Goan healthcare staff at Swindon offer aid to Clergy Homes in Goa

LONDON

Goan staff at the Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon organised their 5th Valentine's Nite community event on February 8 in aid of Clergy Homes based in Porvorim (North Goa) and Margao (South Goa). 

People from different parts of Wiltshire, Bristol, Reading, Winchester and Southampton travelled to have a great night out with families and friends. 

The annual celebration consisted of a Eucharistic Mass at 3 pm at Holy Rood Church in Swindon followed by a dance and dine event at Punjabi Community Centre. Last year, the chosen charity was Pilar Fathers.

Fr Mark Furtado SFX was the main celebrant at the Eucharistic celebration. Ubaldina Dias played a significant role in making arrangements for the annual Mass offered by the Goan healthcare employees.

The Core Organising Team comprising Heitor Fernandes, Nevin D'Sousa and Bosco Fernandes worked laboriously to organise the event.

SOCIAL GATHERING

Families of the hospital's Goan workers along with their friends and well-wishers attended the dance event in the evening. UK's top Goan band ‘Shades’ was in attendance and put up an exciting show along with saxophone player Linus Li Fahrenheit, who performed some rhythmic and melodious numbers to entertain the audience. 

MC Albano Lourenco hosted the dance event, engaging both the adults and children and conducted vibrant games especially for the children. There were various spot prizes including the lucky entrance ticket prize. 

The attendees, both grown-ups and kids, wore glamorous outfits to match the occasion. Many couples wore red, the colour of love and celebration in the spirit of Valentine's Day. 

The venue was decorated by Jasdeco - Anabelle Pegado and John Soares. There was a special Valentine's Day glowing and romantic backdrop, which proved to be quite popular as scores of people were making a rush to take memorable photographs, selfies and shooting exciting 'reels' for their social media profiles!

Remedios Rodrigues and Jonas Braganza won the first and second prizes for the 'Bombing The City' game and their prizes were handed over by RJ Bihula Vaz, Creative Director at Awaaz 99.8 FM's Konkani Uloi London Fuloi Konkani radio show and RJ Roque Vaz, General Secretary of Golden Goa Association, Southampton, respectively. 

Child participant Callida Rodrigues won a special 'Red Dress' spot prize and Shemaya Pereira was selected as the best dancing child. 

RJ Roque Vaz gave a short speech in Konkani giving due credit to the organisers, welcoming the patrons, congratulating the organisers and encouraging a spirit of Goenkarponn and the promotion of Goa's culture along with a desire to raise funds for charitable causes in Goa.

Ubaldina Dias said the 'Grace Before Meal' prayer in Konkani. There was an authentic Goan buffet with popular vegetarian and non-veg dishes home-cooked and sponsored by several generous donors. 

For the Raffle Draw, the host invited Rosendo Pereira and John Barreto, Chairman and Vice-President of Goan Swindon Association, respectively; popular personality Francis Araujo and RJ Roque Vaz to officially pick out the lucky winners.

Sonia Rebello, Sarita D'Sousa, Annie Fernandes, Martina Rodrigues, Ida Barbosa, Fermina Rodrigues, Jorge Dias, Perpetua Cunha, Clifford Rodrigues, Netty Araujo, Josephine Pereira and all-rounder Monty helped in the event ticket and Raffle sale. 

The bar was handled by Newton Rodrigues and Marcos D'Sousa and the sale of bar coupons was undertaken by Jorge Dias and Edwin Nunes. Security services were provided by Julio and Caitano.

Heitor Fernandes, one of the organisers, said, “The main reason for organising this annual event is to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contribution of the Goan healthcare workers in Swindon, bringing them together along with their families and friends under one roof in a community spirit of celebration, and to help deserving charities in Goa. We have already chosen 14 February 2026 as the date for our next annual event.”