PUBLISHED BY THEOWNERS CLUBHOUSE S.L

EDITION 43

1st JANUARY, 2018

O N - L I N E N E W S L E T T E R

IN THIS MONTH'S PACKED ISSSUE

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE - CAROL SERVICE MEMORIES - CHRISTMAS LUNCH, 2017 NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY, 2017 - EVENTS, 2018 - CLUBHOUSE FRIENDS, CLAIR & ANNE SEXTON

NEW CLUBHOUSE SPONSORS FOR 2018 - SPONSOR OF THE MONTH, CAIXABANK

Dear Fellow Owners,.

2017 was a roller coaster year, with lots going on in and around the resort, the new road, the infamous Las Lomas ?hole? and much more..

At the Clubhouse there were many highlights, but perhaps the Halloween Night Party was the stand-out event, with fantastic live music from Jenna McNeil and Dave Lee and a host of great costumes, ranging from quirky, to funny, to the outright bizarre!

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Last month's Carol Service was, as always, well supported and reminded us of the true purpose of Christmas, which in the highly commercialised times we live in sometimes gets lost..

Both the Christmas Lunch and New Year?s Eve Party were sell-outs and those

lucky enough to get reservations enjoyed sampling Joaquin?s superb food, plus the return of Gina Louise to help bring in the New Year.

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Over the last three years your committee has put a huge amount of work into developing positive relationships with our commercial sponsors and as the new year starts I would like to welcome on-board three new sponsor partners for 2018. They are Infinity International, La Manga Club S.L. and Pennick Blackwell, who operate in the currency exchange, leisure and financial services sectors respectively. We look forward to working with them and our existing sponsors, CaixaBank, Finca Torrecillas, Interlaw, Marena Murray, Quality Homes, Ross Motor, The Great Golf Company, as the year progresses. Please make them all feel very welcome.

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In the meantime, my best wishes for a prosperous, peaceful and happy 2018. Please be assured that we will continue working hard to make the Owners Clubhouse the destination of choice for all La Manga Club Owners.

Stewart HarrisChairman, Owners Clubhouse

The annual Carol Service in the Owners Clubhouse has become a traditional annual event, organised by the Las Lomas multi-denominational church, and in cooperation with and assisted by Gill Schofield, the Clubhouse events manager.

Always popular, this year Father Andrew Rae welcomed all comers who outnumbered available seats. These were arranged around the makeshift altar and more informally around the sparkling Christmas trees, and fireplace where in true traditional fashion the nativity scene nestled.

Warm, welcoming and homely were descriptions heard, as the ambience was appreciated by an excellent turn out of around a hundred Owners and visitors.

Once In Royal David's City rang out, before Stewart Harris the

Clubhouse Chairman, following his successful debut at the Remembrance Service, read the first lesson ? Christ?s birth, foretold by Isiah.

Silent Night, a second lesson read by Kings College student Megan Wood, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem and a third lesson read by Anna James followed, and convinced everyone that a warm Clubhouse was the place to be on a dark, chilly December evening.

The Carols continued, the first hesitant notes becoming lusty songs of praise and joy, as the greatly-loved, well known traditional service continued, Finally, Father Andrew reminded us all, once again how very fortunate we are, in this beautiful place, to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas together with our friends and family.

Our thanks also go to Hugh James and also to Sherie Fellowes, Head of Music, Kings College, for her help and skill on the organ.

O Come All Ye Faithful completed the musical offerings for the evening and was followed by a smiling Joaquin bearing plates loaded with mince pies. Jugs of delicious mulled wine were also placed on the bar to complete his 'help yourself' contribution to the start of the festive season.

Thanks to all staff, helpers and kitchen boys and girls, and of course those who attended.

FRIDAY, 15th NOVEMBER - CAROL SERVICE

The annual Christmas lunch is a fixture on the Clubhouse calender and one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year. Reservations are at a premium and sadly we have to disappoint many people, as capacity is limited to 120 diners.

Nonetheless, those lucky enough to get reservations arrived on the day to find the Clubhouse beautifully decorated for the festive season. Our thanks for this

go Gill Schofield and her team of little elves, namely Barbara Leatherbarrow, John and Dot Avery, Bob and Mary Barham, Paul, Adi and Henry Graham, and Roy and Marian Gardener.

As ever, Joaquin and his staff pulled out all the stops and served a fabulous Christmas lunch with all the trimmings, though after many years they still remain mystified by the fascination of the British with Brussel sprouts!

