summer 2019 official newsletter of the madeira regency owners' … the tunnel between the pocas...
TRANSCRIPT
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Official Newsletter of the Madeira Regency Owners' Association
Number 85
Summer 2019
Dear Members,
This edition has much concerned with the changes taking place in the Club and the opening of the new
Savoy Palace. I also have included recent news from other parts of the island.
I was pleased to attend this year’s MROA AGM at Dumbleton Hall in June and will be reporting some of
the highlights.
Editor
Madeira Regency Club AGM Thursday 9th May
2019
The above meeting was held in the Owners Lounge
and was attended by the Management Committee;
Tor Jorgensen, Tim Bulmer and Andrew Jessop.
There were 21 members present and guests included
Philip Broomhead, Club Trustee Representative,
(FNTC), Dra. Isabel Cristina (Savoy Group), and
Debbie Miller, (Minute Secretary).
Many of you will have received the Minutes by e-
mail. Those who do not have e-mail, and would like
a copy, can request one by post from either Trudy
Joshua or myself.
1. Everything is dependant on the refurbishment—
Savoy Palace accommodation or free banking
will continue to be offered to members during
the refurbishment period or three years for those
who already banked in 2018.
2. The MRC Committee enjoy an excellent
working relationship with Dra. Isabel Cristina
and they are confident that she, with the Savoy,
will deliver on the promises made to members.
3. Paula Rodrigues is now employed by the Savoy
group but continues to look after the interests of
the MC.
4. There was a presentation by Dra. Isabel
Cristina, Savoy Group.
5. The MRC closure was due at the end of June for
staff relocation and training. There would be a
soft opening of the Savoy Palace in July and they
hoped to be fully functional in the early autumn.
Newsletter
MRC refurbishment is due to commence in
September for a 9-12 month period of
closure. The estimated costs have increased
and the Savoy is still engaging with
architects. The intention is to accommodate
T2 members in combined T0/T1 with an
interlocking door, (“lock off unit”) The
outline drawings of the exterior upgrade
retain the familiar shape. The Main
restaurant will be formed at the front of the
MRC from the old garage area. Pumps will
be converted into accommodation and an
indoor pool will replace the squash court.
6. Those with weeks in January 2020 onwards
should either bank their weeks or request
preferred alternative accommodation with
Paula Rodrigues or Reception.
7. The next AGM is postponed until the last
quarter of 2020 or the first quarter of 2021 to
allow for closure of MRC. Members will be
notified accordingly. Management fees will
be invoiced as normal for 2020 in November/
December 2019.
Andrew Jessop explained ‘Work is still ongoing
with respect to the Club Constitution Essentially
it is hoped that things will remain much the same ,
with adjustments to reflect the demise of the
founder members. Methods of protecting
members’ occupancy rights are being explored as
they have changed . It may be possible to use the
system used with the Royal Savoy. New
membership certificates will be issued to all
members when refurbishment and new allocations
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have been agreed. However, the main thing is the
resort is operating well and members have no
reason to think their membership at MRC is in
jeopardy. The MC is doing its best to protect the
interests of those who wish to remain members of
MRC in the future.’
Editor
MROA AGM Dumbleton Hall Sunday 2nd June
Our meeting was held
once again in this
beautiful venue, where in
pleasant weather members
enjoyed the lovely
gardens and facilities and
the company of our
‘Madeira friends’
Present—Helena Bell,
(Acting Chair and Editor); Geoff Roberts, (Acting
Treasurer and AGM Organiser); Trudy Joshua,
(Secretary), plus 50 members.
Full minutes can be found on the MROA website
under ‘Minutes’.
1. Colin Grimes was elected as Chair and gave a
short address. He explained that it had been
18 or 19 years since he last served on the
Executive Committee but he willingly offered
his services to ensure that the good work that
the committee had undertaken during the past
year should not go to waste owing to a
shortage of volunteers.
2. Helena Bell gave a report on the Newsletters.
Much of the ‘news’ is gleaned from news
reports within the island press, their web sites
and news reports in the international press.
She explained that, generally, owners’ reports
reflect a sense of happiness and well being
and that through the newsletter we are able to
support members’ interests.
3. We agreed that the AGM will be held again at
Dumbleton Hall in 2020, At the same time it
was agreed that a slight change of date to a
weekend either side of the early June one . No
date was set.
4. There were many questions from the floor.
Some answers are summarised here.
5. With regard to exchange of apartments
member to member through the MROA
website, it was agreed that this was a good
option as ownership of an apartment
represents ‘currency’ that can be used against
the purchase of an apartment rather than just
handing weeks back.
6. The Savoy are hoping to increase
accommodation from 96 to 150 rooms. There
will be apartments within the main building
formed by reshaping larger apartments and
adding interlocking doors. Owners of
premium apartments will be given priority on
room allocation when booking Savoy will be
very flexible.
