Presidential Handover

Marsh Farm Hotel on the evening of Monday 27 June 2016 was the scene of a very happy ‘family’ occasion as Hayley-Jane Woodall handed over the RWBTRC Presidency to Tom Knibbs.  Hayley has had an excellent year as President during which she has balanced the responsibilities of the role with a very demanding business career.  The Club’s fundraising efforts have been superb with a huge sum for the Brighter Futures Appeal together with “Combat Stress” and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.  The Club has hosted its third Senior Citizens Tea Party, its fourth Youth Challenge and entered the RWB Carnival for the fifth time. Hayley’s speech is below:

I am extremely privileged to have been your President this year and also for following 2 amazing women who I have the utmost respect and love for.  I have grown personally and although I am slightly glad to be passing the torch to a very lovely person in Tom I will also miss being so involved in the day to day running of our club so please forgive me if I find it a little hard to give up  (for the first few weeks anyway)

We have had a very big focus this year on “Brighter Futures” with our golf day, shop, and calendar helping to raise an amazing £6600.  We have also supported “Combat Stress” with the fantastic Remembrance Ball, which this year will be on November 11^th and Tom has chosen the equally amazing “Army Benevolent Fund” to receive the proceeds so I hope everyone can attend.

We have had some brilliant community events, which although not fund raisers are a hugely rewarding part of what we do, Youth Challenge aimed at the younger generation and Kyle has some big plans for next year so please watch this space and the equally fun and rewarding senior Spring Tea which was Marie’s baby and I have been proud to be part of for the last 3 years and will be just as proud to be involved in the next 3 thanks to the incoming Presidents’ ongoing commitments and finally but by no means lastly the Carnival which was very wet this year but still very enjoyable and to cap it off we won both Best in Class and Best in Carnival which is a brilliant achievement so whoever is this year’s Carnival organiser has a lot to live up to as Mr T will be hanging up his boots (for 1 year anyway)

I don’t want to go on too long but would like to thank every single member for their contribution and support this year but mainly for my long suffering partner Pete, who feels he doesn’t contribute but doesn’t realise what support he has given me this year in allowing me the time and resources to do what I’ve done. I couldn’t have done it without him beside me.

Lastly before I handover the reigns I would like to invite Marie and Ceri up. As the last lady of 3 I have had a huge amount to live up to and without their guidance and help would’ve struggled.  Marie, you asked me to be your Junior Vice and become the 3^rd lady in a row (don’t worry guys I think it’ll be a little while before the next lady)

Ceri, you are our little whirlwind and I cannot believe how you fit everything into your day, you must only get 2 hours sleep a night. I have really enjoyed spending time with you and genuinely feel like I’ve got both a friend and like minded person.

Before you both sit down I have one final thing to do so I’ll hand over to Marie. .....

The event on Monday evening was also a rather big surprise for Past President Ceri Pridding, who was left almost speechless as she was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding and continuous contribution to the work of the Club and Rotary International since becoming a member. Marie's citation for Ceri's PHF was: