Club Blog February 2016

On 1st February, David invited TWM to his home to celebrate a belated Burns Night. David provided the haggis, tatties & neeps along with a few wee drams, with other members contributing tasty Scottish themed food such as smoked salmon, flap jacks, and cranachen. We do like our food.

More food & fellowship on took place on 4th February when we beat Chippenham Rotary on our home turf, the Lamb in Trowbridge, competing for the Rotary District Skittles Plate. All six legs were played before Rosie dished up a delicious supper of sausage & chips. Two games down, we finally seem to be getting the hang of this game, next challenge will be Devizes Rotary Club in March.

Trowbridge in Bloom held their Little Bloomers Public Speaking Competition on Wednesday 10th February at the Town Hall and invited President Julia to be a judge. Julia thoroughly enjoyed the morning and was so impressed with the quality of the year 6 student presentations. Teams of three students from 5 primary schools choose one of two environmentally-linked themes on which to speak. It was a tough call, all the teams were good, but this year first prize was awarded to Charlie, Freya and Freya from Paxcroft School.

Inspired by our forthcoming 1970's themed fundraiser, for his member organised evening on 15th February, Trev invited us to his home to get in the groove by taking part in a 70's based music quiz with  supper. Some members have better recall than others for whilst we all recognised the tracks, remembering the name of the artist/group proved very tricky for many amid claims of being far too young to remember (!), but the clothes of the era did make us all giggle.

No taking it easy on the morning of Sunday 21st February, as we held our annual Big Breakfast, raising funds & profile of the Rotary campaign which is in the processes of eradicating polio worldwide. We serve a delicious, good quality, full English breakfast comprising cereal, free range egg, 2 butcher bacon rashers, premium sausage, variety of mushrooms, baked beans, tomato, toast, jam & marmalade, fruit juice and fair Trade tea & coffee. Come and join us next year, you will not go home hungry!

We had an extra meeting this February with it being a leap year and the 29th falling on a Monday. Liz organised a speaker for her member organised evening, twisting her father's arm to come & tell us all about the London-Sahara-London World Cup Rally of September 2001. Ian Boddy is currently a member of Bradford on Avon Rotary, but when at his previous club, he and two other members had the idea to get hold of a car and take part in an international car rally to raise funds for charity. The project escalated beyond all expectations with touring car racing specialists Rouse Engineering providing car number 43, the "works" ford Focus, and with massive support from other clubs assisting with an International Rotary raffle plus external sponsorship, the team managed to raise over a quarter of a million pounds for Rotary Charities and the Motability organisation that assists disabled drivers. The rally covered more than 6,000 arduous miles in 20 days. with Ian being poached mid race by another team, when the navigator could not cope with the conditions & left the rally early. Many memories, many stories, what an achievement.