Unexpected Dividend

On August 19, we welcomed Mark Chambers, Past President of our daughter club, the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower.  Mark has fundraised for the homeless in Basildon, organises fundraising outside Waitrose for Marie Curie on its Daffodil Collection Day, and also organises the annual Billericay Summerfest.

Thunder and Lightning

We had volunteered to help out at Summerfest by manning the main entrance after 1 p.m.

Unfortunately, the weather was against them and Saturday July 6, the day before the event, saw violent downpours.  There was still a chance to go ahead, but the weather forecast predicted thunderstorms and lightning, and with a field full of metal framed marquees, the risk assessment pointed only one way, and the decision had to be taken, most regretfully, to cancel.

Mark phoned to give us the sad news, and all our volunteers were stood down.

What a Bonus!

The sun may not have shon on the Summerfest, but it certainly warmed the hearts of the exhibitors who had planned to be there.  Mark and his team contacted them all and to a person, they all agreed not to ask for their deposits back.  Mark then dropped his bombshell - some of the money will be pledged for the 2025 event, which Mark (what a glutton for punishment!) will be organising for next year, but a total of £674 profit was made this year - not bad for an event that didn’t take place!

As a thank you for our promise of assistance on the day, the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower made a donation of £100 to our Rotary Club of Billericay.  So, even though we did not do anything, we received an unexpected dividend!  

What a generous action by Mayflower!  True Service above Self.