Category Archives: Amovate Events

2013 Poppy Appeal

2013 Poppy Appeal
There will be Poppy boxes in the Charity shop in Aljezur and Taska Do Karisma, Vale Da Telha, for donations. Please support this worthwhile cause.
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Letter from the President of Shepperton Aurora Rotary

Matt D’Arcy, Amovate’s publicity officer,  writes
I have just received this letter from Doreen Pipe President of Shepperton Aurora Rotary who worked with us and Dave Good, a member of both organisations and the man who originally set the ball rolling that led to the wonderful kit and equipment donation to the Aljezur Bombeiros …

Hello Matt,

Thanks for all the fabulous photos and press articles, really great and worthy of the project. Amovate members must be so proud of the outcome with the wonderful donation from Operation Florian.

I hope that the relationship with the Bomberios will continue to go from strength to strength.

You are both very special organisations, making your community a better and safer place to be.

Regards to all in sunny Portugal.

Take care.

Doreen M Pipe
Shepperton Aurora Rotary

www.rotaryaurora.org.uk

Gala Ball in Photographs

Saturday’s Gala Ball was enjoyed by 150 people, entertained by the beautiful voice of Ana Messias and the music of The New Orleans Jazz Band.
Here is a selection of photographs.
Interestingly, the final photograph shows John Morgan with his wife and mother.
John’s mother Mimi, with her husband, are believed to be the first British ‘estrangeiros’ to settle here.
As we revealed in our History Of Vale Da Telha which you can read elsewhere on the website:

 

John Morgan’s parents moved to their new holiday home in Vales in 1970 on the car ferry MV Eagle which sailed from Southampton to Lisbon, and on to Tangier. 

While on board for the three-day, two-night voyage they were able to buy cigarettes—British or American—for 16d a packet of 20 and to enjoy drinks like whisky, port, gin, vodka at 10d a glass or 12d for a Martell or Courvoisier cognac. 

If you wanted a cold beer that came at 8d for a half pint of Double Diamond, and remember–this was when £1 comprised 240 “d”, or old pence! 

All meals were included and fares were offered from £49 for a 6-night mini-cruise. 

Yes, it WAS that long ago! 

It was the pre-decimalisation early 70s to be exact—the MV Eagle’s service ran from May 1970 to September 1975, departing every Saturday—and decimalisation day was February 15 1971. 

(Incidentally, I think most of us wish there still was a UKto Lisboncar ferry service each week!—Memo to Brittany Ferries and P&O) 

But John’s parents, Gerard and Mimosa (“Mimi”), had already been coming to Portugalfor almost 15 years, after tossing a coin before one holiday to decide whether it should be spent in Franceor in Portugal. 

This was 1958 and after ending up in Caxias, Lisbon—not far from the old Ponte 25 da Abril bridge across the Tagus—they met a young, just-engaged Portuguese couple, Amando and ‘Ciette Lamego, who were to become lifelong friends of the Morgan family. 

In fact Amando and ‘Ciette would visit the Morgans in South Wales, sailing from Lisbonto Tilbury, another alternative route in those days. 

But more importantly they also introduced John’s mother and father to Vale da Telha in 1969, because they enjoyed coming to the area on holiday to hunt wild game and wanted to share the experience. 

They all stayed in what was to become Gabriel’s restaurant in Vales (originally Vales da Fontes and since shortened to Vales) but was then a bar and b&b. It was also the district post office where locals picked up their mail, and left items to be collected for delivery. 

There was also a beer garden fronting the road, and sacks of rice, grain and animal feed were sold to the locals who farmed land that ran in strips down towards the sea. 

The Morgans fell in love with the area and decided to have a holiday home here, eventually buying a plot of land in the lane behind Gabriel’s in 1969 and having a house built—the house that still exists today, albeit modernised and enlarged. 

The Morgans and a German family, the Schumanns are believed to be the first foreigners to settle here. In fact, when John’s parents moved into their new holiday home there was no other property between that house in Vales, and the main road! The Schumanns’ house is the one now owned by Doug “the Dish”.  At that period in the 70’s the minimum amount of land you could buy was 5000 m2. This was so you could be self-sufficient

So, it was a special pleasure to see Mimi, now aged 94, at the Gala Ball on her latest trip back to Vale da Telha.

 

Bombeiros Presentation Ceremony

Doreen Pipe, Peter Johnson and Mike Thomas hand over the kit to an officer of the Bombeiros

Amovate President Peter Johnson, with Operation Florian’s Mike Thomas and Shepperton Aurora Rotary President Doreen Pipe formally presented Aljezur’s firefighters with the fire and rescue equipment at the Bombeiros HQ on Thursday September 26th.

Fire Chief Mario Costa thanked Amovate and Aurora Rotary—including Dave Good, a member of both organisations who played a key role in setting up the whole project—for their part in making his force the recipient of what he called a “fantastic” donation.

And he hailed the UK fire fighters, Florian’s Mike Thomas and Steve Darby—also representing Lancashire Fire & Rescue, source of the helmets & boots, whilst the fire kit (bunker pants and jackets) came from North Wales —for their generosity to fellow members of the worldwide fire fighting community.

