Bulletin for November 2026

                                               Rotary Club of Cheltenham North

                                                        November 2026 Bulletin

From our President Anne Bartholomew

Congratulations to David and his team for an excellent Wine Festival and to everyone for all their help and support. Also, a thank you to Steve and his family for contributing to the event and I believe this year, Steve was able to enjoy sampling and pur chasing some wine with them. The event was clearly enjoyed by all and on leaving, the comments “see you next year” were loud and clear. Fingers crossed we collected all the glasses, which were of an exceptional quality and admired by many! The Scouts again did an amazing job while the range of fashion accessories etc. were interesting! I do hope Michael has some photos!

On another note, Clive and I have a Meeting at the Queens this year and there is a new Chef in place, so we will feed back following the SGM and have an open discussion. No decision has been made as to the way forward although I have made one or two suggestions to test the water!

Cheltenham Wine Festival David Hearle

A big thank you to everyone who helped on Saturday. This was the 11th renewal of our wine festival. Once again I believe it was a success. It was well attended with 118 in the first session and 173 the second. Overall, tickets sales were 325. Exhibitors were a little down in number this year with two pulling out a month before the event. Overall there were 15 wine exhibitors and 4 non-wine, The reduced number did not have a material effect on the success on the day. In fact it gave more space to visitors to circulate and for exhibitors to sell their wares. From what the exhibitors said most if not all had a successful day.

This year we probably advertised the event more, placing ads in Punchline, the Local Answer and Cheltenham Noticeboard. We were also on What’s

On in Gloucestershire. Well done to Loveth and Solomon for ensuring we had a wider social media presence this year. Thank you to those committee member regulars Gill and Michael and Michael J who stepped up once again to help in the organizing of the event throughout the year and on the day,

The Explorer Scouts helped again. Sarah, Neil and their team were indispensable on the day. The raffle ladies worked their socks off and the ladies and gents at the door gave the event an excellent first impression to the visitors

Overall the event was a credit to all our members. A very professional performance by all.

Insight Gloucestershire

We had a talk from Insight when we had lunch at Cotswold Hills Golf Club. This was their letter of thanks:

Dear Anne, David, Clive and Members of Cheltenham North Rotary Club,

Thank you for your kind invitation and generous donation

On behalf of Insight Gloucestershire, I would like to express my sincere thanks for your kind invitation to join you for lunch at Cotswold Hills Golf Club on Monday, and for giving me the opportunity to speak about our work supporting blind and partially sighted people across Gloucestershire.

It was a pleasure to meet members of the Club, share more about the difference our services make to people’s lives, and learn about the valuable work you undertake in the local community. I am particularly grateful for your generous donation of £400, which will make a practical and meaningful contribution to our Digital Skills Support service.

Your donation will help us purchase a dedicated laptop running Windows 11 Pro, enabling our Digital Skills Advisor, Amanda, to provide more effective, hands-on support to people who are blind or partially sighted.

Through personalised, one-to-one sessions, Amanda helps people develop the confidence and practical skills to make the most of technology. This includes demonstrating accessibility features such as screen readers, magnification and voice control, as well as smartphones, tablets and useful apps that support reading, navigation, communication and everyday activities.

Having access to a dedicated laptop will allow service users to explore these technologies in a supportive environment, practise new skills at their own pace and discover solutions tailored to their individual needs. In doing so, your contribution will help people overcome digital barriers, remain connected with others, access essential services and maintain their independence.

As technology becomes increasingly important in everyday life, this support is vital in ensuring that blind and partially sighted people are not left behind. Your generosity will help us continue empowering people across Gloucestershire to build their confidence, develop their digital skills and participate more fully in their communities.

We are extremely grateful to Cheltenham North Rotary Club for your kindness and commitment to supporting local causes. Thank you once again for your warm welcome, your interest in our work and your generous contribution towards making a real difference to the lives of the people we support.

As a next step, we would welcome the opportunity to keep the Club updated on the purchase of the laptop and how it is being used to support our service users.

We would be delighted to share an update on the difference your £400 donation is making and, should members be interested, arrange a future opportunity to hear more about the progress and impact of our Digital Skills Support service.

We very much hope to maintain our connection with Cheltenham North Rotary Club and explore opportunities to work together in the future.

With sincere thanks and best wishes,

Ian Daniels

Ian Daniels

Relationship Fundraiser

International Committee Report Rosanne Cole

I am pleased to report that during the past Presidential Year 2025/2026 The Rotary Club of

Cheltenham North has sent £3,050 to School in a Bag.

This has been to support their work in Nepal, particularly so since the devastating flood

of the Bhote Koshi River. It is reported that 1,367 people have died with around

5,132 people missing. The Nepalese authorities report that around 85,000 people have been

impacted by the disaster. This figure includes children whose education has has been severely interrupted. We have, of course, continued with our support for Three Kalinka Higher Secondary

School in Tenkampur.

