Visit to Rotary Douai - Nov 2017

Visit to Rotary Douai

70th Anniversary ... Soirée de Gala

Seven of us and five wives had a most enjoyable time representing the Club at Rotary  Douai's  70th Anniversary events. After arrival on Friday 17th November, we were treated to a most convivial dinner by the Douai Club, together with a party of 18 from their German Contact Club, Bad Mergentheim, a spa resort in southern Germany. We developed a most harmonious relationship with the German club members, aided by a nocturnal mini-Beerfest by two of our party, who shall be nameless!

On Saturday 18th,  we enjoyed a guided tour of the interesting and unusual church in Douai, before being driven in the Germans' coach to a most poignant  memorial for the almost 600,000 fallen in the WW1 in the Pas-de-Calais sector - which included the Battle of the Somme - called the Ring of Memories. So called, because the names are recorded in stone panels at the internal perimeter of an almost 400 yard circumference stone circle. Regardless of nationality, the names are in alphabetical order, the first being a Ghurkha. 

We were treated by the Douai Club to lunch at a typically French family run restaurant, with specialities of the area. After lunch, we were taken to the fine Louvre museum at Lens, where comprehensive exhibits - ranging from archaeological to serious art, from 3,500 BC to the end of the Middle Ages, are arranged in chronological order.  Not to be forgotten were the schnapps, plum brandy, and delicacies, handed out by the Germans in the coach journeys.

That evening - the climax - the Soirée de Gala in the historic Douai Hôtel de Ville. There were speeches by the Presidents of Douai, and all three contact clubs -  all of which, unsurprisingly, focussed on the core principles of Rotary - including Fellowship, person to person contact locally through to internationally, co-operation, and straight dealing.

The key point of my speech, on behalf of our Club, was that our Club has been involved with the Douai club since their Charter Night, 12 June 1948, when two Fellows represented our Club.  Subsequently, there were very close relationships between not only our clubs, but individuals and families, too. Read all about it in RCB History on our website! My presentation of a bottle of aged single malt Glenlivet seemed a poor return for the memorable hospitality we received - but I trust that our presence counted more.

The weekend very much consolidated our relationship with Rotary Douai - and opened the door to the possibility of an ongoing relationship with Rotary Bad Mergentheim. All in all - a very satisfying Rotarian weekend!  Shame more of us were not there to enjoy it!

My thanks to all in our most convivial party - especially Adolph for translating my speech into French and looking after the many details - and to our highly competent drivers: Brian, David, and Tony. The Club's thanks to Bill and our International Committee for steering this, and to Nick - who two years ago single-handedly conceived the rekindling of our link with Douai, and persisted against significant difficulties. Without Nick, maybe none of this would have happened.

To conclude, here, from the end of my speech, is our toast, which we Rotarians representing the Club stood, and said in unison in French :  

Rotary ..... in Douai ....  and the World over ..........  may it flourish for ever !

Peter White

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