The BPCC Annual Christmas Gala event took place at Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa on the 6th December and was sponsored by Chamber Members Credential Partners, Sovereign, Grupo HPA Saúde, Quinta do Barranco Longo and Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa, and with the support of Photography Artlines.

Over fifty of the Algarve's businessmen and women attended the BPCC Annual Christmas Gala held on 6 December at Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa, in Porches, this year featuring Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Portugal, Mrs. Kirsty Hayes, as guest of honour.

ASB members met in Paderne for a ride on Friday 21st of November for a ride to Malhão in the hills north of Salir. The route was planned and should have been led by Hans who was unable to attend when the ride was delayed by two days due to bad weather. In his absence the ride into the mountains between Salir and Almodovar was led by David and Steve.

The annual visit of the District Governor is always a special time for a Rotary club. This year, Rotary Porches reached a much-anticipated goal as well; the club was presented with official authorization for its change to become an E-club and to change the club’s name to Rotary E-club Porches International.

District 1960 Governor António Mendes presented President Goran Linde with the charter to make the transition complete at a recent lunch at Primavera Restaurant in Carvoeiro.

On Saturday, September 27th, members of the Rotary Club Estoi Palace International, together with members from Almancil International Rotary Club, friends and family, took the ferry from Olhão to visit the town of Farol on Ihla da Culatra, in the barrier islands off Olhão.

Culatra is the most visible of the barrier islands, due to its tall white lighthouse. The Portuguese word for a lighthouse is farol.

“A crucial Reminder of the sacrifices made” in Commemoration of the 100 year Anniversary of the First World War, an event will take place at The Palace of Estoi on 4th October 2014.

A Garden Party is being arranged to be held in the Formal Gardens of Estoi Palace during the afternoon and evening of 4th October.

A special ride and lunch was organised by David Shirley on Monday September 1st to welcome the ASB's most distant member.  

Madeleine Marques was in the Algarve on holiday with her partner Greg Hartmann.

There is a new association in Portugal dedicated to plants and gardens of the Mediterranean climate zones created by an international group of enthusiastic gardeners: the Mediterranean Gardening Association.

The association was founded after the recent changes in national legislation. Earlier events and activities were part of the Mediterranean Garden Society, but as this had no legal status in Portugal it was necessary to form a new group in order to continue and to develop activities.

Alentejo blue skies and warm sunshine was the order of the day for the 29 riders of the ASB when they visited the beautiful town of Mertola on the Guadiana River for lunch. 

The ride was organised by Stan Green with the assistance of Martin Taylor. Stan leading the first half of the ride from the start in Paderne to Cachopo where a stop was made for refreshments in the shade of the vines on the terrace at the cafe in the square.