Cheltenham North News

Cheltenham North News

             This is a selection of our activities over the past twelve months

Website Links

Links to Rotary and other relevant sites can be found at the bottom of the Home Page or at the Top of the Home Page under "More" and then "Links and News"

October 2025 Cheltenham Swimming and Water Polo Club. Donation

A Community Grant has been made to the Cheltenham water Polo Club for the purchase of Equipment 

September 2025 Bettridge School "Sharing Shed" Donation

A  Community Grant has been made to the "Sharing Shed" of Bettridge School for the purchase of specialist equipment.

August 2025 Update on District 1100 Boules

We have played two boules matches, drawing with 3 games each, in both cases.

However in such circumstances the result hinges on points scored, meaning we lost against Winchcombe and won against North Cotswolds (Rams).

Between writing this and publication, we have our last match of the season hosting North Cotswolds (Tups) in Sandford Park on Thursday evening. We can reveal that result at the next meeting.

The matches have been enjoyed by the teams, being precursors to a friendly meal in a local pub.

The Club needs to thank: David, Richard, Tony, John and Beth for being our ambassadors on these evenings.

Having started late this year our pool of volunteers was able to cover these arranged games, however for next year please let me know if you want to play, as we need four members to make up a team and a larger squad would give us some flexibility

August 2025 Visit to Stanway House

A Group of Rotarians, Partners and Friends paid a visit to Stanway House. 

President David commented "Great day at Stanway House followed by an excellent lunch at The Plough. A lovely start to the Bank Holiday weekend." 

August 2025 Garden Party 

A Garden Party was held at the home of Sue and Chris Jenkins with entertainment being provided by Duncan and his group of players. The event raised £1500 for the Club's Charity fund.

July 2025 Presentation by the Cheltenham Scout Group.

At the Club Meeting on the 21st July a presentation was made to Club members on Scouting and the activities of the Cheltenham Scout Group. (See Pictures)

July 2025 Community Grant to School House Cafe

A further grant has been made to the School House Cafe for the purchase of a Commercial Dishwasher.  This will enable the provision of facilities for the local Community to be extended. A cheque for £750 has been presented to them by our President David

June 2025 Community Grants Further Donations

A number of Community Awards have been made during 2025 as follows

Cass and friends

Cheltenham Art Society

Friends of Sandford Park

Friends of Belmont School

Holst 150

Rowanfield School

Cheltenham Playhouse 

Cheltenham Enigma Scout Group

Since the project was started last year 15 Grants have been made totalling over £4000

See the Community Grants Featured Page on the Home Page for more information.

June 2025 Handover to New President

At the Club AGM/Assembly and Handover meeting on the 16th June President Nigel passed the "Reins" to the new Club President for 2025/6 David Hearle 

May 2025 Star Centre New Equipment from Cheltenham North

This is certainly fantastic piece of equipment that will change students that use it - freedom of independent movement.

Further details of the equipment in December item below. 

April 2025 Wine Festival

Cheltenham North organised another successful Wine Festival that was again held at the Fitness Centre of Cheltenham Ladies College.

Pictures taken at the event are now available within the Featured Page on the Home page of this website.

Proceeds, approximately £5000 from the event will go to Rotary Charities.

April 2025 Leatherhead Gala Dinner

On the same day as the Wine Festival two of our Lady Members were able to support the Gala Dinner organised by Leatherhead Rotary Club. The Leatherhead Club were on an "away" weekend in Cheltenham and held the event at the Hilton Hotel.

April 2025 Support for Shelterbox

A luncheon was organised by the Lady Members and the Lady partners in support of Shelterbox. The proceeds from the event, approximately £270 will go to Shelterbox to support Myanmar 

March 2025 Support for Cobalt Unit

A number of members supported the Cobalt unit charity walk who marshalled and encouraged the participants taking part in the run/jog/walk. During the event the CEO thanked the members for their help and support. 

January 2025 Award to Cass and Friends 

At the Cheltenham North Club Meeting on 6th January a Community Award was made to Fiona Carter of Cass and Friends.

December 2024 Cheltenham North Supports the Star Centre.

At their Club Meeting on the 16th December Members gave their approval to the purchase of specialist equipment for the Star Centre

Past President Kevin provided details, as per below of the “Ability to Drive” project. £6750 was approved by those present. 

