Paella Party

Every year, the Rotary Club of Billericay raises money to support Rotary’s most important and high-profile project, End Polio Now.  

Recognition

As we have reported earlier this year, our efforts did not go unnoticed and we again received four awards at the District 1240 Foundation Lunch for our efforts in 2024-25:

• End Polio Now - Countdown to History.  The highest club contribution to End Polio Now in the District
• Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY).  Every member of the club donates over $25 to The Rotary Foundation Every Year
• One Hundred Percent Club.  Every member of our club is a “sustaining” member donating $100 or more to The Rotary Foundation
• Buck’s Bucket. The club with the highest percentage of sustaining members in the District

Fundraising Fortune

This year members applied themselves again and worked together to collect donations for this first End Polio Now fundraising project of the Rotary year.  In total we directly raised £720 including Gift Aid of 25% (thank you Chancellor) and by donating this as part of our GlobalGiving program, we received a bonus of over £260, so the total raised was over £920.

Thanks to the generosity of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this amount will be tripled, so the total amount received by End Polio Now will be £3255 less some fees to GlobalGiving.  At prevailing costs for the End Polio Now vaccine, this is worth up to just over 32,000 vaccine doses.

Paella Party

So, club members were delighted with this result and as tradition demands, it was time for our annual Party to celebrate this achievement.

President Patrick and Carol Rothon graciously threw open their lovely garden at Brook Lodge again to host us all with a Paella Party, this year on June 28, 2025, Patrick’s last weekend as President!  Nearly 30 members and guests mingled happily on the terrace of the house, drinks in hand, catching up on the latest news from each other.

This month was the hottest June for many years, a true record breaker, so we didn’t fear for rain, but we were worried that the heat might be too uncomfortable, especially as there was an amber heat warming!  So Patrick had arranged the bar, the food tables,  and all the tables and chairs for the (nearly) 30 guests, down on his lawn, in the shade of the nearby trees.  This worked very well.  The weather was dry, the sun was out, and conversation flowed easily. 

Great Food and Fellowship

As usual, Carol and Patrick provided the meal (Carol’s delicious chicken and rice paella, plus a vegetarian alternative for those who wanted it), and all the soft drinks and beer which anybody wanted and wine a plenty - white, rosé, and red. 

Carol worked hard, assisted by Sue and Malcolm Acors, cooking her chicken paella on two ranges in the gazebo on the terrace, and then taking it down to the “food” table.

Soon members were queueing up for the paella, and the salads.  It was delicious and most of the food was swiftly consumed.  Then, time for dessert - other guests had helped by providing desserts and cake, so there was plenty of food and drink for all.

Patrick thanked everybody for coming along to this social event, and especially for all they had contributed to the club’s fundraising for End Polio Now – this year there have been significantly less cases of Polio in the world – only 14 cases, and all of them on the Pakistan and Afghanistan border.  

Meal safely consumed, members circulated and there was lively and interesting conversations.  Those who managed to come to the party had a lovely day with great food and great fellowship.

Many thanks to Carol and Patrick for all their efforts and for hosting the party!