7. Nothing has changed with regard to passing
on ownership to family.
8. Sea access will be available during the
refurbishment.
9. Our storage boxes will be looked after by the
Savoy. Members who have resigned will be
asked to collect their box or it will be
disposed of.
10. Colin Grimes asked for formal approval for
committee members to receive mileage only
for attendance at the AGM. He also asked
that we continue to pay an honorarium to the
Secretary. Both these payments were Agreed.
11. There had been concerns that members who
transfer to the Palace, and those who have had
to give up their timeshare, but nevertheless
express an ongoing affinity to MROA, might
be lost to us totally. In keeping with the
constitution, an Associate grade of
membership will be introduced, but without
voting rights. They will be able to remain in
membership for the (current) payment of £10
per year. They will receive the newsletter, be
invited to attend the AGM, or any other
activity we undertake . This was Agreed
At the end of the meeting in this lovely venue, we
enjoyed a happy time over tea and coffee before
parting to go our various ways.
One of Dumbleton’s black
swans
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Wheelchair Hire
Costs are 7.50 euros per day or 45.00 euros per
week. There is hotel drop off or pick up at no extra
cost in Funchal or Canico.
E-mail [email protected] with the
subject ‘Wheelchair’.
Praia Formosa to Camara do Lobos access
The pedestrian walkway at Praia Formosa promenade is in place. Recently work was carried out replacing this same board in the pedestrian overpass that connects Câmara de Lobos to Funchal.
This was a delicate operation and involved a professional strategic logistics plan, of the work by the Development Society including the security forces, service providers and the appropriate requests to the owners of private land. They had to allow for all equipment and vehicles and, without this, it would not be possible for the work to be done, explained the Secretary.
This is a process “that the Regional Government has resolved, despite all the setbacks, before the bathing season, as it is well aware, that the promenade that connects Praia Formosa to the bay of Câmara de Lobos is a space of enjoyment widely used throughout the year by locals and tourists, with particular increase of visits in the summer season.
From the Madeira Press
Rua Dr. Fernão de Ornelas
This popular street in the town has recently been
pedestrianised and the Municipality of Funchal
have begun to put in street furniture. The area of
Largo do Phelps for the sale of fruit is already
vacant. It is the intention of the Municipality that
this should become an area to stop and relax. There
will be lighting to enable the street to be enjoyed
after daylight hours.
Some of the benches will also have charging
supports for electronic devices, be they computers,
Canaries-Madeira-Portimão Ferry
The ferry ‘Volcan de Timanfaya’ arrived in
Madeira on 8th July, from where it left for
Portimão on the Portuguese mainland.
It is planned that this ferry will make a total of 12
trips until September 25th, 2019.
The first trip has 428 passengers on board. It can
carry 140 vehicles, 1000 people and 300 vehicles.
This vessel will ensure travel between Santa Cruz,
in Tenerife, the Canary Islands, Madeira and
Portimão.
The vessel travels to Portimão on Mondays and
towards the Canaries on Wednesdays.
The Tunnel
The tunnel between the Pocas do Gomes, (Doca do
Cavacas) and Praia Formosa is open every day from
8am to 10pm. The tunnel was closed after recent
storms in the winter where damage occurred, and
also this area was a target to rob tourists in the
evening.
The Oriana
On 7th June, the cruise ship ’Oriana’ paid its last
visit to Funchal and will go to the East in August.
There it will operate on behalf of the Chinese
company that acquired it from P & O. Her departure
was marked by water jets from the tugboats, pilot
boat whistles and the flag of the region on the
balcony, as well as a concert by a folk group.
‘Oriana first visited in April 1995, during which
time she brought more than 280 thousand
passengers and more than 128 thousand crew.
If any of our readers travelled on her, please send in
your story.
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Madeira’s First Luxury Whale and Dolphin Experience.
VIP Dolphins have a brand new luxury catamaran which is everything it should be.
A recent passenger reports,
‘You are first welcomed on board with a glass of French Champagne. The yacht holds a maximum of 17 passengers, so its very comfortable. A Marine Biologist on board is a really nice touch explaining all about the Whales and Dolphins and the other marine animals we saw. With such a small group you could hear everything that was being explained and are able to ask questions. We saw dozens of Dolphins, two Sperm Whales, two Turtles, and Flying Fish on our trip, which was fantastic.
Snacks and drinks are all included in the price of this tour, using locally produced products from the island. The cocktails were great!
There is plenty of space around the Yacht to relax and enjoy the views, and see the marine life. Towels are included if you want to take a swim in the crystal clear water- just bring your swim wear.
