Spotlight News Bulletin nº 122 by British Society São Paulo

SPOTLIGHT NEWS BULLETIN

VisitEngland/Visit Plymouth/Andy Fox

Nยบ 122 SEP & OCT 2018

EDITORIAL

spotlight news bulletin edition

As promised in our last edition of Spotlight we are happy to publish some of the photos sent to us by the British Society of the recent celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth´s Birthday celebration sponsored by the British Society. The Society would like to thank all the sponors for their generous donations and prizes which greatly added to the success of the event. A report on the event is included in this edition. We are now half way through 2018, and I must return to our ongoing appeal for those who wish to receive the hard copy of Spotlight. Many have already signed up for the appeal of R100,00 for a years supply, and we should like to thank you sincerely

400 copies A publication directed to members of the Fundação Britânica de Beneficência Editor Derrick Marcus dmarcus@osite.com.br Graphic design project Eólica Graphic design Casamarela Arquitetura e Design Printing Gráfica Ogra Proof Reading Alison Steel British Society São Paulo Fundação Britânica de Beneficência Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 741 1st Floor, Brazilian British Centre, Pinheiros 05428-002 São Paulo SP Tel.: +55 (11) 3813 7080 contact@britishsociety.org.br

NEXT ISSUES OF THE BULLETIN Nº 123 Nov/Dec 2018 Deadline Oct 7th Nº 124 Jan/Feb 2019 Deadline Dec 7th

for this support. However, there are still many who are receiving our copy but have not , for various reasons, contributed. As I have mentioned in all the previous editions your support releases funds which can help others. If you have any doubts please contact our office. We have survived Carnival, the World Cup and now we have the Presidential and local elections, which should be , to say the least, exciting! Lots of activities on our Community front to keep us busy..keep an eye on the calendar. Derrick Marcus

BRITISH SOCIETY On June 21st, the British Society São Paulo held the Queen’s Birthday Party, the principal event of the British community worldwide and also the main date when all our members gather to honour Queen Elizabeth. This year, about 220 guests attended the event and they took advantage of the cocktail party to meet old friends and get up to date on their conversation. Besides the food and drinks, which were delicious, there was also a charity raffle as well as speeches by the President of the Fundação Britânica de Beneficência, Michael Betenson, and the representative of the British General Consulate in São Paulo, George Sherriff. On closing, the night could not be complete without “God Save the Queen” and the Brazilian National Anthem. Among the guests were the leaders of the different organisations that form the British community in São Paulo, including its diplomatic corps and those in the

areas of education, commerce, tourism, third sector, and leisure. Also present were several Commonwealth expats as well as those of British origin and others who have family ties in the United Kingdom and still cherish their traditions. The QBP is also a charitable event and all its proceeds are given to social projects dedicated to the cause of the elderly who are assisted by our charitable organisation: Fundação Britânica de Beneficência. In this manner, the British community avails itself of its principal yearly event to perform good deed and donate resources so that we can improve the work that we are doing for our elderly. We would like to thank everyone who came to our event and also all the companies who sponsored it. You are the reason it was a huge success. We hope to see you all in 2019, including those who couldn’t be with us this year. If you want to see more photos of the Queen’s Birthday Party, visit our page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/britishsocietysp

QUEENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIRTHDAY PARTY

ST ANDREW SOCIETY PIPES AND DRUMS

CARAJAS BRAZIL

The Pipe Band together and our Highland Dancers spending thismonth working hard in preparation for our upcoming events listed below: 1) CALEDONIAN BALL – SATURDAY 29th.SEPTEMBER – CLUBE TRANSATLANTICO – S.Paulo. 2) OCKTOBERFEST in TREMEMBE – SATURDAY 6th.OCTOBER – Tremembe ( near Taubate ) SP. 3) FEIRA ENTRE MUNDOS – SATURDAY 27th.OCTOBER JUNDIAI. 4) SLOW BREW FESTIVAL – SATURDAY 3rd.NOVEMBER – Espaço Pro Magno – Casa Verde SP. We have more people interested in knowing more about our band, learning Pipes, Drums, Tenor and Snare and another three learning Highland Dancing. We hope that, in the near future, we will have more players in our Band. Some photos taken at our recent Band Practices

We continue to hold our practices at the CULTURA INGLESA SAUDE facilities ( by kind permission) ,every Sunday from 10 till 13.00. Please contact us if interested Colin Pritchard – D/M.SASPD (11) 9 9901 5844.

