rotary club of wrexham tuesday 4th august 2009...

ROTARY CLUB OF WREXHAM TUESDAY 4TH AUGUST 2009

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FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT Recollections Taken in Tranquillity

It was only when I sat down to write a few lines on the past year that I realised how busy and how pleas-ant it had been. Part of the pleasure was in welcom-ing old friends to Rotary – the local Bishop, Anthony O’Toole, and Alister Williams – and of time spent in the convivial company of club members.

Events Some of those which remain in my memory are the Christmas message and the Carol Concert with the splendid singing of Cantorion Rhos. Charter Night, where the speaker surprised me by being more of a comedian than I thought he was, President’s Evening, the organisation of which took me com-pletely by surprise – and what a good night that was. Golf Day, where for the first time I mingled with that strange tribe who play golf and Tony’s Trips – the Pantomime and the Town Trail. Also Alister’s talk on Welsh V.C.’s and Deri’s book.

Work Memories here are of how grateful people are for our involvement. The Christmas Presents for the mentally impaired. Trips with Carers and their Christmas Lunch. Kid’s Day Out. Gardening at Hurst Newton. The work we do with the Stroke Club and the partially sighted. Also our work with people we will never see – the Aqua Boxes and the Mango Tree.

Personal It’s been fun welcoming new members – a lively bunch as ever I saw – Penny Coles, a brewer of fine ales and drinker of red wine. Peter Howell, who assures us he is no longer radioactive. Alistair Don-aldson, who seems to have blown up half of Scot-land. Others, equally eccentric lurk in the wings. On a sad note, it was the year we lost Michael Brown and in which Ralph suffered a stroke.

Epilogue I know that I have missed out both people and events due mostly to age, what King Lear calls “the sere and yellow leaf”. Never mind. As I sip a scotch of an evening I shall think of good times and nice people. Many Thanks!

BARNEY

PAT THOMAS WAS INDUCTED ON JULY 7THLast year’s President, Barney Parkinson, and Dave Mason, the new Vice President, look on as Pat Thomas thanks members after her induction as President for 2009/10.

BULLETIN

EDITORIALI regard this my first effort as experimental and comments are welcomed. I propose to issue the Bulletin roughly quarterly. I am grateful to all the contributors. Peter J E Howell

FROM OUR NEW PRESIDENTI am delighted to be able to write in the first bulletin of my year as President. I am looking forward to the coming year with both excitement and some trepidation. I am hoping most of all that this will be a very happy year and a year where our club goes from strength to strength. We have already inducted two new members with one more to be inducted in the next few weeks. All the committees have had their first meeting and decided on the programmes they hope to follow. This of course depends on us as a club giving the time for service and the support for raising funds for the projects identified. I am hoping that we shall again involve the school and the local community in some of our goals especially Polio Plus. Rotary has achieved amaz-ing success in this world wide and I am sure that we can meet the target that each club has, and also get some local recogni-tion of our club. Above all I hope that we all enjoy whatever goes on during the year.

PAT


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International & Foundation The first meeting of this year's committee took place on Monday 13 June at the Cross Lanes Hotel with President Pat and five others attending. After being inundated with suggestions from District as to which international charities were worth supporting, whilst remembering to priori-tize the ideas of water and sanitation, the committee eventually chose to support sev-eral worthwhile causes for the coming year. Pat's choice as President went for Water Survival Boxes and the committee also opted for Polio Plus, Aqua Boxes, Shelter Boxes, the Mango Tree and the Wheelchair Foundation.The Pre-Natal Unit, set up by our club in 2005 in Cannanore, was also chosen and Anan suggested supporting the idea of pur-chasing a device that kept the electricity supply available in the short space of time that elapses between a power cut and the kicking-in of a generator. The committee agreed to provide the finance necessary - in the region of £300.The committee also supported the idea of continuing with the collection of used post-age stamps, spectacles and mobile phones. Members of the club are asked therefore to hand such items to any of the committee members when they become available. Anan announced that he had received a cheque for £100 made out in favour of the Pre-Natal Unit in southern India from a Mr Brown of Park Avenue, Wrexham.Gwynne stated that he would be compiling another Christmas Quiz this year and that the proceeds would be sent to Foundation as our club's contribution.

