MMA annual celebrations 2009
The event was celebrated on 10th, 11th and 12th July 2009 at Barcelo Daventry Hotel, Daventry. Members of the association and guests from all over the UK participated in the celebrations and promoted social and cultural unity of Kerala. On each day, there was Continued Medical Education(CME)and on Saturday the 11th there was sports and the AGM with election of new office bearers and entertainment.
On Friday evening by 7 pm members started arriving at the Daventry Hotel, looking forward to celebrating the event. There was a CME programme for one hour presented by Dr. Job Syriac, consultant paediatrician. The topic was “Child Protection” which was very informative for general practice. This was followed by a traditional English dinner.
On the day of the main celebration, committee members in charge of sports, checked the lawn of the hotel, where sports was conducted in the previous years. As the pitch was water logged, and there was drizzling, it was decided to conduct the sports indoors. Dr.Ramakrishnan took the mega phone as he did last year and started motivating children and adults to participate in the games. Although the area was not great, the indoor pitch had a wooden floor, ideal for running around. Dr.Paulson thinking on his feet came up with a list of items, which could be held indoors. The first one was coin picking, the next was lemon and spoon race and the last was musical chairs. Children of different age groups, women and men participated in these events. Everyone was disappointed that ‘tug of war’, normally the most popular event, did not go ahead. All winners were garlanded with medals.
Authentic Keralite food to match the celebration of Malayalees was served for lunch. Some of the members went to their rooms to relax, but others remained in the foyer, sharing old memories. Later, Dr.Shailesh consultant endocrinologist presented the subject ‘diabetes’. He covered the subject superbly to enable GPs to refresh their understanding of the subject.
The next item in the agenda was the Annual General Meeting and election of office bearers. Tea and snacks were served as usual, and everyone queued up to enter the main hall. The secretary, Dr. Paul Peter, welcomed the audience, and kept them entertained by interacting with them. The cultural programme started with a well-choreographed classical dance by two budding stars. After a short wait, the artists from Kerala took control of the entertainment. By all standards their programme was a feast for the mind, eyes and ears. Mr. Tini Tom introduced Jyotsna, Marcose, Mamukoya, Saju Kodiyan, Hari Sree Yusuf, Ayapa Biju and Subi. Marcose and Jyotsna sang such melodious songs, so as to bring many audiences to the dance floor to dance to the tune of their songs. The talents of Saju Kodiyan, Tini Tom, Mamookoya, Ayapa Biju and Subi unleashed peels of laughter through their enacting of current issues in Kerala. The applause from the audience was loud. The ambience in the hall was exciting, while the standard of service of dinner was excellent. The members and their guests enjoyed a lavish and delicious dinner. Everyone agreed that this year’s entertainment was a unique blend of melodious songs and fireworks of humour. Unlike previous years, the delivery of the well-rehearsed talented performance was uninterrupted, and did not test the patience of the audience. By half past ten, all the artists had left and there was disco music, which entertained the audience till midnight.
It was time to bid farewell to each other on Sunday the 12th July 2009. Everyone assembled on the foyer of the hotel, after finishing the breakfast and started evaluating this years’ event. Humming a few lines of the songs and repeating a few key words of the comedy act of the previous day were audible in the foyer. Mr. Raju Abraham, consultant urologist presented a topic on urology as a part of the CME in the downstairs conference hall, which was very informative to the general practitioners. With this, the annual event was concluded and every one left the hotel premises for their destinations.
Dr.C.J.George FRCS
Public Relations Secretary