Bulletin for Septermber 2024

                                               Rotary Club of Cheltenham North 

                                                      September 2024 Bulletin 

Youth and Community Committee                    Gwynne Tucker Brown 

CCP offices and Pantry can be found at 340 High Street. 

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! Michael, as usual, managed some excellent photos thus promoting Cheltenham North Rotary Club.

Competing for an Olympic Medal                                              Vivien Barr 

January 2024 saw the start of the gradual build-up of thousands of athletes from all over the world training even harder in the hope of finally being selected to take part in the Paris Olympic Games in July/August.

 Among these was my American granddaughter's husband Hans Henken, who, with his sailing partner Ian Barrows, spent the winter training and racing their 49-er skiff with their eyes on the chance to represent the USA in Marseille, where all sailing events were to take place.  

In early spring we were delighted to hear that Hans and Ian had been selected for the Olympics (only one boat per class per country). Now the pressure was really on and they had to keep working hard towards their goal.

 The Anglo-American families started booking flights, Airbnbs etc. to be in Marseille to cheer them on in July. When we arrived there the temperature was is the high 30s, and we only had three fans in our odd little house! 

I was there with my daughter and her husband and their daughter Helena, (from Seattle who married Hans last year) and my son and his wife. A real fan club. Luckily Hans's parents had air-con so we went to them on a couple of days, and provided delicious delicatessen food and wines as our "thank you". 

From their balcony we could watch through binoculars, iPads , phones etc, with a commentary. The racing was quite a distance from our Olympic beach area where we would later watch the actual Medal Race. To our delight our sailors had got very good results in the preliminary 3 day heats and qualified as one of the 10 skiffs to participate in the Medal Race. 

This was scheduled for Thursday August 1st. afternoon, with the sailors rigging their boats in front of the large enthusiastic crowd cheering on their own contestants . Usually this was done in the Marina. 

Off they went, quite a long way out to the Medal Course, and we anxiously watched on the huge tv screen as they got their boats into line for the start - a nerve-wracking time for them. The race began and each boat was doing its best to get ahead of the other competitors when they started to have trouble as the wind began to die down. 

The umpires cancelled that race and announced a second attempt in a while, expecting the wind to be stronger. So we waited for this and the second race was started, but frustratingly a short while later was also cancelled as the wind had died down again. 

So we all waited for Friday afternoon for the third attempt. The sailors were really hyped up by now, and our family groups resumed our positions to watch on the large tv screen again. Hans and Ian showed their sailing skills very early on and managed to keep well up on the course. 

Finally we saw them take third place after Spain and New Zealand ( I made a "silent" cheer for the Commonwealth !) There was much excitement among us all, and we then assembled in another area for the Medal Ceremony, with the supporters of Spain (VERY vociferous) and New Zealand. 

The six winning sailors then arrived to receive their medals in the usual ceremony with their respective flag flying and anthem being played . A very moving moment as we all knew how much effort and anguish had gone into their long training programmes. 

Later we attended a celebration party with the US team, coaches and other officials. Hans and Ian received the traditional showering of champagne which they appeared to enjoy, and posed for family photos with their bronze medals. 

Hans let me wear his for a few minutes, and it was quite heavy! So ended a wonderful week of Olympic activities and the general atmosphere all the time was one of excitement, friendliness, tolerance and politeness between all the nations in Marseille, really living up to the Olympic ethos. 

Why can't it be like this all the time?

FOND FAREWELL!                                                       Rosanne Cole 

We have recently waved a sad goodbye to Sally Whittal and Eric Labrum. Sally and Eric have made a great contribution to Cheltenham North and we will miss them at our meetings. We will, however, be delighted to see them should they wish to pay us a visit, or indeed to attend any of our fundraisers. 

Sally has moved to Siddington Park Village in Cirencester and Eric has decided it is the time to retire. Au revoir. 

Maggies Cycle Ride Support                                           Tony Pawley

PEDAL FOR MAGGIE’S CHELTENHAM Sunday 22 September 2024 

I am very pleased to be cycling 40 miles through the Cotswolds in support of Maggie’s Cheltenham. 

