EVENTS 2016-17

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER

On 13th April, we officially welcomed Rotarian Neale Lucas into our membership. He has transferred to us from the Rotary Club of Bridlington, where he was President in 2008-09. Neale is certainly not new to Rotary, having joined initially in 1997. He is a Business Consultant. Neale brings our total membership up to 19 Active members - although 2 of these are unable to attend meetings because of immobility. We also have 3 Honorary members, one of whom does attend each week. We hope Neale will find the fellowship and activities of his new club enjoyable and rewarding.

PURPLE 4 POLIO - Planting Crocuses

 

 

 

 

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PLANTING CROCUSES TO HELP ERADICATE POLIO

On Thursday 10^th November, President Bill Jones and Immediate Past-President Bill Baker were at Bardsey Primary School. They helped the pupils plant nearly 2000 purple crocuses provided by the Club in support of Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign. The children were very hard working, helpful and polite, and a pleasure to be with for the morning. At the school assembly, the children had listened to President (Dr) Bill talk about Polio – a disease that can kill or paralyse young children - and how the work of Rotary and others has brought us ‘this close’ to a Polio free world, after 25 years of endeavour. There were only 74 cases in 2015 in the whole world.

Also present were Head Teacher Sally Clark and members of the Bardsey Parish Council. Members of the latter are going to plant the remaining 3000 crocus corms in the road verges around the village. Our great thanks go to Mrs Linda Flockton of the Council for facilitating this. We look forward to a lovely show of purple flowers in the spring, reminding us of the ‘purple pinkies’ of the children who have their little fingers painted purple to make sure that all the children in the villages (in Pakistan and Afghanistan) have been immunised.

We got a mention in the Yorkshire Evening Post on 10th November and again the following day, with a picture of President Bill (spade in hand) and two of the children planting bulbs. We also figured in the Bardsey Village newsletter, and in the District 1040 'Rotary in Yorkshire' Newsletter.

37th ANNUAL CHARTER DINNER - 27th February 2017

Our 37^th Annual Charter Dinner was held at Moortown Golf Club, Leeds, on 23^rd February (the 112^th anniversary of the start of Rotary, in Chicago USA). Sixty-four persons attended including District Governor Phil, Assiatant Governor Keith, the Presidents of 6 local Clubs with some of their members, and 2 representatives from other Clubs. [Our Secretary Brendan, and his wife Kathy, were not able to be with us thanks to Storm Doris, which thankfully mainly missed Leeds. He was marooned at Carlisle railway station having started out from Glasgow that morning and was due into Leeds in the early afternoon. There was chaos on the railways that day (the roof of Preston Station blew off!) and after a nightmare day Brendan got home just after 11.00pm.] 

After the usual announcements, welcomes etc. we enjoyed a very pleasant meal of White Onion and Thyme Veloute, Roast Beef and all the trimmings, followed by Apple and Cinnamon Crumble and Custard (or cheese), then coffee and chocolates. A short break followed the Loyal Toast and then we had the first 100 Club draw of the year.  Then, much to his surprize (and hopefully delight), I, with the help of DG Phil Poole, was honoured to be able to present Alastair (James) Henderson with a Paul Harris Fellowship for his tireless work for the Club over the last 31 years. Well done Alastair. 

It was then my turn to ‘blow the Club’s trumpet’ telling everyone what we do, and then to propose the toast ‘To Rotary’. I was able to mention the two Medical Students from Leeds, attending as our guests, and their ‘Jerry Cans and Leaky Taps’ project in Kenya, with which we have become involved along with 4 other Rotary Clubs. 

Our Guest Speaker was Professional Golfer Mark James, (Captain of the 1999 European Ryder Cup Team - at Brookline) - who entertained us royally (even those of us who do not play or watch golf) by relating stories from his illustrious career, especially in the Ryder Cup. He told many stories of how certain holes were played – how golfers can remember the details of each shot to the pin so long after the event amazes me – and some funny anecdotes, as well as the ‘shenanigans’ the Americans got up to from time to time. A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining talk. 

President Elect Peter Whelan gave the vote of thanks. After the final toast of ‘Rotary the World Over’, the diners wended their way home. They were slow to vacate the venue taking time to have a chat with old friends, but remarking how pleasant and enjoyable the evening had been. 

