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December 28th 2009
No Meeting.
December 21st 2009
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On the last Monday of the year the club held its Christmas Dinner where
the wives and guests enjoyed a festive evening with fine food and good
fellowship. With no Rotary business to conduct the members could
reflect back on the past 12 months. The club President Mike Erskine
addressed the club outlining the programme for the evening. Ann
Spandler then read out a letter from Michael Woods (now living in Borneo
) wishing the club a ‘Merry Christmas’ which included some of his
exploits and as usual brought much laughter to the members and their
guests.
As on previous occasions the club
members formed the entertainment for the evening which included a song
written by the late Jake Thackery and sung by Peter Gethin. The song
called ‘Sister Josephine’ was enacted by Rotarian Victor Ling in the
supporting role of the Nun, and was able to bring the character to life.
Having been given his role only a few weeks before the performance
Victor certainly pulled out all the stops and with the assistance of
props he was able to give clarity and humour to the song. Ted Witton
delighted the audience as he played his guitar and Norman Bailey
assisted by his daughter Joe sang a variety of songs. The final
performance was by Bridget Delf accompanied by Des Sadler on the
keyboards as she cleverly incorporated wit and artistic content into the
words the song depicting health and safety issues at Christmas. The
evening came to a close with several traditional carols.
|
December 14th 2009
|
Rotarian Bob Price recently visited the Coral Springs, Parkland Rotary
Club in Florida and presented President Mike Erskine with a banner from
the members. Colin Tooke was this week’s speaker and was introduced by
Rotarian Terry Ashbourne. Colin is well known to the club and talked
about the recent publication of his book entitled ‘New Town’.
His
presentation to the members related the transformation of the north
side of Great Yarmouth going back to the 1800’s. This site had been
used as mock battle fields, a race course and a golf course. He
explained why the Waterways, the Boating Lake and Apollo Gardens were
built and the introduction of social housing together with the suburb
project that was started in the 1900’s. Colin talked about the early
railway links and the method used to move the train from the Town Hall
to the track situated on North Denes. This well researched presentation
instigated several questions from the floor and the vote of thanks was
given by Rotarian Ted Witton.
The
next meeting will be the Ladies Christmas Night and members are reminded
that this is a lounge suit function at the Burlington Hotel arrival 7
30pm for 8pm. On behalf of the Club may I take this opportunity to wish
all our readers a Very Happy Christmas |
December 7th 2009
President Mike Erskine welcomed District Governor John Samuel to this weeks
meeting. He talked about the changes that he had made to the structure of
District 1080 and his vision for the future. He pointed out that if clubs did
not address the membership situation many clubs would cease to exist. He
outlined some of the initiatives that other clubs had adopted in an effort to
attract young members who were vital to keep the clubs operating. It was his
goal for every club in 1080 to recruit at least one new member during his year
in office. He then went on to talk about the campaign 'Thanks For Life' which is
linked to the national fund raising day in February next year in aid of the
eradication of Polio from the two remaining countries throughout the
world. President Mike thanked John for addressing the members.
November 30th 2009
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At this week’s meeting Walter Wiseman father of Rotarian John delighted
the members with his memories of defending the East Coast during the
outbreak of the Second World War. At the age of 20 he joined the 4th
Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment and undertook his training at
the York Road Drill Hall in Great Yarmouth and was giving the task of
defending the Britannia Pier. He talked about moments of humour and the
tragic death of a companion who was laying mines around the area of the
pier. His Regiment did a tour of duty at Sandringham which involved
protecting the building whilst King George was in residence. His
regiment also did tours in other locations throughout the UK but were
later deployed to the Far East . Due to the fact that Walter had been
trained as a Radio Mechanic his specialist skills were required
elsewhere and therefore he did not travel with his regiment. He made
the point that so many of his colleagues had being taken Prisoners of
War in Singapore during that campaign. Prior to the declaration of war
Walter met his wife Aileen and on their wedding day they travelled to
Norwich to watch City play at Carrow Road, which was abandoned during
the match due to bad weather. Walter has been a supporter of the
Norwich Club for 75 years and now in his 90’s has rarely missed a game.
Rotarian Tony King thanked Walter for talking to the members and sharing
his wartime memories and making a donation to one of the clubs nominated
charities |
November 23rd 2009
This week a presentation was made to the Corporate Duck Race winner. David Price
of Prices of Lowestoft received the special duck race mug from International
Chairman Richard Delf.
John Westgate entertained the club by organising a quiz involving the
recognition of English birds. He was thanked for his efforts by Rotarian Peter
Howkins.
Next weeks speaker will be Mr Walter Wiseman the subject being "Wallys War" .
November 16th 2009
|
Rotarian John Tomalin was this week’s speaker who talked
about his experience in researching the family tree.
Having retired and with time to spare John decided to
trace his family history and explained to the members
how he set about fulfilling this task. Before the
internet one would rely on the paper trail researching
local documentation held in libraries and similar
institutions and in some cases visiting locations where
family members had resided. However with the birth of
the World Wide Web obtaining information became that
much easier. With the Census information now accessible
on line it gave John the opportunity to trace some of
the missing family members where he had little or no
background information. John admitted that he had
always intended to obtain vital family information from
his mother but sadly she died before this was achieved.
