A/C # 669-2-10787-4.
Rural Chonburi school kids
receive 295 Japanese bicycles
Representatives of Rotary
International in Chonburi and Japan, along with officials from the YWCA
and Chonburi provincial government, pose with the recipients of the
bicycle donation project.
Phasakorn Channgam
Rural Chonburi school children have 295 more Japanese bicycles
to peddle to school on thanks to Rotary clubs in Japan and Thailand and
the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Chonburi Center.
The latest in a string of charity bicycle imports rolled into the
Y.W.C.A. Sept. 21 with Japanese Ambassador Kyoji Komachi overseeing the
donation from Rotary Club of Seseragi Mishima in Japan to Rotary
District 3350 in Chonburi.
Nobuyuki Nonaka, past governor of Rotary District 2620, noted that the
Japanese club is giving more than 30,000 bicycles to Thai school
children as part of the ongoing “Bikes for School Borrowing Project.”
The latest imports bring the program’s total to 24,000 good-condition
used bikes donated over the past eight years.
The project gives bicycles to children in Thailand’s countryside who
must go 3.5km or farther to school. They can “borrow” the bikes until
graduation, after which they give the bicycle to another student.
Children from 16 Chonburi schools will get the 295 bicycles donated
locally. Those schools are: Wat Klang Klongluang, Banjedhin,
Watsampaothong, Ban Nongket, Ban Nongsamed, Ban Borkwangthong, Ban
Klongko, Ban Thaliab, Wat Sarawanaram, Wat Salakpet, Wat Klongson,
Pantakit Community Pattaya, Ban Padang (Chai Upatham), Ban Pongsaket,
Ban Phoosai, and Ban Sukla Community.
Pornchai Kwansakul, permanent secretary for Chonburi Province, said many
think of the region as an industrial state, but it, in fact, has many
rural areas, including Ban Bung and Borthon districts, as well as those
along the border with Rayong Province. Thus, he said, the bike program
has been very beneficial.
Pattaya School #11 turns 1
Nine monks from Wat Nong
Yai bless the school on its first anniversary.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Pattaya’s newest school, Number 11, is now a year old and to
mark the occasion city and school leaders joined students is a group
prayer and blessing ceremony.
Pattaya deputy mayors Wattana Chantanawaranon and Wutisak Rermkitkarn
led a group including Nittaya Patimasongkroh, chairwoman of the Y.W.C.A.
Bangkok-Pattaya Center and Sopin Thappajug, executive director of the
Diana Group, teachers, students and parents to welcome monks from Wat
Nong Yai to the Demonstration School.
School No. 11 was established Sept. 30 last year on 16 rai in Nong Yai
Sub-district. It features two classroom buildings and a multi-purpose
facility and swimming pool. It offers classes from Mathayom 1-6 with
enrollment of 360 students, 225 in junior high and 135 in high school.
The school is led by Principal Thanee Seesai.
Students learn principles
of ‘sufficiency economy’
Sainampung students tour
the Learning Center
on His Majesty the King’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy,
at the Naval Recruitment Training Center in Sattahip.
Patcharapol Panrak
Students from Sainampung School received a lesson in HM the King’s
concept of a “sufficiency economy” during a day-long fieldtrip to the
learning center devoted to the philosophy.
The Sept. 25 excursion saw 470 secondary school students learn about
education, modesty, reasonability, and a sense of community to apply to
their daily lives.
HM the King has espoused the idea that Thai people and the country as a
whole can protect themselves from the global economic problems by taking
care of themselves and making their lives and the Thai economy as
self-sufficient as possible.
Officials from the Learning Center on His Majesty the King’s Sufficiency
Economy Philosophy, at the Naval Recruitment Training Center in
Sattahip, greeted the children and took them to a 9.9-rai plot where the
principles of self-sufficiency have been put into practice.
It is operated by guiding philosophy for existence and behaving in a way
that should be a lifestyle based on traditional Thai society. It can be
applicable at all times, and reflects the commercial world that is
changing. The focus of escape from danger and crises for development of
stability and sustainability can be applied for conduct at every level.
School group leader Kritipob Tabtimpatcharakorn said the trip was to
cultivate students’ understanding of the philosophy and apply its
lessons to their daily lives.