During the same period we have sent £605 to Shelterbox. This sum has been raised from

our magnificent raffles.

I would like to mention here that the Ladies who Lunch have also supported Shelterbox this year with donations from their successful lunches and teas.

News from Cheltenham Future Rotary Club Tony Pawley

‘Future’ member James White, Vicar and Asst. Dean, provided a splendid breakfast at the Cornerstone Centre on 13th October. 48 picture dictionaries were gratefully received by the charity ‘Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees’ (CWR) for them to distribute at English classes they run. Some Future members then went on to distribute dictionaries to pupils at Oakwood School where they were enthusiastically received.

A week later, 12 of us had guided tours of the Jet Age Museum. Richard Guy and I piloted the Vulcan and the Trident, but by the time we’d carried out pre-flight checks, it was time to vacate our seats. This was followed by a convivial meal at Chelsea Brasserie, now in the Ramada Hotel, close to the Museum. A very enjoyable evening.

The Club is now focusing on the Santa Paws Fun Run in Pittville Park on Sunday 6 December, hoping to recapture some of the success of similar events organised by Cheltenham Sunrise Rotary in ‘the good old days’. As well as fun for all the family, the Club expects to raise a good sum for the Cheltenham Animal Shelter, celebrating its Centenary this year. This will be through entry fees, a silent auction and RCCN’s collection buckets, also used by Future at the Racecourse for a collection for the Animal Shelter on 24 October. Sue Jenkins will return them to us in ‘pristine’ condition in time for our Christmas Concert!

Tony’s Trivia 

Thought for the month: when visitors to the Wine Festival asked at the gate for directions I said “Simply walk up the slope to the entrance, and when you leave, roll back down again.”

Pictures of the Month: shock horror, what’s happened to my car?

As I approached our car carrying a large box from Next in Kingsditch, imagine my fright when I saw the dent in the rear door. “OH NO ! OH XXXXXX ”

As I went to open the boot, I screamed, “IT’S NOT OUR CAR!”. We don’t often see another turquoise VW T-Cross, especially one with a ‘20’ numberplate. Our car was 5 cars away!

Carol Concert

This is one of our major fund raising events of the year and we do need your help and support to make it a success. Please try to sell tickets to your friends and family. If you are unable to attend you still may like to support the event by purchasing a ticket.

You can also help by placing some fliers in your surgery, local pub, hairdresser, coffee shop – anywhere where they can be seen.

Future Programme Clive O’Gorman

__________________________________

Mon, Nov 2nd 2026 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker

A Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker. The Speaker Ross Beamish (Cheltenham Round Table) on "Growing and developing a successful Club". Hamper Scamper Christmas Collection Menu See website. Partners and Guests Welcome Host David Hearle

_______________________________

Sat, Nov 7th 2026 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Cheltenham Round Table Fireworks at the Racecourse

Rotarians are assisting as Marshalls at the Racecourse Contact Richard Purdon for more information.

_____________________________________

Mon, Nov 16th 2026 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club SGM/Accounts/Business Meeting

The Club SGM/Accounts/Business Meeting Menu See "Details" Hamper Scamper Christmas Collection Host Anne Bartholomew

_____________________________________

Wed, Nov 25th 2026 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

District 1100 Council Meeting

A District Council Meeting via Zoom

___________________________________

Mon, Dec 7th 2026 at 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Club Christmas Luncheon at Cotswold Hills Golf Club

The Club Christmas Luncheon at Cotswold Hills Golf Club. Entertainment "Musical and literary entertainment from "Wendy Lavender and the Girls" Partners and Guests Welcome Host Anne Bartholomew

__________________________________

Fri, Dec 11th 2026 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Council Meeting

A Club Council Meeting with Janet

__________________________________

Wed, Dec 16th 2026 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Christmas Concert 16th December 2026

The 48th Christmas Concert will be held at The Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies College. This event will feature the Choirs of Leckhampton School and the Gloucestershire Constabulary Silver Band. Tickets are now available. See website for more Info.

___________________________________

Mon, Dec 21st 2026 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker

A Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker. Menu TBA Partners and Guests Welcome. Host Bernie Campbell

_________________________________

Mon, Jan 4th 2027 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker

A Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker. Menu TBA Host Rosanne Cole AB and RP Away

_________________________________

Mon, Jan 18th 2027 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with a Speaker/Quizmaster

A Club Meeting with a Speaker/Quizmaster Rotarian Steven Mills is organising a New Year Quiz. Partners and Guests Welcome Menu TBA Host Eddie Bestwick RP Away

__________________________________

Sat, Jan 23rd 2027 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

District 1100 Young Chef Final

Young Chef District Final at North Cotswold School

__________________________________

Wed, Jan 27th 2027 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

District 1100 Forum

A District 1100 Forum Meeting via Zoom

__________________________________