Club Scrapbook For The Year 2014 - 2015 |
30th June 2015: Presidential Handover Dinner
Some 50 Rotarians and partners met for dinner in the delightful surroundings of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge for the annual presidential handover. We all gathered for a reception in the Fellows Garden in what was a gloriously warm evening, and were called in to the main dining room for the formal meal at 8pm. Following an excellent dinner with copious amounts of wine, an address was given by outgoing president, Clarice, who has been the Club's first lady president. She said that how much she had enjoyed her year and particularly thanked her husband John for his unstinting support throughout the year. After the handing over of the chain of office, the incoming president David said how much he was looking forward to the challenges of the coming year. He was then presented with (a newly introduced custom) a hat, suitably covered in items representing the new President's interests of golf and flying! A bouquet of flowers was presented to Past President Clarice by President David (pictured). The Vice President's chain of office was passed on to our new Vice President for the year, Karin. Click here for some more photos of the evening 23rd June 2015: Service Recognition Award Presentation
Among one of the last of her duties for the presidential year, President Clarice made a presentation to special guests David and Louise Atkins. The "Service Recognition Award" is an award made by a Rotary Club to recognise an outstanding contribution to the community over an extended period. Congratulations to David and Louise
23rd June 2015: Chris Hardy 1947 - 2015
Rest in peace, Rotarian Chris Hardy. He designed the original website, our Facebook page, the Kite Festival website and our Twitter page. Chris kept them all scrupulously up to date until only a few weeks ago, when fighting his illness demanded all his energies. Chris died on 23 June after a devastatingly short illness. We shall miss a friend and an exemplary Rotarian who well deserved the Paul Harris Fellowship he was awarded only six months ago. Twelve years a member of this Club, he was the most energetic and committed of members. Brave in defending Rotary values, and a creative International and Foundation chair, he will be grievously missed. Our sympathy goes to Polly, and to his children Simon and Sarah. 11th to 14th June 2015: Visit to Paray-le-Monial and CharloraisFourteen members and partners set off variously by air, road and rail, each frantically rehearsing "Franglais" before meeting up with our twin club in France. The English visitors were each welcomed in the homes of our French hosts where they were entertained with lots of fun and food plus wine and champagne. On the first day (Friday) there was a visit to the vast ruins and restoration sites of the Abbaye de Cluny, followed by a visit to the National Stud Farm which is situated next door. Later, our coach took us to visit Villie-Morgon in the Beaujolais region for wine tasting at Caveau Desvignes! On the Saturday we played against our hosts for the traditional "Ashes" for winning the various games of putters and pitchers, table football and boules. We were awarded the Ashes in fine style by our hostess in chief, President Sophie, at a superb meal in a nearby restaurant. President Clarice made her thank you speech in French to our hosts with her usual aplomb! Eventually we had to leave to return to Royston after a wonderful visit. We all look forward to hosting our French cousins into our homes next summer and give them a chance to win back the Ashes See the photos of the Paray-le-Monial trip here
10th June 2015: Kids Out at Wimpole EstateSome 94 disadvantaged children and their carers enjoyed the delights of Wimpole Estate, laid on by many of the Rotary Clubs in the district, including the Royston club. They energetically used the bouncy castle, both made and flew kites, blew enormous bubbles, had their faces painted and had a tour of all the animals at Home Farm. At midday they all sat down to sandwiches and drinks followed by lashings of ice cream. A grand day out!
