As the opening notes of the Diamond Jubilee rang through the magnificent Victoria Hall in Geneva, we knew we were in for a special evening. This was no town hall ‘oompa’ brass band, this was the Geneva Arquebuse Brass Band under the expert direction of Jean Pierre Chevailler. The atmosphere in the hall warmed and […]
In the presence of the British Ambassador to Switzerland, His Excellency David Moran and his wife, the celebration of our Queen`s 91st birthday took place at the Barcarolle Hotel, Prangins, on 23 June. The event organizers were a little anxious about the number of people who would actually come on the day but to our […]
The Château de Vullierens stands above Morges amongst the most beautiful countryside imaginable. The first building was erected in the 14thcentury but the present château was constructed between 1712 and 1715 and is now classed as an historical monument of national interest. The views from the house over the surrounding countryside are spectacular. The present […]
At the village of Juriens, in the Pied du Jura, is a magnificent private collection of Swiss cow bells, some dating back to the 1500s. On 26 April a small group of us discovered this treasure hidden behind barn doors. They are the property of Olivier Grandjean who greeted us warmly and led us to […]
Discreetly located in a quiet corner of Geneva’s Old Town, next to the 857 years old cathedral of St. Pierre, is the International Museum of the Reformation. It retraces the 500 years’ history of the Reformation movement initiated by the German priest, Martin Luther, supported amongst others by the French theologian and pastor, Jean Calvin, […]
If you didn’t go it’s too late for you missed a splendid exhibition of dinosaurs that was at Geneva’s natural history museum from last September to 12 March. This year the museum is celebrating 50 years at its current address and while it is a long time, it is nothing compared to the time which […]
The Region’s highlight at the end of 2016 was a most enjoyable Christmas Dinner organized by Pam Walsh and Rosemary Billinge on 14 December and attended by some 40 members. This splendid traditional meal was followed by a fun-filled evening of which encouraged everyone to participate in the true spirit of Christmas; all seemed to thoroughly […]
The sun had just set as we arrived at the Domaine des Biolles in Founex/ Chataignieraz on 26 October and as we entered the carnotzet, a warmer and more welcoming sight could not have met our eyes. The beautiful old oak timbers, the warmly coloured flagstone floor, the smiling faces, the long table filled with […]
A glorious summer’s afternoon on 6 August saw a dozen BRA members from several cantons converging on Rosemary and Paul Bissigger’s verdant garden in Echandens, near Lausanne, for what turned out to be a highly convivial afternoon tea. And by afternoon tea, we don’t mean the kind of meagre affair served up at the Ritz […]
Whoever is up there looking after the weather was kind to us on 9 July as we gathered for pre-lunch drinks generously offered by Romandie West Regional Chairman, Michael Bruce, and his wife, Antonia, in the garden of their delightful converted farmhouse home in Mollens. It was one of those balmy summer days that one […]