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G.H.A. Events 2013


2013 THANKSGIVING DINNER


Guest speaker at the Association’s 2013 Thanksgiving Dinner was Mr Patrick Sibille, Managing Director of the oil service company, Frank’s International Ltd. who have their U.S. headquarters in Houston and their European HQ in Aberdeen.


Louisiana-born Mr Sibille, who been based in Aberdeen for more than 20 years outlined the history of Thanksgiving in the U.S. with reference to proclamations by American Presidents starting with George Washington.


Grampian-Houston Chairman Councillor Ron McKail presided at the dinner held at the Royal Northern & University Club in Aberdeen with a traditional Thanksgiving menu of pumpkin soup, roast turkey and all the trimming, and warm pecan pie with ice cream.


Immediate Past Chairman Councillor John Reynolds, Depute Provost of Aberdeen, gave a vote of thanks and presented Mr Sibille with a bottle of malt whisky.


Pictured here (left to right) John Reynolds, Helen Reynolds, Pat Sibille, Mrs McKail, Ron McKail. Some of the other guests who attended the dinner are also pictured. (Photos by Ian McLeod).




















Jazz Lunch


Forty years after the first trade delegation from North-east Scotland flew to Texas in search of oil-related business there is still mileage in the special relationship between Houston and Grampian Region.  


This was the message delivered by Aberdeenshire Councillor Ron McKail, Vice-Chairman of the Grampian-Houston Association at the Association’s annual Jazz Lunch at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, Aberdeen, on 3 February,2013.  


Business exchanges between the two oil-related areas were now a daily occurrence but there remained scope for extending business links.


Councillor McKail said this illustrated by an Aberdeen-Houston Gateway event to be staged in March linking a business breakfast at the Hotel Granduca, Houston, by video to a business lunch at the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen. There would be a panel of speakers from the energy industry at both locations.


A company of 112, including Burgess of Guild of the City of Aberdeen, attended the Jazz Lunch.  Councillor McKail (right) is pictured here with Aberdeen Lord Provost George Adam who said grace.  Music was supplied by the Athol Smith Jazzmen.


Some of the guests are pictured below (photographs by Ian McLeod):