Halloumi?

The BBQ in June was the last event of the clubs year.  Fortunately our latest venue, Rushwick Village Hall, had an area behind the main building, suitable  to hold the BBQ .   We were lucky with the weather it stayed dry and even the sun shone for awhile. For some of our members, guests and friends the Cypriot cheese halloumi cooked on the BBQ was a new experience and proved to be popular.  This was accompanied by chicken drum sticks (marinated in chef’s special sauce), burgers and sausages. With tsatziki from  Kath and enough potato salad to feed an army from Lindsay and an unusual Greek salad from Pat, there was plenty of food for all.  Washed down with Greek wine, Mythos beer or orange juice. As you can see from the photos everyone was having a great time. 32 people enjoyed themselves as the photographs clearly indicate.  Thanks to Lindsay for supplying them.

The Development of Greek Drama by Nigel Turner

Our May meeting commenced with the AGM and 18 members were present.   The minutes of the meeting are included as an appendix to the newsletter.

Our May meeting gave us the opportunity to hear how Greek Drama evolved from our guest speaker Nigel Turner Head of Drama at Malvern College. Nigel started by explaining a little about himself.  Then he began by explaining that the poet Homer was as good as any place to start.  Homer would have travelled telling his stories as he went.  Dithyrambs were ancient Greek hymns sung to the God Dionysus, and were composed about the 7th centaury B.C.  Dithyrambs in Athens were sung by a chorus of men or boys of up to fifty dancing in circular formations.  The poet Arion is credited with inventing dithyrambs.  According to Aristotle these developed into Greek Tragedy.   Thespis now gets a mention as he is said to have introduced the first actor (Thespian) on to the stage as well as the wearing of linen masks.  Aeschylus is often recognised as the father or founder of Greek tragedy and is the earliest of the three Greek tragedians whose plays survive, the others being Sophocles and Euripides.  He also increased the number of Characters to two in the plays to allow for conflict.  Sophocles then was mentioned by Nigel.  Sophocles added a third actor to his plays.  The photograph above left is us studying a handout from Nigel explaining how the characters in the tragedy Antigone would have been played by three actors.  Unfortunately time was against us and Nigel finished his fascinating talk there.  Our thanks to Nigel for giving us such an in depth insight into early Greek drama.

Programme of Events for 2008/2009

19th September       Invasion of Crete 1941 with film 11th day
24th October         Greek Dance
14th November       “To Istanbul in seeking of Constantinople” by Malcolm Delingpole
12 December         Christmas Dinner
2009
23rd January       “Legacy of Greek Sculpture” by Bill Denny
20th February.       The Italian Invasion of Greece 1940 by John Fryer
20th March       6th Greek Cooking Competition
17th April       “Classical Greek Comedy by Nigel Turner
22nd May       A Greek Film/AGM
26th June       BBQ

Minutes from the Annual General Meeting, Friday 23rd May 2008.

18 members present, from a total membership of 34.

Item 1  A statement of accounts was handed out prior to the meeting and Les Roberts the Clubs Secretary went through them.

Item 2  Events 2008/9.  Nick Kontarines the Club Secretary spoke on the proposed programme.  Members were asked for their views and ideas for events to be included in next years programme.  Film nights were popular and requested for again.  A talk on the invasion of Crete 1941 was another subject asked for, as was the possibility of live Greek music.  Another topic for inclusion was the flora and fauna of Greece, more so, on the flora.  All of these great new fresh ideas will be looked into.

Item 3  Election of the Committee.  As there were no new takers to any of the committee positions, the committee will stay the same.  However, it was requested by the committee for a volunteer to join the committee.  No members present took up the offer.

Item 4 The Web-site.  In the absence of the Web-site editor members were informed that the site was in the process of being re-vamped.

Item 5 The Newsletter.  John the newsletter editor asked members whether they were happy with the current format. There were no objections.  Also that members were receiving it.  Those who had not received the previous Newsletter were made known and either would be sent a copy or have it emailed.  He also asked members to supply articles for the newsletter, anything with a Greek theme.

Item6. Membership fee is to stay at £10.

