ROTARIANS are keen to undertake community activities as well as fundraising.They have been giving students at Chase High School interview experience. This mock exercise helps prepare for job and university applications. Exercises in preparation for the world of work are presently being designed for introduction in the New Year. Gardening and allied skills are in use in expanding the Dale Bog in conjunction with the Conservators and whilst nearer to home, working on a lady’s garden.
In August the Club was delighted at the award to Roy Lockyer of a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his work in Rotary and for other charities particularly in his expertise in sound systems.
A collection in July raised £1,864 for the East Africa Appeal, while in October a Mile of Pennies outside the new Wilkinson store turned into a Kilometre of Pennies nonetheless yielding £500 split between St Richard’s Hospice and other Rotary charities. Also in October President Jim Richardson and Inner Wheel President Jacqueline Tanner were able to meet Colonel Mark Cook, founder of Hope and Homes for Children, a charity long supported by both Clubs.As usual our biggest effort and biggest success was the Tree of Light sited at the rear of the Theatre. A record number of donors celebrated the lives of relatives and friends while commercial organisations backed the effort too. As usual considerable help was forthcoming from the Malvern Gazette and Malvern Hills District Council. At switch-on on November 28 Mayor Ian Hopwood handed over cheques of £3,000 each to Caroline Crowe of Acorns Three Counties Hospice and Meg Taylor of Macmillan Cancer Support. When Gift Aid is received there will be more to come and Rotary will use its 10% share for worthy causes.
On the lighter side the Club has contested the District competitions for bowls and quiz. In September a barbecue party with jazz band was held at the home of Martin Burton. Just this month a party of members and partners visited Symphony Hall in Birmingham for a classical concert and the Last Night of the Proms in Cheltenham was much enjoyed. A smaller group enjoyed a walk up The Hills on what turned out to be a misty day with no visibility, preceded and succeeded by clear sunny days.
Other entertaining visits were a visit to St Georges Brewery, the Welsh rugby defeat of England at Cardiff and that to Bletchley Park rounded off with a meal in Moreton-in-Marsh.
The first half of Jim Richardson’s presidential year finished with a flurry of activity: helping staff the Mayor’s festive day including manning Santa’s grotto and managing the facepainting. Then there was a carol service at St.Leonard’s in the Beauchamp Community and the Christmas Party on December 19 with entertainment by Maggie O’Hara.
In the background planning is underway for the celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee.
SANDY GIBSON.
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