VISIT TO BRITISH LIBRARY BOSTON SPA - 11th JANUARY 2017

On the afternoon of Wednesday 11th January 2017, six of our Rotarians, along with 7 partners/guests, were taken on a tour of the British Library at Thorpe Arch, Boston Spa, near Wetherby, Yorkshire. Built in the grounds of a WWII ammunition factory, the tour of the facility was a most interesting, instructive and enjoyable experience. We learned that the Northern Branch of the British Library concentrates on manuscripts, periodicals, pamphlets and non-fiction books. Fiction is housed at the London Branch - Paddington. We saw where the stock is held, how it is retrieved - often mechanically - transported, copied and the copies emailed or posted to the person making the request. We were impressed by the digitisation facility. Our two lady guides were most knowledgeable and naturally were given our grateful thanks at the end of the tour. Our thanks also go to Past-President Martyn Phillips for organising such a marvellous experience.

AWARD OF PAUL HARRIS FELLOWSHIP

At our Christmas Party 2016, it was President Bill's delightful duty to present one of our oldest serving members with a Paul Harris Fellowship, in recognition of service to Rotary. Cyril E. Higgs joined the Club in 1980, shortly after it's formation, and has played a very active role in the Club ever since. He was President in 1994-95 and has held the offices of Club Secretary and Treasurer in many of his years of service to the Club. Always one to be involved in every Club activity, including organising social visits (the last one was to a recycling centre), Cyril is a prime example of a true Rotarian. Now in his 90's, and not being in the best of health sometimes, this has not dampened his committment to Rotary. A gentleman and an individual so very worthy of the award. Well done Cyril.

CHRISTMAS PARTY 2016

Twenty three of our Members and guests enjoyed a very pleasant, fun filled, evening at the Bingley Arms on 15th December in place of our weekly meeting. Despite some of President Bill's Christmas Cracker jokes, everyone enjoyed their 4 course meal. Bill then made a couple of 'Rotary' announcements, and updated the gathered throng on the wellbeing of our 2 'walking wounded' Rotarians. One had a kidney operation 9 days ago and the other an aortic heart valve replacement that morning. Both had come through the (keyhole) operations well. We raised a glass to them and their continued good health from here. 

After a 'Yorkshire Christmas Poem', Bill asked the diners to guess how much the 'Pig of Good Fortune' had accumualted in the last year. We pass the Pig around each week and if someone has (good) news to share they make a contribution. The prize for guessing how much went to Immediate Past President Bill Baker who got within a few quid of the £534.43 collected. President Bill suggested that the money could go to the End Polio Now appeal, to Brain Tumour Research Leeds, and to our Jerry Cans and Leaky Taps project, providing hand washing facilities in the Kibera slum in Kenya. 

We then had a quiz produced by Past President Martin, the answers having the word 'May" associated. A near riot situation occurred when there was a dispute as to whether the square for Mayfair on the Monopoly Board is purple or blue. MC Bill Baker insisted on keeping the answer Martyn had supplied, and the winners were Anthea and Bill Jones who got a tube of 'Smarties' and a calendar, and the runners up pairs (5 in all) got one or the other. After wishing everyone a Happy Christmas an a Happy, Prosperous, Peaceful but mainly Healthy New Year, the final toast of 'Rotary and Peace the World Over' was drunk, and the assembled throng made their way home ,mainly with smiles on their faces. The pictures below show most of that happy band:

CHRISTMAS WHISKY DRAW 2016

The Friday and Saturday evenings after the Christmas Party saw us back at the Bingley Arms for our annual Whisky Draw for a gallon bottle of whisky. Participants choose numbers - 2 for a £1 - from 1 to 500. This nets a profit of £250 minus the cost of the whisky, and this is added to our Charity Funds. Everyone seems to enjoy a bit of a 'punt' and the evenings go quickly with pleasant people in pleasant surroundings. This year's winner was Karen Metcalf, who has yet to be presented with the prize, and if she does not like whisky we will offer to come round and help her out!

Stop Press: President Bill J. and Past President Bill B. made another trip to the Bingley Arms to present Karen with her prize on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. She is delighted, but says that since she does not drink much whisky, she may use her prize to do a similar Draw to benefit one of the local hospitals. What a nice lady!

 

CHRISTMAS GIFTS, 2016, FOR MARTIN HOUSE HOSPICE, BOSTON SPA

President Bill, and three other of our Rotarians, played 'Father Christmas' on Tuesday 13th December by delivering Gift Vouchers for a variety of purchases to the Hospice to be given out to the children at Christmas time. Donating gifts to Martin House is something we have been doing for a number of years now, and we know that the children, parents and the Staff of Martin House greatly value this guesture at a time of Goodwill and Giving.

