1

Winchester Rotary

Bulletin - June 2012

Service above Self

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Date of Birth: 21 April 1926

Winchester Rotary U.K.

Inaugural Lunch: 15 Nov. 1926

“In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your

service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of

togetherness and the convening strength of family,

friendship and good neighbourliness.”

Jubilee Message in February 2012.

“I declare before you all that my whole life,

whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to

your service.” Princess Elizabeth’s 21st. Birthday

Speech, 1947.

“The object of Rotary is to encourage and

foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy

enterprise.” Winchester Cathedral (below)

seeks to serve to the city’s community.

“I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service,

as so many of you are pledged to mine.

Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall

strive to be worthy of your trust.” Spoken on the

eve of her Coronation - 2nd. June, 1952.

“The object of Rotary is, in particular, to

encourage and foster the development of

acquaintance as an opportunity for service.”

“The object of Rotary is also the advancement of

international understanding, goodwill, and peace

through a world fellowship of business and

professional persons united in the ideal of service.”

‘Object of Rotary’ 2012 Rotary International.

Winchester Rotary Council (below) at its

meeting in May 2012 serving its Members.

Diamond Jubilee

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The President writes…

David Farthing

Well, that’s enough from me for

this last bulletin of the Rotary year.

Club Handover night on 25th June is

the meeting at which I shall express

my appreciation to members.

However I would like to also take

this opportunity to thank you all for

your truly amazing enthusiasm and

support for all our multitude of

activities and events during the last

year. It has been not only been a

privilege and an honour to

represent and support Winchester

Rotary, but as many members

assured me beforehand, it has

proved to be an exciting ride and a

most enjoyable experience.

Finally may I thank Simon for

agreeing, at very short notice, to

assume the role of President Elect,

and I’m sure you will all join with

me in wishing him much enjoyment

and every success during his Rotary

Year.

During the Diamond Jubilee, the

enthusiastic outpouring of affection

and gratitude we have witnessed

during the celebrations is surely

testament both to the pride of being

British which the Queen has

engendered in us all, and to her

people’s appreciation of her service

to the Nation and Commonwealth.

What a fantastic example of “Service

above Self”.

The resonance between Rotary ideals

and those of the other great event of

the year, the Olympics and

Paralympics, is also quite striking.

The Olympic Charter highlights the

Olympic Spirit which requires mutual

understanding, with a spirit of

friendship, solidarity and fair play.

When one considers the phrases

from the Objects of Rotary such as

“the advancement of international

understanding, goodwill and peace”,

“the development of acquaintance as

an opportunity for service”, and

“high ethical standards”, the

similarities in the ideals of the two

movements are clear.

We have now identified another

great opportunity for support in

relation to the Paralympics. For Joint

Presidents Night, Judith and I are

organising a raffle and are keen that

funds raised should go to a cause

related to the Paralympics. Thanks

to a friend of Judith’s, we have

struck “Gold”. Full details are on the

next page and by the time you read

this some of you will have heard the

brief presentation on Monday

Evening June 11th.

Briefly, Adam and David Knott from

Chandlers Ford, Adam is 17 and at

Peter Symonds and David 15 is at

Thornden, were born with

oculocutaneous albinism. Both have

only 10% vision but being keen

sportsmen, are both delighted to

have been selected for the British

Paralympic Squad for Goalball, a

sport for blind and partially sighted

people. Their parents are

enthusiastic supporters and have

arranged for the Squad to train

locally at Peter Symonds.

As you might imagine, there is only

a minimum of official funding

available, so there is a great need

for financial support.

Judith and I cannot think of more

appropriate cause to which to

donate the proceeds from the raffle

at President’s Night, and with the

permission of President Elect

Simon, the raffle will continue on

for a few weeks with a draw to be

held before the start of the

Paralympics.

It is these similarities which have

encouraged me to suggest that we

seek opportunities to support the

Olympics, or even better the

Paralympics. We are grateful to

Denis and Paul for arranging

marshalling and stewarding

opportunities related to the arrival

of the torch in the City, and to

Gareth for organising a trip for

Young Carers to the Paralympics.

The last bulletin of the Rotary year

is yet another bumper addition

illustrating once again, not only our

amazing diversity, but also our

adaptability to a rapidly changing

world around us. On yet another

meaningful cover to the bulletin,

our Editor has succinctly highlighted

the affinity between The Queen’s

exemplary devotion to the service

of her people, and the fundamental

principal of the Rotary movement

of encouraging the ideal of service

as a basis of worthy enterprise.

U.N. Public Service Day - June 23

Paralympic 2012 Poster

GB Paralympics - Adam Knott

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In the year Queen Elizabeth 11

acceded to the throne, Winchester

Rotary itself had something to

celebrate even if there is no record of

the Club celebrating the accession.

Coming in half way through the

Rotary year we must look back to the

AGM 22 May 1951 to see who was

who and some familiar names appear.

The President was C.A.Taylor; First

Vice President I.McVean; Second Vice

President J.G.Watson; Hon. Sec.

S.G.Steel; Hon Treas. E.C.Townend;

Hon. Auditors Rotarians Knowles and

Stanniforth. The six elected elected

members of Club Council were Past

District Chairmen Morgan and

Ponsford, Past President Dutton and

Rotarians Charles, McCall and Weller.

Past President Knowles was given

three months leave of absence in

view of his illness and after some

apparent confusion as to his

classification Richard Sawyer was to

become a member.

