1

JUNE 2014

SOUTH COTSWOLDS NEWS

From our outgoing President Nigel:

This has to open with...... as my year ends, I look back......

We have done what we said we would; we have done more of what we do well; we have moved away from the large national charities to supporting Polio+ with RI, World Water Works through Chelwood Bridge Rotary and our own local individuals, groups and charities in the Malmesbury and Tetbury area. We get regular feedback from our international grants to OSOC.

In the last issue I listed some of our events and activities, where an increasing number of core members have been busy and mutually supportive.

It was with great pleasure that we hosted the rather unconventional President’s Night at home.

Thank you for your support, for that event and throughout the year.

From our incoming President Nigel:

It was not my intention to become President for two years let alone three. I have done it for continuity and to ensure the Club continues to thrive. It is going to be hard to follow Nigel in all that has been achieved this past year. Now we come to what I would like to achieve and propose for this coming year. Membership – I would like to see us increase the membership by at least 4 new members. I would like every member in the next 6 months to bring to our meetings one person who they think would make a good Rotarian and I am sure that at least 1 or 2 would join. It would be nice to have some younger members and also some ladies. I have invited 41 Club to join us and I ask Rotarians who sit by them to talk to them about joining. When we do get new members we have to ensure that we look after them. At the District Assembly it was suggested that we start Satellite Clubs. I am not in favour of this as we are only a small club and want members to join us. International – Our Chairman again this year is David Britten. OSOC Our Street Our Children is the charity, set up by David and his wife Jackie, to give shelter to street children in a town in Nepal. We have committed the Club to help fund the charity and we will continue to do so. Again at District Assembly, we were asked if we would contribute money to a project in Bulgaria for housing children in orphanages. As we are committed to the street children ,I feel this is a similar pro-ject, and I recommend that we continue to support Our Street Our Children. WWW – Worldwide Water Works at Chelwood Bridge. We have in the past supported this project and I am sure we will continue to do so. National – We have a number of dehumidifiers which have been used in Boston, Lincolnshire and are at present somewhere on the Somerset levels. Should these be needed elsewhere, then they will be sent. Peter Wyman has agreed to look after these items.

2

Local – Lewis Mundy. During the last year as you all know we have helped to raise money for the appeal for Lewis to have his operation and now hopefully get him walking, This was money raised at Leigh Delamare over Christmas which Moto have increased. We shall not abandon Lewis but monitor what his needs are, and help wherever possible. This is all thanks to our absent friend Gary. Luca Railton – This is a 10 year old lad from Rodbourne who was born with only one knee and part of the bones in his lower legs missing. Surgeons in this country were going to amputate both legs at the knee. He is now in America being fitted with a false knee and bones inserted into his legs. He will not be returning until September and the total cost will be £125,000. and as yet they have not been able to raise the full amount. Like Lewis he is going to need a lot of after care. If the Club agrees I will call and see the family on their return and this can be discussed at a later Business Meeting. Stuart Mynes - If you recall, we helped Richard and Lynn and gave them a TV and Skype Camera. Well, Stuart lives in Cowbridge Crescent and is in the same situation. He was outside The Rattlebone, Sherston, when he stepped backwards off the pavement, hit his head and has ended up in a wheelchair. They need some help which I hope we can discuss at a Business Meeting. Fireworks. We will continue to hold the fireworks at Sir William Romney’s School, Tetbury. Although a non profit-making venture sometimes a small profit is made. Anthony will continue to look after it. Community and Vocational. Our own Philip Selwood is the District Chairman and at the District Assembly there was great debate on this subject on how we promote Rotary within our Club area and how best to use the local media. I would like Philip to give us a talk and debate on this subject and this has been arranged for the 21st July. Polio - We have over the past year given £100 towards the eradication. At the District Assembly we had a talk by Peter Wells who had Polio. It was quite an eye-opening talk and I was not aware that we are at intermediate risk in this country. I would like Peter to come and give us his talk and afterwards we could discuss, and maybe increase our donation. Rotary Foundation – Last year we donated £1600 which is more than the $100 dollars per member so I recommend that we keep it the same. Youth - Young Musician. We have supported this over a number of years and will continue to do so. Doug Hughes will keep us informed of progress. Young Citizen. This was in conjunction with the Town Council and we shall have to explore what is happening this coming year. Young Photographer. We have not in the past participated in this. I have spoken to Chris Tuite and together we will be contacting Gerry Hooper at Marlborough who has taken on the role of organiser. Mock Interviews – Peter Sheppard is in contact with the local schools to make arrangements. Kids Out – This is something we participate in every year. We do not go with our own District but take the children to Longleat with District 1200. Fundraising Horseless Team Event This is our main fundraising and is taking place again this year on Sunday 5th October. We shall hear more about this from Nigel Gilhead as time goes on.