Much to the delight of the many children who came with their parents, Father Christmas parked his sled on the roof and

squeezed down the fireplace chimney, though it really was a tight fit due to the many mince pies he'd been eating over night.

At the end of the lunch Stewart Harris, the Clubhouse Chairman, insisted that both Joaquin's front and back of house staff took a bow, and everyone thanked them for their great food, hard work and sense of humour!

25th DECEMBER, 2017, CHRISTMAS LUNCH

25th DECEMBER, 2017, CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Like the Clubhouse Christmas lunch there is always huge demand for New Year's Eve Party reservations. Not least because of the superb value that the event offers LMC owners. What other restaurant on the resort serves a fabulous five course gourmet lunch and fine wines, and then follows this with live music - all for under 100? per person?

For this reason, on the night the spectacular black and white themed Clubhouse was packed with 120 excited revellers.

Everyone soon got in the party mood, as they enjoyed the good food and wine, the highlight of which was a spectacular flaming Baked Alaska served by Joaquin.

Rightly, Joaquin's boys and girls took their second well-earned standing ovation of the week, as owners showed their appreciation of their culinary talents and endless hard work.

31st DECEMBER, 2017, NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY

Finally, after a short break, Gina Louise kicked off the live music with Tina Turner's Proud Mary classic and within minutes the dance floor was full. Not unsurprisingly how it remained until the New Year was seen in at midnight.

31st DECEMBER, 2017, NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY

Events Manager Gill Schofield and mine host Joaquin have combined to start off 2018 with two great, must see events.

The first, a diary date for all romantics, is a candlelit Valentine's Night Supper on Wednesday, 14th February, with themed food and wine, followed by Jenna McNeil singing a selection of beautiful, well known love songs!

The second event sees the return of Mel & Friends, with his 'It's All About The Music Evening' on Saturday, 24th February, which will see a return to the much liked format of professional and amateur talent. As ever there will be some surprises. Will Gill Schofield appear as Dolly Parton, Tudor Gregory as Boy George, or Stewart Harris as Michael Bolton? The only way to find out is to make a reservation and come along on the night. Don't delay places are going fast!

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There's much more!, including workshops, seminars, DayBreaks and possibly even Staybreaks.

Slimming and Health Group: The group will now follow Pilates on Mondays at 5:00pm. Come along on the 15th January and start to get rid of some of that excess Christmas weight!

Clubhouse Choir: The idea is to revive the popular International Ladies choir format, under the direction of Jean Harrison and classical soprano Mary B. The Clubhouse Choir will perform Christmas carols and the like next December. Anyone who's interested, women, or men, should contact Gill Schofield on > gillianschofield@me.com

TWO GREAT EVENTS TO START 2018 ON A HIGH

First property at La Manga Club: Bought in Bellaluz in 1985, and then bought a stake in the ground in El Rancho.

Attracted by an advert from European Ferries, of which I was a shareholder. Then the place and Founder Memberships were irresistible.

First time at the Owners Clubhouse: First visited when it was very new. It was run by a friend, Margarete Hellings.

For a while, we used it a lot. Now it is different, in that it is more professional, with a vast calendar of activities and a great menu.

Favourite dishes: Anne loves the venison, I like the lamb.

Inside, or out: Terrace in the summer. The Pavilion seems different and not so welcoming.

Favourite member of staff: Joaquin, always has a smile.

Preferred tipple: Brandy and ginger ale for both of us.

Favourite Event: Best events for us are the singer, plus dinner nights and the Bridge on Wednesday evenings.

Standing at the bar, or seated: Prefer sitting.

Best memories: Been here so long, so many wonderful memories. Back in the old days with Limoges china and Michael Skerrit. In modern times, last Valentine's Day.

Clair proposed to Anne here at La Manga Club, and this example was later followed by two of our children. So the Club has very romantic memories for our family.

"When we first arrived golf was everything. We were

both retired and had recently given up our successful tennis lives to concentrate on golf, and set out to enjoy it to the full. Anne certainly enjoyed one round on the South with a 76 gross!! We met many wonderful, interesting people playing on the three challenging courses, and for us, the people we meet give the most satisfying experiences.

As time passed and golf became more of a physical challenge, we switched sports. We sold everything golf and bought everything bowls.

We enjoyed this game more and more and became more and increasingly involved with the La Manga Bowling Club. We now spend the 'winter' here playing this wonderful competitive game and hold the positions of Secretary and Social Secretary to a thriving happy club.