The picture shows us presenting the gift cards to Angela Monaghan and Alison Wragg.

CHARITY COLLECTION HOMEBASE 16th October

We held a Charity 'Bucket' Collection at the Homebase Store, Moor Allerton, North Leeds on Sunday 16th October 2016, and raised £221.92 thanks to the generosity of Homebase's customers. We are grateful to Homebase for allowing us to collect, and to their staff for being so friendly and helpful. 
We have recently made donations of £200 to both Rotary's Fight against Polio, and the Hurricane Mathew disaster relief fund, so the sum raised at Homebase will help to refil our coffers. Thanks to all concerned.

GLIDING ADVENTURE 7th September 2016

Three of our members took to the air at Sutton Bank Airfield, (above the famous White Horse) North Yorkshire, on Wednsday 7th September. This followed an interesting talk to the Club on 'Gliding' in the spring of the year. Alastair, Bill and John enjoyed their individual fights of about 50 minutes, reaching an altitude of about 3000 feet, just below the cloud base. The visibility at distance was not too good, but it did not detract from the enjoyment of the adventure, during which the intrepid pilots (Biggles, Ginger and Algie) took control of their aircraft for a while. Below are pictures of 'Pilot John', the tow plane taking the glider up, and an ariel view of Sutton Bank and the White Hourse.

EQUIPMENT FOR IRELAND WOOD SCHOOL  & 'PHYSIOTHERAPY PRIZES', 2016.

On the afternoon of Monday, 18th of July, President Bill, along with five other Past-Presidents of the Club went to Ireland Wood Junior School in North Leeds. 

The school incorporates pupils with special educational needs into mainstream education. We attended the School Assembly, and after introductions by the Head teacher, Mr Blackburn, and the Head of Physiotherapy, June Grainger, President Bill presented some equipment (value approx. £500) to the Physiotherapy Department, and then prizes to the winning children. The equipment will be for the use of children with special needs.

We have been going to the school for many years now, in order to present prizes to the children who have progressed the most with their physiotherapy in the preceding year. Prizes, in the form of a trophy and a book token, are presented to the winner and runner up in both the younger and the older age groups. They also receive a ‘Rotary’ certificate. 

This year the awards were called the ‘Jack Transport Awards’, in memory of our member Jack, who sadly passed away at the end of last year, and who was one of the inspirational instigators of these annual prizes starting about twelve years ago.

This year, in response to request from the physiotherapy staff we were delighted to present the school with two Scooters of a design that can be more easily used by children who are physically challenged. President Bill (gravity challenged) could not resist trying one!

We also donated a large (washable) comfort ‘bean’ bag to be used in the sensory room at the school. This equipment will be of great value to the children and their physiotherapists, the bean bag especially allowing some of the children to relax more easily and enjoy the sensory room more fully. The equipment is shown below:

This annual event is one of the nicest things that our Rotary Club gets to do. The smiles on the children’s faces and joy of the occasion are more than sufficient reward for our efforts to help.

VISIT TO MATERIALS RECYCLING FACILITY, LEEDS         (GREEN BIN WASTE), 19th JULY

On Tuesday the 19th of July, five of our members accompanied the President on a visit to the materials recycling facility in Leeds. This is run by H W Martins who are contracted to Leeds City Council to receive, sort and recycle the waste that Leeds’ residents put in their ‘Green’ waste bins.

 After a short introduction and the obligatory donning of a hard hat and high-viz waistcoat, we proceeded into the factory. There we saw the waste, emptied from the bin lorries, being processed and separated into different sorts, to be sent off for recycling.  Plastics, metals (aluminium, steel etc.), paper and cardboard amongst other recyclables were sorted by hand from the conveyor belts. The staff seemed happy and skilled at a job not many of us would want to do. One of the things we saw, which was most impressive, was the magnetic sorting of metal items, such as drinks cans, which 'flew' off the conveyor into a separate hopper.

An extremely enjoyable and instructive visit, thanks to the staff who showed is around. We are now aware that all the Green waste in Leeds is recycled apart from a small percentage which is sent for incineration. We were also informed that the ‘household waste’ which Leeds residents put in their 'black bins' is handled at a different facility. That is also (semi) sorted for some recyclable items such as metal, before incineration at high-temperature, the resulting ash being sent for use as road mending material. 

Nowadays, only a small percentage of the waste produced by Leeds' residents goes to landfill.