2018-19

SPRING 2019 - PURPLE CROCUSES FOR POLIO

It's that time of year again, and we are seeing the fruits of our labours. The Purple crocuses we have planted in and around Bardsey Village and The Primary School are beginning to bloom.The pictures show our 3 sites.

Planting Purple Crocuses (again) on 30th October 2018

President Alastair, his son Gordon, along with Rotarians Bill Jones, Jim Tomlinson and Peter Whelan joined three members of Bardsey Parish Council in the late morning of 30th October and planted about 4000 purple crocus corms in the grassed area around the bus stop at Grange Close on the A58 (Wetherby Road) in the village of Bardsey, Leeds. Hopefully this will result in a spectacular show in the spring, and attact some publicity for our Purple for Polio campaign. 

We also donated about 1000 bulbs to the local Primary School for the students to plant in the school grounds next week on their return after half term.

LIFESTRAWS

Once again, as in many previous years, a number of our members gave a donation to Lifestraws (or other worthy Charities) in lieu of sending Christmas cards to each other in 2018. 
To read more about this life saving Rotary Project click HERE 

CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY AND ANNUAL WHISKY DRAW

Thursday 13th December saw members, their partners and guests attend the Club's Christmas dinner at the Bingley Arms. A jolly good time was had by all. The food was excellent, as was the company. After dinner we were treated to a light hearted quiz, as usual drawn up by Past President Martyn Phillips, and then the culmination of our 100 Club with the final draw of the year, the lucky top prize winner walking off with £100. The evening concluded with President Alastair wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year before proposing the final toast of 'Rotary and Peace the World Over'.

The following evening saw 4 of us back at the Bingley Arms to sell tickets for our Annual Whisky Draw for a Gallon bottle of whisky. Tickets (2 for £1, but preferrably in blocks of at least 10) flew off the board, and thanks to the massive gererosity of the patrons of the Bingley Arms, we were able to announce the winner at about 8.30pm. The winner this year was Mathew Wells and the picture below show him recieving the bottle from President Alastair. Congratulations Mathew, do enjoy.

We were touched by the generosity of the people there that night, and thank Ryan and the establishment for allowing us to perform this 'draw' which contributes to our Charitable Giving Funds each year. 

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR MARTIN HOUSE HOSPICE

President Alastair and a number of Rotarians visited Martin House Children's Hospice on Tuesday 11th December 2018 to deliver Christmas gifts for the children, as we have been doing for many years.  We send our Love and Best wishes to the Children, their Siblings and Parents wishing them all a very Happy Christmas. We also thank the Staff for the dedicated and wonderful work they do, and hope that they have an enjoyable Christmastime too. 
CLICK on the LOGO below to learn more about Martin House and the tremedous work they do:

District 1040 Conference, Scarborough 12-14 October 2018

President Alastair and Rotarian Bill Jones attended Conference as 'Day Delegates' again this year. We arrived on the Friday afternoon to lowering skies and the odd spot of rain - while the rest of the west of the UK was battered by storms. A difference to last year when it was walm and sunny. Still, despite the clouds, the air was walm and Scarborough bracing as ever.

On the Friday afternoon, the funicular cliff railway was out of action so we had to drive down to the Spa, which was perhaps as well since we both had 'poorly' legs! (different ailments).

We spent a couple of happy hours in the House of Friendship looking at the various projects being promoted, and meeting up with old friends including PDG Phil Poole who had the box of 5000 crocus bulbs we had ordered for planting in Bardsey Village in aid of 'Purple Polio'. Another excuse for having the car near at hand.

On the Saturday, the morning Plenary Session was very inspiring (pardon the visual pun above, showing DG Nigel Arthurs 'getting the show on the road'). We decided on two projects to be recomended for support by our club this year - The Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and District 1040 Sand Dam Project. We enjoyed a simple Fellowship Lunch in the Oceon Room at the Spa, before more 'House of Friendship' chat, and then the drive back to Leeds, thoughly 'inspired'.

VISIT TO YORK GATE GARDEN, ADEL, LEEDS

On Wednesday 29th August, six of our members, along with three wives, visited this garden in North Leeds. Run by the horticultural charity Perennial, York Gate was named by the Times as one of the 'Top Ten' gardens to visit last year. We had a wonderful time being shown around by the very knowledgable Head Gardener, Ben Preston. We were blessed with beautiful sunshine, a lovely summers day, and everyone enjoyed the experience, topped off with tea and scones in the tea room. Thanks to Ken and Alison Garrett for organising the trip.

PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS - IRELAND WOOD SCHOOL

On Tuesday 3rd July 2018, five of our members, including outgoing President Peter Whelan, attended Ireland Wood Primary School in North Leeds. They went to present awards to the “special children” who had been chosen by their physiotherapist for doing well with their exercises during the year. 

The school accepts several children with educational special needs into mainstream education. All the children we meet on these visits are delightful and accept the awards with great pleasure. 

Mr Blackburn, the Headteacher, also thanked the Club for the gift of items which have helped the children to enjoy more school days out with their classmates: a)Two ‘Go-Pro’ cameras, with accessories to enable them to be fastened to the chest or head of the child, gave great pleasure to everyone, when videos were later replayed of them riding on a ‘zip-wire’ somewhere in North Yorkshire. b) Two ‘Oskoog’ Music Tactile Cubes enable the children to create, learn, and listen to music and to ‘play’ instruments. c) Two flexible Tablet holders, which can be fastened to wheelchairs and can hold a Tablet in virtually any position required – a great benefit certainly to one of the Award recipients.

We have been involved with the school now for over 10 years, presenting the Awards (now in memory of one of our members, the late Jack Transport, who was responsible for setting up this initiative). We consistently say that “This is the best and most rewarding thing we do”. Onward to next year…… 

NEW PIGGY BANK FOR OUR MEETINGS

A teacher from Ireland Wood School attended one of our meetings recently to give us a talk about the School and how the children with Educational Special Needs are incorporated into the daily life of the school. A talk appreciated by all. 

During the meeting, we had to pass around an empty sugar bowl, since 'The Pig of Good Fortune' had gone AWOL. The pig - a large orange piggybank - has been passed around at our meetings weekly for some time now. If a member has some good news, information, joke etc. to impart, a coin or two is then put in the pig. This raises a suprisingly large sum that the President is able to send to one or more chosen charities at Christmastime. Last year, Rotary's Polio Plus and Brain Cancer Research benifitted from the proceeds of the 'Pig.'

When we went to Ireland Wood to present the Physio Prizes in July, knowing we were bereft of a collecting vessel, the Teacher who had talked to us presented us with a ceramic Owl to replace the missing animal. So from now on 'Olly' the Owl of Good Fortune will do the collecting. Thanks Jane.

White Laith Primary School, Whinmoor, Leeds LS14

On Friday 20th July 2018, our Club President Alastair and Immediate Past President Peter attended School for their End of Year and Leavers Assembly. They were there to present books, one each to three children in each of the school’s years, who have worked really hard on improving their reading skills this last year. All the prize-winners were chosen by their year teacher.

The reason for the attendance and presentation of awards was a small part of our commemoration of the life of one of our members who is no longer with us, namely Bill Baker, whose name appears on an insert in each of the books presented. 

Bill, as anyone who knew or had met him, was a larger than life individual, and a stalwart of our Club. He would have loved to have been with us that morning to see the smiles on the faces of the children receiving their book. A really lovely way to start the day.

President Alastair writes: “The school Assembly was absolutely brilliant. Mrs Sheerin, the Headteacher, can be proud of her own efforts as well as those of the staff and children producing a school with such wonderful attributes.