RECREATE Club Speakers 23/24

        Club Speakers 2023/24      

Club Speakers
Mon, Aug 7th 2023  - Club Speaker - David Hoyle - Guitarist
Mon, Aug 21st 2023  - Club Speaker John Tilson
Mon, Sep 11th 2023  - Ryla Candidate - Feedback
Mon, Sep 25th 2023  - Club Speaker - Ashley Peatfield - Funzi Bodo Charity
Mon, Oct 2nd 2023  -  Club Speaker - Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Mon, Oct 9th 2023 - Update from District Conferance plus talk by Andrew and his life in Malawi.
Mon, Oct 23rd 2023  - Club Speaker - Mary - Creative Criminals
Mon, Feb 5th 2024  - Speaker - John Broadhead.
Mon, Feb 12th 2024  - Speaker - Chris Tomes Citizans Advise
Mon, Feb 26th 2024  - Speaker - John Wilson Journalist
Mon, Mar 11th 2024  - Martin and Donna
Mon, Mar 25th 2024  - Speaker - David Garfield Holme Valley Mountain Rescue
Mon, Apr 22nd 2024  - Club Speaker Christine Gerard
Mon, Apr 29th 2024  - Speaker - Front Line Paramedic
Mon, May 20th 2024  - Garden Centre speaker
Mon, Jun 10th 2024  - Speaker - Jim Morton
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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites

Club Speaker David Hoyle - Guitarist - My life in Music.
On Monday 7th Aug David visited Batley Community Centre and gave a talk about his life with guitars.
David said he has always been obsessed about music. They had a piano at home and his first record was downtown. His older sister played the Cello and his brother played the Viola.

 

He was a chorist at  Holy Trinity church in Ossett.
When David was 13 he talked about his French exchange where he played the guitar for the first time. From this he saved to buy his first guitar.
When he was 15 he joined a school band where he bought a bass guitar for £19.95. for his hosts.

David talked about being throw in the deep end by playing base guitarist in a band.
He plays with two bands the Roosters and the Welsh T band.
David said he has played in bands for last 50 years and still does.
He has 28 guitars in his collection David brought 5 with him to show different sounds.
David had cancer 5 years ago.
Jeremy gave a vote of thanks for David explaining his similar path with his life in music.

Above President Helen pictured with David and his guitars.

See Davids talk at the club on his video Part 1.
Part 2

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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Club Speaker John Tilson
The Battle of Waterloo.

On Mon 21st  Aug John Tilson visited the club at the Batley Community Centre and gave a talk
on the Battle of Waterloo.
The talk was very well attended by Luddites and partners.
John talked of the build up to the battle explaining the background of Napoleon, his previous battles and the politics in Europe in the period before and after the battle.
John went through the battle, explaining the strategy and moves of Wellington and Napoleon through the day.
Also talking of the various Generals on each of the French, Prussian and English armies.

John Broadhead gave a vote of thanks to John and then was thanked by his partner
President Mary for his talk.

Short You Tube video of the Battle of Waterloo.

Professor Andrew Lambert from Kings College London explains the period and Battle of Waterloo

Below John giving his talk.



Below John and President Mary.

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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Club Speaker Ashley Peatfield
Funzi and Bodo Trust.
On Mon 25th Sept Club Speaker Ashley Peatfield spoke to the club about how his Charity started from his holiday in Africa to the present where the trust run 2 medical clinics, a birthing room, toilets and freshwater, and the rebuilding of 2 schools clinics.
Ashley spoke of how he loved his first visit to Bodo Island which is surrounded by mangroves and bird life and his story is an inspiration to all Rotarians how one person can evolve such an incredible Charity.
The Charity is based in Morley.

Funzi and Bodo Trust Story

The Funzi and Bodo Trust was started by journalist Ashley Peatfield and his teacher wife, Sara, over a decade ago. Shocked by the poverty and suffering in the villages they began by building a small medical clinic. Working with villagers they restored an old building on Funzi Island.  Two weeks later it opened with a nurse, assistant and medicines to treat sick patients.  Since then  the Funzi and Bodo Trust has become a registered UK charity run entirely by volunteers. Ashley and Sara still lead the charity but are backed by trustees and supporters with expertise in many areas including medicine, education and business.  It now provides extensive medical and educational services, sanitation and clean water as well as projects to end poverty. The charity works both on the island of Funzi and on the mainland in the village of Bodo. The Funzi and Bodo Trust’s policy of being entirely volunteer led in the UK means money raised and donated reaches those in need.

Ashley on left addressing the club.

President Mary thanked Ashley for his visit and talk. 


LINKS
Funzi and Bodo Trust
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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Club Speaker Helen Murray-Sharpe
Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Hele visited the club on Mon 2 Oct and updated us about the work of the Yorkshire Air ambulance.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across the whole of Yorkshire.

To keep both of their Air Ambulances maintained and in the air, they need to raise £12,000 every single day, which is the equivalent of £4.4m a year. The generosity that they receive really is the life blood of our Charity.

