On December 27, members of the Pattaya Archery Club organized a Christmas trip to Pattaya Water Park for 41 orphaned children, plus teachers and caregivers from Pattaya Orphanage.
After stepping from their coach the children rushed to the ticket office and, as one, sat down on the ground, train style, waiting for the whistle to blow.
Tiew, the Casey Jones of the grounded orphan train, in liaison with Pattaya Archery Club chairman Mervyn Gillham, duly issued tickets to all and so we were all ready to go.
Time for a group photo.
The train rose up to become a string of expectant children, tickets in hand, ready for the off. K click, k click the turnstile sang as if the train passed down the line, but only as we hit the pool, left hand side, did children’s joy become so loud as to drown the existing half-clad crowd.
The smile says it all.
A hasty change to swimwear became a wave towards the pool as our youthful swarm of laughing splashers did what we did when we were young and threw themselves into the pool. The water slides quivered under the constant stream of orphans trying to break the sound barrier into the water and I also saw some of our French archery members bombing down the slides with just the same look of joy as the kids. Wonderful to behold such abandon and see the smiles on all.
After all of the fun and finally eating dinner at the poolside it was time for home and in a touching tribute everyone from the orphanage lined up with us for a photograph, whereby the children turned to face us as one and sang a beautiful Christmas carol as a thank you for the archers’ help and support.
I am sure I saw some archery club members eyes water at this point … or was it the spicy food we had just eaten? … Who knows?
The youthful swarm of laughing splashers do what kids do and throw themselves into the pool.
Pattaya Archery Club is proud to have made a small difference and help the children enjoy an absolutely splashing Christmas.
Pattaya Orphanage wrote on their website: http://www.thepattayaorphanage.org/ “The Pattaya Archery Club, led by Chairman Mervyn Gillham, and coordinated by Mr. Gilbert Pelissier, our volunteer, gave 34 school-aged kids of the Pattaya Orphanage a special treat by taking them out to the Pattaya Park this afternoon. Fourteen members of the Club, along with our supervising teachers and caretakers, made sure the children have lots of fun and food while keeping safe. Each child seems to have spent all the energy in the pool and at the giant sliders.
Nicolas and 3 new friends.
Please accept our sincere appreciation for your kind support. Wishing the Pattaya Archery Club, its members, and their family members great joy and prosperity each day of the New Year.”
Pattaya Archery Club shoots on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 10.00 a.m. and finishing at about noon or thereafter.
Anyone – Thai or farang, young or old, man or woman – is welcome to come along to the Pattaya Shooting Park in Hua Yai and find out what it is all about.
Beginners’ Coaching is held on a Tuesday and / or a Saturday. The coach’s services and the use of the club’s bows, arrows and other equipment are free for beginners, and so it costs nothing to see if this challenging sport is for you.
For more details visit Pattaya Archery Club’s website at www.pattayaarcheryclub.com, or telephone Eric, the club’s president, on 089 535 1193.
