Welcome to Shrewsbury 

 

 Shrewsbury Castle during Rotary Centenary year 2005  

Rtn's Neil Hawkins and John Adlard helping with tent collection after the V Festival (23 Aug 2010)

The first year of collections about 5 years ago, consisted of five members of Brewood visiting the site following the concerts and collecting a number of tents.  The following year there was an increase in the number of Brewood members and from then on Brewood and District Rotary Club invited other Rotary clubs to participate.

Last year, there were a large number of Rotary clubs from the district represented in the collecting on the Monday, and on the Tuesday other clubs ie Scouts, Guides, Masons, joined us in the collection - numbers of personnel exceeded 400 in total.

The tents are collected from us by the INTERNATIONAL AID TRUST in Preston, and now not only the tents but also chairs, camping equipment, sleeping bags and wellington boots are all collected.  They are then sent to Preston prison for laundering by the prisoners before being sent out to disaster areas such as Haiti and Pakistan.

Last year it was estimated that 3000 tents were collected.

 

President Alan Wilding celebrating Rtn Frank Rogers 90th Birthday

Aug 2010

TV gardener Chris Beardshaw at Shrewsbury Flower Show telling Alan Wilding, Rotary Club of Shrewsbury President, the best way to plant crocus bulbs.  14 Aug 2010

FOCUS ON THE CROCUS

The three Rotary Clubs in Shrewsbury are looking for help with planting purple crocuses around the town to highlight Rotary’s worldwide ‘Thanks for Life’ campaign to end polio. These bright purple flowers match the colour of ink used to mark children’s little fingers once they have been immunised. By getting lots of people involved in planting purple crocus bulbs Rotarians will be creating a striking reminder of the need to finally eradicate polio as well as enhancing the town environment. The new crocuses will flower early next year in time to mark Rotary’s ‘Thanks for Life’ Day on 23 February 2010. Rotarians were busy on both days of last weekend’s Shrewsbury Flower Show seeking sponsorships for the supply of bulbs as well as volunteers to help with the planting.

Alan Wilding, President of the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury, said there had been a great response from show-goers and from the show’s celebrities, Chris Beardshaw and the Hairy Bikers who had visited Rotary’s Focus on Crocus stand. He said he had obtained expert advice on planting techniques from television gardener Chris Beardshaw.

Alan said: "Chris was very enthusiastic about our project and confirmed the purple crocus is amongst the best of all Spring bulbs with its vibrant main colour and bright orange stamens. He also told us it is one of the simplest bulbs to plant and we won’t even have to worry about which way up we put them in." He added: "We were also very encouraged to learn from Chris that crocuses can be planted in many different situations including grassed areas, borders, beds, containers and even hanging baskets."

Alan said a large number of sites will be needed for planting and the town’s Rotary Clubs will be pleased to hear from anyone who can offer prominent locations. Lots of voluntary help with planting will be needed from other groups and individuals on Saturday 2^nd October 2010. Offers of help will be welcomed through the contact form on the club’s website,

www.rotaryclubofshrewsbury.org.uk

Focus on Crocus is a nationwide initiative by Rotary International in Britain & Ireland (RIBI) which intends to set a world record for crocus bulb planting on 2^nd October 2010. The record will be for the largest number of people simultaneously planting bulbs at a single location. Polio cases worldwide are currently down to a very low figure as a result of Rotary’s programme of vaccinations over many years and now a final push is intended to eradicate the disease altogether.

Shrewsbury Rtn Margaret Thrower and Shawbury & Mid Shropshire Rtn Mike Jones who are involved in the Thanks for Life, crocus planting project.  Aug 2010 

PDG Bob Toon and Betty Toon, with President Alan Wilding after the presentation of their Paul Harris Multiple Fellowship Ruby and Sapphire Pins and 50 Year Service Certificate signed by the RIBI President 4th August 2010  

 

For the first event of the new Rotary year some Club members accompanied our new President, Alan Wilding, with a group visit to an NGS garden, which had been highlighted by a recent lunchtime speaker.  Marehay Farm, Gatten is high in the Stiperstones and has achieved an exceptional standard despite almost impossible conditions. Owners Carol & Stuart Buxton gave Club members an extended private tour. The party stopped on the way home for fish & chips and fellowship at the White Horse, Pulverbatch.  13 July 2010

Immediate Past President Colin Foot handing over to President Alan Wilding, July 2010. 

Presidents handover/takeover cruise on the river Severn 27 June 2010 

 

After the meal at Greenhous Meadow President Colin and his wife Sue enjoyed the entertainment produced by President Elect, Alan Wilding, featuring various aspects of Colin's life.  Presented by Lalage, Paul and Peter.  Presidents Night 19 June 2010 

 Members of the Rotary Club make a Vocational Visit to RAF Shawbury and are pictured here in front of an Airspeed Horsa Glider which is being restored at the base. A tour round the base included a visit to the Control Tower and the facilities used to train Air Traffic Controllers

This years Charity Ball with a Beatles tribute band raised over £1500 for Hope House Childrens Hospice and President Colin is seen with the Presidents of the other two Rotarys Clubs involved handing over the cheque to Vanessa Thomas of Hope House outside the Lord Hill Hotel on the 18th June 2010

 

While on duty at Crucial Crew at Nesscliffe, President Colin Foot presents a cheque from the Club to Geof Proffitt from the organising committee whilst the Mayor of Shrewsbury Cll Kath Owen and her husband Cll Mike Owen look on

 

Pupils from the Wakeman School and Arts College have raised £820 for the Shelter Box charity with the help and support of the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury. Two shelter boxes costing £500 pounds each have been shipped to Haiti to help the survivors of the January Earthquake.