3

Christmas Sleigh. – I am hoping that we can continue to put out the sleigh again this year. We are fewer in numbers this year so I am hoping that everyone will make an effort and do one extra evening. Hopefully we will be able to collect on Christmas Eve at the Co-op Stores, but also this year we will have a Waitrose in Malmesbury. Last year we collected at Moto Services. Nigel and I saw Mark the other day and will speak to him later in the year. Hopefully Gary will be back with us by then. Collection Day. – Mark at Moto has also agreed for us to collect at Leigh Delamare for RCSC. He has suggested that we collect on Saturday 26th July when the schools in London have broken up for the holidays. Sponsored Slim – I have put my neck on the line and said that I will lose at least 14lbs in 2 months. Looking around there are some who could join me. I am hoping that people will sponsor a £1 a lb. This will start on Monday 8th September. Skittle Marathon – This will be 12 hours and the landlord at the Rose and Crown has agreed for us to use his alley sometime in February/March. Details to be arranged later. Boules Competition. I have spoken to Andrew and if this can be fitted into our schedule we will go ahead with it. Watch this space. Activities Rotary skittles, boules and quiz. We will continue to support. Andrew is continuing in his role as District Boules Organiser. President’s Putter - Being held at Minchinhampton on Tuesday 15th July. Please put it in your diary. Rotary BBQ- At Tom Sheppard’s on Sunday 20th July Treasure Hunt – Has been pencilled in for Sunday 21st Sept. Carol Service – On Monday 8th December at Lea Church. Visits - I would like to think that we could arrange at least two during the year. Rotary Day Our incoming DG said that we should have a Rotary Day. As far as I am concerned every time we meet as a club or take part in an activity that is a Rotary Day. I will say no more but ask the Secretary to put it on the next agenda for discussion. Positions Senior Vice Nigel Gilhead Junior Vice Doug Hughes Secretary Philip Selwood Assistant Secretary David Lewis Treasurer Tom Sheppard South Cotswolds News Andrew Lloyd Website Tony Hadfield Programme Tank Nash Youth Chris Tuite Sport Nigel Walker There is one more thing I would like to add. Two of our members are involved voluntarily with the Willow Trust and Dorothy House. They are Philip and Tom. I would like us to consider giving a donation to these two charities in recognition of the work they do. This can be discussed at a later date. I hope as a Club that we can all work together, and hopefully agree on the proposals that I have outlined and have a successful and happy year.

4

Fund Raising Event to support

Nepal’s street children

Can you bake a cake, scones or biscuits? We are looking for bakers to

help us with our cake stall to raise funds for Our Street Our Children

Where: Malmesbury Market Cross When: Saturday 21st June

Time: 8am to 1pm

Please donate your food products, help us on the stall, come and buy some of

our goodies, or make a donation.

Our Street Our Children is a Nepali Non-Governmental Organisation giving hope to street children,

some as young as 4 years. All funds go directly to our outreach workers in Nepal. This means

there are no administrative costs!