Maggie's offers free practical and emotional support for people with cancer along with their family and friends. 

They rely on voluntary donations to fund their unique evidence-based programme of support. 

I shall be using my electric bike again. No, it’s not cheating! I still have to pedal – I just get a bit of assistance to help me go further.

 All sponsorship is very welcome, either through https://www.justgiving.com/page/tony-pawley-for-maggies or my Sponsorship Form. 

For any further information, please ask me. 

Thank you for your support Tony Pawley 01242 361539, 07985 207444, tony@thepawleys.co.uk

Carol Concert                                              Gill Rouse 

The carol concert will be on Tuesday 17th December 2024 at Cheltenham Ladies College. 

The performers will include the Gloucestershire Jazz Youth Orchestra, 

Year 5 and Year 6 choirs from Leckhampton Junior School, 

Tim Ingold (organist) 

Mark Cummings (Compere) and soloist Imogen Bowen. 

Please put the date in your diary as we will need your help. 

Vivien Barr will be organising the teas/ coffees and mince pies and Beth Phillip will sort out the helpers rota. Members of the concert committee will be liaising with the performers. 

The venue cost has gone up this year and we have had to reflect that in the ticket cost which will be £15 but £12 concessions which include parents of pupils at Leckhampton Junior School and Carers. 

If you have any contacts who may wish to sponsor the concert please let me know. 

There will be a chance to purchase Mark Cummings book on Gloucestershire at the concert – it would make a lovely Christmas present.

Future Events                                                   Clive O’Gorman 

Mon 2nd September 6:30pm –9 pm Club Meeting with Guest Speaker at Queens Hotel A Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker at the Queens Hotel. The Speaker David Thorp will give a talk on "The Silent Listener “based upon his experiences in the Falklands War. Host Kevin Gwilliam _______________________________________ 

Wed, Sep 4th 2024 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Club Council Meeting A Club Council Meeting with David at the Whaddon Bowling Club.

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Mon, Sep 16th 2024 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Club Meeting CANCELLED SEE NOTE BELOW NOTE THIS MEETING MOVED TO TUESDAY 17th SEPTEMBER. 

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Tue, Sep 17th 2024 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Club Meeting with Guest Speaker (Moved from Monday) NOTE THIS MEETING MOVED FROM MONDAY 16th SEPTEMBER A Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker at the Queens Hotel the Speaker Details TBA Host David Hearle 

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Mon, Sep 30th 2024 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Club Meeting with Guests and Speaker at Queens Hotel 

A Club Meeting with Guests and Speaker at the Queens Hotel. The Speaker Andrew Meller will give a talk on "The Dymock Poets" Host Duncan Ivory 

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Mon, Oct 7th 2024 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Club Meeting with Guest Speaker A Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker. The Speaker Phil Collins will give a talk on "The History Cheltenham through Picture Postcards" NOTE This Meeting is at the Cotswold Hills Golf Club. Host Sue Jenkins ______________________________________ 

Mon, Oct 21st 2024 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Club Meeting with Guest Speaker at the Queens Hotel 

A Club Meeting with Guest Speaker at the Queens Hotel the Speaker Alan Philbeam will give a talk on "William Tyndale one of the great Englishmen" Host Elizabeth Jones 

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Thu, Oct 24th 2024 at 7:00 am - 6:00 pm World Polio Day 

Cheltenham North is celebrating World Polio Day and will be planting Crocus Bulbs. See website for information. 

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Mon, Nov 4th 2024 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Club Meeting with Guest Speakers at the Queens Hotel  A Club Meeting at the Queens Hotel the Guest Speakers are Roxanne Tyler Headmistress and Vicky Boiwman Secretary from Rowanfield School. Host Janet Keenan. 

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Fri, Nov 8th 2024 at 9:00 am - Sun, Nov 10th 2024 - 1:00 pm Rotary in Action Summit 2024 Newcastle A Rotary in Action Summit in Newcastle See websitefor brief initial overview

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Mon, Nov 18th 2024 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Club SGM/Accounts/Business Meeting The Club SGM, Review of Club Accounts for 2023/2024 and a Business Meeting at the Queens Hotel. Host Nigel Gilhead _______________________________________