ASSOCIAÇÃO DE AMPARO AOS ANIMAIS

As I was clearing out old

“People are becoming aware that, amongst the achievements

folders and information

of the A.A.A., is an improvement of conditions in most of the

about the Associação, the

local and state dog-pounds;…that the constant battle to bring

following came to light:

local governments to enforce the existing animal protection

Clipping excerpts from the

laws is slowly taking effect; that the conditions of transpor-

São Paulo Women´s Club

tation of live-stock, particularly cattle,…are improving; that

Bulletin, around 1970, by

the Associação is responsible for spaying literally hundreds

BebitaHodgkiss:

of animals that would otherwise propagate indiscriminately and fill the streets with even more strays than there already

“The whole thing began about two years ago…“The

are. Good homes have been found for the healthy animals

A.A.A.(Associação de Amparo aos Animais) which had been

left for adoption.

working as an entity since 1961, and whose President was Da. Yolanda Faria Lima, had a shelter at that time on Av.

Now, in the year 2018, the A.A.A. has its shelter and operat-

Miguel Stefano, on the edge of the Av. Bandeirantes, near

ing rooms on the land donated in perpetuity for the care of

the zoo. The A.A.A. was approached by the municipal au-

animals by Agnes McLaughlin, at Rua Purus 475, in Diadema,

thorities with an offer: if the A.A.A. would receive the cat

São Paulo. There are neutering operations for dogs and cats,

colony from the Anhangabau public gardens, the Prefeitura

male and female, every week by appointment. The cost is

would build a caretaker´s house and a cattery on the AAA

calculated by the anesthetic needed for the weight of the

land.

animal, each one is given an antibiotic and bandages, and this costs less than half what is charged by most veterinarians.

“The cats were removed from the Anhangabau by men and vans of the Prefeitura dog-pounds and taken to the Av. Miguel

Appointments are made by telephone 4094-2059 on week-

Stefano, leaving the gardens to return to their former beauty.

day afternoons only, with Lena or Cida.

At the A.A.A. headquarters, homes were found for as many healthy cats as possible

Dr. Kalio Paarmaan Jr., vet, is available on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.

“There was considerable news coverage of this relocation of the cats at the time, which helped to bring to the attention

The accounts of the A.A.A. are available to anyone interested.

of the public that “a very small organization, formed by a

The current Treasurer is Thomas Ahlgrimm, Assistant Treasurer

group of housewives, heartsick at the way in which animals

Hugo Arntsen. We are a non-profit organization but must

are treated in a young country where no proper legislation

cover our expenses. As we have a monthly shortfall we hold

has yet been put into effect for their protection, has actually

an annual Pet Show to cover this difference.

been considered important enough to be considered news… It has been brought to public notice that the A.A.A. is not

The Associação has come a long way, but there is still much

just a society of little old ladies in tennis shoes founding an

to be done. Many thanks to all the kind and generous people

association for pussy-wussies and unwanted mutts, but an

who have helped keep the Associação afloat all these years.

organized entity, acknowledged by and affiliated with the

Especially noted is the unstinting effort of the Administrator

International Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

of the shelter, Lena Rodrigues, without whose daily effort the

and the World Federation for the Protection of Animals,

Associação would not have been able to continue to strive

(which are today grouped under the name of WSPA).

to help animals everywhere. Lula May Reed

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

AMBIGUITY “When nothing is sure, everything is possible” (Margaret Drabble). I have just been re-reading Spotlight 121 and am sorry that so few (so far) have agreed to pay R$100 towards the cost of the annual subscription for the printed edition of the newsletter. Perhaps the majority of readers really do prefer the online edition, but are you still reading the articles, or just the headlines? Please share your thoughts. The Internet is a double-edged sword. It’s wonderful to have instant access to so much information, and to be able to communicate online with distant friends without the need to post a letter. What’s sad is that some of what we see on social media can breed envy or discontent. As I write this, at the end of the holiday period, when friends all over the world have been posting glamorous photos on Facebook, I can understand why some people suffer from what is known as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). However, we’ll never really know exactly what we are missing out on, or what is really going on

in other people’s lives. Uncertainty is a condition of life. Total certainty is, at best, an illusion. We’ll never know for sure what the other side is thinking during a negotiation, what your partner or friends really believe, whether the decisions we make today are the best ones or whether we have sacrificed too much money or time on a lost cause. The speed of life increasingly demands that we make decisions in the absence of complete or definite information. Tolerance for ambiguity comes at the expense of clarity, but the rewards are rich. We are better able to take risks and make decisions without deluding ourselves into thinking we have all the facts. (Or that the facts are not fake!) In the end, ambiguity makes us more flexible, less anxious, and less gullible in this age of fake news. What we lack in certainty, we gain in confidence. And confidence is the best, perhaps the only, cure for FOMO. Penelope Freeland Can be contacted at PenelopeFreeland @gmai.com

