June 2013

The Rotary year ends on 30th June each year, when a new President takes over, so sadly this is my final President's report.

This month we were very pleased to make a donation of £150.00 each to two local charities:  Carer Support Wiltshire is an independent charity supporting more than 6100 adult carers throughout Wiltshire, with 966 carers in and around Trowbridge; and our donation to Asthma Relief will enable the charity to place and maintain a mains operated Nebuliser in or around Trowbridge.

There is much more to Rotary than fundraising, but every event, initiative or project Rotary is involved in is rooted in the notion of 'Community', whether it be local or overseas. Our ethos is to bring about positive change in our neighbourhoods by fostering and building strong communities and to provide opportunities that will improve lives. So, at the beginning of this month, I was delighted to be invited to be a judge for the Trowbridge in Bloom 'Young Bloomers' public speaking competition. Eighteen year 6 students spoke passionately about either their favourite local place or an organisation to which they belonged and the ways in which either of these could be improved for the benefit of the local community.

We received invitations to join some of the local Rotary Clubs at their President's Nights with Handover celebrations at the end of June and my partner Ian & I have enjoyed three very varied evenings. We were entertained by Opera Piccola with Melksham Rotary, a Gala Premiere outdoor play 'A New Leaf' with Calne Rotary and a surprise whisky & gin tasting session with Chippenham Wiltshire Vale Rotary Club.

We held our own President's Night back in March, but I wanted  to acknowledge a wonderful year in Rotary, so invited the Trowbridge Wessex Mead members and their partners to dinner at my house. I had originally planned on a bbq, but with the summer proving a little elusive at present, I decided to evoke memories of warm balmy evenings with a Greek themed menu instead, which went down very well indeed.

My final activity as Club President was to attend the District 1200 Handover Lunch at Taunton. District Governor Peter Noble handed over to incoming District Governor Brian Kirkup. It was a good opportunity to celebrate the past year together and to offer support and best wishes to Brian as he embarks on his year as the District’s leader.

My Rotary Year as President has now at an end and I have passed over the running of the Club to President Alan Drew.  I wish Alan an exciting, rewarding and enriching year.