The January Council minutes record

that as an Editor had been found, it

was hoped to publish a Bulletin

fortnightly at a cost of £1 per issue.

Council approved this expenditure

“for three months only”. The March

minutes note agreement to ask

Rotarian Romanis to proceed with

editing The Winchester Hub for

another three months.

The Club’s longest running event is

now known as the Senior Citizens’

Party. In 1952 the Old Peoples’ Party

was held on Thursday 24 January. 94

invitations had been sent out and a

film show would be arranged for

after the tea. It was noted that the

recent Senior Citizens’ Party had

been “very successful”.

Now the reason for the Club to

celebrate was its 25th birthday and

its first mention is that it should be

included on the agenda for the next

Council meeting in February

together with “entertainment of

Inner Wheel members”.

Of this more later, provided the

current Bulletin Editor is inundated

with requests for another instalment.

1952

A letter from the Cadena Café gave

notice of an increase in the charge

for lunches to 3s.6d. per member. It

was agreed that the charge to

members should remain at 4s.0d. to

cover lunch plus 2d. each to the Paul

Harris Fund, the Benevolent Fund

and service gratuity to the Cadena

staff.

The Paul Harris Fund is mentioned

again in the agreement to forward

£25 to District being the first

instalment towards the £50 the Club

had undertaken to provide over

three years.

Colin Eames

Looking Back

So much for Who’s Who. What about:

Looking Forward

29 Aug. – 9 Sept. 2012 Paralympics Goalball

Adam and David Knott (above) are

two brothers, from Chandlers Ford,

studying at Peter Symonds and

Thornden respectively who are in

the 2012 British Paralympic Squad.

They are giving a brief presentation

on Monday 11th June.

Goalball is a three-a-side team game

developed for visually impaired

players who wear eyeshades to

ensure that everyone plays on an

equal sight level.

The ball contains internal bells, which

allow players to hear and locate it.

The game is played in silence indoors

on a volley ball sized court.

The squad have only a minimum of

financial support and are in great

need of help to assist with training,

equipment, accommodation and of

course participation in the

Paralympics themselves.

To this end a raffle is planned to raise

funds over the coming weeks. More

details will follow at meetings etc.

What was what in 1952?

4

I can see that Rotary is a remarkable

organisation that I need to join, to

learn from, to connect with and to

generate support for.

Born 01 September 1958

RAF childhood, boarding schools,

London University - Physiology BSc

Reckitt & Colman, Hull; CIBA home

medicines, Horsham; Head of CIBA

Vision Europe Operations, Frankfurt;

MD of CIBA Vision Ophthalmic

Medicines, Sydney, Australia;

1987 - 1984 Leeds Girls’ High School. A

levels: Maths, Physics, Geography,

General Studies. Interests and

memberships. Member of the

Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Member of the Winchester Barnardo’s

Helpers Group. Member of the

Winchester Women’s Business

Network. Interests include: walking,

travel and food.

2011 - present Communications

Consultant and Business Mentor

Communications consultant - advising

on strategy and developing content

for clients operating in sectors

including engineering, science, health,

technology and learning &

development.

Business mentor - working with

owners of young creative businesses

to help them plan, manage and

develop their operations with the

values, culture and goals that are right

for them.

The company’s core business was the

design and implementation of

communication strategies for

technology-based businesses in UK,

Europe and USA.

Sold the business to PR and marketing

group Freshwater UK in March 2006

and remained in place as Managing

Director of the re-branded division,

Freshwater Technology. Retired June

2008.

Rachel Owen

Marcus Swalwell

New Members

In 2007 my business partner, Tom,

and I set up www.lumecare.co.uk

online dry eyes and blepharitis

solutions and then secondly an artist’s

paints / materials retailer.

www.thegiftofcreativity.co.uk

In 2009 I became Chairman, and I’m

very proud that our strategy has

stretched our ambitions to provide

local, sustained facilities extending the

primary eye care fight against all eye

disease and blindness.

Moved to Winchester in 1991, love

this area, its people, Solent racing &

road cycling.

My wife Susan is a publisher for Pitkin

Guides, specialists in heritage and

historical guide books.

MD of CIBA Vision Ophthalmics &

Contact Lenses, Southampton, UK;

Management Today service excellence

award; Sunday Times best company

to work for

In 2008 I became a trustee of Vision

Aid Overseas. This remarkable charity

consists of optician volunteers

correcting functional blindness for the

poorest in Africa.

2008 - 2011 Various business and

charitable interests including: Non-

Executive Director, Search You 2009-

2010; Trustee, Trinity Winchester

2009-2012; PR consultant (voluntary),

Fairbridge, Southampton 2010-2011;

Mentor, Mentor-Net 2010-current;

August 1998 - June 2008 Black &

White Communications/Freshwater

Technology, Romsey.

Founder and Managing Director of

technical PR consultancy Black &

White Communications. Built a

successful consultancy with a t/o of

£0.5M and seven employees.

April 89 - January 1990 Rex Stewart

Grayling, Birmingham. Account

manager, working on UK trade and

technical PR accounts.

November 1986 - March 1989 Dryden

Brown, Southampton. Technical PR

writer, writing press releases and

articles for a range of technical PR

accounts.

March 1985 - October 1986 Island

Sailing Ltd, Hayling Island.

Flotilla lead crew in Yugoslavia, beach

club staff in Greece and UK-office

duties.