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HEALTH AND FITNESS

BLURRY EYESIGHT It is very clear that, as the years go by, there is the sense that our vision is not the same as in earlier days. But sometimes the process is very aggressive, with a significant loss of eyesight. Macular degeneration is a common eye disorder in people over 65. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. There is a central portion of the retina, known as the macula, which is responsible for clear vision in the direct line of sight. In this condition, blurred or reduced central vision occurs due to thinning of the macula. Worsening of vision over time may affect the ability to do things such as drive, read and recognize faces. Early detection and self-care measures may delay vision loss due to macular degeneration. Two main types of age-related macular degeneration are known. In the “dry” form, yellow deposits called drusen appear in the macula. As they grow in size and increase in number, dimming and distortion of vision occurs, that people find most noticeable when reading. In advanced stages, there is also thinning of the light-sensitive layer of cells in the macula, leading to atrophy, or tissue death. In this form of macular degeneration, patients may have blind spots in the center of their vision, and in advanced stages, they lose central vision. The second type of macular degeneration is known as the “wet” form. This is characterized by abnormal growth of blood vessels from the choroid underneath the macula, a process known as choroidal neovascularization. These blood vessels can leak blood and fluid into the retina, causing distortion of vision that make straight lines look wavy, as well as blind spots and loss of central vision.

Although only about 10% of people with macular degeneration develop the wet form, they make up the majority of those who experience serious vision loss from the disease. The condition is more common in older adults. It may be hereditary. Other risk factors are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and being light skinned, female, and having a light eye color. In the early stages, macular degeneration may not have any symptoms, and may be unrecognized until it progresses and affects both eyes. The first sign is usually blurred vision with a dim, blurry spot in the middle of the vision. Diminished or changed color perception may also occur. Age-related macular degeneration can be detected in a routine eye exam. Other tests may then be ordered to evaluate the extent of involvement of the retina. There is currently no cure for macular degeneration, but early detection is very important, for there are treatments that prevent severe vision loss or slow the progression of the disease considerably. People rarely lose all of their vision from age-related macular degeneration. They may have poor central vision, but are still able to perform many normal daily activities. Besides routine eye exams, some measures may help reduce the risk of developing this condition, by abstaining from smoking, managing medical conditions such as high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly, choosing a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. MICHAEL ROY SMITH, M.D. MOBILE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Most patients with macular degeneration have the dry form, however the dry form can lead to the wet form.

Phone: 99183-2093

E-mail: mrsmith@terra.com.br

SAO PAULO GARDEN CLUB

I ADVERT

The São Paulo Garden Club presents its 79th Annual Flower Show “Contos do Amor de Todo o Mundo” at the Brazilian British Centre, Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 741, Pinheiros, São Paulo SP. By kind permission of the Cultura Inglesa.

Saturday, 22nd September 10 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. Sunday, 23rd September

10.a.m.- 5.00 p.m.

Beeby’s Gourmet will be serving afternoon tea on Saturday from 3 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. and, on Sunday, lunch will be served from midday onwards. The São Paulo Garden Club 2019 calendar, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary, will be available for sale during the Show.

Opening Ceremony on Saturday 22nd September, 2018 at 10.30 a.m.

We look forward to seeing you all!

Exhibition open to the general public (free admission)

Judy Beer

TENNIS Maria Esther Andion Bueno died on 8 June 2018 at the age of 78 in São Paulo, where she was born. She was a Brazilian professional tennis player and won 19 Grand Slam titles (seven in women’s singles, 11 in women’s doubles, and one in mixed doubles), making her the most successful South American female tennis player in history. She is in the International Tennis Hall of Fame and was the year-end number-one ranked female player in 1959 and 1960, despite not using a coach. She was described as an “incomparably balletic and flamboyant” player who loved serving hard and approaching the net to volley. Maria Esther was one of the most famous Brazilian athletes in the United Kingdom as: • She won 8 Wimbledon titles: 3 singles and 5 doubles titles.

