Year: 2009 (Page 3 of 8)

Mike & Faith Rebello celebrated their joint 60^th birthdays at the Aldersbrook Lawn Tennis club in Wanstead on Saturay 26th September 2009.  It was a warm hospitable evening, in the company of family and friends. Mike’s brother Hilary from Austria completed the family ensemble.   A delicious meal was served, while drinks flowed and a guest list of 70 mingled and recalled memories of yesteryear.  Flavio Gracias, President of the G.O.A. UK raised the toast, recalling his longstanding friendship with Mike’s parents, as both he and the Rebellos hail from Colva with ancestral homes adjacent to each other. He went on to congratulate the couple on being married for 35 years. Mike ex -Kisumu & Faith ex-Jamaica met in London and married in Jamaica. Their three lovely daughters, Mericia, Nicola & Eleanor thanked them for being a great Mum & Dad. Mike replied thanking Flavio, his relatives and friends who helped make the day special and went on to regale his guests with stories of how and when they both met and how he is possibly the envy of every man, as he has 4 women waiting on him at home, but of course this has also contributed to his receding hair line!  Having cut the beautiful  cake made by  Mila Goes, Mike’s cousin, the dancing began  and went on to the midnight hour after which we all headed off home, having spent a wonderful evening in the company of a terrific couple.

Mike, Faith and their beautiful girls

SUNDAY 26TH JULY 2009

The day of the long-awaited Goan Festival finally dawned – with the forecast of rain to come.  It did not however hold back the crowds who came in their thousands from all corners of the UK and even overseas, to Archbishop Lanfranc School – Croydon, Surrey.  With the number of food stalls, no one could complain about the choice or variety or for that matter, the homely taste which was washed down with a nice drink in the hand.  And chat they did – some having met friends and relatives after a long time.  The mass in the packed hall was concelebrated by seven priests headed by the Goan Chaplain, Fr Francis Rosario SFX.  It is always a pleasure to hear the young musicians and the vibrant choir, ably coordinated by Gregg Carvalho.  There was no end of entertainment during the Festival – be it lively music from popular bands or disco, or staged items from the many hardworking Goan cultural organisations.  Even the children were catered for with fairground rides, ice cream and face painting and the opportunity to learn the traditional Lancers dance.

Plaudits must go to Herbert Fernandes, Festival Chairman and the many volunteers who freely gave of their time and energy much before, during and after the event to ensure that things went smoothly. For the first time, there were no complaints about the queues for the ladies’ as additional luxury trailer toilets had been installed.  And the rain – well, the umbrellas were raised only at the end of the Festival – and it enabled the organisers to clean and clear the grounds in good time!  Yes, it was a well-organised event, with all those who attended already looking forward to repeating the experience next year!

By Anita Rebello

For photos of the event, visit:

The new Festival website http://goafest.itpsworld.net (Thanks to Alex Rocha & Maaike Vlam)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHZJM2b_B9Q (Thanks to Raymond Carvalho)

Goan Festival 2009 (Thanks to Hansen Fernandes)