Guest speaker - Lowri Williams

One of the biggest attendances in the history of the Rotary Club of Rhyl is expected at the 90th anniversary gathering to mark the granting of its charter in 1926 being celebrated this Friday May 6 at Faenol Fawr. President Mike Parry said this historic occasion, which saw the formal creation of the first Rotary Club in North Wales, was sure to attract wide support from clubs throughout District 1180 as well as every current Rhyl club member, together with wives and partners. Among the special guests present would be the leading Rotarian in the land, Peter Davey , the President of Rotary International of Great Britain and Ireland, who would be the principal guest speaker, as well as the District Governor and Presidents representing dozens of clubs from a wide area. “It promises to be a really memorable night and one fitting such an iconic landmark in the evolution of the great Rotary movement in this corner of the world,” he said. With this week’s regular Tuesday night meeting being left blank in view of the Charter Night high-spot, members have also been reminded of the annual Charity Plant Sale being held at Trefnant Village Hall this Saturday from 11am to 2pm. Vice-President Rod Brocklehurst said as well as a wide variety of plants for beds, borders, hanging baskets and planters, refreshments would be available throughout, with admission free. All proceeds will be used for the work of Rotary charities. Meanwhile, the intricacies of the voting system to be used at this Thursday’s National Assembly of Wales elections were explained to members by guest speaker Lowri Williams, a senior officer employed by the Assembly in its North Wales region. A native of Ruthin, the speaker was introduced by Past President Gareth Wynne Jones and in an entirely objective and non-political talk emphasized the extensive efforts being made to simplify the process for electors to understand and follow. She and a colleague had given over 120 presentations at public meetings and to a wide range of organisations throughout North and Mid-Wales in recent months while the Electoral Commission had also produced comprehensive bilingual literature setting out the way the incoming National Assembly members would be chosen to run the 21 different devolved functions for which they would become responsible. After answering a wide range of probing questions, the speaker was warmly thanked by President Mike Parry for so impartially explaining what many found to be a complicated system in such a simple and helpful way.