"The Ability Drive consists of piece of hardware that attaches to an individual’s wheelchair and the Ability Drive app. The app shows directional drive ‘buttons’ on the student’s screen which is attached to their wheelchair. It will sense the individual’s gaze on the virtual buttons which in turn send movement commands to the Ability Drive interface. The wheelchair will then move in the desired direction. If the student wants to stop, they just move their gaze from the screen.

The Star College’s Occupational Therapists and Assistive Technology team will work with students to develop the skills they need to use the Ability Drive. They will support them to build up concentration and tolerance to the eye-driven communication device, empowering them to make choices about where they want to go and what they want to do, and support them to experience a new level of independence and freedom.

Beneficiaries will be students like Michele, who has cerebral palsy, and communicates through technology that tracks her eye movements. Michele is desperate to drive around college on her own so that she can socialise freely with her friends and ‘do what teenagers do’, but currently has to rely on a support worker to go anywhere. Ability Drive will enable her to move around National Star independently.

The students at National Star who will benefit from this equipment will be those who have limited functional movements or difficulty controlling their movements, and who are therefore unable to make use of typical driving controls such as joysticks and head switches to drive their wheelchairs independently, but are cognitively able to do so. For those individuals, watching their peers travel independently around college, where they want and when they want, can be extremely frustrating, demoralising and can have a negative impact on their self-esteem, confidence and mental health.

National Star was the first charity in the UK to trial Ability Drive, with one of the students, Hannah, who learned to use the equipment, telling us that it made her feel ‘confident’ and that it was simply ‘amazing’ to drive her wheelchair independently for the first time in her

life. Seeing the real difference Ability Drive made in such a short time to students’ quality of life, National Star has made the decision to purchase this equipment which will ensure that all the students at National Star who have no movement or limited control of their movements, can experience the freedom and autonomy that many of us take for granted.

The College anticipate that 11 students per year will benefit immensely from learning to use Ability Drive and as is often the case with most technology’s that National Star invests in, over time more students will benefit as the general needs and complexities of our students increases.

Sadly, The Star College was unsuccessful in securing the grant to cover the vast majority of the purchase price but we have received £700 in smaller restricted grants towards this particular item. The overall cost will be £7450. The Star College will add a plaque for visitors to be able to see your Rotary incredible impact (and to encourage others to do the same as well)"

December 46th Annual Carol Concert

A very successful Concert was held at the Ladies College Princess Hall Cheltenham with over £5700 raised in support of  Rotary Charities

The Featured Page on the Home Page of this Website have a selection of Pictures taken at the event.  

The event featured, Compere Mark Cummings, the Gloucestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra, the Choirs from Leckhampton Primary School and Imogen Bowquett, and Harriet Perfect.

December 2024 Christmas Dinner at the Queens Hotel.

Cheltenham North Rotarians and their Guests enjoyed their Christmas Dinner at the Queens Hotel. This was a "Black Tie" event and they were entertained by a group of Ukulele Players. All pictures taken at this event can be found within the section Photo Gallery of Events under "What we Do" on the Home Page of this website. 

November 2024 CHeltenham North continue to support the Community Awards Scheme

At their recent meeting the Club Rotarians agreed to support the Community Awards Scheme for a further 2/3 years. Details can be found in a Featured Page on the home Page of this website. 

November 2024 Cheltenham North support the CCP Hamper Scamper Appeal 

Cheltenham North Rotarians have made food donations to CCP in aid of their Christmas Hamper Scamper Appeal

November 2024 Cheltenham North Rotarians and Friends Support Shelterbox.

The Cheltenham North International Committee organised an all day refreshments event at the home of its Chairman. The event raised £535 in aid of Shelterbox. This event plus other activities have enabled a cheque for £885 being sent to Shelterbox.

November 2024 Cheltenham North support Cheltenham Fireworks.

Fourteen North Rotarians and Partners acting as Marshalls supported the Cheltenham Fireworks display organised by Cheltenham Round Table in aid of local Charities.