Gwynne Belton

Fund Raising

The main event for June was the Hog Roast . Once again Michael Kagan offered the use of the Garden Suite at Cross Lanes and also laid on suitable weather . There was some initial panic as the guests arrived as there was no sign of firstly , the Hog and sec-ondly the entertainment for the night . However , it is an ill wind etc. and the time was usefully employed by keeping the bar staff fully occupied . Just as I was discuss-ing with Mike Kagan how many burgers he could produce in the next half hour the Hog Man arrived followed shortly after by the Band , aptly named " Traedmoch " , which translates as Pig Foot ! An orderly queue was formed to demolish the Hog and the salads laid on by the Hotel followed by apple pie and cream. After which the

assembly settled back to be regaled by rousing choruses of suitable rebellious songs such as " Wild Colonial Boy " and similar ditties . Requests were made and granted and the band began to get into their stride suitably fuelled by pints of Irish Champagne ( or Guinness ) . It was noted that each microphone stand had a glass holder plus a table in the background which held a line of replacements . It looked to be a long night and so it turned out . The evening had to be forcibly termi-nated at 11.15 pm and the band were visi-bly disappointed to finish so soon . Their usual audience is obviously made of sterner stuff than our Rotarians .A thoroughly en-joyable time was had by all and thanks to those who supported the event by buying tickets and bringing friends . Thanks too to those who gave raffle prizes and to Peter Emerson for running the raffle assisted by Mac who charmed many into purchasing tickets . It was pleasing to see the Clinical Society who joined us for the evening thanks to Mary Emerson . Michael Kagan and his staff looked after us well and the Cross Lanes was the perfect venue . The final figure is not yet in but we should have raised approx. £400 once we have all the ticket money . This will be donated to President Barney's charity

Peter Tompsett.

Frank Crowe Cup

The weather has not been kind for the club bowling trophy for some time. Indeed 2008 saw attempt after attempt to get the compe-tition played, but to no avail, because of the awful weather. This year it was decided to play ‘come hell or high water’ and so an interested few gathered at the Cunliffe Arms bowling green on Jeffreys Road in Acton Park on Thursday evening, 16 June. ‘High water’ it was not, but it was exceed-ingly damp with a light drizzle soaking the green and making the grip on the woods difficult. Nine members had originally shown interest in the ancient game but when the competition began only six play-ers had appeared – President Pat, Vice President Dave Mason, Past Presidents Harry Bainbridge, Brian Paul and Brian Coles and ex-Community Service Chair-man Malcolm Taylor. Cheryl Brown at-tended and made refreshments for the grateful players while Gwynne Belton acted as referee and Gloria Belton ap-peared as the sole spectator, although one man and a dog made a brief appearance and two little boys ran on to the green unable to

contain their excitement during the final. Despite the rain and the relative inexperi-ence of most of the players, the standard of bowling was very impressive and in Round 1 Malcolm beat Dave Mason 11-3, Harry defeated Pat 11-7 with the two Brians re-ceiving ‘byes’. In Round 2 Brian P beat Malcolm11-8 and Brian C beat the favour-ite Harry 11-8. The final began with a mes-sage being despatched to the engraver to make a start by putting at least the name ‘Brian’ as this year’s winner on the trophy. The match was keenly fought from the be-ginning with little to choose between the two Brians, but as the rain grew stronger Brian Paul’s grip on the trophy weakened and Brian Coles won 11-6. After the game the two finalists and several others repaired to the pub to dry out, with Brian Coles re-fusing to commit himself when asked if he had considered turning professional.

Gwynne Belton

Community Service Committee

The Community Service Committee every year present this cup to a local person who in their estimation has,in some way, given outstanding service to the community. The young lady BETHAN JONES runs a suc-cessful business in Rossett. In her spare time, during the past TEN years, she has devoted herself to raising funds for charity.Her first event was a Parachute Jump for MENCAP. Then she abseiled down Chester Cathedral for MILES OF SMILES A church in LLAY support under privileged children in the Ukraine. They sponsor their education and provide funds to bring them here on visits. She helps in organizing trips and events for these children She has or-ganized Charity Balls and raised funds for Nightingale House Hospice and Brest Can-cer. One of her major treks was to MACHU PICCHU in Peru She successfully com-pleted this adventure and raised funds for MIND. Her most recent effort was to climb Mt. KILIMANJARO, not as we saw on television,With the celebrities, all their back up, cameras and recording equipment BUT With a group of people committed to raising funds for GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL. She also completed this adventure. To date she has raised on her own some £25000 for charity. Mr President,we agree that Bethan is a worthy recipient of our Clubs’ Community Service Cup for the coming year.

