2012

November 12th, 2012

An uninspiring November night in London was improved immeasurably by the annual ATS Reception at the Oriental Club on 12 November 2012.  This is always an auspicious autumn event that particularly highlights the success of Thai students studying in the UK.  The evening was enhanced by the presence of the new Thai Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Pasan Teparak, who had kindly taken time out to attend the occasion, even though he was on the way to greeting the Thai Prime Minister who was arriving in London on a formal visit.

This was HE Pasan Teparak’s first attendance at the Anglo-Thai Society and he pledged his support for the Society and its objectives. He pointed out that the Thai students studying in UK universities  today, who currently number over 1000,  would go on to take up important posts in Thailand and they, in their turn, would foster closer Anglo-Thai relations after their experience of living here.

The reception also marked the handing over of the Chairman’s baton from David Fall to Dr Orapin Dawson.  Quentin Quayle, formerly British Ambassador to Thailand, congratulated David Fall on the progress of ATS during his four-year tenure as Chairman.

Choosing which students would win the awards and the runners-up is always difficult and this was made even more so this year, when there was such a plethora of excellence.  The range of subjects and the breadth of knowledge are considerable.  The students, together with the titles of their topics, categories of award and sponsors are as follows:

Wanaruk Chaimayo won the Science award, which was sponsored by the Thai Embassy and presented by Khun Nontigorn Kanchanachitra, the Secretary General of the Office of the Civil Service Commission. The award was for his research entitled ‘Synthesis and High Pressure Structural Study of Bismuth Nanoparticles’ in the Physics & Astronomy department of the University of Edinburgh.   Kanchana  Sivalertporn was Highly Commended for her research entitled ‘Indirect excitons and strong light-matter coupling’ in the Physics & Astronomy department of Cardiff  University.

Kelwalin Dhanasarnsombut won the Medical Science award, which was sponsored by the OCS Group and presented by its Chairman, Peter Armitage.  The award was for her research entitled ‘Unstructured proteins of the malaria parasite: Plasmodium Falciparum as Vaccine Candidates’  in the department of  BioScience at the University of Edinburgh. Jayanant Iemsam-Arng was Highly Commended for  her research entitled  ‘Biocompatible Delivery System for Nucleic Acid Based Therapies’ in the department of Pharmacy  at University College, London.

Chinnapat Ponwisawas  won the Engineering award which was sponsored by Bangkok Bank and presented by Bernard Coe, President of and former Chairman of ATS.  The award was for his research entitled ‘Modelling and Prediction of Recrystallization in Single Crystal Superalloys’  in the department of Engineering  at the University of Birmingham. Khoonsake Segkhoonthod was Highly Commended for his research entitled ‘Thin-film Detector System for Internal MRI’ in the department of  Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College, London.

Wimolporn Wainipee won the Environment award which was sponsored and presented by Khunying Narisa Chakrabongse. The award was for her research entitled ‘Arsenate absorption on mineral surfaces and effect of Temperature on its adsorption’ in the department of Geo-Chemistry  at  Imperial College, London.

Pairach Piboonrungroj won the Humanities and Social Science award, which was sponsored by the ThaiBev Group and presented by Quentin Quayle of ThaiBev International Group. The award was for his research entitled  ‘Logistic and System Chain  Management in the Tourism Industry of Thailand’ in the Cardiff Business School at Cardiff University. Passagorn Tavichapong was Highly Commended for his research entitled ‘Individual Spirit at Work and its Relationship with employee Work Attitude and Organisational Outcomes’ in the department of Management and  Humanities at Aston University.

Saturday, September 15th, 2012

When the sun shines all day in the Autumn, the British call it “an Indian Summer”.  When it blazed down throughout Saturday September 15th on the Anglo-Thai Society cruise, we renamed it “A Thai Summer”! Our Thames cruise, arranged in conjunction with the Tourist Association of Thailand, was to say farewell to H.E. Khun Kitti Wasinondh, our patron and Ambassador of Thailand to the Court of St. James, and his wife, Khun Nutchanart.