Education and qualifications: 1981 -

1984 Southampton University B.Sc.

(Hons.) Civil Engineering.

March 1992 - July 1998 Wordsun Ltd,

Wimborne. Account Director, running

technical PR accounts in UK and

Europe.

President of CIBA Vision Contact

Lenses, Tokyo, Japan; President of

Europe Middle East & Africa Sales,

Zurich; Global Sales Force Excellence

CIBA Vision, Atlanta.

December 1990 - January 1992 Toolkit

Software, Freemantle, Western

Australia. Technical writer, involved in

the production of a manual for a new

database product for the building

industry.

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Monday 21 May

Mike Hill

Lunch Meeting

The company policy at that time was

that the young men they sent to the Far

East could not return to The UK for

three years!

I actually stayed for seven and made the

most of expat life before returning to

the UK to run the Agricultural

Machinery business in West Wales, set

up by my father after retiring from the

army.

Now retired and with time to spare I

am keen to get involved in projects

that benefit the community and

those whose lives have been less

fortunate than mine.

I have a variety of business and

organisational skills, am a good team

player and believe that I could be a

useful member. I returned to the UK overland in a

transit van, starting in Kathmandu and

taking 6 weeks to get to London, a

very memorable journey, not least for

discovering in Athens that the travel

company in the UK had gone bust!

I then joined a Scottish shipping

company, Ben Line, based in

Edinburgh.

Having attended several meeting and

functions as a guest I feel that Rotary

is an organisation that I would like to

join. On a personal level, as a

newcomer to the area, it is an

opportunity for me to make contact

with like-minded and interesting

people.

I have always been sporty, playing

rugby, hockey, cricket and squash as

well as being a long time runner:

New Members

I am married to Tessa and we have

four children and two grandchildren.

Family plays a large part in my life.

Born on 1st December 1949; I was

brought up in an Army family, my

father regularly posted around the

world, so I was a boarder at prep

school and then Cranbrook School in

Kent.

I graduated from Manchester

University with a B.Sc. Mech. Eng.

(Hons).

After graduation I spent a year in

India with VSO, working in the TATA

dept of plastic surgery in a Bombay

hospital, which dealt with the

disfiguration caused by leprosy. From

a small workshop I sourced simple

jobs for the patients to do that helped

their rehabilitation.

Over the following 25 years it grew into

a sizeable, well respected business,

employing eighty staff in three depots

and with an annual turnover of

£25million.

I have run the London Marathon and

several Triathlons raising money for a

number of charities, including Great

Ormond Street Hospital.

With Tessa I climbed Kilimanjaro and

trekked the Annapurna Circuit raising

£25K for VSO, so I enjoy a good walk!

(I did a 10k walk for Rotary a couple

of years ago)

Their ships ran from the UK to the Far

East and after a year in their office I

was posted to Singapore, then Penang,

Hong Kong and Bangkok.

Reminiscence Group Monday 21 May

There are always two lunchtime

meetings each month depending

on public holidays. They are held

in the Hampshire Room at The

Royal Hotel 12.30 for 1.00 p.m.

The atmosphere is convivial as

those more senior Members

exchange amusing banter.

Photo left to right: Richard Chisnell,

President David Farthing, Godfrey

Knowles, Colin Cook & Mike Tilbury.

Godfrey is the active ‘Father of the

House’ in the parliamentary sense.

He was President in 1987-8 and has

proffered wisdom from experience

with a wicked sense of humour.

This is open to anyone who has a spare

moment to join those with Dementia

and their carers for a cup of coffee or

tea and a chat with other volunteers.

This opportunity happens once a

month on Monday 10.30 – 12.00 in the

comfortable lounge of Sunrise Nursing

Home, Stockbridge Road. cf. Website.

6

Bengal Sage Charity Evening

Fiona Whitehouse Honoured

Worthy Down Open Day

Breaking News

New dishes at The Bengal Sage in St. George’s Street were sampled by a very happy

group of Rotarians and guests at the special fundraising meal in May thanks to the

generosity of Rotarian Miff Kayum, the owner of the restaurant.

As well as being feed those present had an explanation about traditional Bengal

Dancing and then watched a particular dance being performed. There was also a

cookery demonstration by the restaurant’s chef.

Rotarians Leslie Loughridge and Chrissy Saunders organised a very successful raffle.

The evening raised £650 in a very pleasant and social way. Many thanks to all those

who supported the evening.

Rock Recruitment PA of the Year – Fiona Whitehouse, “PA Anywhere”.

“Winners shine at the inaugural Southampton Venus Awards” was the

newspaper’s headline. Congratulations to Winchester Rotarian Fiona who is

pictured right between fellow winners.

More than 600 nominations were received for the awards, which aimed to

highlight the achievements of the city’s most impressive female

entrepreneurs, bosses and employees across 13 categories. There will be

more about Fiona’s ‘Sound Advice’ mentoring service in July’s Bulletin.

The Drumhead Service at Worthy Down was attended by President David and

Janet Farthing, Richard and Maureen Chisnell, John and Mary Sweeting, Polly

and Colin Cook as guests of the Adjutant General Corps. Also present were:

Lord Lieutenant Dame Mary Fagan, Mayor of Winchester Frank and Mayoress

Ann Pearson, and immediate past Mayor Barry and Christine Lipscomb.