• She gave tennis lessons to Prince William and Prince Harry when they were children. • She was considered one of the sport’s biggest fashion icons, and was much loved on at the Wimbledon Centre Court for her combination of skill, elegance and athleticism. After retirement, she was a shrewd tennis commentator on SporTV. Despite 20 operations due to arm and leg injuries, she continued active until recently, playing regularly at the Harmonia club in São Paulo and closely followed the professional tennis circuit. Further information can be found on Wimbledon’s website: http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2016-08-16/from_the_archive_maria_bueno_ pride_of_brazil.html Kieran McManus

http://apaginadavida.blogspot.com/2009/10/maria-esther-andion-bueno-70-anos-desta.html

SÃO PAULO ATHLETIC CLUB

LAWN BOWLS, A PLACID SPORT AND ONE WITH NO AGE LIMIT Lawn Bowls is one of the oldest sports in the western world and its earliest records date back to the mid 16th century in England. At SPAC, it arrived early. About 130 years ago, when the English club was founded, the first Bowls of Brazil green was set up, using the tradition of the sport at its origin and serving the local British community.

to the small white ball – jack– the players make their shots, as each of the four moves is called.

It is on a green lawn, 40 metres long and 35 metres wide, always very well trimmed and treated daily, and where the bowlers get into position for the game.

Annete Conradi

Practised individually, in doubles, trios or quartets, the game begins with the positioning of the rubber mat for the launch of the jack, the small white ball, which is then the parameter for the players to throw their woods. Woods are the balls of eccentric configuration, with flattened sides, which give the objects a non-conventional curved movement and are unique to the practice of Bowls. They weigh around 1,5kg and are of 12 to 14,5cm diameter. In order to get as close as possible

With its low impact and preservation of the joints, practising Bowls is an exercise that requires concentration, enhances the ability to plan and can be practised by people of all ages.

SÃO PAULO YACHT CLUB

FREEMASONRY

SOME WORDS ABOUT FREEMASONRY Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organizations. Its roots lie in the traditions, rituals and ceremonies of the medieval stonemasons who built our cathedrals and castles. The Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) is H.R.H. THE DUKE OF KENT.

have with understanding towards them. Freemasonry means different things to each individual – making new friends, contributing to society, celebrating a long tradition, experiencing personal growth, taking up a hobby, having fun. The journey of a lifetime

VALUES Becoming a Freemason is like going on a journey: from Freemasonry has always been about making good men joining as an Entered Apprentice, it typically takes from better. Individuals aim to shape their lives round five one to three years to become a Master Mason, with core principles: each of the three stages marked by a special ceremony. Integrity: We say what we mean and we keep our promises. Any man over the age of 21 may join regardless of Kindness: Although our families come first, we believe ethnic group, political views, economic standing or rein playing a key role in our communities and giving time ligion, although he is expected to have a faith. and money to charitable ventures. Honesty: We pride ourselves on openness, about what In Brazil, in the State of São Paulo, there are eight being a Freemason means for us. Lodges under the UGLE banner. Fairness: We treat everyone as equal – we listen to others, explore any differences and look for common If you don’t know anyone who is a member with whom ground. you can talk and would like to have further information, Tolerance: We respect the opinions of others and be- send an e-mail message to francis.piedrahita@gmail. com.

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CULTURAL SYNOPSIS Engenho São Jorge dos Erasmos, an archaeological site open to visitors, offers educational programme sand cultural events, like photography, all free of charge. The place is the oldest preserved site of the Portuguese colonization in Brazil, situated at Rua Alan Ciber Pinto, 96 Vila São Jorge, Zona Noroeste – Santos. Visits have to be booked by phone (13) 3229-2703 or e-mail resjesantos@gmail.com. Every first Sunday of the month the Line ‘Conheça Santos-Zona Noroeste’, leaves from Praça das Bandeiras - Centro (Santos) at 10h. Reservations on the same day from 9:00 to 9:45, on phone n° (13) 3284-4375 or directly at the Tourist Information (PIT) in the Gonzaga district-Santos. The bus holds 23 passengers. On rainy days the trip is cancelled. Vitrais do Mercadão. The São Paulo Downtown Central Market Hall is well-known to all, tourists included. If only for the pastel de bacalhau (codfish pasty) or Mortadela sandwich! Both are delicious with a glass of beer and, best of all, they are huge. But while you enjoy the gastronomy have a look at the glass windows. There are 32 windows divided into 72 panels made by the German artist Conrad Sorgenicht Filho (1904-1994). The theme is varied: Agriculture, cattle breeding , men and women harvesting, small household animals and coffee. The artist travelled with his son of the same name to farms in the interior of São Paulo for his inspiration. His father had an atelier near the Estação da Luz train station since 1922 which continued in use by son and grandson. Sorgenicht took 5 years to produce the panels . Unfortunately, during the São Paulo 1932 Revolution, Revolução Constitucionalista, soldiers camped and trained inside the hall and used the figures in the panels for target shooting. The windows were restored by the same artist and the hall opened in its full splendour in 1933, on March 25th, the then date of the São Paulo anniversary. Another restoration took place in 1980 also by the Sorgenicht artist’s family and, in 2011, once more, the panels were cleaned and polished and broken windows