7th June 2015: Open Secrets Historic Vehicle ShowWe had a record number of vehicle to attend the Historic Vehicle Show on the Heath (in conjunction with the Open Secrets Show). This is still only our 4th year and we received many favourable comments from the exhibitors. It was a glorious day for it and so many arrived determined to enjoy a good picnic as they showed off their smartly polished vehicles. President Clarice performed the judging and she selected Ed Rayment's 1953 MG TD for the prize of Best Vehicle in Show. Ed has evidently owned this car for 46 years and supervised its restoration. Many thanks to all Rotarians who volunteered to help at the show. 8th to 10th May 2015: President's Weekend to LiverpoolThis year the destination nominated by President Clarice was to her home town of Liverpool. A Richmond's coach duly left Barley to pick up an assortment of Rotarians and their partners and headed northwards, stopping off at Trentham Gardens for lunch. Upon arriving at Liverpool the party were impressed with the Anthony Gormley statues "Another Place" on Crosby Beach, strung out for about a kilometer. The end of our journey saw the party arrive at the hotel at the refurbished Albert Docks. The following morning at breakfast the massive Queen Mary 2 came cruising past the dining room window and turned on a sixpence (apparently) before sailing back past us the other way. She was there to rendezvous with her sister liners, the Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth, in a few days time, to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Cunard Line. The weekend party visited Liverpool's two famous cathedrals, the Maritime Museum, The Liver Building, the largest brick building in the world (a bonded tobacco warehouse) and, of course, the Mersey Ferry. Some even ventured on to the enormous Ferris wheel adjacent to the hotel. At dinner on the Saturday evening a quiz was held (won easily by Martin and Jo) and a presentation to President Clarice as a memento of her weekend. The return journey to Royston was via the National Memorial Arboretum which had a particular poignancy for Ray's wife, Joan (nee Rolfe), where a relative of hers, Lillian Rolfe, was mentioned in the SOE memorial there. Joan had the opportunity to lay some flowers in her memory.. Photos of the President's Weekend 17th May 2015: Monthly Walk
A team of twelfth walkers assembled for our monthly walk. The route this month was from the King William pub in Heydon, via the Icknield Way to Chrishall and Elmdon, viewing the towers and spires of Cambridge in the distance. On reaching Cane's Walk we passed a beautiful display of wild bluebells in full bloom in Park Wood. A beautiful sight.
Upon returning to Heydon and the King Bill, eight of the walkers enjoyed lunch and liquid refreshments. A fitting end to a very pleasant walk. 1st May 2015: Classic Vehicles ShowNearly 140 vehicles were proudly on display in the Town Hall Car Park together with around 20 historic motor bikes. Amongst the cars was a very rare and valuable Ferrari F50, reputedly worth in excess of £1m. Royston's Mayor, Victoria Hulstrom-Allen awarded the prize for best vehicle to Ben Hogan for his 1929 Austin Butcher's Van. The best motorcycle award was won by Tony Malthouse for his splendid 1966 Norton 750 Commando. The rotary prize for best vehicle in show was judged by Peter Franks to be a 1961 Mercedes 190 SL owned by Mark Messenger.
More Photos of the Classic Vehicles 16th April 2015: Still Alice film show raises over £1000 for Alzheimer's Research UK
Our Special showing of Still Alice in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK took place last Thursday. The showing of the film was preceded by a short talk by Jessica Hiscocks, Regional Fundraising Officer for ARUK. The evening was such a great success that Clarice Whalich, President of Royston Rotary, was able to present a cheque to Jessica for £1000 based on the ticket sales alone. The money raised from the bar and raffle has yet to be worked out. Thank you so much to everyone who supported the event.
12th April 2015 : Monthly Walk - Therfield & Kelshall
What a wonderful day last Sunday was for a walk in the countryside around Therfield and Kelshall. The five mile walk started and ended at the Fox & Duck in Therfield where we had a very enjoyable lunch.