At noon, laughing and chattering in the bright sunlight, 160 members and guests of the two organisations boarded the 3-decker boat “Erasmus” at the Festival Hall pier in London. Guests included three previous British Ambassadors to Thailand – Justin Staples, Quintin Quayle and David Fall [currently Chairman of ATS], Ian Hughes [House of Commons], and a host of celebrities.  As guests embarked they received orchid corsages provided by Thai Airways and a welcome drink of Monsoon wine [which seemed to continue much of the afternoon!].  Thai puppets entertained and a splendid jazz band played for the people.  As H.E. Khun Kitti and David Fall rang the ship’s bell to signify the ‘off’, there was an added bonus: a procession of 300 small boats – canoes, curraghs, galleys, gigs, whalers, wherries and all – passed us going upstream in the Great River Race, 21 gruelling miles from Detford to Ham in quest of the Challenge Trophy of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames.  After a quick passage in front of the Houses of Parliament, we turned downstream towards Greenwich, listening to speeches of welcome and thanks.

As the afternoon progressed a comprehensive Thai buffet luncheon was served and the afternoon continued with prize draws – appropriately, Alan Taylor, Honorary Consul at the Thai Consulate in Hull, won the top prize of two tickets to Bangkok donated by TG, a two-night stay at Chakrabongse Villa donated by M.R. Narisa Chakrabongse and a dinner for two at Landmark Hotel Bangkok. The afternoon finished off with dancing to the excellent jazz band, led by H.E Kitti and Khun Nutchanart and joined by Orapin Dawson, principal organiser of this very successful afternoon, to whom all our thanks are due.

Monday June 11th, 2012

A 50^th anniversary is an auspicious event for the Anglo-Thai Society (the ATS), not least when it is held in the year of a Diamond Jubilee.  On Monday June 11^th, 2012 gathered together at a splendid dinner in the House of Lords, in a room overlooking the River Thames that would have been a perfect spot to see Queen Elizabeth II’s river pageant go by, the members of the Anglo-Thai Society celebrated their half century.

The 50^th anniversary dinner celebrated all of the Anglo-Thai Society’s achievements.  Current chairman David Fall thanked the many sponsors who had not only supported the dinner but ensured that each guest received an amazing ‘going home’ bag of Thai gifts, and H.E. Kitti Wasinondh who completes his time as Thai Ambassador to the UK shortly, gave a splendid speech.   Members and their guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner and were wonderfully entertained with traditional Thai music by the Thai Music Circle and Thai puppetry from the Thai Dance Academy.

In attendance were five former Ambassadors of Thailand to the UK including Sir James Hodge, Quinton Quayle, David Fall (Chair of the ATS), Justin Staples and Derek Tonkin as well as Kevin Thorne, former Chair of the ATS; Lord Geddes, Deputy Speaker of House of Lords and Patron of the ATS; and Bernard Coe, Honorary President ATS, former Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand and former Chairman of the ATS.

Thanks were given to the two main organisers of the dinner, Orapin Dawson and Charlotte Pinder.  The event warmed the hearts of all who attended, protecting them from the cold and damp of a wintery British June.

Saturday 12th May, 2012

18 members of ATS and their guests, led by Executive Committee member Dr. Mike Springate, enjoyed a day excursion to Taplow and Eton in May, celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubuilee and its historic connections with the Thai Royal Family. At historic Taplow Court, in addition to the memorabilia of King Chulalongkorn's celebrated visit in 1897 for the only other Diamond Jubilee in British history, we were guided round an extensive exhibition celebrating King Rama V's host, Lord Desborough "True Hero of the 1908 Olympic Games", with many unique items from its President's successful staging of the games in London. After a satisfying and incredibly inexpensive lunch in SGI-UK's restaurant, and time to explore the extensive gardens in the sunshine (!) the group were bussed down to Eton College, where King Prajatipok (Rama VII) studied and, after his abdication, returned to live with his old headmaster.  After an extensive guided tour of the College and its impressive chapel, including an inspection of the King's new portrait recently donated by the Thai Ambassador, the group ended its tour at the King of Siam's garden.  The garden is situated just in front of the college playing fields and is very well cultivated and full of flowering plants and shrubs. It is a fitting memorial to a notable monarch who epitomised the close bonds of friendship which link our two nations (and inspire this Society).  A very satisfying and inexpensive outing. MDMS