Digital Bulletin No 93

March 2026

Panel showing our Club's name, Graham's name as our President and the 2025-26 Rotary theme.

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March 2026

From the editor’s deskFrom the editor’s desk

Ah, good. I am able to produce this Bulletin after all. I cannot yet return to physical meetings but I am hopeful that things will improve. In the meantime, as usual I would like to thank all members who have helped with material for this edition.

Sadly we have yet another tribute to a Past President and Honorary Member to include in this issue. He was Roy Jones, the “Father of the House” so far as Past Presidents were concerned. For many years he arranged our annual Past Presidents’ Dinner at Chelmsford College.

Words from the President

February 5

On Thursday 5 February we held our regular Business Meeting on Zoom. Nine of us managed to tune in and the summary of our discussions were minuted for future reference. We were able to debrief the recent senior citizen Pantomime visit and the Young Musician competition. Following discussion we agreed to run both events next year and will be looking for Members to share the workload where it happens. We also agreed to hold a summer party in July and in the absence of Alison we will be looking for a Member to lead on this event, albeit a number of us will need to assist with transport and at the venue.

February 6

On 6 February I attended the funeral celebration of Honorary Member and Past President, Alan Scott, together with a number of our Club Members. The service was held at St John’s Church, Little Leighs, and the church was crammed with guests from various organisations together with friends and family. Afterwards we attended the Young Farmers Barn in Chatham Green for refreshments and it was also an opportunity for me to pop in and say hello to our friends in the Wilderness Foundation UK, whose office was next door.

February 12

On 12 February we held our meeting at the Ivy Hill but sadly our planned speaker was unable to attend due to sickness. But David Axon came to the rescue and it was a pleasure to introduce him to speak to us on the subject “When I was Young”.

David recounted the time when, at the age of 21 years in 1967, he was working as a labourer, involved in concreting at a Stockport shopping mall. It was the summer holidays and prior to him attending Manchester University. He had two student ambitions at the time. Firstly, to attend the Last Night of the Proms and secondly, to attend the October Beer Festival in Munich.

David spoke to us about the latter adventure. He and a friend decided they would hitch hike to Munich. Unlike the present this was a relatively safe and common practice in the sixties, both for the hitch hiker and the car driver. They caught an overnight ferry and decided to travel city to city. Bed for the night would be in a field! Having got to Cologne the next stop was Suttgart, but things didn’t quite go as planned. David felt very unwell, so much so that his friend called for an ambulance and David was taken to Stuttgart Hospital as he was having breathing difficulties. By mutual arrangement David’s friend travelled on to Munich.

David was unconscious for a couple of days. He had no money and no travel insurance so paying for hospital care was problematic. Fortunately his Dad travelled to Germany and was familiar with the language. In all, David remained in hospital for seven days and Dad picked up the bill. They both got a flight to Heathrow. David still experienced breathing difficulties and required oxygen. The flight to Manchester was cancelled and so he then travelled by train. It was established that David had suffered with pneumonia.

The following year David was in Chelmsford, where he met his wife, and to this day has never been to the Munich Beer Festival.

Never short of a story, this was another adventure in David’s life which, despite the seriousness of the event, was told as an amusing tale to Members.

February 19

On Thursday 19 February our usual fellowship meeting was cancelled and I, together with other Members, attended the funeral of Honorary Member and Past President Charles held at St Laurence Church, Blackmore. It was an opportunity to reflect on Charles’ love of cricket and greyhounds, Members gathered in the Blackmore tea rooms for refreshments after the service.

February 25

Two men wearing yellow Marie Curie top hats and tabards On 25 February, Francis Whitbread, Keith Dabbs, Anne Moriety and Steve, plus myself, worked as a team at Morrisons Supermarket to collect monies on behalf of the Marie Curie charity. We collected a handsome sum, of which £80 was collected via card payment through the “SumUp” device. We enjoyed the day and special thanks to Francis who made the arrangements and remained all day throughout others’ slots. A photo opportunity could not go amiss.

February 26

On 26 February we welcomed guest speaker, Lisa Walton from Southend YMCA, who gave Members a very interesting talk about the YMCA and in particular the achievements it has made in Southend on Sea. Founded in 1887 as a men’s hostel and dispensing pastoral care, the YMCA has developed and diversified over the years, providing opportunities within the youth community for social, cultural and moral development, health and wellbeing. Working with both children and families, they have undertaken various mentoring projects and offer positive influence in their lives. One in seven children in Southend live in poverty without basics and go hungry. Lisa particularly highlighted their work supporting housing for young people aged 18-25 facing homelessness. At their Newlands accommodation they have room for up to 35 residents at a time and have helped countless young people to build skills and confidence for a brighter future. Indeed this year marks 30 years of providing safe and supported housing. Further information about their workload around can be found on their social media sites or via their internet site.

PDG Anne Moriaty presented a banner to our Club. Another first class achievement. I currently have a number of Rotary international banners which members can use for events.

Thoughts for the Day

January 22, David Axon
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature.
Ann Frank

February 12, Angela Dickman
Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.
Albert Einstein

February 26, Geoff Dickman
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?
John Steinbeck

Random jottings

Camping is where you pay a small fortune to live like a homeless person.

I used to be able to do cartwheels. Now I trip over putting on my socks.

My wife says I have just two faults. One is that I don’t listen. I can’t remember the other one.

In the theatre, which armrest is yours?

The early bird may catch the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese.

They start the evening news with “Good evening” and then tell you why it isn’t.

I can’t stop telling airport jokes. My doctor says it’s a terminal problem.

Police advice

Via Chelmsford & Maldon Neighbourhood Watch. Provided by Geoff Dickman.

