News and Press - 2024 4th Quarter

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The Oswestry Christmas Parade will be back in 2025

Borderland Rotary are already making plans for the return of the Oswestry Christmas Parade after the disappointment of having to cancel in December 2024, due to storm Darragh.

Jonathan Jones, who organises the parade said “We’ll be back – no doubt about it but it’s been very disappointing as lots of planning goes into big events and people had been planning, preparing and building their floats for days and weeks before the big day so it was very hard to pull the plug the day before the event but, safety must come first – and the storm proved to be as bad, if not worse than forecast. Many suggested we just postpone to the next weekend but unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that as all the licences would have to be reapplied for and that can’t be done in a week, transport companies have their businesses to run and numerous other things that have to be in place to make it a success. 

Borderland Rotary has run the Christmas Parade for many years now and it’s become known as the beginning of Christmas in Oswestry with thousands coming into the town to enjoy the festivities and shop locally – it’s just a wonderful community event.

Jonathan continued, “We had already received many generous donations from local shops and businesses and this money will be carried over till next Christmas when we will once again, fill the streets of Oswestry with good cheer and the sound of music and laughter. But for now, we at Borderland Rotary Club would just like to thank everyone who has supported us throughout the year wish you all, a very happy New Year”.

What a cracker! Thankyou!

A happy surprise just before Christmas.  Borderland Rotary presented a substantial donation to the Oswestry Senior Citizens Club. 

This was one of the donations to being distributed from the Oswestry Fireworks Display, worked in partnership with Oswestry Town Council.

Borderland Christmas gathering

A wonderful turnout of over 50 people enjoyed a fine meal with excellent company at the Sweeney Hotel last week. It was enhanced even more by John Croft, a past president, as he entertained the throng with a medley of George Formby songs and accompanying himself on a Banjolele which was once played by George himself. (John was at one time the chairman of the George Formby Appreciation Society.)

Student inspired by Rotary Youth Leadership course

Chloe Downes

Borderland Rotary Club welcomed Chloe Downes, this year’s sponsored student to attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), and she gave an illustrated talk about her adventures on the one-week, leadership course at Arthog Outdoor Education Centre on the North Wales coast.

“It was all go from the start as we went straight into tasks soon after we arrived. I liked the fact that it was such a diverse crowd, and we all had to work together and find out who was good at what”. Said Chloe, “We had various skills that we recognised, and some we didn’t, and it was interesting how we could often see them in others but not in ourselves”.

The principle of RYLA is that each team sets up a company to complete tasks to earn RYLA dollars. This involves budgeting, planning, problem solving and, of course, the challenge itself and these are both physical, mental and vary from climbing Cader Idris to doing a blindfold conga line.

“I am used to dealing with people as a Flight Sergeants in the Air Cadets, but I feel that this experience has broadened my skill set for both the cadets and for university – where I hope to go next autumn. I was very grateful for this opportunity – I loved it”.  

Chloe’s place at RYLA was sponsored by Jill and Neil Morris, who have taken a great interest in the scheme for some years now.

When war gets personal

Borderland Rotary had a very moving talk which put the Ukraine war in sharp focus.

When you’re living in the UK, with your family far away fighting on the front line in Ukraine against the enormity of the Russian empire, war becomes personal and life isn’t easy, but this is the reality for Mila and many others. (no second name for security reasons)

“The journey from Ukraine to Shropshire is a few thousand miles but a world away from what is going on back home, where ordinary friends and neighbours have become soldiers and are bravely defending our homeland”. Said Mila, “I’m in touch with people doing all sorts of things on or near the front line, on a daily basis and, although it is not on the front pages of the newspapers anymore, I can assure you, it still rages, day after day, month after month”.

Mila has been tirelessly traveling around the area doing events and talks to highlight the situation and trying to collect clothes, medical and general equipment – and of course, money -to send back home. She is also working full-time in the health sector and bringing up her family – it’s remarkable.

“My brother is serving on the front line as many friends and associates are, supplying medical, catering and many other services under very difficult conditions”. Said Mila.

Borderland Rotary have made a financial donation to the cause and are investigating other practical ways to help.

Borderland Rotary welcomes ex-Airport Chaplain

Rev. Phil Hughes

Rev’d Father Phil Hughes, who is now at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry, was previously a highflyer as Airport Chaplain at, firstly London Gatwick, then Heathrow Airport over a twelve-year period and he explained what the life was like.

“Just about everyone has passed through airports and I suspect few can remember seeing a chaplain, but there is always one somewhere. Being an airport chaplain is never dull as the parish is ever changing and parishioners are constantly on the move – and often in a hurry. You need stamina, patience and tolerance”. Said Phil. “As well as dealing with the pastoral needs of travellers and staff, I was also involved in major incident planning with both the airport management and the emergency services. This served us well for what was to follow - 9/11”.