repaired. The Market Hall on Rua da Cantareira 306, is open 6 to 18h and till 16h on Sundays. Sorgenicht’s son also produced the São Paulo Cathedral windows in addition is a further 300 windows in different churches. Giro Cultural USP. São Paulo University offers 4 cultural trips free of charge to be booked from Mon. to Fri from 9:00 to 17:00 T. (11) 3091-1190/2648-0468/3721-5720 or e.mail: girocultural@usp.br , girocultural@sinteseeventos.com.br or www.facebook.com/giroculturalusp São Paulo Modernista. A four-hour trip, in a multimedia equipped bus plus snack, takes place on Saturdays leaving from Estação Metrô Alto do Ipiranga at 10 o’clock, meeting at the underground check-out (catraca). It offers a detailed look into different buildings of the Modern era and specialised guides talk about socio-cultural, politic and economic features of the late XIX century moving into the XX century as you drive past buildings of that architecture. There are 3 guided visits included: The Museu do Ipiranga (whenever possible), the Theatro Municipal and the MAC Ibirapuera. T he other trips are all within the University Campus: AcervoCientífico (2h30), Acervo Cultural (2h30), Vista Panorâmica: Um Passeio pelo Campus (1h30) and can be confirmed and booked on the phone numbers above. Christina Thornton

THE REAL STORY OF KING ARTHUR

THE FINAL CHAPTER OF MR. GRIFFITH-DAVIES’ STORY OF KING ARTHUR. - JOHN H. GRIFFITH-DAVIES The dynasty that Athrwys had founded in Caerleon continued - with one interruption - until exactly 700 A.D. Almost all of the succeeding kings called themselves “Athrwys” or “ap Athrwys” (son of Arthur). The year of 700 A.D. heralded the end of Roman Caerleon, which was destroyed by the Saxons in a sudden attack. Yes, the attack was definitely sudden and it could have been at night because excavations there in 2010 discovered Roman steel armour for fighting purposes and yet more Roman bronze armour for ceremonial use, complete with chainmail and weapons, lying intact in the ruins of the armoury there, which clearly proves that Caerleon’s legion was caught by surprise.The same series of excavations also discovered accidentally - when some students were practising with geodesic surveying instruments in a nearby field during pauses in the excavations of the fortress under the present town - the largest building complex in Roman Britain, namely, a huge palace and two or even three much smaller and superficially identical buildings which, I conclude, must have housed the archives and administrative staffof Caerleon’s succeeding kings and former governors. Everything had been burnt and, therefore, all the records of Caerleon’s administration and historywere destroyed ‘at a stroke’. The Saxons continued with their genocidal policy of killing the ‘waesla’ (which meant’foreigners’ in the Saxon language: what a blinking cheek!) by murdering as many of Caerleon’s inhabitants as they could catch, followed by burning the city downto the ground and demolishing as much of it as possible but they gave up trying to destroy the massive stone amphitheatre as a bad job: it is still the most complete example in Britain. The population of Roman Britain is estimated to have been around 3,500,000 in 410 A.D. when Britain declared independence from the Roman Empire but the invading Saxons had reduced it to roughly 500,000 by 700 A.D.)

