2024-25 Highlights

During the year we will be updating this page with details of what the Club has been doing in the Rotary year that started on 1st July 2024

A visit to the Pendragon Community Trust and a surprise - 28th October 2024

The Club had a trip to see the Multi - Sensory Centre run by the Pendragon Community Trust, and hear about their work with adults and children with special needs. 

A last minute arrangement meant we were joined by Rotarians from Uganda who were in the area on a visit, and it was good to meet them and their visit hosts.

The impressive facilities were described to us by the team, and we were able to try out some for ourselves - including the ball pool. The Trust do great work with their service users , who come both from the immediate area and further afield. 

The last weekend in October meant it was time for our bi-annual book and postcard fair. Once again we had a good turnout of sellers and buyers, and the Club also raised money from running our tearoom. We were very pleased to raise just over £1200 for our Rotary Projects.

Rotary Peace Conference in Bradford - 26th October 2024

The School of Peace Studies at Bradford University is one of only 7 Rotary Peace Centres round the world, and each year this Seminar gives an opportunity for the current 10 Peace Fellows, funded by Rotary to complete a Masters course at the School, to present their work and tell us something about themselves and their hopes and aspirations as they make careers in many different ways - looking at things like peace and conflict and sustainable development. The 2024 Seminar was, as ever, a stimultating day with plenty of opportunities to hear presentations, ask questions, talk to like minded people about these issues, and even join in with some fun interactive activities.  Oh - and of course the lunch served in the University Student Hub was as ever excellent Yorkshire fayre and an added bonus of the day! All round another great day. 

For a number of years the Club, together with the Rotary Club of Northallerton have sponsored a student to attend a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) course, and the latest was held in July.

On 27th September a joint meeting of Northallerton and Northallerton Mowbray Rotary Clubs was held at The Golden Lion, Northallerton, and at the meeting both students told the clubs about their experience.

The presentations concluded with certificates being presented to Joshua Proud by Northallerton RC President David Ison, and to Jacob Heys by our own Club President Chris Horler. Also on the photos are the Rotarians who had acted as mentors on the course - Cindy Stephenson and  Rosemary Wilkinson.

Presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to REME for their ongoing help with the Technology Tournament - 20th September 2024

Every year the Club works with four other Rotary Clubs (Thirsk, Richmond, Northallerton, and Wensleydale), to put on a Schools Technology Tournament at Catterick Garrison.  And we could not do this without the great support we receive from the 1^st Close Support Battalion of REME based at the Garrison, who provide us with our venue.

To mark this support, provided over a number of years, a Certificate of Appreciation was presented to REME as a sign of the appreciation of the five clubs. Geoff Colls of the Thirsk Club presented the certificate.

It was great to meet some of the REME team, and also an opportunity for Rotarians from the Clubs to get together for a catch up.

We look forward to the 2025 Tournament which will be held next March.

An Indian Extravaganza - 7th September 2024

An Indian Extravaganza organised by the Club to raise funds for Hambleton Foodshare proved a spectacular success, raising £1,360. 

A packed audience at The Forum in Northallerton was treated to a thrilling showcase of traditional Indian dance and a sumptuous three-course meal of southern Indian foods. 

The dancers demonstrated their skills in a range of rhythmic routines, some dating back 500 years. The performers, Sahana Sreedhar, Aaadya Kashyap and Siri Puthuraya, are all based in the North-East and study under the tutelage of their guru, Mrs Chamundeswari Pani. They specialise in the Bharathanatyam dance form of southern India and have practised for year to perfect their skills. 

The evening concluded with an Indian-themed quiz and a raffle.

Club President Chris Horler said: “It was an absolute privilege to be able to host such a wonderfully entertaining group of dancers. We had a fantastic evening in support of Hambleton Foodshare, who do such valuable work in our local community. A huge thanks to the dancers and to everyone who worked so hard behind the scenes to make the evening possible.”

Vocational Visit to Sri Lanka – 29^th July to 9^th August 2024

Members Anand and Sandhya Nadgir joined a very interesting and worthwhile health related Rotary project in Sri Lanka, involving Rotarians from a number of UK Clubs, as well as local Rotarians in Sri Lanka, working with the Faculty of Dental Sciences at Peradeniya University in Kandy.

The project involved medical professionals from the UK Clubs forming a Vocational Training Team dealing with aspects of Dental and Maxillo-Facial Disorders.

Anand contributed to the main project and both he and Sandhya were able to make a number of presentations, on their areas of expertise, to local clinical staff.

It was also a great opportunity for fellowship with those involved, and with the local Rotary Club, and there were opportunities to visit local attractions as well. 

Young Writers Competition 2023-24

At the end of the last Rotary year the Club held local rounds for the Rotary Young Writers Competition - and we now have pictures of the presentations to the finalists.

A total of 28 students from Northallerton School & Sixth Form College and Bedale High School took part in the Young Writers challenge. They were invited to submit short pieces of poetry or prose on the theme of “rebuilding”, which could be interpreted as broadly as the students wished and was designed to inspire their creative talents.

Students in the 14-to-17 age category were encouraged to think about their vocabulary and language in their work of fiction or non-fiction. Judges considered their ability to engage interest and be consistent in their power of argument.

“The standard of entries was hugely impressive,” said Anne Ash, youth lead at the Club. “Rebuilding lives and communities is one of Rotary’s main themes and this really fired the students’ imaginations. This is the first year we’ve held the Young Writers competition and it’s greatly encouraging to see the wealth of creative talent these students possess. We’d also like to thank the staff at Northallerton School & Sixth Form College and Bedale High School for encouraging them to take part.” 

Bedale School photo shows students with Bedale High School teacher Stacy Cann (back, left) and Rotarians Kevin Hardisty and Anne Ash

Northallerton School photo shows (L-R): Robert Stevenson Brown, Head of English at Northallerton School & Sixth Form College, with students Bethany Ring and Libby Pratt and Rotarians Kevin Hardisty and Anne Ash

Club Handover - 1st July 2024

July sees the start of our new Rotary year.At the helm for the next 12 months as Club President is Chris Horler. Chris joined Rotary in 1993 and transferredc to our Club in 2021. Whilst a member of the Rotary Club of Bedford, Chris completed a year as their President, so brings a wealth of experience to his new role.

Chris says "I am delighted to be President of the Rotary Club of Northallerton Mowbray for the next year. It is a great club, full of enthusiastic people who havde a common aim of helping people here and abroad. We organise events where we have fun raising monies and giving help to the needy in the community. Everyone is welcome!"

There was a light-hearted moment when outgoing President Anne Ash had to stand on a chair to adorn our tall incoming President Chris with the chain of office.

As part of the Handover, Tony Wood becomes President-Elect, and will take over as President in a year's time.  Anna Naughton remains as Secretary, and Geoff Wall as Treasurer.