October 2024 Community Awards Presentation

Stoke Orchard Football Club

Message from the Mayor of Cheltenham

I was delighted to attend the Rotary Clubs of Cheltenham, Cheltenham Future, Cheltenham North and Cleeve Vale for their annual awards celebration to small and local charities. As ever it was so inspiring to see presentations from the award winners and to meet and chat to them afterwards. The winners included Rowanfield School which has such a wonderful ethos, the incredible Riding for the Disabled, the newly formed Stoke Orchard Youth Football Club, the fabulous Cheltenham Silver Band and the School Café which is an inspiring community facility in St. Pauls.

September 2024 A New Member for Cheltenham North

The members are very pleased to welcome Jane Setton as a member of the Club. Jane was previously a member of West Wickham Rotary Club

August 2024 Community Service and CCP Pantry

It was decided at our last committee meeting to make a donation to The Pantry at CCP of £400.00. 

The idea was that as the children were on holiday there would be much more demand for food over the Summer holidays. 

Liz Jones and I with our fantastic Club photographer Michael attended CCP on Tuesday August 13th. to present the cheque to The Pantry. 

Shoppers come on a Wednesday and Friday and for £4.50 can buy 15 items of food. On top of that they can also have a limited amount of fresh fruit and vegetables, these are rationed. There is no limit to access of the Pantry as with other Food Banks eg. Trussell Trust. 

The Pantry is reliant on donations and it has a large delivery once a week from a wholesalers in Bristol on a Tuesday. So our cheque will be used to buy supplies and hopefully relieve some of the pressure on the Pantry at this time of the year! 

July 2024 Rowanfield School

At the final assembly for the school year a presentation was made to Cheltenham North members whom had been assisting the school. The members supported the Staff with the Pupils reading lessons..

July 2024 Belmont School Fete

Members of Cheltenham North supported the School Fete which raised over £2400 for the School.

June 2024 Rotary Cluster Conference A Report by Member Tony & Linda Pawley

“STRONGER TOGETHER” CLUSTER CONFERENCE, June 28th – 30th 2024

Sandy Park Conference Centre Notes by Tony and Linda Pawley, RCCN

This was the first ever Cluster conference, with Districts 1100, 1150, 1175, 1200 combining.

350 delegates.

Each DG chaired a session, with our very-own Anne Bartholomew chairing the first.

Deputy Mayor of Exeter opened the conference. His wife is Ukrainian, so he appreciated the blue and yellow Rotary theme.

ShelterBox:

2.5 million people helped in the past 10 years, in 100 countries.

£270K raised by the 4 Districts 2022-23, sufficient for 665 family tents or 4141 Shelter kits (a recent addition to their range)

global warming is expanding and changing needs, including provision of termite-resistant tents for Sahal, West Africa

partnerships with local Rotary clubs who know local conditions, peoples and language

RotaryGB&I Specialist Advisory Team (SAT) leads:

tried to show how different strands of Rotary and members’ skills can come together to deliver successful projects, but the style of the presentation put us off

covered new types of membership, grants from entrepreneurs and charitable foundations

the power of social media for spreading the word

School in a Bag – CEO Luke Simon:

brilliant presentation and video (as expected!)

almost 150,000 bags delivered to date.

3,784 purple bags delivered to Ukrainian children in UK

run by two full-time and two part-time employees

session concluded with children from Llanelli and Bryn Mawr and audience members packing SiaB bags

RI President Gordon McInally’s Representative Trustee Aziz Memon

RI President’s initiatives on mental health

educating communities on the value of immunisation (Polio, etc)

leaving behind a legacy for a literate, healthy and peaceful world

Evening CEILIDH / Barn Dance / Buffet

RI President Gordon McInally video

Main Sponsor - Atkins Ferrie Wealth Management

an appropriate ‘promotion’ by the founder, given their £3K sponsorship of the Conference

RotaryGBI Board Chairman Robert Morris – didn’t inspire us

Rotakids (from Ysgol Pen Rhos, Llanelli)

a superb, awe-inspiring presentation by four youngsters on their team’s achievements through Rotary for Polio, Ukraine, bee corridors, butterflies, climate change, young chef, litter picking (incl. beaches)

growing algae cakes and biscuits to capture CO2

Break Out Rooms for Specialist Advisory team leads – very low-key, not aware it happened

Anthony Knight – Young Violinist

playing & speaking about his playing in European centres for UNICEF

Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE

wow, what can one say! she covered her early life, her early years in Britain subjected to bullying and racial abuse – “I was no longer a person, I was a colour”

we must show all children that we love them – all government decisions affect children and after throughout their lives – “childhood lasts a lifetime”.

she concluded with the Charlie Chaplin song “Smile, though your heart is breaking”

BiPolar UK – Leah Charles-King

good to hear from another of the charities that we have happily supported

a BiPolar e-club has been set up.