Earlier, Aljezur Bombeiros, watched by Amovate’s Committee and members of the Association, gave a fascinating, realistic and highly professional demonstration of how they will be using the sophisticated rescue equipment that was part of the donation.

They created a very convincing crash scene—including damaged roadside barriers—involving two cars, one of which had overturned, trapping the driver (a very patient Bombeiro) inside.

The team assembled to free the driver, went through their paces using the cutting and “jaws of life” tools, plus equipment to fix the vehicles firmly in place to avoid any dangerous movement during the operation.

They removed both doors plus the column between before stabilising the “patient”, cutting him free of his seat belt, inserting a spinal

The car door is being cut away

board beneath him, then carefully extricating him from the vehicle before handing him over to the paramedics, who checked him out on their collapsible stretcher before loading him onto the ambulance for the “journey” to hospital.

All of this was done using equipment from the donation.

Afterwards, Florian’s Mike Thomas, explaining that he and Steve Darby had more than 60 years UK fire fighting experience between them, added: “I can honestly say that demonstration wouldn’t be carried out better, or more professionally, anywhere else in the world.”

The UK fire fighters were happy that the equipment, which should last the Bombeiros up to 10 years before it needs to be replaced, could not be in better hands.

Then, 10 of the Bombeiros lined up wearing the high-tech Personal Protection Equipment—helmets, tunics, trousers and boots—from the set of 100 included in the donation to form a backdrop for the symbolic handing-over of the kit and equipment.

Mike Thomas, Peter Johnson and Doreen Pipe performed the handover, after which the Amovate President declared:

“Amovate is very proud to have been part of this magnificent venture in securing vital equipment for Aljezur Bomberios.

“The hard work in England by Shepperton Aurora Rotary Club and in particular Dave Good, an Amovate member working with ourselves, has made this possible.

“The people of Aljezur and its surrounding area will now have a fire brigade that can service its vast area with a much better equipped resource and with cutting equipment that will save lives.

“Amovate has and will continue through its charity to make donations where it sees that our help benefits people in need. Today, members of Amovate can rest assured our charity has been part of a magnificent scheme which will make the Aljezur area a safer place.

“Finally thank you to Direct Transport for their kind donation towards this gift. As always they have helped Amovate move much-needed equipment from England to Portugal, which greatly assists our donations within the Algarve and, in particular, Aljezur.”

Doreen Pipe then spoke, saying: “Each and every one of our Shepperton Aurora Rotary Club members is delighted to have supported this project with Operation Florian and Amovate, to provide the vital equipment for the Aljezur Bombeiros.

“Your bravery and professionalism will have saved much property and many lives over the years, and we thank you for that.

“We hope that with this ‘new’ equipment will allow you to cope with emergencies and further assist to you carry on your fantastic and vital emergency work for many years to come.

“Your safety will be improved with this excellent equipment, provided by Operation Florian, which is sent from our own British fire fighters, and we all owe a debt of gratitude to the fire fighters at home and here.

“Today shows how working together, Rotary, Operation Florian and Amovate have all been able to benefit those in need of help. We hope that all of the Bombeiros teams here in the Algarve, will be safer at work and able to continue to respond to each new emergency, with the right equipment for your amazing skills.”

Florian’s Mike Thomas declared: “On behalf of Operation Florian may I say a big thank-you to our friends here in Aljezur for organizing this evening and inviting Steve and I to attend.

“Operation Florian was formed more than 20 years ago as a simple means of fire fighters helping less fortunate fire fighters and our first donation of a fire appliance in war-torn Yugoslavia, is still in use today, standing proud as a beacon of the fellowship that fire fighters have towards each other.

“Today Operation Florian is a successful charity still run by fire fighters and our motto is ‘helping to save lives across the world’.

“Truly we are international and tonight is a celebration of the donation we have made here in Portugal. I think the fire fighters of Aljezur will make good use of the firecoats, trousers, helmets and boots that we have donated alongside the improved ability to rescue those trapped in vehicle collisions. The Aljezur firefighters are now better protected to serve and protect the residents, visitors, businesses, natural environment etc of Portugal.

“We are just as proud to help you as we are to help all fellow fire fighters, the fellowship of fire fighters is the largest family in the world, and we embrace you.

“Of course someone had to approach Florian and seek our help. A big thank you to Shepperton Aurora Rotary especially to David Good for being persistent whilst we got our act together and of course to your colleagues in Amovate who supported you along the way.

“Once again, on behalf of Operation Florian, thank you and we wish you good luck and stay safe as you keep your community safe.”

Refugio Social Nuphar Lutea / Associação – POSTPONED

 

 

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED

 

Amovate have been asked to advertise this local event on behalf of this charitable organisation.

REFUGIO SOCIAL ­ NUPHAR LUTEA / ASSOCIAÇÃO – has a heart for the homeless and needy and has acquired premises in Vila Real to be used as a feeding station, but it lacks any kitchen equipment –  fridge, cooker, etc. This event is to raise funds for this. The association also has plans for a permanent social refuge in Lagos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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