The photo left shows Hugh McNeill and Duncan Gibson, courageously holding

on to the Rotary stand which shortly afterwards had to be dismantled due to

high winds. They were able to enjoy the rest of the day’s entertainments!

The Drumhead Service was the formal start to the Open Day which marked the 20th anniversary of the formation of

the AGC on 6 April 1992, bringing together into one regiment - Staff and Personnel Support (SPS); Provost (Royal

Military (RMP) and Military Provost Staff (MPS); Education and Training Services (ETS); Army Legal Services (ALS). A

superb lunch was followed by 'Tattoo' events including the White Helmets motor cycle display team. Colin Cook

May 26th.

May 4th.

A significant number of Rotary devotees attended the Friday performance of production by the Winchester

Operatic Society at the Theatre Royal. It was all aboard the Starship Pinafore for this contemporary production of

an old Gilbert & Sullivan favourite. Suzanne Hall directed an updated, amusing re-write by Nichola Paterson.

HMS Pinafore

The clever set with huge screens did

justice to the whole staging (left) of this

operetta. Our very own Hon. Sec. Gill

Russell was kitted out in a cosmic

costume as a member of the chorus.

Front of House charm was provided by

Robert Parsons and Richard Green (right)

on the night in question - thank you.

May 24th.

May 8th.

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Wednesday

Karen Smith & Royal Chelsea Hospital

Evening Meeting

Monthly Breakfast Meeting

“What strikes me above all is that

320 years ago, King Charles II

(below) had a deep appreciation

and understanding of the debt

which the country owed his

soldiers and took the initiative to

do something about it.”

The Royal Hospital, Chelsea was

the subject of Karen’s talk and

John Sweeting gave the ‘vote of

thanks’, part of which is reported

here:

Karen and John (below) are

holding a statue of a Chelsea

Pensioner. The In-Pensioner is

worn by war and bent by age but

still stands proud.

At the foot of the statue is the

soldiers' prayer, based on that

said by Sir Jacob Astley before the

Battle of Edgehill (1642) -

"O Lord you know how occupied I

shall be this day. If I forget thee

do not forget me."

“…whereas our current leaders

have no understanding or

appreciation of the military.”

The Royal Hospital in 1750s (above)

was built by Christopher Wren

Evening Meeting 26 May

“Would that our current leaders

had the same appreciation of

their servicemen & women and

showed the same commitment!

The difference of course is that

King Charles was a soldier…”

Queen Elizabeth visiting the hospital

here with Matron Karen Smith

Thank you, Karen for a fascinating

and unique insight into the Royal

Hospital.”

“We have enjoyed a pictorial tour

of the Hospital… you have made

it somewhere we want to visit!

“You have given us interesting

historical facts, fascinating

anecdotes, quaint customs and a

cast of memorable characters.”

John Sweeting

23 May

Jon Howard, General Manager,

Wykeham Arms & David Farthing

Norman Murphy, Bluebird Care

with Jackie Porter (Chairman)

Sue Warden-Owen, Business

Consultant & Simon Burge

Mike Hill and Rachel Owen, new

Members (see page 4& 5)

Lesley Loughridge, Iain Steel and

Phil Voce, Age UK Trustee

Rob Williams Director Williams

Ewan Ltd. & Roger Walker

8

Tripartite

Thursday 14-17 May

The welcome reception was held at

the Discovery Centre in the late

afternoon of Thursday.

Hosts (above) are Anthony

Arkwright (back left), John

Wilkinson (front left) and Hon. Sec.

Gillian Russell

Camouflage on WW1 ship above

was intended to confuse the range

finder on an enemy ship or a sub.

Commanding Officer of HMS Victory,

Lt.Cdr. Rob Strathern (above) gave a

guided tour of Nelson’s Flagship.

The visit to Portsmouth Naval Base

was courtesy of the Commander of

the Base: Commodore Tony Radakin.

Annie Arkwright (left) Rubi Rios

from Mexico and Irene Modzelan.

Friday

Presidents: Klaus Beckmann, David

Farthing Jean-Marc Bredel (l to r).

It was a privilege to have a very

special lunch at Spithead House, the

Commander’s historic residence.

Nelson’s Cabin (above), is divided

into three compartments: day cabin

dining cabin and bed place.

The hospitality was in full swing at

the barbeque held in Littleton

Village Hall (photos right and

below) on the Friday evening. At

least three national songs were

sung at the end of the party!

Nick Bell (above right), Tripartite

Supremo with smiling English diners.

The crest (above) on the starboard

side entrance of HMS Victory was

carved in 1991 by Ian G Brennan,

woodcarver to the Royal Household

who gave a vivid presentation to

Winchester Rotary in 2007.

9

Tripartite

Saturday

Assembled outside the west end of the Winchester Cathedral (above) after a morning tour by President David and

two other knowledgeable guides. This was followed by coffee with the Mayor and Mayoress of Winchester.

Colin Cook, with two fellow city

guides, showed the antiquities of

Winchester including some dramatic

knightly combat in the Great Hall!

Lunch was enjoyed in the Cathedral

Refectory. John Wilkinson explained

the matching grant joint project.

The formal dinner was held in St.

John’s House on Saturday evening.

All the speeches were excellent

and thanks were given for support

for the ‘Education Ugandan’ Grant.

In the afternoon, all eyes were

focused on the glories of Winchester

College (above) with Grade 1 listed

buildings including the Chapel,

Dining Hall, ‘School’ and cloisters.