Malcolm Taylor


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CALENDAR

CHARTER NIGHT

FRIDAY 5TH MARCH 2010

CLUB AGM

TUESDAY 20TH APRIL 2010

CLUB ASSEMBLY

TUESDAY 8TH JUNE 2010

INDUCTION OF NEW PRESIDENT

TUESDAY 29TH JUNE 2010

Gresford Sailing Club 50th Anniversary

In 1958 Arthur Jones from Pantyrochain thought he would like to try Sailing with his two sons, so he went down to Chester Sailing Club, on the river Dee to enquire about the possibility of sailing on the river, unfor-tunately the people he saw were not very helpful. Reg Gibbs was a member there and overheard this conversation and so he approached Arthur and discovered that he had a lake on his farm. He said he would come over to see what might be possible. He immediately recognized the possibilities and so a club was formed. Reg did not like sailing on the river and so he brought his boat over to Gresford. Arthur and two others set about building three Enterprises. This is one of the classes still sailed at Gresford.

Reg Gibbs became the first Commodore and held office from 1959 to 1965 when he died. He was very knowledgeable and all the members learned a lot from him. Arthur was Commodore from 1965 to 1970 and at that time it was thought that all the members should share the duty of Commodore and so Arthur became president and a new Commodore is elected each year at the A.G.M.

Sid Jones introduced me to sailing in about 1961. 1 had my first T.V. from him. He had a Heron and asked me to crew for him. At the end of my first year Sid decided to have an Enterprise, which I helped him to build and so as he had two boats he lent me the Heron for the next sea-son. Tony Gibbs who now lives in Canada, had a Graduate at that time and he let me use it. I could launch it on my own and sail singlehanded. That is how I started to sail.

For the benefit of those that do not know the Flash at Gresford, 1 would say that the lake itself covers 9 acres and is probably one of the smallest areas in the UK sailed The depth varies from time to time but it has been known for someone who has capsized near the far bank to walk across dragging his boat behind The club is a member of the R.Y.A. and sails under international rules Originally we just sailed Handicap races and at Open meetings we have had Albacores, Snipes, Moths, Hornets, Fire-balls and Toppers but we soon decided that it was safer just to concen-trate on a few classes of boat. We have adopted 5 different classes of boats from the hundreds that are recognized by the R.Y.A. The longest is the G.P. 14, then the Enterprise, Solos, Mirrors and Optimists. 1 was fortunate to be able to get a substantial grant from the Sports and Arts Foundation in Liverpool to enable us to purchase the two fibreglass Mir-rors and five fibreglass Optimists.

We have a complete sailing programme from mid March to about the 7th December each year. Club racing takes place each Sunday but we are also able to sail on Wednesday nights in the summer and we encourage the children from Gresford School to learn to sail on Thursday evenings. We also have a junior section. 1 have always said that if you can sail at Gresford you can sail anywhere. The compactness of the water lends itself to sail training as you can easily communicate with those in the boats. You also get used to being in close contact with other boats and in that way you soon learn the rules as to who has right of way.

Sailors from Gresford have always done well when they have moved away and kept up their sailing. One has sailed the Atlantic others have chartered boats and sailed across the channel to Cherbourg and the Channel Islands and also cruised in the Mediterranean It is surprising how many keep in touch and come to visit when they are in the area and this is one of the reasons for this celebration.

Then strove the judge with main & mightThe Celtic consonants to write.But when the day was almost goneHe found his work not nearly done.His ears assailed most woefullyWith names like Rhys ap Griffiths Ddu.Aneirin, Iorwerth, Ieuan Goch,And Llymarch Hen o Abersoch,Taliesin ap Llewelyn FawrAnd Llun ap Arthur bach y Cawr.Until at length in sheer dispair,He doffed his wig and tore his hair,And said he would no longer stand,The surnames of our native land. Take ten, he said, and call them Rees; Take another ten and call them Preece;Take fifty others call them Pughs,A hundred more, I'll dub them Hughes. Now Roberts name some hundred scoreAnd Williams name a thousand more.And call he moaned in languid tones,Call all the other buggers Jone

Submitted by David Gittins


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Those of you that know the Pantyrochain will probably be aware that the Model Engineers are based in the Orchard and have a railway track in the grounds. Some of our members are also involved with the trains and recently the Sailing Club agreed to have a model boat section, which has been quite popular.