9/11 is the name given to the terrorist attacks which happened on 11th September 2001 when two airliners were deliberately flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City. The world watched on in horror.

“While all eyes were on screens looking at the unfolding disaster in the USA, at London Gatwick Airport we had local issues to deal with”. Continued Phil. “All flights were cancelled, the terminals were full, the roads around the airport were full and all the local hotels, in their wisdom, trebled and quadrupled their prices leaving travellers both stranded, distraught and frightened. I was in touch with all the local parishes and together we found accommodation for many of the stranded souls and helped a great many others as well. Once again, our work was unseen - due to the enormity of the tragedy - but that is our lot – to serve”.

Borderland Rotary welcome “Climbing Out” speaker

Borderland Rotary welcomed Andrew Preston, a retired Colonel in the British Army, to talk about his work with the charity, Climbing Out. Andrew, who’s service included tours in Iraq, saw his fair share of action and the resulting trauma of his comrades – and himself.

He then came across Climbing Out, a charity founded by Kelda Wood MBE - who herself had a life changing accident - and was immediately impressed. He said “I was not in a good place emotionally and was struggling to find ways to cope with PTSD and the situation was not helped by seeing colleagues fall by the wayside. It was then that I discovered that by sharing my experience and hope with others who have issues, helped me in turn, to come to terms with the way I felt”. 

Climbing Out was set up by Kelda, Andrew continued, “It’s not an easy fix as you have to work at it, it’s not like having an injection and you’re cured, it’s a lifelong emotional commitment but the rewards are wonderful.  We use the analogy a table, it needs legs to hold it up and we must work with others to create and maintain those legs – it’s all about support. We’ve done outdoor projects in the mountains, canoeing, open-water swimming – just taking people up to and just beyond their physical and mental limits. It helped me so much that I have now become an ambassador for the charity – spreading the word about the great work that Climbing Out does”. 

For more information, please go to www.climbingout.org.uk

Andrew Preston

Three local charities to benefit from Oswestry Fireworks Display

The Oswestry Fireworks Display, which will be held in Cae Glas Park on Saturday 2nd November at 7pm, will be supporting three local charities this year, Hope House, Oswestry Senior Citizens Club and the Veterans Orthopaedic Service.

Oswestry Town Council fund the event while Borderland Rotary help to organise and marshal it and Jonathan Jones, who heads up the Borderland team said, “The event is free, but we hope that people visiting this community event will donate in support of local good causes and charities. The main entrance will be via Park Gates in Church Street and there will be signs to direct everyone to the show”.

There will be no bonfire, but the display of fireworks, lights, lasers and music will provide wonderful entertainment for all the family - there will also be food and drink available.

Jonathan continued, “We understand that many are concerned that pets are distressed by the noise of fireworks so we are using low-sound fireworks which we hope will reduce these problems. Let’s just hope that hope the weather is kind to us all”.

Time to celebrate at Soma Space 

The Soma Space, a centre set up in the Memorial Hall in late 2023 by personal trainer Jo Hazell-Watkins and psychotherapist Kevin Braddock to promote both mental health and physical fitness, celebrated its first birthday with a mock corporate annual report which was entertaining, funny, but also very informative. Spoof Powerpoint presentations highlighted the struggles that any new organisation faces along with many of the achievements and positive outcomes that show how worthwhile the project is.

Kevin Braddock, one of the Soma Space co-founders said, “It’s never easy to start anything new but we have had some great support, firstly from crowdfunding, local and national press and later from British Weight Lifting, Oswestry Borderland Rotary and many other sources. We’re now self-supporting but are still looking for funding for referrals. The demand for our services is high and all the feedback tells us we are making a positive difference to people's lives. We welcome funding from bodies and individuals wishing to support mental health through the power of exercise and community”.

Be assured that the passion, humility and humanity of co-founders Kevin and Jo will see it through many birthdays as The Soma Space's combination of mental and physical health develops into a recognised therapy technique. 

For more information, go to https://www.thesoma.space

Borderland Rotary at Traditional Products

There was much to see and learn when Borderland Rotary visited the efficient factory working so close to the centre of Oswestry.  It is their 40th anniversary year for Traditional Products Ltd and they continue to improve the work in their current premises in Whittington Road.

Their quality British products, mainly in wood, are listed on their website - www.traditional-products.co.uk

What was very apparent was the ethos of three generations in the family run business.  Much has developed since it was first founded by John Watson and his partner.  He and some of his family were later able to come and enjoy the Borderland Social evening at the Sweeney Hotel.