The three Presidents spoke as with

one voice on Rotary principles.

“Cheers” – “Prost” – “Santé”

Markus Löhndorf (Oberhausen) and

Simon Theobalds, Presidents Elect.

Cllr. Frank Pearson and his wife Anne

kindly showed our visitors round

Abbey House. They are pictured

below with the dining room ‘Teddy’.

Two top musicians: Ellen Nugent,

pianist, and Molly Roworth (above

centre), flautist, played beautifully

during the evening. Perrins Catering

provided a three course dinner with

Salmon and Boeuf Bourguignon.

Brunch in the Royal Hotel was the

last social gathering (see below).

Le Havre is the venue for 2013.

Sunday

10

AGM Reports

International Committee:- * Grants to: Child Health International ( £500) ; RIBI Water Survival Boxes (£1400) as

response to international disasters ; Two gap year students visiting slums of Mombasa (£400) ; Peter Symonds College

Embabaze Project in southern Uganda.(£500) * Successful 2011 Christmas Shoe Box Appeal.

* International Gala Evening with the Ugandan High Commissioner. * International Showcase Evening with Project

Embabaze (Peter Symonds); Marion Cornick (Basingstoke President) on Special Education School in Zambia; John MacAulay on

VSO in Zambia. * Preparations for the Tripartite Weekend. * Engagement with District International

Committee at seminar.

* Plans for Calcutta Exchange, agenda made and discussed with colleagues in India by Arun.

Environment Committee:- The committee has formed relationships with the Winchester City neighbourhood

Wardens and Winchester Action on Climate Change. And the Hampshire Wildlife Trust.

We held a profile raising event in St. Maurice Culvert in the 8th October with The Winchester Litter Pickers, Winacc, and tools

For Self Reliance and the Wildlife Trust.

In December we met with two organisations to initiate joint projects to plant trees from the Woodland Trust on Land owned

by public bodies in the autumn 2012. Volunteers will be sought for planting days in due course when we can confirm the

delivery dates of the trees.

In February we held our first Environment Action Day in partnership with the Wildlife Trust on land leased from The Hospital

of St. Cross by the Wildlife Trust. During the day we were joined by volunteers from The Trust, Winacc and an impressive

number of Rotary members to clear rubble and rubbish from the site and plant new hedging plants. A donation of £500 was

made by Rotary to the Trust to help cover the costs of skip, hedging plants and other consumable items for the day.

Further work days on this site are planned for the Autumn and Winter.

In April the committee met with a representative of parents from Otterbourne Primary School to explore was the Rotary can

help with the building of a new outdoor learning facility at the school. This project is also on-going.

Youth Committee 1. Three young people attended RYLA during camps in July and August 2011.

2. Youth Showcase Evening held 26th September with presentations from : RYLA Street Reach Osborne School

3. Participation in Winchester Youth Counselling pilot scheme to provide transportation for disadvantaged young people

from Street Reach.

4. Meetings held with Winchester University Staff, National Rotaract President and District Rotaract Leader, with a view

to creating a Rotoract Club based at the University. Key date will be the Freshers Fair on 22nd September 2012.

5. Meeting held with Henry Beaufort School Deputy Head and Chair of Governors with a view to exploring wider rotary

collaboration, e.g. Mock Interviews, Young Writer, Young Photographer and perhaps setting up of Interact. Process to be

initiated by a pilot mock interview session with a small group of Year 10 pupils in mid June.

6. Young Chef competition cancelled at short notice due to lack of commitment from contributing schools.

7. Young Musicians Festival cancelled due to late scheduling issues with Henry Beaufort School.

Community Committee:- Creation of the Reminiscence Group and four successful meetings so far.

Another successful Senior Citizens' party and (in November) the theatre trip.

Vocational visit to Olympic village in March. Day sailing for the Young Carers last summer.

Various requests for donations have been considered and discussed, with cheques then being despatched. CAB grant of £2000

(to pay for redecoration of their premises in St. George's St) is the most significant of these. Others total some £2350 with a

further £750 for Kids Out as well as cost of Senior Citizens Party and Theatre Trip.

Showcase evening on 30th April, with the opportunity to more deserving causes. Nick Bell, Director

Service Committee

11

WINCHESTER ROTARY BULLETIN SPONSORS

Perrins Catering

www.perrinscatering.co.uk

Catering for all your needs

Perrins@live.com

AGM Reports

07879 013783

Home & Office Computer

Help, Tuition, Repair

Simon Applebaum

simon@applebaum.co.uk

May 14

The Fellowship Committee beavers away in the background and ensures the smooth running of meetings and events.

1. The monthly Breakfast Meetings under the leadership of Iain Steel and Chairmanship of Jackie Porter remain

popular with an average of 28 members and guests attending.

2. Lunch Meetings under the leadership of Bill Lumsden too are very popular. Average attendance is 23 members.

3. Evening Meetings under the leadership of Geoff Cox and Fiona Whitehouse remain the busiest of all meetings with

an average of 59 members and guests attending.

4. My thanks go to Geoff Cox for all his hard work as he stands down from the post of Evening Meetings Manager.

5. Thank you too to Fiona Whitehouse for her efficiency and sheer professionalism for supporting me and the

Fellowship Team over the past year.

6. The Speakers Secretary, Richard Abbott has also completed a superb job during the year and has arranged a number

of really interesting speakers to entertain us. Richard is also stepping down from his post.