Charity Club of Pattaya raises 48,520 baht for
the children of Isaan
Christina Boden
The Charity Club’s last event was held in August at the Pinnacle
Grand Resort & Spa in conjunction with the LPWW 1803 SC. September then
saw them raising funds at the Caddy Shack for the up coming cold weather
problems that will affect the children and people in Isaan. The event
was another games night after the success of the one previously held in
April.
 Juan
Campbell (left) collects her Casa Pascal prize from sponsor Toby of
Federal Logistic Systems.
Over 50 people attended, with a ticket price of only 300 baht and a
choice of either a fish & chip, chicken & chip, or pie and chip supper.
The Charity Club would like to thank sponsors Dave and Mee Lee; Kevin
Fisher, M.D. Cranes & Equipment Asia <www.cranesasia.com>; Vic King of
the Queen Victoria Inn <www.queenvicpattaya.com>; David Isitt; George
Joannou, Auspro, Federal Logistic Systems and Chutikhan Massage & Fat
Boyy Restaurant Sattahip.
Prizes were also donated by the Queen Victoria Inn, Isaan Flowers,
Thai-Ger line, All Season’s Hotel Pattaya, Amari Orchid Resort & Tower
Pattaya, Pinnacle Samui Resort & Spa, Casa Pascal Restaurant, Caddy
Shack and WKD.
 Malcolm
(left) hands over a Casa Pascal prize to David and his wife on behalf of
sponsor Rob Malkin of Chutikhan Massage and Fat Boyy Restaurant
Sattahip.
All in all a great night was had by all, which lasted well into the
night with many a sore head as well the next day!
The total raised during the evening came to 48,520 baht.
The North of Thailand has problems over the winter months with the cold
weather, so the money will be held, ready for any emergencies that crop
up. Malcolm and Christina would like to extend a big thank you to Keith,
Koy and Reg for all the hard work which went into helping the club with
this event.
The Charity Club would like to thank everyone who attended the event and
joined in to make the evening the success it was.
If you would like to attend the next charity event, please send an email
to charityclubof [email protected], or contact Malcolm on 089 7441040 or
Christina 089 5454185.
Baan Pak Rak Puen
receives mattresses
Kathleen Petras,
PILC Welfare
Recently the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) provided 6 fold
out mattresses along with pillows and bedding to the patients at the
AIDS home ‘Baan Pak Rak Puen’ (Home of Rest and care for Friends).
 Pattaya
International Ladies Club members deliver mattresses, pillows and
bedding to Meow and Apple for patients at the ‘Baan Pak Rak Puen’ (Home
of Rest and care for Friends) AIDS home.
They were in need of more beds due to the arrival of new patients
including a 9-year-old girl along with her mother. The 12-year-old
brother is also being looked after, though fortunately he doesn’t have
AIDS. The children are both able to attend school during the day.
All Anti Retro Viral (AIDS treating) medicines are obtained from the
government for free but if medicines are required for other conditions
commonly associated with AIDS then money must be found from sponsors.
The home is always in need of support and looking for regular sponsors.
This home is run by Meow and Apple, who both have AIDS themselves. The
PILC also currently supports the home by delivering a monthly supply of
basic food items as well as toiletries.
Child Protection Center
receives much needed
goods from PILC
Ingrid Cunliffe
The Pattaya International Ladies Club recently purchased 28,000
baht worth of goods for the new dormitories Ms. Jaa has built for the
children residing at the new Child Protection Center premises in Huay
Yai district.
 Ingrid
(right) delivers a microwave donated by Paul Jackson.
The goods included 35 mattresses, 35 pillows and 40 blankets for use in
the new homes that will be available for the kids to move to in the next
few weeks.
Jaa has so far had built 3 of the projected 10 dormitories for the
children currently living on the premises, with more kids expected to
arrive in the future. They are very impressive and a far cry from the
temporary dwellings the kids have been living in until now!
 Residents
help unload the bedding and carry it into one of the new dormitories.
They are double story each (all identical), with an enclosed kitchen and
three toilet/shower rooms downstairs. Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms
which can accommodate 3 people. Jaa envisions a live-in house mother or
father for each home.
The welfare was also pleased to be able to present the homes with a
brand new microwave which was won by Paul Jackson at the Jesters Care
for Kid’s party night. Paul was happy for it to be donated to a needy
charity and it was received with thanks.
Every month PILC provides 8 bags of food on the food drop and we are
happy to provide continued support for this valuable centre. We look
forward to the progress it has made over the years thanks to Jaa and the
great support team he has.
If you would like any more information on this project please contact
Jaa 0819499349.
|
