June 2010
Jun 30, 2010 7:30 PM
This was the last event of the Rotary year on my last evening as District Governor. A very appropriate event to come to as Barry Wheeler, the outgoing President, became Club President as I became District Governor Nominee and AG for his club and 3 years later we were both finishing our term of office on the same day.
We met for dinner at the Regis restaurant with over 60 people present. We enjoyed the company of Rotarians, Inner Wheel members and guests at a very relaxed event. Barry...
Jun 29, 2010 7:00 PM
Ettington Park Hotel proved a beautiful venue for this event. The gardens were stunning as we sat and had pre-meal drinks together. The meal was served in the long chamber which was up a couple of flights of stairs but definitely gave you that feel of a medieval long hall. Gareth, the outgoing President, started with his speech before the lovely meal we were served. The real funny moment was when the waitress was looking at my place card to see what my desert was and then promptly...
Jun 28, 2010 7:15 PM
It was good to be back amongst local Rotary friends who have supported me a lot this year. We all met at the Four Seasons Restaurant and representatives from 2 of the other Coventry Rotary Clubs were also present alongside the soon to be District Governor Elect Brian Kimberley and his wife Sheila. We were entertained by a very talented young Inner Mongolian girl who played a traditional chinese instrument who had previously participated in the Coventry Jubilee Young Entertainer...
Jun 27, 2010 2:15 PM
Ok it is now that time you’ve been waiting for- the time of the handover speeches. There will be no surprises – I came in as DG with one in verse and so it is only fitting that my outgoing one should also be in verse.
It’s almost over, the year’s gone, it’s shot by so fast,
Only 3 days to go until I am no longer DG but rather, it past
It’s hard to believe the year has moved at such a tremendous pace
And I have completed the marathon known as...
Jun 27, 2010 1:00 PM
It was pleasant to be inside on such a hot day even if it meant missing the England football match. Over 150 people came to the National Motorcycle Museum for the District Handover organised by Brian Fiddiman and Peter Taylor of the Solihull Club. We were well looked after by the staff of the museum and the food was good although I was too nervous to eat much. I was able to present 22 Presidential Citations to clubs there from a total of 34 achieved. Great Barr Bromwic also won the...
Jun 27, 2010 9:45 AM
Although I could not go to Meriden itself to see the end of the Megaride and visit the stalls at the event it was good to be able to get to the Arrow Mill at Arrow (near Alcester) to see the motorbikes set off. The weather was beautiful and already very warm. Something near to 150 bikes met in the car park before setting off through the countryside to stop at Royal Leamington Spa and then Meriden. A few Rotarians bought their bikes to join the ride and it was great to see so...
Jun 26, 2010 9:00 AM
Despite oversleeping because of jetlag we got to the Coventry Breakfast Handover meeting in time. It was good to be back amongst friends from several Coventry Clubs as well as Tamworth Club members. It was good to reflect on the year of Jeff and look forward to the year of Bob. The Coventry Breakfast Handover meetings are always a relaxed event and today was no exception. A good breakfast always awaits you here and a good choice of types of coffee.
We were made very welcome by the club...
Jun 25, 2010 7:30 PM
A lovely warm evening added to a good venue and great entertainment. The Westlake School was the venue for an evening of Jazz provided by a club member of Edgbaston and his band plus a couple of singers. A marquee was decked out for the event and people bought table decorations that were gold and cream or wore clothes of those colours. The evening was put on in aid of the MS Society and the raffle raised over £400 for this cause.
Everyone bought their picnics which made great...
Jun 20, 2010 1:30 PM
We arrived early for the Convention so Paul could attend the Youth Exchange Officers' Pre Convention. I took the opportunity to meet some relatives and see something of Montreal. The weather was good for most of the week which made it a good trip. The Convention opening ceremony was very good especially the entertainment by the group Celtic Thunder who covered a wide range of genres but their talent was obvious.
The Convention plenary sessions took place every morning and the afternoon...
Jun 16, 2010 1:30 PM
A short drive in the sunshine bought me to Southam College where I met Jim Sleight and Dave Roberts to attend the Interact Club meeting. This club is sponsored by the 2 Southam Rotary clubs. What was really great to see was the number of members there and to hear of their ideas for fundraising and getting more involved with the community. We were able to share with them what Rotary is doing and what other opportunities are available to them e.g. Youth competitions, camps etc..
It was great...
Jun 16, 2010 9:45 AM
This was day 2 of 3 for Arbury's Safety Town. I have over the years heard a lot about it but never managed to see it until this year. A lovely warm day added to the event. Over the 3 days nearly 700 primary school children will have attended the event from schools mainly in Bedworth and Nuneaton. They get to look at safety in many areas e.g. the home, in water, crossing the road, electricity. They also get to go inside an ambulance and to see a large freight lorry and the safety needed...
Jun 13, 2010 3:30 PM
Major Samuel Edgar, President of Birmingham Rotary Club, organised a most beautiful service in Birmingham Cathedral to celebrate what Rotary does. It was an amazing setting with great acoustics. The Salvation Army band gave real depth to the music and accompanied us well (or is that the other way round?). We also had a couple of songs from the New Testament Church of God which had a more Gospel feel to them and then there was the Cathedral choir and organist who contrasted so well with...