He went on to explain the many different internet sites
that were available but admitted that certain
information still had be to examined on hard copy once
the trail became cold. With the aid of his computer he
was able to display pictures of some of the family
members he had traced. He discovered several problems
when people were known under one name but were
registered at birth with a different Christian name, or
where the hand written entries were not completely
legible causing some confusion with his research. This
was a most interesting presentation and the vote of
thanks was undertaken by the Junior Vice President
Robert Lovick |
|
November 9th 2009
Business meeting when all committees presented their respective recommendations
to the Club and any other business was discussed.
Next weeks speaker will be John Tomalin.
November 2nd 2009
At very short notice , Rotarian Richard Fiddy , addressed the meeting with his
own unique style of slide presentation. From the depths of his garage he found
one of his old lantern slide viewers. Not knowing if at any time the bulb would
blow or the generated heat would set fire to the slides ,he proceeded to give an
interesting insight of the Victorian life through the eyes of a single lens
optical scope using a collection of 3 inch glass slides. Although thwarted on a
few occasions by the antiquity of the projector, the slides of early Norfolk
towns, Great Yarmouth and Kings Lynn, and Mediterranean harbours showed an era
of life without many modern vehicles. Despite the in and out focus of the slides
, some members were able to guess quickly the various locations.
Rotarian Bob Grimmer thanked Richard for his interesting and colourful talk.
Next weeks meeting will be devoted to business matters of the club.
October 26th 2009
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At this Monday meeting Secretary Terry Ashbounre stepped into the
speakers slot as the District Governor John Samuel was unable to attend.
So with a quiz or a presentation in the offering the members opted for
Terry’s talk on the popular Internet auction site namely Ebay. Terry
explained the history of the Internet site and how it got its name and
the date it was formed. He informed the club that there are more
registered users in the Norwich area than anywhere else in the UK. He
mentioned some of the most unusual items that had been sold on the site
and there was no doubt that this gave some of the member’s food for
thought, in connection with their collectibles that might be suitable
for this type of auction. This was an opportunity for some of the
members to get some idea how the site works and how easy it is to become
a member and then placing bids. Vice President John Burroughs admitted
that he uses site but confessed that he had little success but vowed to
keep trying. He thanked Terry for his presentation and filling the gap
at the last minute. |
October 19th 2009
|
On Monday lunchtime Derek George addressed the club and talked about the
Caister Lifeboat which is a registered charity operating a voluntary
service from its base at Tan Lane Caister. Derek is no stranger to the
Rotary Club and it is quite clear from the outset that he is very
dedicated to this organisation and it’s distinguished past. After a
history which dates back to 1794, the volunteers at Caister Lifeboat
Station can truly say they are an important part of the fabric and
heritage of Norfolk. Since 1969 the Caister Lifeboat organisation has
been run independently from the RNLI and today volunteers operate both
an offshore and inshore
lifeboat.
Whilst the severing
of this lifeboat service from the RLNI took place over place 40 years
ago, it was the determination by one man who spearheaded the initiative
to raise enough funds to maintain and operate a lifeboat. His name was
of course Skipper Woodhouse who became quite a celebrity on the TV
circuit. His appearances unintentionally boosted the awareness of the
appeal, and thus capturing the imagination of the public who donated a
substantial amount of money. Derek talked about the acquisition of the
Lifeboat ‘Bernard Mathews’ which can move at a speed of 37 knots and is
a Dutch valentijn class vessel and
is the fastest all weather lifeboat in the British Isles. Along with
the inshore vessel, ‘Jim Davidson, O.B.E’ named after the famous
comedian, they both provide an essential part of the lifeboat service
on this treacherous coast.
The Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service are
constantly fundraising and seeking sponsorship to ensure that the boats
and all relevant equipment are maintained and the crew are trained to
the highest standards. The speaker also mentioned the visitors centre
which has just been officially opened giving the general public the
opportunity to look round the station and to keep alive that very famous
local saying ‘Caister Men Never Turn Back’.
The vote of thanks was given by Rotarian Derrick Garwood.
|
October 12th 2009
|
On Friday evening over 100 people attended the Casino Evening at the
Imperial Hotel raising just over £3000 for the Community Service
Committee. The success of this event is attributed to all the hard work
undertaken by Rotarian Mike Muskett.
At Monday’s meeting
the speaker Keith May, introduced
by Rotarian Alan Spinks, talked about his passion for Jazz. He recalled
being exposed to a wide range of jazz and big band music on the radio
after the Second World War. At the age of 15 Keith was invited to be a
founder member of Southwold's first New Orleans style band the ‘Blyth
River Stompers’, though he had no musical or instrumental experience at
that time! He was given a banjo, with instructions to learn it quickly,
and the rest as one would say is history. He recalled the impact that
the well-known Ken Colyer Jazz Band had on the British traditional jazz
scene at the time. During National Service Keith played in the
Cheltenham area with a jazz band whose clarinet player was a young man
by the name of Brian Jones. A year or so later, when on his way to play
at an all-night jazz session in Soho, Keith ran into Brian who informed
him that he'd just formed a band called the Rolling Stones, "though you
wouldn't have heard of us" Brian added!! Although offered the chance to
go with a band to play in Germany for some time, Keith decided to stay
in his day job in the Civil Service. While his main employment was with
the Ministry of Defence, he continued to play at pubs and clubs and
various functions at weekends. Returning to live in Southwold in 1990,
he co-founded a new band, "Rhythm 'n' Reeds", specialising in jazz music
of the Swing Era and are still entertaining audiences in Norfolk and
Suffolk . He also founded a weekend-long Southwold Jazz Festival which
ran very successfully for ten years, until 2007 when loss of a suitable
venue put the project on ice: hopefully to be resurrected in the near
future.