Lewis Munday

As he starts his long recovery with a lot of physiotherapy, we are providing a series of benefits such as the made-to-measure tricycle from Tomcat, the computer for him and his mother to use, not forgetting a present for his twin brother, who has been so supportive. We are planning to make a donation to the Riding for the Disabled stable, which he will use. We have underwritten the purchase of a larger light-weight wheelchair, following his current trial, while the local DHSS departments slowly process his paper-work, during their reorganisation.

Discussions with his mother about the computer and a present for Jack (twin brother) were not helpful; it was like asking a Rotarian ‘what do you want for your birthday?’ so I did some research into what the children use, here in Crudwell Primary, then spoke to the man at Sir William Romney who is responsible for setting up the school’s IT. Having learnt that the twins were going to have to file their homework, on-line, into their teacher’s email account, the only thing to do was add the two budgets and then halve it between two laptops. This way ahead was aided by the discussion with the

SWR IT man who told me that he was loading the school’s Windows computers with the free-to-download software (Open Office, Google Chrome and Avast Anti-Virus) , saving us the cost of buying such software for the family. I delivered the machines recently to the family, in the photograph Lewis is punching the air with excitement, having only expected that his mother would be given a new machine (that he could use) and with no mention of delivering the present for Jack. That evening, the whole family was thrilled. ‘I did wonder what Rotary would do’ said Louise, with a broad smile.

Nigel G

5

Business News

Nereide and I went to the Calne 10K dinner, at Bowood. We sat with members of Chippenham Rotary, who had also helped to marshal the event. Their President-Elect had just finished her year as Mayor of Chippenham and like Calne hopes to continue with our close inter-club relationship.

Nigel, Liz, Phil, Pam, Nereide and I went to David and Jackie’s supper to celebrate New Year, with their fundraising over the evening our OSOC UK the British charity, which sends money to OSOC Nepal (Narayangarh), banked £600. They have 7 volunteers going on the Annapurna Trek in September, there are still places, so contact David for details.

District 1200 and District 1100 will remain unchanged following Monday 26 May General Council.

You will remember Phil, Tom and I collected for Moto over the Easter weekend. The manager and his people were grateful that we had helped them raise money for their own national charity, but we were thrilled when the national committee met to dispense that charity’s grants, and sent us £1,700, to buy the special tricycle for Lewis to ride to school. In Nigel’s year we are planning two more collections, and have already been invited back with the sleigh.

The Stuart Singers’ concert was a great success in Tetbury Church; they gave us a brilliant performance of their varied repertoire. The Club owes a big thank you to Doug and Mary who worked so hard to organise our efforts on publicity, ticket sales and arranging on-the-day tasks.

The Club was involved in stewarding the Living History Event in Malmesbury over the weekend of 14th/15th June.

On 21st June we are supporting our International team with their cake stall in the Market Cross, to raise funds for OSOC.

On 25th July we will meet to picnic at Hatherop Castle before watching the open air performance of Fal-staff. Nigel G

District Boules 2014

Wearing my District Boules organiser’s hat (or perhaps it should be

béret) can be at odds with my being a member of the current Cham-

pionship winners. Of the top three teams, two are from our Club and

usually one of them wins the Festival of Boules. Our photo shows

the 2012 winning captain Peter Sheppard (South Cotswolds B) pre-

senting the trophy to the 2013 winning captain Doug Hughes (South

Cotswolds A). At least I can take some credit for having introduced

the sport into the Club and into District but, of course, taking the

wider view, I really also want someone else to win in order to en-

courage at least some of the other Clubs into thinking that they have a chance.

This year, we once again had 50 teams entered ranging from Marlborough in the South East of our

District, to Nailsea and Clevedon, then to Hereford via Monmouth, then Evesham , North Cotswolds and

back down to Swindon. They are divided into 6 divisions of 8 or 9 teams and each team plays five

matches during the period April – August. The winners of each division and the next 6 best scoring teams

go forward into the District Festival of Boules on 27th September at the Red Bull.