Jun 13, 2010 1:00 PM
A lovely afternoon of weather hung over the Excel Sports centre where Coventry Jubilee Rotary Club was holding its summer fete. A selection of stalls and entertainment kept everybody occupied. We took my youngest niece and nephew and 2 language students who all enjoyed themselves. A pony ride was a hit but the biggest hit of all was the air balls on water where you are put inside a ball of air and launched onto the water. Unfortunately, I was wearing a skirt so could not have a go. When...
Jun 12, 2010 11:00 AM
On the River Leam by the bridge at the Jephson Gardens we saw 27 teams register for the Raft Race between Leamington and Myton Field in Warwick. Several teams were soaked before they started as several rafts had water cannons and water pistols at their disposal. Some teams did not look too secure on their rafts but only 2 did not make it to the end.
After registering the teams and seeing them off I then drove over to Myton Fields to see the teams arrive at the finish. Tired, but still...
Jun 11, 2010 7:30 PM
It was a really pleasant evening to go to Wishaw for the Wylde Green President's Night. It was great to meet up with Chrissy and Eric Dance again and good friends within the Rotary Club. As usual, we were presented with a really lovely meal and people certainly had seconds - I managed to resist.
We were entertained by a good keyboard player and singer - we even sang along to a few of the songs. It was nice to have the chance to sit and talk with people. What was especially nice...
Jun 10, 2010 7:30 PM
A good number of Rotaractors and Rotarians came to the Coventry and Warwickshire Cricket Club for a beetle drive. Those of us who were a little older were comparing notes as to when we last played a beetle drive - many not since they were children. It was a great relaxed evening. It could be quite competitive and then quite frustrating if you could not get the numbers you wanted.
We also played Irish bingo and some atttempted to roll coins to hit the bottle of whisky. It raised over...
Jun 9, 2010 9:30 AM
Although the day started wet and cold it cleared up for the duration of Kids Out so that in the afternoon it was a nice warm day. The Mayor of Tamworth spent the morning at the event and it was great to see George (owner of Drayton Manor Park) there as well. I was delighted to present him with a long service award for 45 years on behalf of the Tamworth Club. What was very touching was to see George's real pleasure at seeing the youngsters walking around in their t-shirts and caps...
Jun 7, 2010 7:30 PM
The Sans Restaurant was taken over by the Henley in Arden Rotary Club on this evening with over 50 people turning out for a great evening of fellowship. Members bought partners and friends and the whole evening was filled with laughter and very good humour. A superb meal was given to us with plenty to eat and of good quality. The raffle raised almost £200 with some good prizes.
The time certainly flew by - I couldn't believe it when I looked at my watch at the end of the evening that I...
Jun 6, 2010 7:00 PM
The Macready Theatre was the venue for a lovely concert given by Rugby Dunsmore Club President, Bob Bradbrook, and his talented musical friends. It was a great evening with music covering all genres. We had guitar duets, piano solos and cornet solos alongside vocal solos and duets. We had classical, jazz and musicals represented.
The concert was well attended and should raise a good sum for Bob's chosen charity. A nice way to spend a Sunday evening.
Jun 5, 2010 2:00 PM
The last General Council meeting of the year. Most District Governors were able to make it with their partners. There was, as usual, a lot of business to get through but we managed it in the time allocated. Although we had business to get through there was quite a relaxed atmosphere and we all enjoyed being in each other's company again.
In the evening we presented David and Daphne with gifts from the team and provided our own entertainment (the less said about that the better). David...
Jun 3, 2010 7:15 PM
Paul was able to get home in time to collect me and bring me to the meeting. Foundation has so much within it as Rotary's own charity but enables such great work to be done. This was Peter Ramage's last meeting as Chair - 3 years goes so quickly. He has done a great job. Some challenges still exist with grants and clubs not always fulfilling report requirements which has, unfortunately, impacted significantly in funding for the DSG but it will be sorted out for David's year....
Jun 3, 2010 12:45 PM
A nice drive in the sun took me to Solihull for the club meeting. Ian Courts, new Mayor of Solihull and his wife Sheila were there as the club made him an honorary member (he is a member of Meriden Rotary Club). I was there to present several long service awards. Members who have given service between 25 and nearly 40 years were given certificates. It is great to meet people who have been so loyal to the organisation and who still obviously get something from it.
A talk was...
Jun 3, 2010 9:30 AM
It was a great drive through Warwickshire countryside to get to Honiley to the Warwickshire Young Carers base after breakfast with the Alcester Alauna Club. John Hughes and I met with Anthony, the Warwickshire Young Carers Coordinator, to talk through how we would develop the narrowboat project next year.
By the end of this summer over 80 Young Carers from around the District will have been on the boat for anything from1-4 days over the past year - something I feel very proud of and...
Jun 3, 2010 7:15 AM
An early start in the sunshine was great as I headed over to Alcester. Not only was the weather warm but so was the welcome when I met everyone from the Alcester Alauna Club. A few of us compared notes on tandem dives that have now past and those to come which was a great conversation (although it made me desperate to go up again!).
We had a lovely relaxed breakfast. It was good to listen in to the business of the club and see the projects already underway and those planned for the...