Bridge also features prominently in our lives. We used to play in Cartagena at a Spanish bridge club, and I still teach a bit.

Hopefully this can all continue for many more years allowing us to eat many more delicious meals in the Owners Clubhouse.?

CLUBHOUSE FRIENDS CLAIR & ANNE SEXTON

David Evans: Infiniti International - ?Having lived in Spain and worked in the financial services industry here since 2002, I can certainly say that the June 2016 BREXIT vote made the future a little more uncertain than usual for us Expats living in Spain.

One of the main knock-on effects of this period of uncertainty is the effect on the sterling exchange rate. Whilst good news for those transferring funds back to the UK, for those of us selling sterling, it is vital to obtain advice on timing in order to achieve the best rate.

We at Infinity International specialise in currency transfers and the team and I have a wealth of experience and we are here to assist with both regular

transfers or for those one off larger transactions.

We also offer a range of ways to transact your currency transfer. For those who are experienced and wish to take control of their payments we offer a simple on line facility that allows them to book their trade and add the beneficiary to whom they wish funds to be paid. For those less experienced, or who wish to take more control, an account manager will be appointed who will assist and guide them through the transfer.

We pride ourselves on the personal interaction we have with our clients, which is why sponsoring the Owners Clubhouse seemed a natural fit, as it will allow us to talk with LMC owners on a one to one basis.

I look forward to meeting some of you at the upcoming seminar taking place early in the New Year, where you can learn more about how we can save you time and money. Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2018 from the team at Infinity International.?

Brendan Dwyer: La Manga Club S. L.- ?For me La Manga Club has always been a home from home. I started my career with Hyatt at the resort towards the end of 2000 and reached the post of Regional VP, EAME Global Sales in 2014.

"When I returned to the resort in September 2015, I was given the challenge of re-positioning the resort during the unsettled period, which followed the 2007 'financial crisis'. Since then we have achieved above industry growth levels, which is a testament to the hard work of my Sales & Marketing team.

We have decided to sponsor the 'Owners Clubhouse?, so as to show

our commitment to the resort in general and to LMC owners specifically, upon whom we depend for support across our various offerings in the hotel, golf and Spa, plus our food and beverage outlets. I believe in the importance of this commitment, a key feature of which is regular communication. This aims to update all owners, resident and non-resident, regarding our various promotions, and also our achievements in promoting La Manga Club in the wider market place. In this context, the ?Owners Clubhouse' is an important communication channel which will help us achieve this aim, whilst at the same time demonstrating our appreciation of LMC owners business and support throughout the year. We look forward to a successful partnership in 2018.?

Phillip Pennick: Managing Director of Pennick Blackwell. "I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my team to those whom we have not yet met over the last few months. It is my great pleasure to follow up our involvement with the 2017 Owners Championship? by offering our continued support with sponsorship of the Owners Clubhouse for the forthcoming year.

"I have over 15 years personal experience within the financial sector in Spain, originally gaining a CeMAP certificate in mortgage planning before spreading my wings within the industry, gaining qualifications in financial planning, as well as becoming a licensed insurance broker. My primary expertise is in pensions and investments. However, I strive to gain more personal knowledge and experience as often as I possibly can.

As a company Pennick Blackwell work very closely with a plethora of industry experts and specialists, which affords us the ability to provide our clients with the most accurate and up to date advice on all aspects of financial services and future financial planning. Pennick Blackwell?s company focus is heavily based on personal service, and understanding every individual?spersonal situation is at the forefront of our company ethos.

We hope our presence around the resort will be of some help to all of you over the coming months. Kristoffer Taft (my right hand man) and I, along with the rest of the Pennick Blackwell team, look forward to seeing you all very soon.

I hope that 2018 has teed off for you in great fashion and wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year!!"

Our other valued and continuing sponsors are, CaixaBank, Interlaw, Marena Murray, Finca Torrecillas, Quality Homes, Ross Motor and The Great Golf Company.

NEW CLUBHOUSE SPONSORS FOR 2018

CAIXABANK - SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

C L U B H O U S E S P O N S O R S

C L U B H O U S E S P O N S O R S

C L U B H O U S E S P O N S O R S

BECOME A SPONSOR OF THE

OWNERS CLUBHOUSE

EMAILpeter.morrow138@icloud.com

Tel: + 34 636 906 671