The Charity was set up in 2000 and with the addition of the second air ambulance in October 2007, the YAA now operate their own Dedicated Air Desk for rapid dispatch of their helicopters to an incident.

 

The swift medical interventions provided by the air ambulance crews have a major impact on a patient’s chance of survival and subsequent quality of life.
On average, dispatch time is around 2 to 3 minutes and patients are transferred to the nearest major trauma centre, flying at speeds of up to 160 mph.

LINKS
Yorkshire Air Ambulance
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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Andrew spoke of his African life in Malawi.

Andrew found himself with his brother on the streets for 4 years from age 9.
Adopted and educated by an American family.
He decided to create a Charity to help the street children funded in part by his business of selling fruit juices.
His charity pays for the children to go to school and provide them with a meal and a bed if they wish each night. Some of the children are so used to the streets they prefer not to sleep indoors.
The classes have between 100 to 300 in them so Andrews charity pays for 2 teachers to give the children he cares for one to one or small groups tuition after school.
Andrew wishes to create a library for these children between 5 and 11 to help them learn to read.
He is also asking for shoes for this age group as children in Malawi are often barefoot and shoes are compulsory in schools.

Any donation of shoes and books will be collected by President Mary to pass onto Andrew.

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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Batley and Birstall Food organisations

On Mon 6th Nov Batley Food Bank and Birstall Community Partnership organisers visited the club and gave a brief talk about how they operate.
In picture on right is Clare Jennings, Trice and Gale from Batley Food Bank. Started in 2013 they are open Mon to Fri at Admiral  Chaple Batley. They operate on a referal basis from this means people need to get an official  agency to tell the Food Bank that they need food. Fuel vouchers may be issuedby the local welfare team. People are assigned 7 days food can be for single person or a family in difficultys. They deliver to all North Kirklees fresh food and tin goods.

 

Second from left Lisa explained the Birstall Community Partnership food share where food is distributed on a Thursday from Howden Clough Community Center anyone can come and receive food they also run 3 shops.
They have also this week issue food voucheres for Ellie's of Birstall Ltd, Haggarts butchers and the fish shop on Howden clough as well as doing food parcels for families in need and support with household bills. we do what we do for our community. This is a group who will help in any way we can.

Pic left,  the Food Share in operation at howden Clough.


The ladies took questions from Luddites they said they help each other with 5 groups involved 

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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Club Speaker
Rotarian John Broadhead "Travels of a Civil Servant".

On Mon 5th Feb Rotarian John gave a history talk about his work as a Civil Servant.
John decided to skip University and enter the Civil Service in Sept 1963. He entered the MOD and did a year training in Northern Island before being posted to Hong Kong. This journey John said was enjoyable on the P&O SS Cathay and took 6 to 7 weeks.
From there he visited South Korea and visited the North Korean Border.

In 1971 he was back to UK in MOD Whitehall for 3 years.

John then held a senior role in the UK Saudi Arabia Lightening contract flying back and forward to Saudi Arabia.
He had Senior roles for Armed Forces pay and then the  7 nation cruise missile negotiations in USA.
He was promoted to Director and dealt with armaments for the Gulf war.
John negotiated contracts for UK Tank contract leading to the UK Challenger winning the contract.
He became South America Regional Director visiting many countries, on one visit he accompanied the UK Minister Michael Portillo.
John visited Israel in armament contracts.
John finally closed the doors to the MOD and in 2011 he took retirement.


President Mary thanked John for his enjoyabe and intesting talk

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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Club Speakers Martin and Donna. - Creating a Railway Garden in deepest Birstall
On Monday 11 March Martin and Donna visited the club to talk about their garden railway in deepest Birstall.
Martin was a School teacher in Richmond where Donna was a local nurse. 
Martin became a gardener and a University lecturer.Martin started their talk explaining about the community
pub they set up in Swaledale  where they had a shop a library in the pub. 

Martin and Donna then moved to West Yorks and settled in Birstall.
Martin and Donna then talked about their back garden and how they built a garden railway starting with one line and building now to 8 lines. Martin explained how Donna did the construction of the tracks through the garden shrubbery and paths.
Martin showed his locomotives and the gauge of the tracks.

Martin didn't show pictures of the railways as they want visitors to come during the Birstall in Bloom garden
open day on 7th July.

Robert Jackson thanked Martin and Donna for their visit.
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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Club Speaker David Garfield
Holme Valley Mountain Rescue.
Two members of the Mountain Rescue team, David and Dennis attended the club on Monday 25 April,
where David gave a talk about all the duties that the Mountain Rescue team do.

David explained that the Mountain Rescue Committee was formed in1936 and was originally for climbers but now it has evolved into a diverse and highly capable rescue service.
Each team is a Rescue Team and is a Registered Charity in its own right. Nationally there are 48 teams in England and Wales in 9 regions covering 40,000 square miles with approx 3,000 men and 1,000 women all volunteers. Their team belongs to the Mid Pennine Search and Rescue Organisation.
The team assists the WY Police, WY Ambulance Service and the WY Fire and Rescue. The team covers the southern half of West Yorkshire bounded by the M62.
Their role covers Search and Rescue, missing persons, assisting ambulance services in remote areas and the police in extreme weather and major incidents.
The team have 55 "call out" members, they have 3 emergency vehicles including 3 Doctors and 30 Casualty Carers. 
The annual cost of running Mountain Rescue for England and Wales is £2.5m

 

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Footnote 
Click below image to view Birstall Luddites Facebook Site 


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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Club Speaker Christine Gerard. - Artist.

