Our offices follow local customs when taking holidays during the Christmas and New Year holiday period but maintain a roster of duty contacts throughout that time. The London office will close at 1300 GMT on both the 24thand 31st December. Duty executives for the various area groups and local offices are listed in the Emergency & AOH Contacts page.

This information is updated to ensure it is current throughout the holiday period.

The latest edition of HiLights has been published just in time for Christmas and can be found in the Publications section of this website.

This latest edition covers the recent Club functions in Athens including the principals' dinner, our colleagues participation in the Athens Marathon and the UK Defence Club seminar. On a more serious note, a summary of advice in respect of Iran sanctions is a main feature of this newsletter.

May we wish all our Members and friends a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2011. As always our best wishes and thoughts are particularly with the crews who keep watch on board ships at sea through this time.

We hope you will have the opportunity for a well-earned holiday at the end of a challenging year.

In place of Christmas cards the Club is making a donation to maritime charities this year.