Rotarian Dick Fiddy gave
the vote of thanks.
Next weeks speaker will be introduced by Ian Thomson. |
October 9th 2009
Haven's Casino Charity Night took place at The Imperial Hotel in the evening. A
well attended event for a fun evening of good company and casino entertainment.
The meal was very nice and thanks to Mike Muskett for organising the function
and also to the many people and businesses who sponsored the evening.
October 5th 2009
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David McDermott was this week’ speaker and was introduced by Rotarian
Monty Spandler. David is a well know character within the borough and
has addressed the club on several occasions. His talk related to the
flamboyant racing tipster Ras Prince Monolulu who claimed that he was
born in Addis Ababa, the son of a chieftain from a Jewish tribe;
although it’s believed that he actually came from the
Caribbean island of St Croix (now part of the
United States
Virgin Islands). He managed to travel to many
countries as a young seaman which gave him the opportunity to learn many
different card games; however his passion would eventually be directed
towards horseracing which brought him into the public domain. His
association with UK racing began at the Epsom Derby in 1903 and was for
many years a colourful sight at Aintree. As a regular visitor to major
race meetings, Monolulu was easy to pick out in the throng of
race-goers, wearing baggy pantaloons, an embroidered silk jacket and a
plumed headdress. It appears that he would lead a very volatile
lifestyle from riches to bankruptcy on several occasions. Prince
Monolulu collapsed at the Epsom Derby in 1964 but recovered only to fall
ill later that year and died in February 1965. The brightly coloured
jackets he wore to races are preserved in the National Horseracing
Museum. This was a most interesting talk bearing in mind that he
visited Great Yarmouth many years ago and managed to appear at a summer
show with Billy Fury and also performed live at a London Piccadilly
Theatre. David’s interest in this character goes back several years and
he has managed to collect several pieces of memorabilia some of which he
was able to bring to the club. The votes of thanks were undertaken by
Tony King.
Next week’s speaker
will be introduced by Alan Spinks. |
September 28th 2009
Rotary Clubs are constantly supporting projects both locally and
abroad and it is always rewarding when the members approve a scheme
whereby joint funding involves an overseas project. Several months
ago the Haven Club agreed to team up with the Igburu Rotary Club in
Nigeria to help finance the building of three boreholes in three
districts. Rotarian Tuboyne Harry trained as a doctor in Nigeria
and was involved in setting up this project as he has close ties
with the area where the boreholes are located. Due to the fact that
he has visited these locations he was able to report back to the
club on their effectiveness and how it has changed the lives of the
local community. He was able to present numerous slides of his last
trip to Nigeria and gave the club a brief history of this very
volatile country. Tuboyne explained the importance of having fresh
water available and the likelihood of severe diarrhoea when
contaminated water is used in what ever form. This is an ongoing
project and continuous maintenance is vital to ensure that the
equipment remains working at all times. It was very gratifying to
see pictures of young children extracting water from the sponsored
wells and a placard depicting this joint venture, naming the two
clubs involved in the scheme. Rotarian Ted Witton thanked Tuboyne
for this update and reiterated the commitment of the members to
support worthwhile overseas projects.
The PDF file about the
project can be seen here.
At next weeks meeting the guest speaker will be introduced by
Rotarian Monty Spandler.
|
September 21st 2009
Business meeting today.
Yesterday, Sunday was our annual Duckrace. Full
report and photos here.
September 14th 2009
|
Rotarian and Hotelier Richard Delf celebrated his birthday by providing
wine at this week’s lunchtime meeting and this gave the members the
opportunity to express their appreciation for this very kind gesture.
Mike Self introduced Paul Metcalf as this week’s speaker and his
presentation was concerning the history of the Bee and the important
part it plays in sustaining crucial vegetation that we as humans rely so
heavily upon. The relationship between man and bees is an ancient one
and the existence of the bee goes back some 45 million years. Early
beekeepers were honey hunters. Later, techniques were developed which
enabled people to manage them in some way. The craft of beekeeping
centres around the honeybee, Apis mellifera, and the early interests
were clearly to do with honey both as a sweetener and for its medicinal
uses. Today there is some interest in its use for medicinal purposes but
the primary interest is that of honey production and pollination. Many
fruit and seed crops rely on insects to transport pollen from one flower
to another to assist in pollination. However, it is not only these
managed crops but also plants in the wild environment where bees are of
benefit. Paul talked about the different types of bees and their
functions during their life span and the important tasks they have to
perform. Paul is the President of the Norfolk Bee Keeping Association
and currently lectures at the Easton College. This was a most
interesting talk and was quite poignant considering the drop in the
number of bees and the possible consequences to the planet if the
decline is not halted. . Rotarian Graham Plant thanked Paul for giving
a very in-depth presentation on this specialist subject.