Whale and Dolphin trips are from 75.00 euros each, for a 3 hour tour, everything included. You can also organise personal tours with a group of friends, up to 17 people, a 3 hour tour is 1250.00 euros with all the food, drinks, cocktails and a magnum of French Champagne included.
The Yacht also has 4 cabins allowing 8 people to sleep, all with their own toilet and shower, so its possible to arrange an all day tour or even a 24 hour tour with a night stay on the boat. All details can be found on the website VipDolphins.com Whale Watching
mobile phones or tablets, also to use as much as
possible of the corners of the street so that anyone
giving a new life to Largo do Phelps can be
accommodated; including the seller of fruit in the
same area.
Best Island Destination
On June 8th, Madeira was once again voted the
Best Island destination in Europe. It is the 6th time
that Madeira has won this award and this year was
special since the prize was delivered in Funchal. at
the Gala World Travel Awards, held at ‘Reid’s’
Funchal.
Madeira beat destinations which included the
Azores, Balearics, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Crete,
the Channel Islands, Sardinia and Sicily.
Pestana Churchill Bay
In June, the new Pousada de Portugal opened in
Câmara de Lobos Bay. Bookings are available
from 168,00 euros for a double room, which
includes breakfast.
It has 57 rooms located in two buildings at sea level
where the typical fishing boats can be seen in the
harbour. This is where in 1950, Winston Churchill
was inspired to write, and to paint the picture which
now appears on the design of wallpaper in every
room.. There is a bronze sculpture depicting
Winston in a wicker chair painting the Bay of
Câmara de Lobos. At his side is another wicker
chair, inviting guests to have a photograph taken
with him. The statue is installed on the terrace of
the Dock Bar which serves snacks with regional
flavours and regional drinks such as poncha.
Taken from Funchal News.
“There are no pleasures in life worth giving up for
two more years in a care home in Weston Super
Mare.” Kingsley Amis, quoted in ‘The times’.
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(Ana) Grammatical stations
Pointless has become almost addictive viewing for
me in recent times and one of the frequent features
has been the unravelling of anagrams of places,
names, books, films, etc.
The following are a few which refer to London
Tube and Rail stations. Just for fun, you might like
to try some of these and check your answers on
Page 7
Editor
A log spoke
Absorbency & Neural Android
Birth Kind Eggs
Burst Racoon
Cease Tot
Centenary Chalk
Contend Grave
Count Oaths
Dragonfly & Falcon Hire
Dutch Emu
Egg Revoking
Equal Reasons
Erect Bone
Escargot News
Flesh Studio
Achadas da Cruz Cable Car.
The cable car at
Achadas da
Cruz, (Porto
Moniz) is an
attractive and
modern means
of transport
which makes the
connection be-
tween Achadas
da Cruz and the Fajã da Quebrada Nova by the
beach. Don’t be surprised if you see farmers com-
ing up with their crops. Many locals have their land
down there. Making access was one of the reasons
that led to the installation of this cable car.
Open every day between 8.00—12.00 and 13.00—
18.00.
Think twice if you suffer from vertigo!
Cigarette Butts.
In Portugal 7000 butts are thrown on the ground
every minute a new study has found.
Now a new law is to pass that anyone throwing
cigarette butts to the ground will be fined. This can
be from 200 euros to 4000 euros for individuals,
and a much larger fine, up to 9 thousand euros for
companies. Bars and restaurants will be required to
have ashtrays outside the outlets, and will be
responsible for this kind of litter.
This is also a huge problem in Madeira as well as
in other parts of the world.
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Savoy Palace Hotel Nears Completion
These photographs, submitted by Geoff Wright, an
MROA member, show the progress already made
on the final build of the Savoy Palace Hotel.
I am most grateful for these pictures, which
illustrate just how much is already achieved. and
how much there was still to be done at the start of
the year.
It is particularly gratifying to see so much colour is
still showing—the jacaranda, bougainvillea, other
colourful shrubs...
Also visible are the many workers, cranes and, in
the bottom right picture, what will represent the
front of the building, as was, on the Avenida
Infanta and the curvature of the building. It is
certainly very big! I imagine it might need the
equivalent of a street map to navigate the corridors.
The Regency Club May/June 2019
John Moreton kindly wrote to me after his stay at
the Club.
I have summarised some of the points he makes
regarding what is sadly his final stay.
“The weather was great, with a bit of a wind on a
couple of days, no rain and lots of mid 20’s sun, so
two weeks of doing absolutely nothing——great!.
The staff, as usual helped to make this a really nice
holiday.
After twenty fours years, this was our last visit. The
journey from Norwich is becoming too much for us
both to cope with. Particularly the luggage
carousels at either end and the assisted transport at
Gatwick. (It often takes 30+ minutes to get from
plane to luggage). This sort of difficulty was going
to happen eventually but the situation was made
worse by the Savoy, or ‘Savaloy’ as people have
begun to call it.