One of the highlights of the year is the Annual Open Day. This is held in conjunction with the Model Engineers. We arrange steam as well as sailing boats to give rides during the day and there is a display of models in On the racing side we have done particularly well. We were one of the first clubs to enter the 24 hour race at Southport and con-tinued to participate for the next ten years. We have had European Champions in the the Clubhouse showing the expertise of the members of both clubs.

Mirror Class in Graham and Martyn Ellis and a few years ago Ben Dutton and Alex Brereton, were the title holders. We had five boats in the Great Britain team which won the Mirror World Championship at Milford Haven. The most recent champion is Hannah Blore who was successful in the Ladies World Championship in Italy sailing a Byte and last year she had a successful defence of her title. Sail training takes place at the Flash for the junior members on Friday nights and these sessions are well supported. Some of the parents have also recently started to sail with coaching being given on Sunday mornings during the summer months. We have an active social side including a Summer Barbecue and Regatta, Bonfire night, Annual Dinner and Prize giving and Xmas Carols Harry. Bainbridge, Past Commodore.

Executive Director - Public Relations and Past President Rtn. PHF. Parag Makhecha of the Rotary Club of Cannanore Seaside,RI.DIST.3202, Kerala, INDIA visiting Rotary Club of Wrexham and exchanging pleasantries with the members.

Pat Thomas admits Cheryl Brown and Michael Edwards on July 28th

RECENT SPEAKERS

14th July 2009 Nia Williams. Miss Nia Williams spoke to us about the charity that she represents " Sparks ". This charity supports medical research for children and delves into many of the diseases that affect neonatal and young children. They have no monetary support from government funds and rely totally on fundraising activities to enable them to do their work. They have a lots of well known personalities who are giving high profile to their work. The "On thin ice " walk to the South Pole was done to raise awareness which has since been televised. We were shown a DVD of some of the success stories in Great Ormond Street Hospital which I am sure when shown cannot fail to move even the coldest heart and make peo-ple dig deep onto their pockets ! 21st July 2009 Peter Howell Mr Peter Howell gave us a very interesting and entertaining talk on " GROWING OLD " though many of us are in total denial about this subject Peter pointed out to us that it is something that we should think about and perhaps plan if only to annoy all our relatives by leaving all our worldly goods to the cats home! Seriously, he did give us a lot of new in-formation that I think most of us were unaware. Things that we can do while we are still here to make things easier for those when we are not ! I know that the club thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining talk with the serious undertones.


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SPEAKER PROGRAMME

21/07/09 PETER HOWELL`- GROWING OLD28/07/09 KEVIN FORBES ROYAL BRITISH LEGION04/08/09 BUSINESS MEETING -11/08/0 FIONA HANNAN HURST NEWTON HOSTEL18/08/09 JOHN MARSHALL MY JOB25/08/09 THOMAS ABLEMAN WREXHAM & SHROPS RLWY01/09/09 BUSINESS MEETING -08/09/09 CHERYL LOCKYER DIGITAL TV SWITCHOVER15/09/09 TO BE ARRANGED22/09/09 DR JOAN DANIELS SAVING WHIXALL & FENNS06/10/09 BUSINESS MEETING -13/10/09 KAREN MURDOCH WREXHAM MUSEUM

DUTY ROTA

Cash Visitors21.7.09 Derek Jones Michael Kagan28.7.09 John Marshall John Lomax4.8.09 David Mason Barney Parkinson11.8.09 Brian Paul Glyn Pryce18.8.09 Keith Samuels Malcolm Taylor25.8.09 Tony Thomas Deri Thomas1.9.09 Peter Tompsett David White8.9.09 Lynn Williams Handel Williams15.9.09 Anan Orlando Andrade22.9.09 Harry Bainbridge Carys Baker29.9.09 Gwynne Belton Tony 6.10.09 Brian Coles Pene Coles13.10.09 Brian Davies Alistair Donaldson20.10.09 Peter Emerson Don Dutton27.10.09 David Gittins Dennis Griffith

STOP PRESS FROM THEVOCATIONAL SERVICES

COMMITTEE20 August 2009 - Visit to "Y Gardden Hill-fort", Near Pen-y-Gardden, Ruabon (6.30 p.m. start) 06 September 2009 - Underneath Alderley Edge (time to be announced, but probably 10 a.m. start) 15 January 2010 - Robin Hood & Babes in the Wood Pantomime at Theatr Clwyd, Mold (7 p.m. start) January - June 2010 - Mock Interview pro-gramme (actual dates still awaited)

Tony Thomas 4th August 09

rotary club of wrexham tuesday 4th august 2009...

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