At next week’s meeting the
club will be dealing with business matters.
|
September 7th 2009
A good attendance today after the Bank holiday. Assistant Governor East Brian
Hunter made a visit to our Club and brought the best wishes of District Governor
John Samuel.
Our speaker was introduced by Rotarian Leslie Seabert. Patricia Newman
gave an interesting talk about how her interest in bird watching has developed
over the last few years. Essential equipment are powerful binoculars and a bird
watching scope. Thinking this would be a quiet hobby in retirement and
relatively inexpensive....nowadays it is quite usual to spend over £1000 on a
pair of binoculars. She and her husband joined
the RSPB to increase her knowledge and help the Organisation as a volunteer.
The work of the RSPB is driven by a
passionate belief that all have a responsibility to
protect birds and the environment. Bird populations
reflect the health of the planet on which our future
depends.The need for an effective bird conservation
organisation has never been greater. Climate change,
agricultural intensification, expansion of urban areas
and transport infrastructure, and over-exploitation of
our seas all pose major threats to birds. The RSPB could
not exist without its supporters and members.
|
What is the RSPB ? .... The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
They are the largest wildlife conservation
organisation in Europe with over one million members. Wildlife
and the environment face many threats. Their work is focussed on
the species and habitats that are in the greatest danger. Their
work is driven by the passionate belief that:
- birds and wildlife enrich people's lives
- the health of bird populations is indicative of the
health of the planet, on which the future of the human race
depends
- we all have a responsibility to protect wildlife
They have more than one million members, over
13,500 volunteers, 1,300 staff, more than 200 nature reserves,
10 regional offices, four country offices... and one vision - to
work for a better environment rich in birds and wildlife. |
Pat told us about the conservation of species such as the Red Kite ( now a pair
in Norfolk ), Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Bittern , Golden Eagle and the common
Crane. There is intense lobbying of the Government on Birds of Prey and their
protection. In our area the Tern is well protected and is thriving well despite
the killing of chicks by Hawks ,cats and foxes. This year a 65% hatching
and rearing season. An interesting talk and a vote of thanks was given by
Rotarian John Clark.
Next weeks speaker will be presented by Michael Self.
August 31st 2009
No Meeting. National Bank Holiday.
August 24th 2009
Our own member Des Sadler gave an interesting slideshow talk about his visit to
the Jaipur Limb Centre in Jaipur, India. This project has long been a Rotary
favourite and he gave an insight to the manufacture and fitting of the
artificial limbs. The advantages to the many recipients is of immense benefit
and pride and gives them much independence and satisfaction that their
disability is almost unrecognised by the general public.
August 17th 2009
|
At this week’s Monday meeting Rotarian Bob Price introduced his speaker
namely Paul Davis who is the Vice Chairman of the St Nicholas Parish
Church, Preservation Trust. Paul first talked about the history of the
church and how it was founded in 1101 and is the oldest existing
building in Great Yarmouth. On the 25th June 1942 it was hit
by incendiary bombs which caused extensive damage to the building. For
many years just the shell of the church remained and in the 1950’s
rebuilding work commenced and was completed on the 8th May
1961. However there is always ongoing restoration work and this
requires constant fundraising initiatives to raise the necessary
capital. Paul explained that parts of the church now require urgent
repairs namely several of the pinnacles and he also highlighted the need
to conduct a major overhaul on the organ that is regarded as one of the
best in the country. As a matter of interest the organ has been
classified as one of historic interest by the British Institute of Organ
Studies. His power-point presentation was very informative and clearly
outlined the urgent need to maintain the church structure and its organ
for future generations. The members were updated as to the current
fundraising initiatives and Paul was very keen to take on board new
ideas that would raise much needed funds for the project. The church
requires £60.000 per year to keep the church running and has estimated
that these repairs to the church would be £550,000. Rotarian Peter
Gethin thanked Paul for talking to the members and wished him and his
fellow Trust member’s good luck with their fundraising efforts.
Des Sadler will be
arranging a speaker for next Monday’s lunchtime meeting. |
August 10th 2009
Several Club members and their guests enjoyed an evening meal in
Southwold on Saturday before being entertained at the local theatre.
Rotarian Bert Collins has organised this event for several years and
those who attended were most impressed with this hilarious comedy
performance. On Monday the club held its business meeting under its
new President Mike Erskine. At these meetings each of the
Committee’s submit their plans and objectives for the coming
months. Bob Price takes charge of the Community Service Committee
and Jack Thorpe will be the head of the Foundation Committee. Vice
President John Burroughs unveiled the social events planned for the
next 12 months and already the calendar is filling up.
At next Monday’s meeting
the speaker will be Dr Paul Davis of the St Nicholas Church
Preservation Trust.
|
August 3rd 2009
The President, Michael Erskine welcomed the District Governor
to this week's meeting and Rtn Brian Potter introduced the
speaker, Graham Tuttle of the Norfolk Community Foundation.