28th March 2015 : The Philippines - Hurricane Haiyan - Update
On November 8 2013, the strongest tropical storm ever recorded hit the Philippines. It wrecked homes and buildings. It brought to the ground businesses and entire industries. It destroyed and took away lives. We called it Hurricane Haiyan; the Filipinos called it Yolande. The Rotary Club of Royston managed to raise over £3,600 to help the people of the Philippines. The money initially purchased two ShelterBoxes; a supply of LifeStraws, a portable filter to enable untreated water to be drunk safely. The balance of the money raised was sent to the Rotary Club of Manila enabling them to buy three fishing boats with Honda engines - each carrying the name “Royston Rotary Club”; solar lanterns. The RC of Manila projects has also provided a motorised transport boat, which also carries the name of Royston Rotary Club” to take children to/from the island where they live to school on a neighbouring island as well as transporting traders to the local market. The photos show the official handover by Frank Evaristo, President of the RC of Manila, that took place on 28th February
20th March 2015 : Youth Makes Music
The “amazing talents” of youngsters was seen yet again at this year’s Rotary Club of Royston’s Youth Makes Music concert. More than 200 pupils and students from Royston schools and the surrounding villages took part in the concert at Cambridge University’s West Road concert hall on Friday evening. Schools taking part were The Meridian School, Roysia Middle School, Greneway Middle School, Icknield Walk First School, Tannery Drift First School, Roman Way First School, Studlands Rise First School, Therfield First School, Barley First School, Barkway First School and Reed First School, and the Royston Youth Choir. Rotary Club of Royston president Clarice Wahlich said: “Each year we see the amazing musical talents of youngsters from all the schools – and this year it was no exception. “The schools can certainly be proud of taking part in such a concert which not only showed their various talents but also the inspiration they get from teachers, who devote many hours in putting the programme together,” she said. She added: “We may have missed the eclipse this morning, but this evening we saw the stars come out.” The concert covered a whole range of musical tastes: from Queen’s "Bohemian Rhapsody" and Motorhead’s "Ace of Spades" to a touch of the Latin American with "La Bamba". Classical music was included, too, with extracts from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto, which saw a trumpet solo from Freddie Ball, of Greneway School. And Meridian School student Callum Goodall-Makowski gave the evening a real swing with his rendition of the Irving Berlin classic "Let’s Face the Music and Dance". The concert came to an end with all the pupils and students on stage to perform The Carpenter’s hit "Sing".
8th March 2015 : Monthly Walk - Abington Pigotts
Our walk this month started at the Pig and Abbot public house in Abington Pigotts and took us on a circular path which reached out as far as the road been Steeple Morden and Guilden Morden before bring us back to the Pig and Abbot. A walk of some 5.4 miles. It was good to be out on such a beautiful spring morning with trees coming into bud and blossoming. Lunch, of course, was at the Pig and Abbot.
24th Feb 2015: Rotary Scholars 2015At last week’s meeting of the Club, members were joined by two scholars studying at Cambridge who are part of a Rotary International Scholarship Scheme; Melody Dobrynin, a Rotoractor from Brisbane, studying for an MPhil in linguistics at Jesus College and Owen Brittan, a District Grant Scholar from Abilene, Kansas studying for a PhD in History at Emmanuel College. Both Scholars gave presentations about themselves and the subjects they are studying. Melody, who explained her research into Accent Change in Foreign Environments, is something of an accent specialist, as befits someone whose own accent has confusing elements of both Australian and American. She is analysing the perceptions of native English speakers when exposed to certain foreign accents, and how greater or lesser degrees of accent may affect social acceptability, for example in employment.
