Ninety-two friends turned out to wish Pattaya gay-community leader Archie Dunlop a happy 92nd birthday.
The Oct. 6 party at the Baan Souy Resort on Pratamnak Hill kicked off with welcoming drinks and a welcome from hotel general manager Jim Lumsden.
Dunlop greeted each of this friends, colleagues and acquaintances and posed for a group photo with bar staff from Funny Boys.
Tents were set up around the pool in case of rain, covering the dining tables that were set to accommodate the 92 guests. The anthem of Dunlop’s native Scotland was played, followed by a stage presentation from the cross-dressing Lumsden and Richard Taylor.
Archie Dunlop (center left) celebrates his 92nd birthday at the Baan Souy Resort with General Manager Jim Lumsden (center right), and a total of 92 guests.
Taylor, the emcee, sang some of his favorite oldies to entertain the guests before Lumsden camped it up in a cabaret show.
About an hour later, Dunlop made his way to the stage to cut the cake and he offered a short speech to thank everyone for attending.
The night continued with entertainment, including the Dolly Sisters, two older drag queens who got the crowd rolling, and more cabaret shows performed by Lumsden.
Dunlop was born in Carstairs, Lanarkshire on Sept. 22, 1922. He was educated at Lanark Higher Grade School and later worked as an apprentice builder at Carstairs Criminal Lunatic Asylum. At age 17 he volunteered for the Royal Air Force and was posted to Malta in 1940.
In 1962 he left the service to help manage the Zambezi Club in Earls Court, London. He then purchased the Apollo Club in and the Escort Club in Plimico.
More than 40 years ago he arrived in Pattaya and has visited several times a year, which he has always stayed at the Royal Cliff Hotels. He still continues to travel all over the world and has contributed to many charities, including large amounts of support to Pattaya’s gay community.