Initial fund raising for the project started last year when pupils were inspired by a presentation given by members of the rotary club to a group of GCSE Geography pupils. Colin Foot, president of the Shrewsbury Rotary club commented:

" We have given our Shelter box presentation to a number of schools in the area and I have been really impressed with the pupils from the Wakeman who have shown genuine concern for the plight of others less fortunate than themselves. They are the first school to leap into action and fund two boxes I hope others will follow."

Pupils from the Wakeman arranged a busking day, performing to passersby in Abbey Foregate. After the earthquake in January they continued with their fundraising efforts, holding a variety of events such as: non-uniform days, face painting, sponsored silences and many other activities. Ruth Wrench Head of Humanities at the school said:

" I have been really impressed with the pupils commitment to this project. It is really good for pupils to see how their actions can have a positive effect on the lives of others."

The Wakeman hopes to continue working alongside the rotary club to support the Shelter box charity further

 

Rtn Mike Law presents the Beryl Law Trophy to Rotary President Colin Foot as winners of the Inner Wheel Challenge (1/02/10)

 

President Colin Foot celebrates Rtn Frank Belok's 90th birthday with a cake

Tom James (Shrewsbury Darwin President), Mike Mortimer (Shawbury & Mid Shropshire President) and Colin Foot (Shrewsbury President) toured Hope House on the 10th October 2009 {the first "Day in the Life" of Rotary worldwide} and then handed over a £500 cheque and formally announced that the Charity Ball next year would be in aid of Hope House. 

 A Shrewsbury Rotarian whose activities and recognition extend way beyond the bounds of Shropshire!

 

Dr Lalage Bown- Accolade for our Adult Education Specialist.

The United Nations Secretary General in a recent address on the subject of International Literacy referred expressly to the work of Emeritus Professor Lalage Bown in the context of "the profoundly empowering effect personally, socially and politically of acquiring literacy" It was in his message for International Literacy Day in September and it was followed closely by an announcement of Lalage’s induction in the Hall of Fame of International Adult and Continuing Education in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

After gaining Bachelor and Master Degrees at Oxford, Lalage worked in Africa from 1949 to 1980 where she was responsible for the development of adult education programmes in 6 African Universities. The following 12 years, to 1992 she was head of Glasgow University’s Department of Adult and Continuing Education. She has written and published many books on the subject, gave the UNESCO International Day Lecture in Paris this year and over the years has been awarded 5 Honorary Degrees. She was the first woman to receive the William Pearson Tolley Award from Syracuse University USA.

Shrewsbury Rotary Club is pleased to number Lalage in our membership noting the words from her Pennsylvania citation "Bown wasn’t just a university person, but an engaged, warm hearted, full of passion person with empathy for the participants and partners in the field of Adult Education."

  

 The Clubs International Night on the 6th November 2009 was to support Hope and Homes for Children and the guest speaker was Martin Bell OBE seen here with District Governor Lynne Deavin and her partner Bruce Boucher and President Colin Foot and his wife Sue

 

GSE Team Members from District 3310 (Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei) & Shrewsbury President C. Foot and Rtn P Pugh with the Mayor & Mayoress of Shrewsbury (Alan & Judy Townsend) 28th September 2009

  

DG's visit to Shrewsbury Club 9th Sep 2009

From the left Assistant Governor G.Watson (RC of Whitchurch), District Governor L. Deavin (RC of Stafford Knot) & Shrewsbury President C Foot.

Rtn's John Adlard & Alan Copplestone empting a tent before dismantling during the tent recovery following the Weston Park V Festival  

 

Group Study Exchange (Visit to Kansas) Presentation Evening 29 July 2009

From the left are Delia Yapp (Kansas), Rtn M Cooper,  T James (Shrewsbury Darwin President) Annica Goddard (Kansas) and Colin Foot (Shrewsbury President)

 

President Colin Foot accepts a rather large cheque raised from the Fred Olsen cruising experience.  From the left are M Evans (Fred Olsen Sales Manager for the Midlands and Northern England), Rtn B Bass and C Foot (Shrewsbury President) 

 

Officials present for the RIBI Presidents visit to Shrewsbury, from the left

Mike Mortimer (Shawbury & Mid Shropshire President), Tom James (Shrewsbury Darwin President), David Fowler (RIBI President), Lynne Deavin (District Governor) and Colin Foot (Shrewsbury President) 

President Colin helps the RIBI President (David Fowler) plant a tree at the Severn Hospice 

 

The Presidents of the Rotary Clubs of Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Darwin and Shawbury and Mid Shropshire bid farewell to the ActionAid cyclists as they leave Shrewsbury on their way to John O'Groats from Lands End

 

 President Ian Gillogaley presents cheques to representatives of Shropshire MIND and the Childrens Adventure Camp at the Long Mynd 

 

 

 

 

 

In the next 30 days..

06/09/2010  Narrow Boat trip for blind people.  
16/09/2010  Inner Wheel trip to Liverpool.