Brian explained that he had been a member of the Foundation for
many years and thought that the qualities of the organisation
would be of benefit to Rotary. Graham Tuttle explained that the
Norfolk Foundation was the brainchild of The Bishop of Norwich
and since its inception in Norfolk in 2005 had grown as a
provider of grants to local community based charities to one
which handed out £580,000 last year. He went on to say that
the Norfolk Community Foundation wanted to encourage local
fundraisers and individuals to work in partnership with them to
maximise the services they offered in checking out possible
recipients and utilising a government backed 2 to 1 grant
matching scheme. The
government will give an additional £1 for every £2 raised up to
March 2011 with the ceiling being £1.6 million plus the extra
£800,000. He said that donors to the foundation included Comic
Relief and the Mars organisation and that there was always a
need to expand the donor base. He said that in his
opinion, Rotary would benefit from the partnership. At the
conclusion of his talk he answered members questions. The vote
of thanks was given by Rtn Ted Witton.
Next week's meeting at the Burlington Palm Hotel will
be devoted to club matters.
|
July 27th 2009
|
On Saturday several members and their guests enjoyed a day at Newmarket
races, with perfect weather and several healthy winning bets it was a
perfect day for all those who enjoy the odd flutter or two. The success
of this event was attributed to the meticulous planning by Rotarians
Richard Delf and Robert Parker.
At Monday’s meeting
Graham Plant, well known restaurateur and local councillor gave an
overview of his life history to the members. Graham was born in Burnley
Lancashire and in 1971 moved to Great Yarmouth with his parents. He was
educated at the Alderman Leach School, but decided that catering would
be his passion and later enrolled at Yarmouth College for3 years.
Graham worked as a chef in numerous restaurants in the Great Yarmouth
area and later travelled abroad to Zurich and Dusseldorf to improve his
cooking skills. However he did return to Great Yarmouth to continue in
the catering trade and managed several establishments before opening the
Italian Restaurant in King Street in 2000. It was his work within the
town that persuaded him to seek election on the Borough Council and he
highlighted all those committees where he currently serves. This was a
very impressive list and with his council and business commitments it
was no surprise that his volume of work would be questioned by the
members. Graham explained how he managed to balance is
business interests with public office and it was finally left to
Rotarian Colin Brooks to thank him for sharing part of his personal
life with the club.
Next week’s speaker will be
introduced by Bob Price. |
July 21st 2009
|
It was with great sadness that President Mike Erskine announced
the death of Rotarian David Bluck. David who had been ill for
several months will be sadly missed by all the members and it
was only fitting for the club to have a minutes silence in his
memory. This member had a very warm and vibrant personality
with a character that matched his outgoing spirit of
friendliness and joy which never faltered throughout his
illness.
Rotarian
David Neve introduced this week’s speaker Belinda Crayston who
is the manager of the local Charity ‘Contact’ and has been
working for this organisation for seven years. . The Charity
offers rest-bite care for families/carers who have children with
behavioural problems and was formed several years ago, when two
families with special needs children met at weekends for social
interaction. The charity currently operates from a building in
Alpha Road and is trying to raise funds to built new premises
that will be more suitable for their needs. Berlinda talked
about how the Charity works and the importance of offering
rest-bite care for the families and its special partnership with
the local educational and health authorities. Whilst ‘Contact’
receives 50% funding from government sources they fund raise
throughout the year to achieve the shortfall. This presentation
was most informative and stimulated many questions by the
members. The votes of thanks were undertaken by the Junior Vice
President Robert Lovick.
Rotarian Graham Plant will
be arranging a speaker for next week’s meeting. |
|
July 13th 2009
Our speaker today was unable to attend so a light-hearted quiz was organised by
Terry Ashbourne. As usual plenty of noise and banter and good humour. Norman
Bailey thanked Terry for stepping in at the last moment.
|
On Friday evening several club
members attended the Joint Council Dinner at the ‘Charcoal Grill
Restaurant’ Marine Parade Great Yarmouth. This was a social evening
that gave the members a chance to relax and enjoy rotary fellowship and
good humour with good food and fine wine.
President Mike Erskine took the
chair for the first time at this weeks meeting and with no speaker it
was left to Secretary Terry Ashbourne to organise a club quiz. The
winning team which was captained jointly by Tony Wortley and Mike Self
just managed to beat their closest rivals lead by Richard Delf. With no
contentious questions there was never any likelihood of any members
challenging the answers which meant that there was no pressure placed
upon the question master. The speaker for next Monday’s meeting will be
arranged by Rotarian David Neeve |
July 6th 2009
The outgoing President Robert Parker welcomed several guests to this
week’s meeting namely Colin McManus President Elect from the
Gorleston Rotary Club, Geoff Knights from the Great Yarmouth Rotary
Club, Jim Chapman from the Susanville Rotary Club California USA,
George Lovewell Blake and John Harvey. President Robert Parker
addressed the club members and thanked all those who had helped him
during his time in office and spoke about the achievements
throughout the last 12 months and the number of local fund raising
events the club had initiated, which had benefited the local
community and international projects. He thanked the club for their
support and hard work in what can only be described as a very
memorable experience since becoming a member of the Rotary
organisation. Robert Parker announced that at the recent Charter
Night evening the ‘Rotarian of the Year’ had been awarded to George
Ermini for his outstanding hospitably in hosting some of the GSE
Team from the Philippines earlier this year. So he took this
opportunity to present the trophy to him personally. This is a very
important time for the club as the out going President hands over
to the new President Mike Erskine who gave his vision for the future
and vowed to continue the spirit of the club with a membership that
is always supportive and progressive in its outlook. John Burroughs
was given the office of Vice President and former Chairman of the
Community Service Committee Robert Lovick was appointed Junior Vice
President.