Mon 21st April ,Christine visited the club and gave a demonstration of the skills of painting
a watercolour picture to Rotarians.

Christine arranged her easel at the front of the stage with Keiths camera recording her painting.

Christine explained that she uses coton paper for watercolour painting..
Christine painted the picture above giving an explanation of her techniques.

Christine said she teaches at the Art group on Friday afternoons at Birstall Community Centre and welcomed anyone to come and try to paint . She has taught at UCA for last 7 years and said she is self taught.


picture left

Christine painting
in front of the stage. 

picture right 
President Mary with 
Christine with her finished watercolour. 
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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Speaker Callumn McInnis
Callum McInnis Paramedic and Senior Clinical Advisor with 111

Callum started as an Apprentice Paramedic with the London Ambulance Service in 2013. Paramedics are required to study with the Open University which includes practical learning combined with a degree based course.

Callum explained how 999 calls are categorised with a target response of 7 minutes, though the average response time is 18 minutes!
There's been a massive change in the service since the days of the 'old-fashioned' ambulance drivers. Although technicians still work for the service, these are being replaced by highly qualified paramedics. In addition, First Responders work hand in hand with paramedics and they can administer more medication, including higher levels of pain killers. 
Specialist units are also being developed including Mental Health Teams and specialist units who deal with things like chemical spills. Victims of strokes, heart attack, burns, RTA's are all taken to specialist units in specialist hospitals. 
An NHS 111 health advisor assesses a patient by using a script to obtain vital information which allows the call handler to advise the next move which may mean a call to 999, speak to a clinical advisor or doctor or refer a patient to their GP. NHS 111 also gives medical advice and repeat prescriptions.
Callum touched on the work of the Trade Unions of which there are three, who help to ensure a fair working environment and offer support to staff where needed. 
He then finished by telling us of the practical help paramedics give, especially to older people; spending time talking to them, making cups of tea, changing light bulbs....whatever they need really!



Following questions, President Mary thanked Callum for a very interesting and informative talk and members showed their appreciation in the usual way. Jeremy

 

Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Speaker Joe from Tong Garden Centre.

How to make a flower basket.

Gardener Joe made his second visit to the club and gave a hands- on demonstration of 
how to plant a 15inch wire basket with flowers.
Joe started by filling the wire basket with moss around the outside to halfway up the basket, then filling the 

bottom layer with fertiliser and plants.
More moss added to the top of the basket and more plants to finish off the basket. Jo added many different plants only an expert would know then all.
Joe emphasized the need to feed the baskets, he recommends feeding every 3 to 4 days
alternating after watering days.
Joe then talked about garden pests and the best way to control them, slugs, weevils, snails, cats, spider mite and worst of all Botrytis which causes a lot of plants to be thrown away.
He recommends bbc gardenersworld web site to give the jobs that need to be done at any time.
Joe donated the basket and President Mary gave members a chance of taking the basket home by a number for a pound draw. Lucky winner was Bill.
Joe took questions from members.

Mary thanked Joe for his popular visit.

LINK Tong Garden Centre

bbcgardenersword

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Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites

Club Speaker Jim Morton - long distance walker.
On Monday 17th June, Jim and wife Sue visited the club and gave a talk about his walk around the
UK in aid of the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
Jim covered 8895 miles in 537 days.
When young, Jim was fascinated by lighthouses and he had a dream of walking the UK looking at all the lighthouses around the coast.
On April 4th 2021 Jim started at the Humber Bridge. He was advised go to Scotland before winter.
On 1st May he visited Liverpool and Blackpool and by 9th May he got to Scotland.
Jim told stories of seeing the Mull of Kintire , climbing Ben Nevis and his meeting security soldiers at the Nuclear sub base also rescuing 2 sheep and a goat. Jim had a bad fall and was hospitalised for 2 days.
His story told of walking down through Scotland and visiting Whitby and onto Flamborough Head lighthouse.
Jim climbed Snowden and on 30th Sept 2022 he reached the end of the walk to be greeted by Gurkha pipers.
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Sue drove their mobile home dropping Jim each day to do his average 20 miles a day, and picking him when he finished for the day.

Jim has also walked the WW2 landing beaches, 95 miles in 5 days and finishing at the Pegasus Bridge cafe. 
Jim has also walked around Yorkshire, in 29 days.
Jim has written a book about his walk and for £10 sold many copies to Luddites, all monies going to aid the Gurkha Welfare Trust Charity which Jim has a target of £50k and currently has reached £43K.
Jim took questions and revealed he had worn out 7 pairs of walking boots.

Rotarian David standing in for President Mary thanked Jim for his talk.
 

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