Summer 2000

On the 18th June 1979, the Wellington Society was officially founded in the Joseph Bonaparte restaurant in Madrid. On Sunday 18th June 2000, the Society's 21st anniversary was celebrated in one of our favourite restaurants in Madrid, Gran Meson Sixto, situated in the Calle Cervantes (so named as Spain's great writer Cervantes lived and died in a house here).Twenty-eight were present for a lunch of Serrano cured ham, Manchego cheese,wild boar pate, mixed salads, roast lamb, ice-cream cake, sherry (La Ina), chilled white wines & Reserve Faustino 94 red wines. After the speeches members tucked into English Stilton and Reserve Port wines.

During his moving speech, our dear Treasurer, Don Damaso Alverez Monteagudo asked whether the Chairman could have a quiet word with our President, His Grace the 8th Duke of Wellington, and see if the paintings given to the First Duke and since 1812 housed in Apsley House Wellington Museum, London, could be returned to their rightful owners - namely Spain!

Our Chairman, Stephen Drake-Jones, assured the Treasurer and our Spanish members present that the 12 paintings referred to, given by the Council of Segovia to Lord Wellington in August 1812 was received with warm thanks by His Lordship and will forever remain at Number One London (Apsley House Museum) for all to see on opening hours. Our Chairman also again thanked the Spaniards for their wonderful art gift to the British nation!

A booklet/monograph titled

HANDY HINTS FOR WELLINGTONIAN TRAVELERS

will be published and available to all Wellington Society members as from the end of October. It is not a guide book but helpful notes for our travelers in Spain. Under the subtitle

THE CHAIRMAN KNOWS BEST!

we map out your own walks through Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Seville, Chinchon Aranjuez etc. Also we have a list of the places where you can enjoy the very best Tortilla, Patatas Bravas & Rabo de Toro. We add some interesting 'Off the beaten track' sites, also a comprehensive list of Spanish wines & sherries which we highly recommend.

Members wishing to have this invaluable travelling book please email the Chairman at sdrake_jones@hotmail.com

WELLINGTON SOCIETY HELP LINE NOW OPEN!

Our Members who are enjoying their holiday tour through Spain can now call the Chairman on 609143203 from 9am to 11pm, 7 days a week, if they need help with the language, lost property, hotel problems, where to eat or simply just to chat in English!

BACK IN THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS AGAIN!

The prestigious LONDON STANDARD MAGAZINE flew two photographers over to Madrid on August 21st to spend a whole day taking photos of our Chairman (those who know him will be sure he enjoyed every minute posing for the cameras!!). The accompanying article sponsored by the Spanish brewers SAN MIGUEL will be published in a forth coming LONDON STANDARD MAGAZINE. We hope to download the interview and photos soon but members who would like their very own copy should send their address to the Chairman.

And finally a very special thank you to our new members who have enjoyed our walks through Old Madrid and our day excursions. Also to our new LIFE MEMBERS (young and old!). We have been privileged to bring the joys of history to many school groups including the 40 odd from Atlanta, Georgia and Gravesend Catholic School, London. Our VIPs included the British Secretary of State for Scotland, visiting MPs from the House of Commons, London, naval officers from the USA, a Duke and Duchess and even a Baroness...we thank you one and all.

email:Chairman@Wellsoc.org