The last King of Caerleon was Morgan ap Athrwys,who was the son of the preceding King Athrwys ap Meurig. King Athrwys ap Meurig was a brilliant military leader who kept the Saxons at bay by winning several important battles against them. Morganap Athrwys retreated westwards to a safe area with the remnants of his army and the surviving citizens of Caerleon,where he founded Glamorgan (named after him) in the same year of 700 A.D. I assume that he chose the Roman city of Cae r Dydd (Cardiff) as his military capital and Llanilltyd Fawr (Llantwit Major) as his cultural capital,which was a sizeable town with a huge and internationally renowned “monastic college that incorporated 7 halls” according to a Welsh text. It had been founded by Saint Illtyd himself in about 520 A.D. on the orders of Saint Dubricius to replace the ruined and equally famous Cor Tadwys (College of Theodosius) that Irish raiders had destroyed in 446 A.D.on the same site. The ruins of Roman Caerleon which, I estimate, comprised about 20,000 buildings,were still clearly visible to the Welsh historian called Gerallt Gymro (Gerald of Wales in English) when he visited the ‘new’ town of Caerleon around 1180, i.e., almost five whole centuries after it had been destroyed. In fact, some of the city’s remains even survived for six more centuries: Cox mentions them in his famous ‘An Historical Tour Through Monmouthshire’ that was published in 1801. It, in fact, summarizes three tours that Cox had made there during the 1790s. I estimate that the population of Roman Caerleon was at least 120,000 (about the same as London at its zenith around 400 A.D.), which must have swelled by 50,000 or even more as refugees poured into it from what is now Herefordshire from roughly 570 A.D. until 600 A.D., when the Saxons finally took over that Welsh territory. Even so, there are still several place-names in Herefordsire that begin with ‘Llan ….’, which is the Welsh word

THE REAL STORY OF KING ARTHUR for “church and its parish” and the Romano-British culture lingers in Herefordshire nowadays in the form of cider, as it is doesin Somerset and Brittany too. Cider is a Romano-British beverage. The Romano-British or, rather, Brythons as they called themselves (the word Welsh is derived from the Saxon word “waesla” - see above - which the Normans modified to “Walsh”) had been defeated but they were just as indomitable as always and they were determined to recover their lost ground after making careful preparations. They had developed the most lethal of all mediaeval weapons during their exile in Glamorgan, namely the Welsh Longbow, which was 2 yards high and fired an arrow that was 1 yard long that could penetrate 1/2 inch of steel or 1 foot of wood at a distance of 300 yards. It was this irresistible weapon that enabled them to recover Caerleon from the Saxons in about 730 A.D. (and also ensured that Llewellyn the Great’s army killed 3,000 soldiers of King John’s army in one day, several centuries later, thereby regaining independence). However, the Welsh force that returned to Caerleon from Glamorgan merely repaired the breached walls of the ruined fortress and built a littletown of Caerleon inside it; they utilized the ruins of the destroyed capital as a convenient quarry. In other words, they never attempted to rebuild Caerleon which, admittedly, would have been a colossal task employing thousands of men for many years - but they did recover the county of Gwent, which the English later called Monmouthshire and it has remained on the Welsh side of the border ever since.

To summarize, the value of Chrétien de Troyes’ Legend of King Arthur lies in its perpetuation of the facts, albeit in a distorted form. In a similar way, it is thanks to Homer’s Legend of King Minos that Sir Arthur Evans travelled to Crete in 1900, stuck his”spade into a hillside covered with pretty flowers” and … discovered the Palace of Knossos along with the ‘mythical’ Minoan civilization. Unfortunately, the self-perpetuatingand incompetent ‘conventional wisdom’ that prevails in British historical and archaeological circles nowadays falsely asserts that: 1) Caerleon has always been an insignificant village, 2) Caerleon was never a major Roman city - let alone a CAPITAL city and the ONLY major Roman city to have survived after York, London and Chester had all been destroyed by the Saxon (Chester lastly in 616 A.D., following the Battle of Chester when a combined Welsh army from Powys and Gwynedd was defeated by the overwhelming forces of the Saxon King Aethelfrith of Northumbria; a few days prior to which he ordered 200 Welsh monks to be massacred because he feared that they were praying against him. He died shortly after the battle, which was interpreted by the surviving Romano-British as divine retribution). 3) Caerleon did not have a cathedral or a church during the Roman era, 4) King Arthur is a figment of a Frenchman’s imagination, as are the Isle of Avalon, Guinevere, etc. BUNKUM