6

Sec’s Spot. Another Rotary year is nearly at an end and with a host of achievements to reflect on, the introduction of new members who bring fresh dimensions to our fellowship and old relationships made all the more richer with the passing of time. Our reputation as a hard working club that knows the value of fun continues unabated and our success in bringing much needed support to the community we serve adds real value to those, sometimes less fortunate than ourselves, who benefit from our intervention. As the year ends it is worth reflecting on some of those; The Horseless Team Event (HTE) at Badminton, third prize in the Malmesbury carnival, Tetbury firework display, the Christmas sleigh, the MOTO collections, Young Musicians, Kids Out at Longleat for children from Tetbury and Malmesbury and the Stuart Singers concert in Tetbury. Alongside all this we took part in rotary district events including the annual Quiz, Boules and Skittles competitions, admittedly with varying degrees of success and host our own annal 'President’s putter' golf competition, club BBQ and car treasure hunt. We regularly publish a very successful and professional newsletter and are very proud of our equally fine website. At our monthly meetings we have a host of interesting speakers, we dine very well at the Horse Guards thanks to the support from Arthur and Jeanette (thank you both) and enjoy great fellowship in the process. Most importantly whilst doing all this we have added real value to the lives of young people both locally and internationally. It is also important to reflect and learn lessons but our basic philosophy seems sound; to work within our capacity as a club, focus on local needs, use the skills of our members to best effect and have fun whilst we do so. This month president elect Nigel Walker set out his plans for the year ahead and we were delighted that assistant District Governor Joan Goldsmith was able to join us. A very experienced Rotarian, Nigel brings with him some fresh ideas which sit very comfortably with our club philosophy. Most importantly however, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our outgoing president Nigel Gilhead, who had led us through a successful year in his own inimitable style, who managed The Horse-less Team Event at the same time (arguably a full time job in itself) and did all this for the second time in his rotary career. Thank you Nigel and Nereide. Philip

Rotary Banners

Members will, I hope be aware, of the large collection of

Rotary banners that we have amassed over the years.

They have all been photographed and those photos are

stored in three albums in our box at the Horse Guards.

It puts Rotary in perspective to think that, to record the

banners of all the Rotary clubs in the world would

require well over three hundred more albums. Through

the pages of South Cotswolds News, I intend to bring

out some of the more unusual or interesting banners to

share and, yes, as gap fillers. This month, as a tribute to

some football games or other, I am including a banner

to represent Brazil and one from Bra in Italy, visited three years ago by Alan

Cross and the GSE team, representing the first nation who dared beat us. Andrew

7

Stuart Singers' Concert

The Stuart Singers normally hold a pair of concerts at Holy Trinity church in

Minchinhampton in early June. This year the Friday night concert was held in

Minchinhampton on 6th, and the Saturday concert on 7th was held at St Mary’s church in

Tetbury. Both were a great success.

Each evening got off to a rousing start with the spiritual Soon-ah will be done, followed by a

rafter-raising rendition of Zadok the priest. Performances of Nellie the elephant and The

teddy bears' picnic provided light relief, whilst the choir's language skills were on display as

it tackled the Welsh classic Diolch I'r Ior. As always, the programme featured our trademark

eclectic mix of styles.

For many, the highlight of the night was a superb new song, especially written by the choir’s

accompanist Barrie Cooper to commemorate the centenary of the start of WWI. The

soldier is a setting of Rupert Brooke's famous poem, which Barrie has clothed in music of

sensitivity and serenity. Each half of the concert finished with a medley of songs: Sounds of

Simon and Garfunkel and five numbers from Jesus Christ Superstar.

The Rotary Club of the South Cotswolds hosted the Tetbury concert, and the money raised

will be donated to local charity Allsorts, which supports children with any disability or other

needs and their families, and also to Our Streets Our Children which helps disadvantaged

children in Nepal.

The Stuart Singers will be giving five more concerts this year: in Rodmarton, Hucclecote,

Minchinhampton and Gloucester Cathedral.

8

More photographs recording the life changing progress being made by Lewis Munday and

reflecting our Club’s continuing support.