Chiltern American Women's Club is 21

Mrs Fortier said: "Each year we vote for a different charity because we try to give back to the community and be good ambassadors in the area," .
Mrs Fortier, who is Canadian, lives in Beaconsfield with one of her two children (the other is at University in Canada) and her American husband, who works in the London office of a mining company. Recently elected as chairwoman she said the club is invaluable in helping women adapt to life in the UK.
"You tend to relate to people who share your experience. You can't find what you want in the supermarket, you don't know how to get your BT connection and people in England appreciate their privacy," she said.
Mrs Fortier said that the club's members, who originate mainly from the USA and Canada, but also from Australia, South Africa and Japan, adore the British public transport and heritage.
"People love the fact that there's history around every corner," she said.
Members can join as many as 20 different activities, including hiking, a book club and games evenings and most welcome the induction course in surviving life in the UK.
"Having two years in a different country is a fantastic opportunity, but because we are here temporarily, it takes longer for relationships to develop and break in. At the beginning it can be very isolating," said Mrs Fortier.
For information on the Chiltern American Women's Club, visit www.cawc.co.uk.