What we did in 2021/2022

And so a new year began with, unusually, the same President as the year before.  At the first meeting President Kathy Hobson welcomed 7 former members of the Rotary Club of Swindon Thamesdown into the newly named Rotary Club of Swindon North and Thamesdown.  A new meeting pattern was agreed and in future the Club will meet on the 1st, 3rd and any 5th Mondays of the month.

A new Charter was received certifying “that the Rotary Club of Swindon North and Thamesdown having been duly organised by the merging of the Rotary Clubs of Swindon North and Swindon Thamesdown is duly admitted and recognised as a member of Rotary International and is entitled to all the rights and privileges of such membership effective 28th day of September 1966.”  It was signed by Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta.  

The postponed Handover ceremony and President Kathy’s year-end charity event finally took place in August in Kathy's home.  Members and partners enjoyed a delicious homemade cream tea and the delayed Handover Ceremonies were performed. A collection for "Breast Cancer Now" raised £275.

Face-to-face meetings resumed but around Christmastime rising numbers of Covid infections was a concern.  As a consequence, the Club’s December Christmas Meeting and the post-Christmas Fellowship Lunch in January were cancelled .  However, come February, it was possible to hold the popular Fireside Suppers once again.

The highlight of the year was undoubtedly a St. George’s Day Ball and Gala Evening at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel on, obviously, 23rd April.  It attracted about 280 people and there was a full programme of entertainment including a 3-course banquet with a baron of beef ceremony, the band of HM Royal Marines, the Flag and Ribbon Dancers of the Divine Company and dancing to the Royal Marines Dance Band.  Some £10,000 was raised for various charities supported by the Club.

In the run up to Christmas the former Thamesdown Club’s Sleigh was stationed at West Swindon Asda and Morrisons in Dorcan and the generous shoppers of Swindon dropped some £5,500 in our collection buckets.  After a break of 2 years due to the pandemic our Swimathon returned at Highworth RC and had the best entry to date raising over £6,600. The main beneficiary was the Swindon Food Collective.  

Other fund raising events included a return of the Quiz in association with the ladies of Inner Wheel, an Organ Recital and Community Carols at Highworth Parish Church, and Rotarian Terry Williams’ usual sales of Christmas Trees.  In April the Club organised a Young Chef Competition for years 1 and 2 students at Swindon North Star College.

In February Rotary International issued a statement on the Ukraine conflict.  "At Rotary, we are deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the escalating loss of life and humanitarian hardship there.”  We sent a donation of £1,915 to the Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal.  

A special meeting was held in May to which representatives from 11 different charities were invited to receive their share of £14,500 raised by us.  In response to the ShelterBox appeal for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal the Club donated the cost of 2 Shelter Boxes.  In June, to round off the year, President Kathy provided lunch for members and their partners in her home to celebrate the ending of her 2 years in office.