7. Our club has had a number of outstanding evenings during the year. In particular, the Christmas Party at the Wessex

Hotel and the Ugandan Event at the Holiday Inn. Both of these events were very well attended by members and many

guests.

8. As mentioned the Club has attracted many guests and potential members during this year, which undoubtedly

raises the profile of Rotary within the City. Recently many such attendees have contributed to the cost of their meals. Thus

sparing the carefully managed and over stretched budgets.

9. Social Events co-ordinator Geoff Wicks organised a very enjoyable trip in March to the Olympic Village in London.

This was attended by some 40 members.

10. Also in March the Funnelle Trophy, awarded for ten pin bowling, was once again won by the Rotary Club in an

exciting and challenging occasion against Inner Wheel. This was organised by Sports Officer Brian Bull.

11. Almoners John Cranmer and Geoff Cox reported throughout the year on the wellbeing of members, their partners

and also retired Rotarians

12. New appointments: Karen Smith has kindly taken on the role of Speakers Secretary along with her other role of Club

Protection and Safety Officer.

13. Sally Hake has also agreed to become the Evening Meetings Manager. Thank you to you both.

14. Finally; Consideration is being given to the revival of the Saturday morning ‘meet over a coffee’ get together. Often

commitments during the week means that a number of members rarely manage to see each, so an informal meeting at the

Corner House in Parchment Street is likely to be introduced. It is hoped that details will be circulated shortly.

Robert Parsons, Director

Stroke Club

To keep readers in the picture the Stoke

Club continues to meet every Friday in

Otterbourne Village Hall 2.00 – 4.00 p.m.

Volunteer Rotarians kindly transport

between home and hall. Contact: Jeremy

Ouvry to offer help. Marigold (centre in

both photos) organises the meetings.

12

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Careers and

Educational Guidance

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alanbeckett@step1.co.uk

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Communications Committee

Website

•Over the past year Ning has continued to work well and has helped to reduce the burden on the meeting management team

in coordinating numbers for events.

•The Team are reviewing Ning following feedback from the club. One aspect of this is externally facing information – can we

improve how the club looks to non-Rotarians visiting the site?

Social Media

•Winchester Rotary already have a presence on Facebook and Twitter, but are looking to improve our use of these, particularly

Twitter, to keep up with other organisations, particularly local organisations, who use Twitter frequently – Hampshire

Chronicle, Winchester City Council, University of Winchester, local charities, other Rotary Clubs, RIBI, etc.

•Early discussions have occurred with the University of Winchester on a collaborative project to look at how we can facilitate

this.

Bulletin

•The Bulletin continues to be very popular. I am sure that the Club will be pleased to hear that there are currently no plans to

move to a totally online version, but the committee is constantly reviewing this to ensure it is produced in a cost effective way.

•A big thank you to Editor James Larcombe who does an outstanding job in putting this together each month. Please continue

to facilitate this by ensuring he has a plentiful supply of articles!

Media Coverage

•Thank you also to Gill Russell who has developed an excellent working relationship with the Hampshire Chronicle. We have

had excellent exposure over the past year with many of our events covered. This is excellent exposure for Winchester Rotary.

•Rotary Wessex also continues to be a useful medium in which to showcase our events. Thank you to President Elect Simon

Theobalds for his involvement in this.

Paul Ratcliffe, Director

AGM Reports

Membership Committee

Having seen a lull in the immediate run up to and the month following Christmas recruitment seems to have picked up again.

We have 3 new Members who are likely to join us in May. There are probably realistic potentials in the pipeline of at least a

further 5 but it is difficult to be certain about the timing of their joining the Club.

We will certainly have at least 3 resignations on 30 June. The net effect of all this is that it is likely that we will fall short of our

92 Membership target for our 10% growth but we could be close to mid 80’s in our Membership as on 30 June.

All those who have persisted in introducing new Members and encouraging their friends and acquaintances to come to events

should be thanked and encouraged to continue with their efforts. If we all had a target of bringing along at least one new

person within the next 12 months this would spread the base of those who are currently involved in recruitment.

Something we’ve introduced this year is a ‘first year members group’ to help new Members integrate into our activities, and to

resolve any early concerns like either not being given enough to do, or alternatively being asked to do too much.

Finally, I would like to record formally my appreciation of all the efforts that Julian English puts in in his role as Membership

Secretary. We would not have the number of Members nor the quality of new applicants for Membership without his efforts.

Hugh McNeill, Director

13

Fundraising Committee. We are asked to be concise and brief. I believe there should be Fun in Fundraising and that it

does provide an opportunity for Club members to get to know one another as well as having the satisfaction of raising money

for very worthwhile causes.

We now seem to have a good pattern of events and have determined on the whole how best to mix between the ring-fenced

money to support our general endeavours (determined by the Spending Committees such as Youth, Community Service and

International) and those events which need to target a specific charity to make that event successful. We all know it is much

easier to promote a fundraising event for a specific charity but need to support the spending committees.

Our Fundraising is lead by Project Team and then the events supported by all members of the Club. I am very grateful to all

members of the Project Teams for what they do. I think a particular thank you is due to the Team Leaders who this year, in

event sequence, have been

•Anthony Arkwright – Fireworks in November •Irene Modzelan – wearing her Foundation Hat – Quiz Night in November

•Richard Green – Carol Singing in December •Richard Abbott – Specialist Music Students Concert in January

•Jon Pierce – Swimathon in February •The President and Iain Steel – Theatre Royal evening in April

•Miff Kayum – Fund raising meal in May

And not yet run as an event but very strongly running as a Project Team during this Rotary Year

• Roger Walker and JJ – Clarendon Way Marathon for next October. Just a couple of other points:

We have been allocated the monies from the Car Boot sale at Andover Road car park on 8 July - I need help to collect pitch fees

and does the Club also want a ‘boot presence’ as we did last year?

