A number of us braved the windy weekend of Storm Amy to congregate at the Tempest Arms at Elslack near Skipton for the gathering of the our northern based members and guests. We were treated to a delicious curry followed by mango ice cream, and with books and cards for sale and a raffle table well stocked with prizes, it was an excellent day out.

Our stalwart band of helpers organised a delicious lunch for 30 members and guests on 27th September. Held at the Village Hall in Burley in the New Forest, our ladies lay on a traditional Kenyan Curry Lunch with all the bits and bobs. There were Kenyan crafts for sale, a bring and buy, books and a successful raffle to raise money for our Benevolent Fund. Rafikis old and new enjoyed a catch up, remembering many happy times in East Africa.

We had a lovely day at Guildford Cathedral Refectory for the Summer Lunch. Fifty-two members and guests enjoyed a delicious curry with all the trimmings, followed by sweet treats. Guests came from as far afield as Eindhoven, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hampshire and Kent. There was lots of time before lunch for the rafikis to catch up, old friendships renewed and new ones made. One lady was surprised when a fellow guest mentioned that she had attended her wedding – some 60 years ago! Their parents had been great friends apparently.

Marion Munge bought all her goodies for sale, and these were snapped up by many guests, and some of the refectory staff. Our second hand book table did well, as did the new cards (see Shop page), and we had donated paintings and a throw and cushion for sale. There was also a raffle with excellent prizes – a number of them liquid!

Kevin Patience brought along his model train and ship, together with descriptive boards, which was of great interest to all the guests, not just the gentlemen.

Members and guests from Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, 32 in total, got together on a sunny Tuesday in July at Long Sutton Golf Club for a very convivial lunch. The Golf Club excelled itself with an excellent fiery curry, with all the trimmings, and a delicious pavlova for pudding. Books and cards were for sale, along with some donated pictures. A member donated a wonderful patchwork quilt, with an African theme, and a silent auction raised a significant sum for Benevolent. As the photos show, a very jolly time was had by all the rafikis.

52 members enjoyed a Spring day for the Spring Lunch and AGM at the Victory Services Club. It was a lively crowd, catching up with rafikis and making new ones. The VSC laid on an excellent curry lunch, with all the trimmings, and we then heard from our member, Bettie Morton, MBE, about her journey from the Pokot Valley in Kenya, to Buckingham Palace to receive her award. It was a fascinating talk, about the women who had most influenced Bettie’s live and the importance of education for girls in Kenya.

A selection of photos are below:

Our Northern Lunch at the Tempest Arms, Elslack, near Skipton was attended by 23 members and guests. An excellent curry was enjoyed by all, followed by delicious mango ice cream. We had a very successful raffle which raised £162 for our Benevolent Fund. Sadly Jenni Mayer, our hardworking organiser, missed this year for the first time in over 25 years but she will be back next year.

There was a joyful reunion between three members and two guests, who had all been in Mombasa together in the early 2000s.

Our Hampshire Lunch was well attended with 30 members and guests enjoying a delicious curry cooked by our member Luise in the familiar setting of Burley Village Hall in the New Forest. The bar and bring and buy were well patronised and we held a successful raffle for our benevolent fund. Much chat among the rafikis!

The Refectory at Guildford Cathedral was full of colour on a glorious day for our Summer Lunch which incorporates the Surrey/West Sussex area lunch. Nearly 50 friends old and new joined us for the usual tasty curry. Marion Munge brought her colourful collection of kikapus, kikois and jewellery for sale; there were lots of second hand books and cards available; and a table full of excellent raffle prizes. Kevin Patience brought along an interesting First World War model train We raised a substantial sum for our Benevolent Fund, and had a lovely day doing so.

Long Sutton Golf Club was again the venue for our Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire Lunch and 34 rafikis gathered to enjoy a first class curry. For the first year in ages, our previous organiser, Morag Owen-Burke, could not join us as she has moved to be near her daughter in Cornwall. Much missed, but those who came enjoyed an excellent curry, a raffle, book and plant sales, and many memories of days gone by in East Africa.

We had a very enjoyable lunch at an excellent curry restaurant in Kidlington. Ovisher looked after us very well and although few in number, like all rafikis, we were full of chatter and memories of Kenya.