RotaryGBI General Secretary Amanda Watkin

an opportunity to hear how the 18 staff in Alcester clubs and their members help clubs and members through on-line resources and on-call services

urged people to give others the space to be the people they are

Steve Brown, Countryfile presenter and wheelchair Paralympian, supporting OK Our Kids

in his teenage years, he focused on making himself happy

had a great job running Alpine resorts until an accident that shattered his 6th vertebra

learnt in Stoke Mandeville about living with his disability – he would not get better.

there are things you have no control over, but you can control yourself afterwards

focus on what is possible – find a simple solution

Rotarians are parts of so many jigsaws that improve people’s lives

see what you’re capable of

find the best people to help you and give your best

he then left to help with his 8-day old baby, to a big round of applause

_______________________________________________

Foundation reception for major donors

Gala Dinner - Dancing to “The Cove Club “

Thought for the Day - Rev Debbie Hodge

Kids Out – 11/6/2025

has aligned with a different charity, “Kid’s in Mind”, to create “Rotary Children Fun Day”

has come ‘in-house‘, backed by RGBI, more aligned with Rotary aims

seamless transition from current operation; District Ambassadors to help out

clubs receive £5 per child subsidy

plan Rotary Christmas Toy Box for 2025

Interact (Bryn Mawr)

2 kids gave an extraordinarily inspiring, amusing and moving presentation

Scott Kelly – Beefeater (Yeoman Warder)

Army Air Corps for 24 years

helps veterans with PTSD

133,000 Facebook followers

no vegetarian or vegan Beefeaters

five female yeoman warders – better than many of the men, “but not me”

RI President’s Representative Trustee Aziz Memon

Nigel Linacre – Well-boring in Kenya

writes poems, wrote The Grief Opera after a family tragedy

every day is on opportunity to make a difference – life can be a teacher

be open, curious, realise our views are not the only ones

Ollie (Pianist) & Lilly (Vocalist) entertain

District Handovers – D1100 – D1150 – D1175 – D1200

outgoing DGs: 2 men, 2 women; incoming 4 men

Drewe Lacey’s D1100 theme: inspiring and energising communities

we are all change managers, we can change through teamwork

Saturday 22nd March “Celebration of Rotary” day

RI General Secretary John Hewko video - Rotary The Future!

Anton Pigot – Pianist - RotaryGBI Young Musician

OUR GENERAL COMMENTS¶

As ever at Rotary conferences, some of the presentations were brilliant – inspirational, heartwarming, provoking. This time, there were many stand-out presentations.

Average age of delegates typically high

Not too much self-congratulation, telling ourselves how wonderful we are.

A very worthwhile 48 hours.

June 2024 Gloucestershire Young Carers Vivien Barr

On June 23rd five members of the Community committee volunteered for 2 hour slots to help at the Glos Young Carers gazebo at the Montpellier Food & Drink Festival. 

We persuaded visitors to take an interest in this organisation by handing out helium balloons and stickers to children and Newsletters for adults. 

We also had a competition with a new ipad as the prize, with the entry fee being taken by Zettle technology which was a bit challenging at first but soon mastered! We had quite a steady trickle of visitors to come and see us. 

We were delighted to meet a former Young Carer who had looked after her mother with a brain tumour. She was then able to go on to teacher training with the excellent support of the staff. Her husband also was considering involving his workplace in fund raising activities as their chosen charity. 

It was heartening to know how much the Glos. Young Carers organisation had influenced the lives of many over the past 30 years. 

While we were doing this there was another celebration event taking place at Over Farm Park, near Gloucester. One group of families in the morning and another group later were taking part in all sorts of fun activities and competitions, and our Community funds had purchased prizes for the Tombola for this event. 

I would like to thank the volunteers very much for cheerfully helping with this event, it was quite an experience!