Rotarian Ian
McCreadie will be arranging a speaker for next week’s meeting.
|
Californian Rotarian visits our Club on Handover Day
President Mike exchanges rotary flag with
Rtn. Jim Chapman from R/C of Susanville, California.
June 29th 2009
|
As the Rotary year comes to an end it was left to the current President
Robert Parker to introduce guest Gary Gossage to this week’s meeting.
Robert was on top form as usual and it soon became evident that the
pressure of presiding over our club for the last 12 months was now
easing in the knowledge that he would soon be joining the members to
reflect and ponder on was has been a very busy and testing year in
office. Rotarian Victor Ling addressed the members and began his
presentation with a short 7 question quiz. He informed the members that
it was very likely that no one would manage to answer all the questions
correctly and all would become clear when he moved on to the main thrust
of the presentation. Well his statement turned out to be correct basing
his theory on facts linked to misconceptions and preconceptions.
Victor uses the website Wikipedia the
Internet encyclopaedia to obtain up to date information on a variety of
subjects. Victor talked for a short while about the site for
those who do not use computers. He explained how facts can be
misinterpreted in such a manner that the correct data is then altered
but in the minds of the general public they still believe and accept the
incorrect meaning. Confused well I was until Victor highlighted some of
the misconceptions and spurious claims that to this day many people
believe to be the truth. One can never pinpoint when and how
information is altered but with access to the Internet, obtaining the
correct facts is now much easier.
This was a very ambitious presentation that managed to get the full
attention of the members even those who were not Internet users.
Richard Delf thanked Victor for giving the members something to reflect
upon and that one should not always accept passing facts but on
occasions we should research and validate the data.
At next Monday's
meeting it will be the Presidents handover to Mike Erskine. |
June 22nd 2009
Today was our annual Club Assembly when we were honoured by the visit of
District representative Brian Hunter.
June 15th 2009
The members took the opportunity to celebrate the news that Rotarian Bob Price
had been awarded an MBE . He thanked the members and acknowledged that in his
opinion to achieve such an honour is possible where one is assisted and
supported within the community by individuals and organisations like Rotary who
endeavour to promote good causes and public service. As the Club Assembly was
cancelled until next Monday it was a presentation to the charity Crossroads that
was the main theme of the meeting. The Community Service Committee had
organised a very successful Barn Dance raising over £2000, which enabled the
Club to present a cheque to representative Lorraine Long to the sum of £1,800
that will allow the Wednesday Club to operate for a further 6 months. Lorraine
took this opportunity to address the club and explained the purpose of the
charity and the importance of maintaining this club for carers and patients with
dementia and Alzheimer’s. Even when a carer loses their partner they can still
attend the club where they can meet friends and socialise at a time when they
most need it. There are about 20 members in the Wednesday Club and the charity
organises speakers, trips out, entertainment and much more to give the
participants a chance to enjoy the company of those who are coping with similar
illnesses. Lorraine emphasized how important it was to the members that the
club continues and thanked the club for organising the Barn Dance and keeping
the club open. Richard Fiddy thanked Lorraine for explaining the work of the
charity . Rotarian Wally Ladmore informed the members that the winner of the
car rally which was held on Thursday evening was Richard Delf and his team.
Wally thanked Lesley Seabert for all his hard work in organising this event.
President Robert Parker of the Great Yarmouth Haven Rotary Club
presents a cheque for £1,800 to the Senior Support Officer of the charity
‘Crossroads’ Lorraine Long at their lunchtime meeting. The club had been made
aware of the work undertaken by the Charity especially their assistance and
support for carers and patients with particular problems. The Rotary Club was
so impressed with the work of the Wednesday Club that it decided to research the
feasibility of supporting this initiative. The Wednesday Club which meets weekly
at the Northgate Hospital Social Club has to be self funded and caters
for carers and patients with dementia and Alzheimer, where they are able to
socialise and to share their experiences and problems. The Chairman of the
Community Service Committee Robert Lovick visited the club and it soon became
apparent to him how much this facility benefited all those who attended. He
then obtained the backing of his Rotary Club to organise an event that would
allow the Wednesday Club to continue. Peter Gethin headed a sub-committee to
organise a Barn Dance and with the venue being supplied by Rotarian Terry Hall
and supported by over a 100 people its success was never in doubt . The
generosity of those who attended meant that the charity would be able to operate
the Wednesday Club for a further 6 months; however Lorraine assured the members
that they are continuously fund raising to ensure that these projects are kept
alive.
June 8th 2009
Our speaker today was one of our own members, George Ermini.
George is proprietor of
Sidegate
Motors on Harfreys Business Park.
He recalled his past history of his
family over the last 100 years or so, and the circumstances that
brought him as a 12 year old from Greece to Great Yarmouth.
