Susan Evans reaped the rewards of her excellent Charity Golf Day on 26th October by sharing it with some lovely lads from Brive Rugby Club. Click the image (left) to read her memories of the occasion, and view the photo gallery (right) for more images.

Though many thought the day would never come, Brive Airport opened to commercial traffic with its first flight from Paris on 15th June. Chris von Koettlitz was on hand to represent SGCC and greet inaugural passengers (and pilots, and firemen...) along with the Harringtons from Lodge 91 who provided the photos.

Daily Airlinair flights from Paris year round are supplemented by summer weekend flights from London on CityJet. Find out more on the Brive Airport website. CityJet also operates several flights a day to Paris Orly with onward Airlinair connections to Brive.

Having welcomed visiting dignitaries to Brive, Chris got the VIP treatment herself on the first flight to London on 25th June. She reports: "Flight was very agreeable and about 80% full. Arriving into London along the Thames on a bright day is a real privilege! Connections from London City Airport (Dockland Light Railway, Jubilee Line, Rail from London Bridge) to Sussex is very efficient – better than going from Gatwick, which is nearer our final destination. Drinks and a sandwich were included in the price – best sandwich we’ve had on a flight for a long time. And of course, golfers can take their golf bag for free."

Click the gallery for photos (it's slow, but there's only 5 pics - and you can move them around).

Speaking of VIPs, Ludo Hanks was among 400 guests invited to the official inauguration (how many synonyms of "opening" are there?) by France's Minister of Transport, Dominique Bussereau. Click to enlarge the images of Ludo accompanying Jean Claude Laval, Mayor of Souillac and Jean Launay, MP for the National Assembly.

What are they smiling at? The two ladies smiling back are Martine Bouchet of the Lot Tourist Board and Chantal Lacassagne, director of the Souillac-Rocamadour tourist office.

On a glorious day in warm autumn sunshine the team of Chairman Graham Searle and his carefully chosen partner Robin Martinazzo beat 74 other golfers to win the 2008 Reyrevignes benefit golf tournament which raised 2,600 € to continue the restoration of the local church at Reyrevignes.

Special thanks to the greenkeepers who had the course in beautiful condition despite the worst efforts of the wild boar; and to the ladies who provided tea, cakes, sympathy - and whisky - at the 11th tee. And gold stars to whomever made two buggies available for climbing the 12th.

Other winners include:
2nd Philip Corps & Arnaud Languillier
3rd Daniel Martinazzo & Patrick Podevins
4th James Shanks & David Bowerman
5th Keith Hayhurst and Anthony Mitchell
Nearest the pin: Men: Alistair Jack - Women: Jane Cowie
Longest drive: Philippe Clement

150 golfers and community members including past and present mayors of La Chapelle-Auzac, and the church's priest enjoyed the sounds of Jazzpot at the prizegiving reception, with many staying for a delicious buffet dinner (many more than anticipated, actually! - but thanks to the SGCC staff no one went hungry).