Click the Wreath to find out about our Christmas Party Dec. 19th at the UVic Faculty Club
Contact Heather if you have not already signed up!
BULLETIN FOR December 5, 2006. Reported by Dallas Chapple
Well, after the great snow storm of 2006 caused the cancellation
of last week’s meeting, we gathered at Palmer’s Restaurant where smilin’ Jack Petrie presided. He began by thanking Malcolm Palmer and staff for hosting us, and also welcomed all visitors, as listed below:
Christopher Causton, Harbourside, Restaurants.
Margaret Patrick was the guest of Joan Peggs & John Edgell,
Donna Carrigan of Barry Mutter,
Hazel Meredith of Steve Harthill, and
Jill Croft of Tom Croft.
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Below are Restauranteurs Kathie & Malcolm Palmer |
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Palmer's is at 118 - 2187 Oak Bay Ave, Victoria, in Athlone Court,
Tel: 250-598-1100 |
Announcements
Tav: the District requests a Literacy Liason Chair and Giles has graciously agreed to volunteer;
likewise a Group Study Exchange Chair was requested and Joe Prentice has stepped up.
Next week: don’t forget that the AGM is at the Recreation Centre. We will be electing the in-coming executive for next July 1, 2007. Are there any nominations to be put forward in addition to those that have already been gently persuaded by Jack?
Christmas kettles: Mark reminded us how important it was for us to show up on time or find a replacement if we can’t make it. The Salvation Army Kettle Schedule of Shifts:
| Date |
1:00PM |
2:00PM |
3:00PM |
4:00PM |
| Fri Dec 8 |
PETRIE |
LAMB |
MUNRO |
SNIVELY |
| Sat Dec 9 |
STIRLING |
MADSEN |
ELEY |
OCKERMUELLER |
| Fri Dec 15 |
TAKAHASHI |
CHAMBERS |
ALISON |
CROFT |
| Sat Dec 16 |
Marina/Lisa |
Kailey/Amber |
Jill/Daniele |
LAMB |
Heather reminded us of the Christmas party Dec. 19th at the Faculty Club. If you have not signed up with her there is still time.
Health of the Club: Barb reported that Les Canty was not well; on the bright side, Carl Jackson’s oncologist gave him the boot and told him that he needn’t come back—great news Carl!
Don O’Coffey will be collecting for Mustard Seed next week and also at our Christmas party—please bring goods or cash (which is much lighter!) Cheques are happily accepted too!
Guest Speaker, introduced by Ron Cooley
Our speaker today, and incidentally our host, Malcolm Palmer, was born in Woodford, Essex, June 21/44, while the “Doodle-Bugs” were flying overhead. Malcom’s father was at this time employed at the Savoy Hotel, where he remained for over 20 years. Malcolm followed in his father’s footsteps as, years later, he joined the Savoy Hotel and several other hotels and restaurants in London and Switzerland, where he started to learn his original trade of cooking. Shortly after this he was fortunate to experience much travelling around the World (completely seven times!). This was a real “eye opener” for Malcolm, as he appreciated how truly blessed we are here in comparison to so many parts of the world.
Malcolm met his wife Kathie in the early seventies. They fell in love immediately and have been happily married for 35 years. They work together in their Restaurant, so aptly named Palmer’s, a genuine family business. They have one son, Matt, just turned 30. Malcolm has been asked to speak to us on Life’s Experiences in the Food & Beverage Industry.
Malcolm Palmer, the owner of the restaurant in which we enjoyed our excellent lunches, spoke on his history. Malcolm and his wife Kathie have traveled the world 7 times during the 35 years in which they have been married! Malcolm started as an apprentice in London at The Savoy and expanded in England, to own 3 nightclubs. As a well-travelled man of the world, Malcolm has experienced apartheid, and devastating poverty in India. He and Kathie moved to Cambridge, Ontario in l980, left to work in Monserrrat, then returned to Sarnia and opened a restaurant. Malcolm was approached by Jeffrey and Peter Barnett to work at (and re-organize) the Elephant and Castle in Ontario. They asked him to open up the Elephant and Castle in Victoria, which he did in June l989, and stayed there as the General Manager, opening other restaurants in their chain in the U.S., for l5 years. When General Electric bought out Elephant and Castle in 2003 Kathie said, “Let’s buy another restaurant” so they looked around and bought Palmer’s in Athlone Court, which they opened in 2004. Malcolm was an entertaining speaker and great host for our luncheon!
The speaker was thanked by Tom Croft.
