Dear fellow CADS

After last month’s erudite and bittersweet recollections by Maarten Frankenhuis of Artis in WWII, and his relationship with our founder Gerard Metzelaar, we have been busy in November.

Last Friday, Judge Greenwood entertained 18 of us at the Peace Palace, where we enjoyed a tour of the Palace and an introduction to the ICJ, a brief tour of the gardens, and lunch in their Refectory. We learned more about the Carnegie Foundation, and finished the tour after lunch with a visit to the ICJ library.

The November lunch will be longer than usual, incorporating a reception for our new UK ambassador His Excellency Sir Geoffrey Adams KCMG. This will be held in the lobby bar and starts at 1200 promptly. There will be a cash bar, and then we will go through to lunch at 1245. Sir Geoffrey has an intriguing history, having in turn been the UK Consul General to Jerusalem, the UK ambassador to Iran, the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, and the Director General Political of the UKFCO before coming to The Netherlands with his wife and young family.

After lunch we will be addressed by Professor Hugo Heymans, recently retired from the Emma Kinderziekenhuis. This hospital is one of the leading medical centres in The Netherlands, and Prof Heymans has been its enthusiastic leader for many years. The hospital has recently moved to a new site, and the old one in Sarphatistraat is being turned into a luxurious new hotel which will open in 2015. Hope we have some money left by then so we can go and stay there!

30th November at 1100 there will be a reenactment of the landing of King Willem at Scheveningen beach to reclaim the Dutch throne 200 years ago. As many CADS will know, he was rowed ashore by British Marines from a British Navy frigate HMS Warrior. Come along and see if you can spot the differences!  The Hague has lots of events planned for the day. Come along and enjoy!

7th December 1900hrs is the Christmas Ball. There are a few tickets left, but do book immediately. There are lots of CADS members attending, and I will be your host for the evening. Great food and wine, lots of prizes, and some great entertainment is arranged.