Exmoor Rotary: Club News
Club News on this page follows the main events in which the club has been involved this Rotary year - from July 2011 to June 2012.
President's Night/Handover
On Saturday 23rd June, it was both President's Night and Handover. The theme was caribbean, the music was from Red Hot Steel, and a great time was had by all, including guests from several other clubs.
Shown here is the handing over of badges of office, Gill, the incoming club president Terry, and on the right Alan (saying 'phew' after his term of Presidency).
Ironman UK @ Wimbleball
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Sunday 17th June was mercifully dry - against the run of the weather. Once again our club members manned a service station for high-speed cyclists on the hill near Wimbleball lake. This event raises massive sums for charity, thanks to the sponsorship of the athletes taking part. |
Frances' Soiree
A wet but enjoyable evening with good company and excellent canapes served by a team of willing helpers. Frances explained that following the success of the eye hospital in Ethiopia, which was now self supporting, the attention had been switched to the Calvert Trust, Jaipur Limb Project and Bees Abroad, a UK charity which raises funds to alleviate poverty in developing countries by funding and running beekeeping projects and providing education and technical advice in beekeeping along with suitable business skills. These create an income and help support local crop growing by increased pollination. Over £1500 was raised.
Rotary Exmoor Youth Challenge
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Again the Challenge was a great success, although the wet and stormy weather of the previous few weeks made for anxious moments beforehand. Thanks to Exmoor NP all was made safe and thankfully we had a dry day. Over 600 young people took part - full information via the menu on the left. As a first, a video was made of the event, and this can be viewed here. |
Camel Racing NightAfter a slow start, 60 people came and enjoyed the Camel Racing Night at Brushford. Thanks in particular to Past President Tony Harrowell for his Camels and advice and leadership on the night, also to Jo, Andy, Terry and Francis for most of the work selling sponsorship before the event. Edward donated the license and helped with catering which our ladies did with style. Proceeds of £666 will be used to support Dulverton projects such as the Youth Project. This event raised £676. |
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Cheque: Calvert Trust
Exmoor Rotary Club have donated £1850 to Calvert Trust Exmoor's equipment fund.
"The Equipment fund is used to purchase specialist equipment to allow our disabled guests to take part in all the fantastic activities we offer, everything from helmets, harnesses and ropes to adaptive bikes and sailing boats. All of our activity equipment is purchased through charitable donations, so this generous donation will make a big difference to a large number of our visitors."
Shown here is Tim Harris, CEO of the Trust, with President Alan.
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Cheque: Cancer Research UKOn Wednesday April 4th, President Alan presented a cheque to Cancer Research UK, being accepted here by Jenny Mew. The cheque is for £4000, money raised by the club's involvement in Ironman UK at Wimbleball - the charity was nominated and the sponsorship raised by the athletes themselves. |
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Rotary Exmoor Challenge
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A very successful Rotary Exmoor Challenge was organised by the club based on Morebath, near Bampton. 233 walkers took part from the Devon and Somerset districts, and it was won by District 1200 (Somerset). All the money raised will go to Children's Hospice South West. Shown here is a lovely setting for a checkpoint at Bury. |
Rotary Quiz NightThree pubs in the Dulverton area took part this time. It was won by the Bridge Inn, with the Anchor, Exebridge coming a close second, and the Rock bringing up the rear. Shown here are some of the Rotarian camp followers at the Bridge, including our visiting USA member Chris McHenry. |
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Geneva Motor Show!
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Club member Napoleon was fortunate enough (to put it mildly) to win the chance to drive a Ferrari California from London to the Geneva Motor Show. He is seen here with the blue beast and his glamorous co-driver Giselle having reached their destination. |
District ConferenceA very good time was had by all at the 2012 Rotary District Conference, held in Taunton. A party of 18 people went from our club to the dinner.
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Cheque for Marie Curie
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On 21st February a cheque for £740(?) was presented to Sarah from Marie Curie Cancer Care. |
Community Sunday Lunch
On Sunday 15th January the Club held its annual Community Sunday Lunch in aid of Shelterbox at the Riverside Hall in Bampton. This event was started following the tsunami in SE Asia in 2004, and since then we have raised over £30,000 for over 60 Shelterboxes, a remarkable achievement and a mark of the generosity of those in the Bampton and Dulverton area.