He was born in Pereas,Port of
Athens where his father worked as a transport bus driver. During the second
world war his Uncle who had already been to great Yarmouth and was apprenticed
to the Eastern Counties Bus Company,but was sent to war finishing up in Italy
from North Africa. During that time he taught the local people about engineering
and mechanics. After the war he returned to Great Yarmouth. It was at this time
that it was decided by the families that George and his sister would move to
Great Yarmouth to live with their Uncle and Aunt. George
settled very quickly in England and soon leant the language and was very keen on
playing football and this was a great time in 1966 when England won the world
cup and he was able to watch this on black & white TV.
On leaving school he took up an
apprenticeship with the Bus Corporation in motor mechanics. this was for 4 years
and decided to continue this in the 5th year with Diesel training and motor
repairs which he had been doing part time with his friends requirements.
He decided to set up
a car repair centre and Sidegate Motors
was born. After a year George continued on his own, but because of financial difficulties
continued working with the Bus Corporation but also was offered a job in the
evenings as a Doorman at Tiffany's which he did for 5 years. Inevitably George
met his ideal lady and was married to Susan. After his own family came along, he
decided it was time to go solo and re-establish his
SideGate Motors business
again. He opened up a small car sales and repair garage in St Georges Road and
took on the franchise of Peugeot. The business soon escalated and new premises
were needed to expand and hence the dealership of Peugeot moved to its present
site on Harfreys. This has now been established for 26 years and is the second
longest Peugeot franchise running in the UK.
The present day new car sales are
30% down on last year which showed a 25% downturn on the previous year so the
present financial crisis in the world is affecting everyone. However used car
sales are up and in many cases the used car price has gone up.
SideGate Motors employs 28 staff
and with Georges undoubted enthusiasm for his job, he is confident he can see
his business through the present recessionary period.
John Burroughs gave the vote of
thanks.
Members are reminded of Kids Day Out at Pleasurewood Hills on June 10th.
Next weeks meeting will be The Club Assembly when Brian Hunter, assistant
District Governor will be listening to the forth coming Committees schedules for
the next Rotary Year.
June 1st 2009
Over the Spring Bank
Holiday several members and their wives enjoyed the annual
‘Walking Weekend’ which was held at the
Chilworth Manor Hotel, Southampton. With perfect weather, beautiful surroundings
and superb food it was bound to be a success for all those attended.
On Saturday
30th May the Community Service Committee organised a
Barn Dance in Hopton in aid of the local Charity
‘Crossroads’. Over 100 attended this event with several Rotarians and their
guests dressed to suit the occasion and being aptly guided by the caller from
the band ‘Shindig’. Several pictures were taken on the night and as a result one
of the dance routines can be viewed on ‘You Tube’.
At Monday’s
meeting Rotarian Peter Bondi was this week’s speaker and he talked about his
family history. The story started at Cremona, Italy in 1843 where his great
grandfather Lazzaro Bondi was born. His background could not be traced but he
did discover that in 1874 Peter’s grandfather Oresti was born and during the
time of the great depression he travelled to London to seek work while his
brother Luis went to Nice. Oresti worked in several hotels and during this
period he met is wife and later they travelled to Nice to meet his brother in
search for work. Having returned to London Peter’s father was born 1914 and it
was the plight of grandfather during the first world that was most enlightening
for the members. After the war the grandfather opened a restaurant but due to
unforeseen circumstances Peter’s father at the age of 15 had to leave his
engineering course and help out in the family business, where he remained
throughout his career. Peter continued to enlighten the audience with his family
experiences within the hotel trade where today Peter continues to carry on the
family tradition. Rotarian Monty Spandler thanked Peter for sharing the history
of his family with the members.
May 25th 2009
No Meeting.... May Bank Holiday
May 18th 2009
Business meeting.
|
On Thursday the club enjoyed a Gourmet Evening at Ambitions Restaurant
located at the Great Yarmouth College of Further Education.. This was
once again well supported by club members and their guests. . The
function was organised by Mike Self who managed to raise over £400 for
his Vocational Committee. At Monday’s meeting the club dealt with
business matters where the individual committees set out their proposals
for the coming months. The Chairman of the Community Service Committee
Robert Lovick announced the final details for the Barn Dance which takes
place on Saturday 30th May. This function is raising funds
for the Charity ‘Crossroads’, who organise a weekly carers club at the
Northgate Hospital Social Club. Members are reminded that this event is
a 7pm for 7 30pm start and ‘Wagons Role’ at 11 30pm. On Friday several
members and their wives will be travelling to Chillworth for the annual
‘Walking Weekend’ which has been organised by Rotarian Peter Bondi.
There is no meeting next
Monday due to the Bank Holiday. |
May 11th 2009
President Robert Parker welcomed the Mayor Councillor Terry
Easter and his wife Jenny as guests at this weeks meeting. The
Mayor paid tribute to all the good work that the club undertakes
for local and international projects. Rotarian Mike Butcher
introduced two speakers from the Diss and District Rotary Club
namely Richard Pither and John Baines. Their talk related to
the Village Water project in Western Zambia which is a charity
helping people in remote areas of Africa to find water. When
the areas are identified and wells are drilled they ultimately
improve the health and sanitation of many small rural villages.