Some faces have gone and a few new ones have
arrived. We were welcomed by the new reception
manager but no one told us his name.
Despite being told that the building was 94% full,
the pool area was never busy; some days only half a
dozen people.
Some owners, I hear, have opted to move to the
new building but many have decided to ‘walk’
away. We will go with them.”
John Moreton, Norwich
Please see John’s Sale or Rent entry on the MROA website.
www.mroa.org It is essential that members regularly check
this section of the website for updates and offers.
Not the prettiest, but nevertheless, fascinating little
creatures
Please keep your holiday pictures coming. Send
them to this Newsletter or the MROA web page.
“Coincidences are God’s way of remaining
anonymous.” - Doris Lessing, quoted in The
Sunday Times.
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Quotable Quotes—Politically incorrect
“To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half
the art of diplomacy.” Anon?
A politician is an animal that can sit on a fence and
yet keep both ears to the ground
H L Mencken, quoted in The Economist
“Its useless to hold a person to anything he says
while he’s in love, drunk or running for office”.
Shirley MacLaine—quoted in the LA Times
“If we say politicians cannot have done anything
racy at university, the only politician you would
have left is me” Jacob Rees-Mogg.
“Won can lonely say this is hard felt.” - and
the response
“The man who invented autocorrect should burn
in hello.” Viral tweet from @pegarella, quoted in
the Times.
“I hate Russian dolls, they’re so full of them-selves” Sathnam Sanghera’s favourite joke.
WHAT CONFUCIUS DID NOT SAY...... but maybe would have, if he had thought a bit more!
Man who wants pretty nurse, must be patient.
Lady who goes camping must beware of evil intent.
Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
Man who runs in front of car gets tired... Man who runs behind car gets exhausted.
Man who eats many prunes gets good run for money.
War does not determine who is right; it determines who is left.
Man who drives like hell is bound to get there.
Man who stands on toilet is high on pot.
Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement.
A tuneful
way to pronounce the name of a composer?
Answers to Anagrams
Gospel Oak
Caledonian Road & Barnsbury
Knightsbridge
Barons Court
Eastcote
Hackney Central
Covent Garden
South Acton
Finchley Road & Frognal
Mud Chute
King George V
Sloane Square
Becontree
Newcross Gate
Southfields
Some of the above seem less fun than their
anagram. I challenge you not to want to rename
some of the stations!
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MROA CONTACT DETAILS
All MROA correspondence should be addressed as follows:
General Postal enquiries:
Madeira Regency Owners' Association
C/o 7 Ravenscourt Close, Penylan, CARDIFF CF23 9DJ
Telephone: Trudy Joshua 02920 211671
All e-mail communications:
Trudy Joshua, [email protected] or Helena Bell, [email protected]
Newsletter contributions to:
Helena Bell ‘Carillon', 15, Barcombe Avenue, SEAFORD, East Sussex BN25 4DT [email protected] Telephone: 01323 898987
Membership website
www.mroa.org
Last Minute News
Where and When
This message from Tim Bulmer explains how to
contact the Club.
“I can confirm the default accommodation during
the MRC refurbishment is the new Savoy Palace
with the option, subject to availability, of other
Savoy products including Calheta.
contact should be via
[email protected] +351 291
205 749—(correct at 27/0719 see MROA web)
The Madeira Photography Museum – Atelier Vicente’s reopens on July 29, after five years closure and work worth 1.7 million euros. “This 18th century photographic house has seen four generations of the same family. It tells so much about Madeiran life and daily experiences.
Atelier Vicente’s, now renamed Madeira Photography Museum, was founded in 1863 by Vicente Gomes da Silva and remained operational until 1978, when it was acquired by the Regional Government of Madeira.
In 1866, Vicente Gomes da Silva received the title of photographer of the Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) of Austria and, in 1903, the photographer of the Royal Portuguese House, making it one of the best equipped studios of the 19th century. It opened to the public in 1982 as a museum and in 2014 it closed for renovation and safeguarding of the collection.
“The museum re-opens with a temporary exhibition, until October, titled “Treasures of Portuguese Photography of the 19th Century”, having also a permanent exhibition which includes the collection of practically all large Madeiran houses’ photography of the 19th and 20th centuries. There is a faithful reconstruction of the studio, in terms of furniture, props, laboratory equipment and cameras which makes this museum in Rua da Carreira, Funchal well worth a visit.
We have been assured, and it forms part of the cur-
rent legal agreement, that members will not be sur-
charged for the cost of refurbishment of the resort.
However, it has been agreed that the members will
pay their proportion of the costs of upgrading the
building to meet modern fire and building regula-
tions.
Once the resort has had all the new work carried
out, we should in effect have a like new building
which has been returned to 4* status.
The Management Committee