Club Blog March 2016

We were delighted to once again support our three local secondary schools by assisting with the organisation & providing sponsorship to the Trowbridge in Bloom 'Young Voice of Trowbridge' public speaking competition. This year the competition was hosted by The Clarendon Academy, with teams from St Augustine's Catholic College and The John of Gaunt School joining them for a lively discussion on different environmental themes on the evening of Tuesday, 1st March.

The Clarendon Academy had a very successful evening, winning both the Year 8 round and the Sixth Form round, securing them the overall winner trophy on the night. The Year 10 winners were The John of Gaunt School. With lots of enthusiasm & lively debate, the competition continues to go from strength to strength, very well done to everyone involved.

On 5th March a large group from TWM put on their posh frocks & DJ's to attend the Mayoral Civic Dinner Dance held at the Civic Centre Trowbridge. We were in good company with mayors from all over the county attending, Baroness Jane Scott & Andrew Murrison MP, along with many familiar faces of those who are active in our community. This year the Trowbridge Civic Award, which is awarded to individuals or groups by the mayor to highlight how they have given something back to their community through their work which is often voluntary, was awarded to a descendant  of Trowbridge baron Henry de Bohun, Major (Retired) William Naesmyth of Posso for his hard work and dedication to the Royal British Legion over the last 20 years.

The 7th March was a member designated evening, so Caroline decided to treat members to an insight of one of her hobbies (outside of Rotary!), flower arranging. With a demonstration titled 'Simply Flowers', Caroline explained some of the principles of flower arranging, creating 4 arrangements in front of members and producing 3 readymade examples in her best 'Blue Peter' style! At the end of the evening lucky members left clutching flowers as the seven arrangements were raffled  along with a bunch of 'bit & bobs leftovers' a DIY at home arrangement!

Another month, another skittles match... this time we were up against Devizes Rotary, playing away at The Crown, Devizes on 8th March. Good company, good food & good result as we just managed to edge ahead for victory.

President Julia very much enjoyed her visit to Castle Mead School on 9th March, joining their Community Assembly to deliver our club donation of 16 copies of the Usborne Illustrated Dictionary. The Dictionary 4 Life Project is part of a literacy programme reflecting Rotary International priorities, and over the years we have made donations of these dictionaries to most of the primary schools in Trowbridge.

With the clocks going forward, some of our dedicated members had an early start on Easter Sunday, meeting at the Clarendon Academy swimming pool at 7:45am to marshal the Hot Chilli Tri Big T Aquathlon. An aquathlon is a simple swim followed by a run: the sprint is a 400m pool swim followed by a 5km run;  the enduro is a 600m pool swim and a 10km run. The junior aquathlon covers various distances depending on age. This event, the second in the Hot Chilli Tri Club calendar,  was well attended with 132 competitors including 56 children and we took up our usual position marshalling poolside. Now looking forward to the Big T Trowbridge Triathlon which will take place on Monday May 2nd as we will be there again, counting laps, keeping busy as it promises to be the biggest yet.