Owen’s research topic is “Masculinity during the Reign of William III (1689-1702)”. He illustrated this with two contrasting excerpts from panegyric verses in honour of the king at various times during his reign. As Owen admitted, this is a pretty arcane field of interest for a boy from Abilene, though his past interests, which included extreme sports, may partly explain the masculinity bit, if not William III. It is always interesting to hear what Scholars talking about themselves; what brought them to study in the UK and about the subjects they are studying. 14th Feb 2015: Olwen Peregrine 1915-2015
It is with much sadness that we learnt of the passing of our dear friend, Olwen on 14th February. Olwen, the widow of 'Peri', a founder member of the Rotary Club of Royston was herself a founder member of Royston Inner Wheel and was its President 1970-71. Although she was unhappy when Royston Inner Wheel was disbanded, she soon became involved in the activities of 'Free Wheelers'. A feisty lady, Olwen had strong opinions but she was always ready to listen to other's points of view. She entered into everything with energy and vigour and enjoyed many Rotary occasions including visits abroad. She particularly enjoyed many friendships with our link Club of Paray le Monial and until recently joined in exchange visits. Olwen was delighted when Jacques and Collette Marriotte were able to visit her last summer. She always said that she enjoyed reading the Club's magazine, 'The Royston Rotarian' just as much as we enjoyed listening to her fund of stories of her earlier years. We will all miss her - May she rest in peace.
14th Feb 2015 : The Royston Great Pancake Race
This year's Great Pancake Race took place in the Priory Gardens as usual last Saturday. Although the Rotary team had a fine line up led by their captain, Graeme Dargie, and were tipped to win they just lost out by a nose to Royston Rounders. The Pancake Race is held annually to help raise funds for a new church hall. 8th Feb 2015: Monthly Walk - Little Walden
This month Martin Berry took us over to Little Walden just north of Saffron Walden. Our five mile walk, taking us across open farm land, started and ended at the Crown, Little Walden where we enjoyed a good Sunday lunch. The going underfoot was somewhat sticky mud which meant we had to frequently stop and remove it from our boots but the weather was good with some sunshine. 4th Feb 2015 - Technology Tournament
Last Wednesday was the day of this year’s Technology Tournament when teams from schools in Royston and the surrounding area had to solve a problem of building a "vehicle" to transport a rescue package on a suspended cable across a river. Royston Rotary president Clarice Wahlich said: "It always surprises us just how innovative the youngsters can be in grasping the concept of the project. Everyone taking past deserves praise for the way they tackled the problem and came up with ideas to complete the task," she said. The schools taking part in the tournament at The Cambridge Motel in Shepreth were Meridian, Roysia and Greneway from Royston, and Freman College, Edwinstree and Ralph Sadleir schools from Buntingford. Mrs Wahlich added: "In the eight years Rotary has been running the tournament we have seen high standards which show a positive approach from our local schools, the teachers and the students." Judges assessed each team on its planning of the project, design analysis, design development and construction skills before each piece was put to a test. The winners of the intermediate section were Roysia I with Greneway 2 second and Freman College in third place. In the senior section a team of teachers from each of the schools ended ahead of Meridian School in second place and Freman College third. The prize of a cheque for £250 awarded to the teachers was donated to the Rotary Club's Shelter box scheme, which is helping to provide vital aid to disaster areas around the world. The award from the most innovative design sponsored by Johnson Matthey went to the Edwinstree 3 team. The award was presented by Debbie McGarrity, the Johnson Matthey site and community liaison officer.
25th Jan 2015: Swimathon raised over £2,430
Now
that all the sponsorship money is in, we can announce that the 8 teams
taking part raised a total of £2,431 including GiftAid. UNCLE (Uplifting Nepal's Children with Love and Education) - Royston Methodist Church, BBC Children in Need - 5th Royston Brownies Team, Alzheimer's UK - Rotary Ladies Team, 7th Royston Scouts Equipment Fund - 7th Royston Scouts Team, Friends of Meridian Minibus Fund - Meridian School Team and the Rotary Club of Royston Charity Trust Fund.
11th Jan 2015: Monthly Walk - Great Chishill
Our first walk of the year. Jim Webb led us on a walk around the area of Great Chishill, although it was a beautiful sunny day there was a bitterly cold wind blowing. We started and ended at the Pheasant Inn in Great Chishill where we had an excellent lunch.
10th Jan 2015: Charity Quiz raises over £870
Last
Saturday evening was the Rotary Annual Quiz when 18 teams battled for the
coveted "silver" cup full of sweets. After ten rounds of questions from
quizmaster Phillip Martin and a supper of fish & chips the team Dark Horses,
under the captainship of Jamie Johnson, emerged as the winners.