Finally a particular thank you to Jon Pierce who set up the Swimathon and has run it each year till now and wishes to try a new

challenge – our challenge is to find someone to replace him. Paul Russell, Director

AGM Reports

Foundation Committee.

GSE. In October, the club hosted the 5 strong GSE team from Brazil for 4 nights. I am very grateful to Derek Davidson for

arranging an excellent & well-balanced programme of visits and entertainment, and also to those members of the club who

kindly acted as hosts, and also to the many Rotarians who provided transport, escorted the team and joined us for the skittle

night.

Ambassadorial Scholars. The club has been hosting Jessica Cofield Openshaw from Mississippi during her year’s study at

Winchester Business School. She spoke briefly and movingly at the 9/11 anniversary in the Steele’s Memorial garden and has also

attended a number of our functions. She spoke to us at our showcase evening in January. I am very grateful to JJ for acting as her

mentor for the year and arranging her evenings speaking to other clubs in the District. We did sponsor a candidate, Alex

Fennelle, for an ambassadorial scholarship in Australia next year, but competition was strong and she was pipped to the District

nomination.

Quiz Night. Irene Modzelan, backed by an excellent team, organised an excellent Quiz Night in Itchen Abbas hall in November

with guest celebrity Kevin Ashman. The evening raised just under £1,300 for End Polio Now. Over the 4 years of the Gates

Challenge, the club raised over £6,000 and comfortably met its target.

Peace Fellowships. District Officer Robert Ellis addressed the Showcase evening in January on ‘Peace Fellowships’.

Matching Grants. There are currently two in progress:

• The 4 year Wells for India project is now complete and John Sweeting is in process of preparing the final report. He will

say more about this in due course.

• The Intra Ocular Lens project with RC of Hooghly near Calcutta is well under way. It pays for corrective implant surgery

for 1000 people suffering from cataracts. The club contribution was just under £2,000 towards a £12,500 project. Thanks to

Denis Sprague for master-minding this; it involves a lot of paperwork!

Pledges. You will recall that the club contribution to RI’s Annual Programmes Fund in 2010-11 was a record £6,350 and was

recognised as the highest club contribution in Rotary Zone 18a (most of Southern England and the near Continent). We do not

have a final figure for this year, but we already know, thanks to Miles Lemon’s efficient monitoring and the generosity of

members, that we shall comfortably exceed last year’s record. John will be able to give you the final figure next month.

John Sweeting, Director

14

Winchester Inner Wheel Club News

Patsy Eade , Club Correspondent

And on the following balmy

afternoon Green Guide Rotarian

Colin Cook led the now indefatigable

Maureen Chisnell, Ronni Davis and

Sybil Thomas (but no Carole) on a

tour of the city with Jenny Brocket

(nee Chisnell – can you see the

likeness ?) and Rotarian David Davis

good naturedly in tow.

Into May wearing our winter woolies

we now see it out, casting our clouts,

in the heat wave.

Heat wave or chill the Inner Wheel

ladies continue to pursue their

interests.

On 4 May a party of members and

Rotarians attended the Theatre Royal

to enjoy an unusual performance of

HMS Pinafore presented by the

Winchester Operatic Society.

The Cathedral concert on 12 May

(see May Bulletin) was an uplifting

and inspiring event).

On 28 May, Assistant Manager

Pamela Gilbert talked to the club

about the Methodist based “Live at

Home Scheme” (President Judith’s

chosen charity).

The scheme which is democratically

run and non- denominational is

open to anyone over 60 and

provides activities and support for

over 300 members.

There is a waiting list to join but

volunteers to help are always

welcome.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be

celebrated with a lunch at Harestock

Lodge on 15 June (the road will be

up so let us hope we can gain

access!) and plans for outings are in

the air for the Long Barn Lavender

Farm at Alresford and eventually

Highgrove. We will be providing

hands on support at the Rotary Car

Boot Sale on 8 July.

In At the AGM on 14 May President

Judith and Overseas’ Organizer

Carole Steel reported on the club’s

eventful year and Treasurer Sheila

Wickes on the healthy state of our

finances (pleased to see still in credit)

with her forecast for the future.

Reports were given by Pam Tilbury

about the Talking newspaper, Patsy

Eade on the Winchester Prison

Visitors’ Tea Bar, the Tegfield House

trolley by Janet Richardson, and

WRVS by Judith, to all of which

members contribute their time.

Barbara Sharman agreed to continue

as Health and Safety, and Honorary

member Marion Carr was formerly

invited and agreed to become a full

member.

Enthusiastic members Carole Steel

(that girl gets almost everywhere),

Social Secretary Maureen Chisnell,

Sybil Thomas, Secretary Sue Hall,

Betty Evans, Barbara Sharman, and

Ronni Davis attended Alton Club’s

tea on 23 May at which Carole

presented District Overseas’

Chairman Wendy Osgood with a

donation cheque.