Drawing ofr a blue lamp, as seen outside police stations in the past Here is a message for us all - as we progress into this year we must not be complacent when it comes to home security and personal safety. Our core focus of Neighbourhood Watch - to keep mindful about prevention:

keep windows and external doors of premises securely locked when out;
always keep some form of lighting and voice radio on when out - giving the impression that someone is in;
secure vehicles - use good quality steering wheel locks and make use of Faraday pouches if you have keyless ignition;
never leave tempting items visible in vehicles - even if the vehicle is secure;
check garden sheds and items outside are secured;
make sure bicycles are locked and hidden out of sight.
Keep an eye out for vulnerable neighbours. Report anything suspicious through the recommended channels:
Is it an emergency? Call 999 in emergency situations like these:
- there is an immediate danger to life
- someone is using violence or is threatening to be violent
- a crime is happening right now, like a house burglary or a theft
- the suspect is still at the scene
Other urgent or important matters such as domestic abuse, a road traffic incident, or antisocial behaviour, use the Essex Police website www.essex.police.uk and go to Report it.

There’s much more information on the Police website for other reporting matters too.

Use 101 if necessary

To provide intelligence, general information, etc, use the NPT email:- chelmsfordandmaldonnpt@essex.police.uk

More detailed advice can be found on the Chelmsford & Maldon Neighbourhood Watch website.

Badgeless bell

President Graham

Our Rotary brass bell, which was presented to the Club by Rotarian H D Wood on 3 July 1930, has temporarily parted from its Rotary International badge which proudly sits on top of the bell. At our meeting on 12 February, I picked up the bell by its badge, as everyone has done in the past, and to my surprise the bell remained on the table. Imagine how I felt! I was so pleased another Member was present to witness that I did nothing untoward, such as dropping the bell.

A Rotary brass bell without a handle I later learnt that the metal neck joining the badge to the bell had corroded. And so an adventure began.

Initially I visited the trophy store that engraves our Young Musician trophies. They couldn’t repair it. Then to an established jeweller in town, who only mended gold or silver. They recommended Baddow Antiques. The antique centre, including Stacy Auctioneers could not assist and suggested a blacksmith.

Driving to Boreham I found a blacksmith, but temporarily closed. Further searches on Google took me to Concepts in Metal in Sandon. Their establishment looked the part but I was told they did all sorts of soldering and welding but not brazing brass.

In desperation, I was pleased to have a discussion with Members at our recent meeting and John Watkins was suggested. I have therefore arranged for John to take a look, and he does indeed have some brass for brazing. So I shall report back in the next Bulletin on the outcome.

Roy Jones

Some memories of those who knew him.

Clare Wilson Roope

Roy’s daughter

My Dad was a Member of the Chelmsford Rotary Club for many years and was a Past President. He was also awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship. My father was the Principal of Chelmsford College of Education and joined the Chelmsford Rotary Club whilst working in Chelmsford.

Rotary was an extremely important part of his life and he, and my mother Brenda, had many happy times at Rotary occasions. My Dad became an Honorary Member of the Chelmsford Rotary Club and he still attended some events after he retired and left Chelmsford. He always enjoyed and was on fine form at Rotary activities!

Keith Dabbs

Roy Jones was our President in 1989-90. He was born in North Wales and after university entered lecturing. He progressed through various appointments before becoming Head of Management and Business Studies at Southend College of Technology. From this he became Vice Principal and then Principal of Chelmsford College of Further Education.

For many years he organised the Club’s Annual Past Presidents lunch at Chelmsford College.

He was a member of the Essex Area Manpower Board for 5 years and a Governor, including a period as Chair, of Moulsham High School for 15 years. After retirement he became a Governor of Westcliff High School for Girls.

Roy was also a member of the Committee of the Chelmsford Industrial Museum Society and served on the Essex Scout Fund Raising Committee

He enjoyed the theatre and watching Wales play rugby.

He joined Chelmsford Rotary club on 3 April 1980 and left on 1 July 1999. He was then appointed an Honorary Member. He was appointed a Paul Harris Fellow on 12 May 1997. As he lived in Thorpe Bay, Southend, the decision to leave the Club was probably as a result of his retirement from the College.

At the time of his death Roy was the elder President (statesman) of Past Presidents as none prior to his time survive.

Angela Dickman

For several years Roy Jones organised a lunch at Chelmsford College for Past Presidents of Chelmsford Rotary Club. At one point it seemed that it was attended by the entire Club!

Anne Moriaty

I believe Roy was one of the prime movers to get the Club to allow women to join. In those days Rotary Clubs could vote whether to admit women and the vote was passed in Chelmsford at the third attempt. Roy had become an Honorary Member by the time I joined in March 2000 but he used to attend special meetings and would always make a point of asking me how I was. For many years he also organised a lunch for Past Presidents in the Princes Room Restaurant at the College and thus maintained his connection with the Club.

You could have fooled me

A brown cardboard box labelled 'This box is green'

Rotary Young Musician District Final

Anne Moriaty

The District Final took place in Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday 28 February in the presence of the Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Smita Rajesh, and her consort.

The audience were treated to a lovely concert with high standard performances from five vocalists and six instrumentalists. Sadly there could only be two winners going through to the Regional Final and after lengthy deliberations the accolades went to pianist Tailin Liu sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bishop’s Stortford and vocalist Harry Sunderland sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dunmow.

Our Chelmsford winners, Henrietta Lawrence and Chloe Mahler were worthy runners-up.

I had the honour of giving out the certificates and the Deputy Mayoress presented the winner and runner-up trophies.

A colection of photographs