DOCTOR ALBERT SCHWEITZER

DOCTOR ALBERT SCHWEITZER’S CONTINUOUS STRUGGLED FOR HIS HOSPITAL IN LAMBARÉNÉ- PART 11 In early June 1932, Schweitzer spent several weeks in Scotland and England where he preached, mended and played organs and gave many recitals. During this voyage he was awarded four honorary degrees: at Oxford (Divinity), at Edinburgh (Divinity and Music, granted “in absentia” the year before) and at St. Andrews (Laws). At St. Andrews he was asked to “stand” for the rectorship to succeed General Smuts but turned the offer down, saying that his knowledge of English was not sufficient. In Glascow, where Livingstone received his medical degree, a civic banquet was given in his honor. In 1937, Dr Schweitzer discovered a fresh water spring near the hospital and built a deep well with the help of part of his staff. The first few meters were lined with solid specially baked white bricks which he laid himself in spite of his age and poor health. On a festive inauguration day he named the well after Miss Dorothy Mannering who had been honorary secretary to the beneficent foundation, Dr. Maude Royden‘s Guildhouse Fellowship in London, one of the most outstanding sponsors of the hospital at Lambaréné. A year later, to celebrate the hospital’s silver jubilee, the better off inhabitants of the Ogooué region presented Dr Schweitzer with ninety thousand French francs destined for the acquisition of an X-Ray apparatus. With his extraordinary premonition and, foreseeing hard times ahead in the coming years, he managed to convince the Community and obtained their consent to spend the money on some very important medicines, bandages, disinfectants, instruments and materials for the operating rooms. During the War, his decisions were proved to be correct. He was lucky enough to have everything delivered just before the War exploded mid1939. He himself was back in Lambaréné that year in March. In 1952, the 77-year old doctor received the Nobel Prize for his advocacy of the brotherhood of nations. In1953 he was awarded the “Wellcome” prize by the Royal

African Society involving a good amount in cash which he entirely employed in the construction of the Leper Village. A couple of years later, while on a business visit in London, he was invested by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace with the ”Order of Merit” for conspicuous service. In forty years of intense activity, the hospital grew considerably. Over the years the tide rolled on and Schweitzer’s dream was forever expanding. By 1963 three hundred and fifty patients and their relatives there and a hundred and fifty in the building alongside reserved for lepers. It was staffed by three unpaid volunteer white doctors, seven nurses and fifteen volunteer helpers. Hard labor, as floor and clothes washing, kitchen and cleaning duties were undertaken by local village workers who were never recognized as belonging to the official staff. Most of the time, Schweitzer did not even want to remember their names as to him they all looked alike and were always substituting each other in their daily tasks. He used to call them “my children”. The latter were always mumbling over their low salaries and squabbling with each other, but worked hard and when properly supervised did their jobs well enough to satisfy the doctors. In 1963, the fanatic Islamic Hausas and Ioruba natives from the North and Northwest, enhanced by false pretensions and fake news of a nationalistic movement involving Gabon, Cameroon, Benin and other populated areas of Northern-Central Africa, from distant villages, swarmed over Lambaréné and other Christian missions. There they eliminated people allegedly for being spies or allies of foreign governments, killing many of them, besides many of the patients at the hospital compound. They destroyed precious antiques, any sort of reproduction of living beings, either human or animal, photographs, drawings and paintings besides books with illustrations of people, animals or statues. William Moffitt Harris

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OBITUARY GUY DE KERSAINT GIRAUDEAU OBE. Pierre Guy Contnempren de Kersaint Giraudeau, a longtime resident of São Paulo and an active member of the British community, passed away peacefully on 6th August 2018, 36 days short of his 89th birthday. Guy was born in Mauritius in 1929 and was educated at The Royal College in Mauritius. Went to the UK in 1948 and articled in accountancy with Thorne Lancaster & Co, London in 1954. He married Verna in 1954 immediately after he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

1929-2018 After Verna’s passing, Guy visited friends in Brazil and met Jean who had recently lost her husband and whom he had previously known from his first time in São Paulo and Jean were married in London on 7th May 1988. After their marriage, Guy and Jean divided their time between their two families in England and Brazil. On 13th September 2016, Guy had a stroke from which he never fully recovered and he passed away peacefully in his sleep, at home, on 6th August 2018.

He joined Price Waterhouse in Paris and in 1956 returned to London to join Kemp Chatteris & Co, from where he transferred to Mauritius. He joined Price Waterhouse Peat & Co in 1959 serving in Brazil, Peru and Argentina. He was admitted to the partnership in 1967 and became a member of the Executive Committee. In 1969, he received the Reed Executive Essay Award for an article entitled “Disclosing the effects of inflation on annual accounts should be a recommended accounting principle”.