Members participated in the recent

Rotary Tripartite weekend hosting

guests and meals and attending

visits to Portsmouth Dockyard and

Winchester Cathedral and a

barbeque at Littleton and Gala

Evening at St John’s Rooms. Old

friendships were renewed. The spirit

of entente cordiale is alive and well.

The walk finished with tea at Annie’s

Tea Rooms at the barracks where the

writer joined the tourists for a

refreshing beverage.

Carole Steel & Wendy Osgood

Visiting group to Alton President Judith, Pamela Gilbert and

Carole Miles-Lovelock

Cook’s Tours!

15

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WINCHESTER ROTARY BULLETIN SPONSORS

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Meetings and Events in June

Monday 25th. June. Evening Meeting. 7.00 for 7.30 – 10.00 p.m. “Handover Night”.

Attendance & Reception: Irene Modzelan. Properties & Grace: Gordon Funnelle.

Menu: Turkey à la King with rice & peas, Poached Pears with Chantilly Cream.

Meetings in July

Monday 4th. June. Diamond Jubilee Holiday No Lunch Meeting

Monday 18th. June. Lunch Meeting has been cancelled because of the Evening Festivities.

President’s Night. 6.45 for 7.30 – 10.00 p.m. King Charles’ Hall, The Guildhall

Wednesday 20th. June. Monthly Breakfast Meeting. 7.15 for 7.30 – 8.30 a.m.

The Hampshire Room, Winchester Royal Hotel, Contact: Iain Steel / Website.

Monday 11th June. Evening Meeting. 7.30 for 7.30 – 10.00 p.m. Club Assembly.

Attendance & Reception: Iain Steel. Properties: Gill Russell.

Menu: Lasagne, Green Salad & New Potatoes, Fruit Meringue

Congratulations

Monday 2tnd. July. Lunch Meeting. 12.30 for 1.00 p.m. Buffet

Attendance & Reception: Peter Ammann West Properties & Grace: Geoff Cox

Monday 16th. July. Lunch Meeting. 12.30 for 1.00 p.m. Buffet

Attendance & Reception: Anna O’Brian Properties & Grace: David Farthing

Monday 9th. July. Evening Meeting. 7.00 for 7.30 – 10.00 p.m.

Speaker: Jane Gates: ‘Sebastian's Action Trust’ (pictured right)

Monday 23rd. July. Evening Meeting. 7.00 for 7.30 – 10.00 p.m.

Attendance & Reception: Eileen Berry. Properties & Grace: .James Larcombe. Menu: tba

Speakers: ‘My Life’ Talks by Jackie Weston and Anthony Arkwright.

Monday 30th July. Evening Meeting. 7.00 for 7.30 – 10.00 p.m. Details: tba.

Attendance & Reception: Tricia Abbott. Properties & Grace: Simon Applebaum.

Menu: tba Contact: The Royal Hotel

Jane leads a Charity that was formed following the death of her nine year old son, and provides free respite

beaks for seriously and terminally ill children and their families in a brand new , purpose built holiday house in

the in the Hampshire village of North Waltham, just ten miles north of Winchester.

16

The Lilacs, West Hill Road North

South Wonston Winchester SO21 3HJ

T/F: 01962 882445 Mob: 07800 617240

E: hugh@mcneill.uk.com

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Key Events June - July

WINCHESTER ROTARY BULLETIN SPONSORS

Details at: www.winchesterrotary.ning.com

Editorial: A sincere thank-you to all contributors to and advisers for this edition. Especially to our Hon. Sec. Gill

Russell, who sends relevant emails to us all and regularly updates the website; which we need to visit. JML

Festival of Volunteering

3rd June

13th June

Kid’s Out

Joint Presidents’ Night to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee

The Festival of Volunteering will be

held in the Cathedral Outer Close

with activities for the national ‘Big

Lunch’, called locally ‘One Big Table’,

a multicultural event celebrating the

cultural diversity of Winchester,

which includes food, music & dance.

We meet at Osborne School at 08.30

travelling by coach with our guests

returning to the school no later than

15.00 hrs. You will be allocated a

child to care for and will be in a small

group with a teacher as a leader.

There will be a reception at 6.45 and

Dinner at 7.30. Speeches at 9.00 will

be followed by a festive musical

entertainment. Do join this

memorable event and bring a guest.

The King Charles Hall, Winchester

Guildhall is the prestigious setting for this

celebratory evening at this special time in

our Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee

Year with Members of Inner Wheel.

It’s that time of the year again when

we join other clubs in our District

entertaining special needs children at

Paulton's Park. Treasured regulars

will recall the day as rewarding,

humbling, but always Good Fun!

A ‘Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Picnic’

will take place in the Cathedral Inner

Close. These events will provide a

draw for visitors, so is an

opportunity to promote our work to

a very large potential audience, as

one of the active local charities.

18th June

11th July

Arrival of the Olympic Torch at Kings Worthy

Rotarians are invited to be Marshalls at

the once in a lifetime event of the

arrival of the Olympic Torch. Large

crowds are expected including all the

children from Kings Worthy Primary

School. 6.00-7.00pm

Marshalls not at the scene of

activities will stand down in good

time to witness the torch arrival and

the fun. The precise time of arrival

will be advised later. Contact Denis

Welstead to help.

11th June

Reminiscence Group

A coffee morning, providing an

informal opportunity for dementia

sufferers and their carers.

Meet and chat in convivial company

at Sunrise Senior Living. Visit the

website or Contact: Simon Burge