17th Dec 2014 2014: Christmas Dinner
Members of the Club enjoying their Christmas dinner at Sheene Mill. During the evening we were entertained by a lovely singer Melissa Hayley Baker.
During the evening President Clarice Wahlich honoured Rotarian Chris Hardy by presenting him with a Paul Harris Fellowship for his services to the Club.
14th Dec 2014 : Monthly Walk - Wimpole Hall
Our walk today was a mere hour and a half around the grounds of Wimpole Hall via the folly. We then took the opportunity to go round the house to see the various Christmas decorations and ended up in the butler's pantry for a drop of punch/sherry after which a cup of coffee in the restaurant before descending on the Mitton's for a bowl of soup.
10/15th Dec 2014 : Santa Float
Members of the Club took the Round Table Christmas Santa Float around the Orchard Road/Burns Road area of Royston on 10th Dec and around Bassingbourn on 15th Dec.
3rd Dec 2014 : Hope & Homes Carol Service
Club President, Clarice Wahlich, presented a cheque for £500 to Mark Cook; a Founder President of the charity Hope & Homes for Children. As the donation qualifies for the UK Aid Match Scheme our donation is worth £1000 to H&HC. The presentation was made during the H&HC 20th Anniversary Christmas Tea and Carol Service held at St Mary Abbots Centre and Church in Kensington. A party of 16 from Royston (Rotarians, partners and friends) attended the event. Our Club has supported H&HC over many years and regularly attend the Carol Service. After the Carol Service we came home via Oxford Street to see the Christmas lights.
“Hope and Homes for Children is an international charity working to ensure that all children have the chance to grow up in the love of a family. Their vision is a world in which children no longer suffer institutional care.”
29th Nov/2nd Dec 2014 : Christmas Trees
Members of the Club dressed Christmas trees in both the St Georges Nursing Home (L) and in the Richard Cox House (R).
27th Nov 2014 : Charity Curry Night
Last night we held our annual Charity Curry Dinner at the Ashiana Spice in Royston at which we raised £300; this will, through the Rotary Club of Menorca, purchase LifeStraws Family Units to be distributed in Mali. Thanks to Rotarian Tim Penn for organising the evening and to Shah Rahman, manager of Ashiana Spice, who has supported this event since it began
21st Nov 2014 : Victorian Evening
After and excellent supper we were entertained to an amazing Victorian Slide show by Amanda & Anthony Tuck using original lanterns and slides. Some of the slides incorporated mechanical animation - one amazingly realistic slide was of an office block/warehouse on fire.
9th Nov 2014 : Monthly walk around Barley
This month's walk started and finished at the Chequers in Barley. It was a beautiful day and our walk took in both the Newsells and Cochenach estates. Lunch was at the Chequers
9th Nov 2014 : Remembrance Day
Clarice Wahlich, President of the Rotary Club of Royston, laid a wreath on behalf of the Club. "We will remember them"
25th Oct 2014 : Mexican Madness
Thanks to the Social Committee for organising and Liz & Dave Beardwell for hosting such a fantastic social evening.
19th Oct 2014 : Swimathon
Last
Sunday we held the 8th of our annual Swimathons at the Royston Leisure
Centre which we hope will have raised some £1,500.
12th Oct 2014 : Monthly walk round Barkway
Last Sunday, not only did we have a very enjoyable walk in the environs of Barkway we had a lesson in geocaching from John Wahlich and we found a few caches on our walk. It turned out to be a beautiful day and we had a lovely lunch in the recently refurbished Tally Ho in Barkway.
24th Sept 2014 : Visit to the Shuttleworth CollectionAn outing to see the splendid aircraft kept at the Shuttleworth Collection. After lunch we visited the adjacent Swiss Gardens. We were provided with excellent guides to show us around both the aircraft and the recently renovated Swiss gardens.