A 3-course meal was provided with coffee for £11.50, and a bar, raffle, and auction raised money for the charity, along with a few donations. All the catering (preparing food, serving, and washing up) was done by club members and friends and families, and about 140 people supported the event.
The total raised was an incredible £1650 - almost enough for three Shelterboxes. Thanks to all for their generosity.
New Member
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On January 3rd President Alan welcomed new member Hugh Saxby to the club. Hugh has recently moved to Bampton from Wimbledon following his retirement from the BBC where he worked for some 30 years. He was a Director of their Global News organisation which is part funded by the Foreign Office and provides news and programmes to countries across the world. He has been involved in Scouting and Athletics Coaching and was a keen footballer; he is accompanied by his wife Avril. |
Santa's Collections
In spite of the not very cooperative weather, the various charity collections this year produced the sum of an excellent £1257, particularly at a time of financial uncertainties in the land. Well done to all the members who dressed up as elves and rattled tins, as well as the ho-ho-ing santas.
The sleigh benefited from an extensive make-over/re-build which has proved very effective.
Club Christmas DinnerOn the Thursday before Christmas, the Club held its annual Christmas Dinner, this time at Bampton's Community Hall. Catering was by the always reliable Acer Catering -thanks to Edward! A very good time was had by all, judging by the number of (empty) bottles about the place. |
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Cabaret Night for Children in Need
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On Friday 11th November, the Club organised a Cabaret Night (including a buffet supper) in aid of BBC Children in Need. The evening featured Sapphire, a versatile duo playing a variety of music, which was much enjoyed by an appreciative audience. An auction of 14 items which had been donated for the cause raised £507, and with the profit from ticket sales and from the raffle, a total sum of about £900 was raised. Many thanks to all those who helped out, and who supported the event. |
Visit to CHSWOn Monday 12th September, some of our members (Gill, Barbara, Sandra, and President Alan seen here) visited Children's Hospice South West at Little Bridge House near Barnstaple. This is always a moving but uplifting experience, seeing the excellent facilities provided to help children who will not live to adulthood because of various medical conditions. |
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Bampton Open Day
Exmoor Rotary played a significant part in the Bank Holiday festivities in Bampton. The weather (which had been dreary) decided to brighten up, and crowds of people came and enjoyed the fun and entertainment.
The club members really showed their presence in the bright yellow club tabards - here shown selling tickets for the annual Duck Race.
BOOK STALL - £130.80 # ANIMAL SAFARI - £38 # WHISKY GALORE - £268 # DUCK RACE - £811.50 # TOTAL £1248.30
Many thanks to all the helpers, and of course to all those who supported Rotary by parting with their cash.
Dunster Show
This year the Club again had a stand at Dunster Show, along with Rotarians from the Somerset District. Whiskey Galore was the name of the game, a continuous raffle drawn every 20 tickets.
As can be seen from the photo, the show took place on a nice sunny day, and this must get the prize for the best of settings - a flat valley with wooded sides, with Dunster castle in the background. It is not, by the way, a Rotary requirement to have a dog...
Dictionary Presentations - Bampton
Spot the odd one out! Yes it is President Alan with the 11-year old leavers from Bampton School.
Four members of the club (including the Chairman of the Governors) were at the school on the last day of term (July 15th) for their Leavers' Assembly, and the pupils were presented with illustrated dictionaries, part of the Dictionary 4 Life scheme.
A Cheque from St. Helen's SchoolA cheque from St. Helen's School, Abbotsham was presented to President Alan, this being sponsorship money from their involvement in the Rotary Exmoor Youth Challenge earlier in the year. The cheque for £351 will go to Children's Hospice South West. |
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Dictionary Presentations - Dulverton
On 5th July, the new President Alan visited Dulverton Middle & Community School to present to the Year 6 pupils (all 28 of them) the Rotary Illustrated Dictionaries published by Usborne.
The books were much appreciated by the pupils - they had already started looking through the pages before this photo was taken!
President's Night & Handover
On June 25th, President's Night took place which included the Handover between Presidents, ready for the Rotary year beginning on 1st July.
Shown here are the outgoing President Dev (breathing a sigh of relief), incoming President Alan (bouncing with ideas and enthusiasm), President-Elect Terry, and President Nominee Tony.