No further business the meeting closed

TWO DEAD AS STRONG QUAKE ROCKS GREECE

At least two people were killed and 120 injured yesterday when a powerful earthquake rocked south-western Greece.  One man died under a collapsing roof and a woman suffered a heart attack.  Other victims in the popular tourist region were hurt by falling rocks or trapped inside their homes.  Witness Anna Tsokana said ‘The earthquake was terrifying.  Buildings have fallen and roads have been destroyed.’  Rescue teams battled to free two families from the rubble of their houses as experts warned of further tremors.  ‘There have been aftershocks and more will follow because the epicentre was close to the surface,’ said Gerasimos Papadopoulos, head of the Athens Geodynamic Institute’s research centre.  The 6.5 magnitude quake – one of the largest to ever hit Greece – caused widespread panic when it struck the Peloponnese region in mid-afternoon.  Experts said its epicentre was near the port city of Patras, about 200 km (120 miles) west of Athens, where the quake was also felt.  There were widespread reports of collapsed and seriously damaged buildings.  An 88 year old woman from the badly hit village of Kato Ahaia said, ‘I have seen nothing like that in my lifetime.  I tried to leave but fell down.  I crawled on my knees to the front door.’  Military helicopters and specialist rescue teams were put on standby as further tremors threatened and people were told to stay calm.  Roads were also closed and parts of Patras were left without power.  But officials said that, despite the intensity of the quake, the area had escaped relatively unscathed.  The seven family members trapped in the village of Fostaina were rescued with just minor injuries, police said.

Well known politician loves Greece

I’ve been going to the Peloponnese, in south-west Greece, since I was 18, and I love it so much that I’ve built a house there.
The great thing about holidaying in the Peloponnese is that you can go in May and June, or September and October, and have excellent weather.   It tends to get a bit crowded in July and August, when it’s also hot.  Unless you particularly want to visit Athens, I’d say hire a car at the airport and drive straight down.  The first place to head for is the ancient city of Corinth, just across the canal, where you can have an excellent meal at one of any number of cafes or restaurants, and visit a great little museum at the American Archaeological School to gain a good feel for the overall history of Greece.
Next, go to the amphitheatre at Epidauros.  Plays are performed here in the evenings in August, but it’s fantastic at any time of the year because of the acoustics.  Then head for Mycenae, another ancient site of historical interest.  But the crucial thing to do when you visit the region is to find you way down to Methoni, an ancient Venetian port, and Pylos, which is full of history and the site of the Battle of Navarino, which was fought in 1827, during the Greek War of Independence.
There’s a wonderful little restaurant my wife and I like on the beach in Methoni.   Its name escapes me but you can’t miss it; it lies in the shadow of the fort, and they serve wonderful fried courgettes with a Parmesan topping.  Another favourite is Elena’s in Finimunda, just down the road.

I can recommend the old Rex Hotel (0030 272 109 4440; www.rexhotel.gr), in the centre of Kalamata, which has been recently renovated.  Another rather nice place to stay is the Amalia (0030 272 303 1193), a hotel up on a hill overlooking the wonderful Venetian castle in Methoni.  The owners are delightful.  But really, if you spend a week touring the Peloponnese, just check into any nice-looking hotel you chance upon en route.
I love the local food and like to experiment by eating at different restaurants and cafes.  If you stick to octopus, kebabs and Greek salads, and yogurts and honey for dessert, you can’t go far wrong.  The quality of Greek wine has greatly improved over the years too. 
I sometimes  think I’m like a homing pigeon: I just can’t seem to stay away from the Peloponnese. 
‘In Sickness and in Power Illness in Heads of Government During the Last 100 Years’ by David Owen (Methuen, £25)

Membership subscriptions now due

For those of you who would like to become members or have a wish to continue then contact either Nick or Les for membership.  The benefits are concessions on events and your own pocket-sized programme to carry around with so you don’t double book on your social calendar.   The sum is £10 for membership.

Worcester Anglo-Hellenic Club

Saturday 21st Jul – Evening BBQ Summer Party.
Loretta Proctor has offered to host the evening. 

September 25th     Film Night
This year the film is the Costas Ferris celebrated 'Rebetico', a fictionalised account of the life of the famous singer Marika Ninou. The sound track by Stavros Xarkarkos is justly famous.

October 30th         Restoring a House on Crete.
In April 2005 Chris Lloyd packed her bags and left the familiar surroundings of Malvern to restore a village house near Rethymnon. We welcome her back for a further update.

November 27th     The Philhellenes
Kate Rankine has agreed to tell us more about Lord Byron and other intrepid British ambassadors, who over the years have distinguished themselves in Greece.

The Anglo-Hellenic normally meet at; Worcester Golf and Country Club, Bransford Road, Worcester.  Contact: David Leggott on 01905 21886.

The Greek Club, Birmingham

The Staff Common Room, First Floor, Faculty of Arts, University of Birmingham.  Contact: The Secretary on 0121 523 7223.

Change the AT to the usual symbol you see in email addresses!!