23rd Sept 2014 : Kite Festival Proceeds go to Alzheimer's Research UKAlzheimer’s Disease is probably the best–known cause of dementia, accounting for about two–thirds of cases in the elderly. More than half a million people in the UK have Alzheimer’s. It's not surprising that several members of our Club, our President among them, have seen this distressing disease afflicting a friend or someone in the family. So many of us could sympathise when President Clarice chose Alzheimer's research UK (ARUK) as her Presidential charity, and we were more than pleased when she presented a cheque for £5,000 to Jodie Vaughan, Community Fundraising Manager, Alzheimer’s Research UK. The money represented most of the funds raised by the 2014 Kite Festival. There is a long way to go before anything resembling a cure is discovered. Dementia is the poor relation when it comes to research funding; cancer research, for example, is vastly better resourced, despite the high incidence of Alzheimer's and related dementias in this country, and its devastating social and financial cost. Jodie explained that the charity spends most of its income on funding research projects – currently 140 of them, worth £20 million - at centres in many British universities, including Cambridge. An expert scientific advisory board assesses all applications for funding, before they are sent for rigorous peer review. This expert guidance means that every grant offers the best hope in helping achieve the charity's goal of defeating dementia. ARUK only funds the very best. It's good that the Club's efforts are helping to defeat this awful disease. One day, dementia will be defeated, and the Rotary Club of Royston will have played its part in reaching that great goal.
19th Sept 2014 : Harmony in HarlemThis year's Royston Arts Festival got off to a fine start with a fabulous concert of jazz and swing including music by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn by the 17 piece band Harmony In Harlem led by Michael Kilpatrick (baritone sax). Some excellent soloists including Martin Kemp on clarinet and Johanna Bernard on violin. The concert was hosted by the Royston Methodist Chapel and the Rotary Club of Royston. The concert raised the magnificent sum of £405.55p for the Garden House Hospice.
14th Sept 2014 : Monthly walk in the vicinity of Anstey
Due to holidays, it was a small band of Rotarians and friends that enjoyed this month's walk which was organised by President Clarice and her husband John. The walk, over about 5 miles, started and ended at the Blind Fiddler in Anstey, where we had lunch.
3rd August 2014 : Royston Charity Kite Festival£6,769! That's the super surplus this year's Kite Festival has raised for good causes. The money will be shared between President Clarice Wahlich's chosen charity Alzheimer's Research UK and other Rotary charity projects. 'A wonderful result' said Treasurer David Smyth. 'It really lived up to expectations' said President Clarice.
13th July 2014 : President's HelloDuring the week leading up to last Sunday the forecast was dire - RAIN. However, on the day, the sun shone. Last Sunday was our President's Hello when President Clarice and husband John hosted a marvellous luncheon for members & partners in their lovely garden.
24th June 2014 : President's Changeover DinnerClarice Wahlich has been elected the new president of the Rotary Club of Royston - the first woman to hold the position in the club's 50 year history but, in her acceptance speech, she told members: "Much has been said about me being the first woman president - I just see myself as a Rotarian who happens to be a woman." She takes over the role from Ray Munden, who she praised as being a "tower of strength" during the past 12 months. "He put an enormous amount of time and energy into Rotary and can look back with pride at what he has achieved," she said. Her vice-president will be David Williams, a former RAF officer who worked for the Willow Foundation, the charity set up by ex-Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper Bob Wilson. Clarice, a former teacher at Greneway School, Royston, who has been a member of the Rotary Club of Royston for the past 10 years, said she was "proud" to become president for the next 12 months. She said she aims to see the next 12 months become "an excellent year for all Rotarians". "We all come with different strengths and I shall be calling on the expertise of members throughout the year. It's this diversity which enables us to be such a successful club," she said. Her chosen charity for the year will be Alzheimer's Research UK.
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