Guy’s survivors: his wife, Jean, his sons and their spouses Guy and Janet, Peter, Nick and Mini, and Chris and Penny and his grandchildren, Chantal, Matthew, Phoebe, Hannah, Ella, Joss and great grandchildren, Drew and April, his stepchildren from his second marriage, Giles and Monica, Steven and Denise, their children, Mark and Jenny, the late Johnnie’s wife Rosa and their children, Mariana and Jeffrey, his nieces and nephews Patsy, Annick, Maralyn, Yann, Sylvie-Anne, Michael, Anne-Lise, Marie-Louise, Paul, Thérèse

In July 1975, Guy was transferred to Casablanca to assume the responsibility of Partner-in-charge of French-speaking North, West and Central Africa. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Africa Firm and played a major role in the development of that firm in general and in the growth of Price Waterhouse in Francophone Africa in particular.

May his soul Rest in Peace.

He was highly active in Casablanca and, in the summer of 1986, he was awarded the OBE by HM Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to the British community and British interests in Morocco. In 1985, Guy took early retirement from Price Waterhouse to return to London and look after his wife, Verna, who was terminally ill – she passed away in April 1987. In London, he took over the management of SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals in North Africa).

Peter Giraudeau

ST PAUL’S ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL AND CULTURA INGLESA

Paraisópolis

Derek Barnes, speaking on behalf of the Cultura, emphasized

On the last Sunday in July, members of St. Paul’s Cathedral

the pride of students, staff and management in being asso-

and the Cultura Inglesa joined the mayor, Bruno Covas, his

ciated with such a highly visible social project. He pointed

education secretary and others from the municipal govern-

out that the Cultura had traditionally devoted significant re-

ment, at the Anglican Institute crêche in Paraisópolis. A short

sources to assisting social projects run by other organizations,

ceremony was held to celebrate the start of work on expan-

but that this Paraisóplis branch would be the first significant

sion of the crêche to enable it to handle up to 1,000 children

project of its own – providing free English lessons to this

and on the construction of a new branch of the Cultura which

needy community.

will be able to provide English language lessons for up to 1,000 students. The creche expansion and the Cultura school

Finally, the mayor, Bruno Covas, spoke of the urgent need

will be built next to each other, on land ceded by the Prefei-

to end the queues for places in crêches in São Paulo and

tura, and the construction and fitting out cost for both is

accepted full responsibility as mayor for the job of achieving

estimated at R$ 16 million, to be fully financed by the Cultura.

this end. He thanked the Cultura for its role in making it happen in Paraisópolis.

The Dean of the Cathedral, the Reverend Aldo Quintão, pointed out that the Paraisópolis community had been waiting 8 years for this expansion project, to eliminate the long waiting list for the current crêche. He was very grateful to the Cultura for providing the funds to allow this to happen. Alexandre Schneider, the education secretary and a member of SPAC, was able to announce that, with this expansion of the crêche, the demand for places for the children of members of the Paraisópolis community would be entirely satis-

The group involved in the ceremony

fied.

A sketch of the project, flanked by Alexandre Schneider and Derek Dean Aldo with Cultura representatives, led by board members Derek Barnes

Barnes on one side and Bruno Covas and William, the Cultura con-

and Jonathan Hannay

struction manager, on the other.

GENERAL COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Event

Date

Time

Place

Sponsor

Scottish Dancing

Sep 06

20.15

Brazilian British Centre

St. Andrew Socoety

Sábios e Inteligentes

Sep 15

St. Paul’s School

Carajás Scout Group

Annual Flower Show

Sep 22-23

Brazilian British Centre

São Paulo Garden Club

Scouting Games

Sep 23

To be confirmed

Carajás Scout Group

Legion Churrasco

Sept 29

St. Paul’s School

Royal British Legion

Caledonian Ball

Sept 29

Clube Transatlântico Brooklin

St Andrew Society

White Elephant Bazaar

Oct 20

St Paul´s Anglican Cathedral

SPAC 130 years

Oct 27

SPAC

SPAC (Town club)

Carajás Bazaar

Nov 23

SPYC

Carajás Scout Group

Christmas Bazaar

Dec 01

St Paul´s Anglican Cathedral

AGM Fundacão Britânica

Dec 06

Brazilian British Centre

British Society

Carajás Camp Fire

Dec 08

To be confirmed

Carajás Scout Group

Christmas Day Service

Dec 25

St Paul´s Anglican Cathedral

10.00

12.00

11.00

10.00

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