This joint presentation covered how the scheme works and the
contribution that the local people have to make before the work
can begin. They are taught basic hygiene skills and guidelines
for sanitation that are paramount in combating disease and
contamination. John and Richard regularly visit Zambia
to oversee projects that their club have supported in order that
they can measure the effectiveness of the wells and their
condition. A local resident is trained to carry out any
maintenance that may be required and making sure that they
continue to supply clean water. There is no doubt that such
projects that provide clean drinking water improves the life of
the local people beyond their wildest dreams. Rotarian Colin
Brooks thanked John and Richard for this in-depth power point
presentation and wished them well in their forthcoming
fact-finding mission to Zambia
Next week the club
will be dealing with business matters.
|
May 4th 2009
May Bank Holiday...... No Meeting.
April 27th 2009
Rotary International has the facilities and the structure that allows
professional people to visit other countries under the Group Study Exchange
scheme. This programme gives such people a great opportunity to know and
experience the different cultures, traditions and heritage from a variety of
countries. At this weeks meeting 5 members from the Philippines who are part of
this group were guests of the club having been given a guided tour of the town’s
historic district by Rotarian Charles Lewis. The team leader Ricardo Angeles
who is a member of the Morong Rotary Club introduced his team members namely
Vina Villegas, Madelline Romero, Ferdinand Verayo and James Borbon. President
Robert Parker welcomed the group and presented each member with a booklet
containing information about the club and the Haven Club flag. The GSE team
members presented to the club a flag from each of their respective sponsored
Rotary club. They then gave a very impressive résumé of their background and
their expectations from this exchange which for all the group was their very
first visit to the UK. The group are now in their final week and with a busy
programme to get through they took the opportunity to visit the ‘Time and Tide
Museum’ under the guidance of Leslie Seabert.
On Monday the club organised a social evening for the
GSE team with a buffet and slide presentation by the club secretary Terry
Ashbourne depicting the history of Great Yarmouth. It was a privilege and
honour for the club to host these members and we hope that they have lasting
memories o f their visit.
The club is reminded that the next meeting will be on Monday
11th May.
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April 20th 2009
The club had great pleasure in welcoming five Rotarians from the
Arcadia Club in Norwich at our lunchtime Monday meeting while
several of their members were enjoying a round of golf. The
President Robert Parker expressed the clubs delight at their
decision to come to the meeting. He took this opportunity to thank
all those club members and their guests who attended the 'Ladies
President Night'at the Burlington Hotel on Friday evening and
especially for making it such a memorable evening. Rotarian Colin
Brooks gave a talk to the club about his long career in
hairdressing. At a very young age Colin undertook his training in
a Great Yarmouth salon at a time when there were no collage courses
that are widely available today. He was an apprentice for 3 years
and then he decided to widen his experience so he moved to London .
Colin returned to Great Yarmouth in 1968 to start his own
business. At the height of the tourist industry Colin and his wife
Cilla were managing 5 salons but after many busy years running these
businesses Colin felt it was time to slow down and now they operate
just one salon in Ormesby. Des Sadler thanked Colin for this
personal insight into a profession that reflects current and
personal styles to suit the client and the occasion. The AGM
scheduled for next Monday has been moved to a future date as the
club hosts the visit of the GSE team from Manila .
|
April 13th 2009
No meeting.... Easter Holiday.
April 6th 2009
As the club approaches its holiday break it was Ian Tilley who introduced his
friend and guest speaker John Mason, who gave a talk about his time working in
the Gulf of Aden in the late 60’s. John was Ian Tilley’s best man when he was
married 45 years ago which some would call a very lasting friendship. In 1967
when John had qualified as an accountant he took up a position working for an
oil company in Aden. This gave him the opportunity to travel to surrounding
counties including, Somalia, Mogadishu and Ethiopia. Aden at that time was a
very busy port processing some 300 ships per month which was known as the
Premier Maritime Centre, which bares little resemblance to the current day.
John was to endure some of the troubles that were occurring in Aden while he was
living there which resulted in him being given a firearm for protection and
advised to carry it with him at all times. John told several interesting
stories including the time he was visiting Somalia. He was arrested for taking
pictures of military ships but was soon released once the authorities were made
aware that these were just innocent snapshots that any visiting tourist would
take. John would see the British withdrawal from the country when Harold Wilson
was Prime Minister and to some degree peace was restored to the area. There was
no doubt that this was a good opportunity for a young man to travel and work
abroad, a situation that today is quite common. Junior Vice President John
Burroughs thanked John for giving a most interesting talk.
Members are reminded
that there is no meeting this coming Monday
March 30th 2009
In any organisation where there is a worldwide membership there are
bodies that guide and oversee the running of the individual clubs.
As we operate within District 1080 it was our Governor namely Peter
Harris (King's Lynn Trinity) introduced by President Robert Parker,
who was this week’s speaker. Peter talked about the ‘Leadership
Plan’ and those nominated projects and charities that Rotary was
helping to support. He made reference to the current Rotary theme
of ‘Making Dreams Real’ and covered the question of membership and
the need for all clubs to promote themselves in the hope that they
could encourage younger people to join, ensuring that Rotary remains
strong and healthy for the future.
Peter mentioned several
different initiatives that other clubs were undertaking to entice
people to join including a Saturday morning club where crèche
facilities are available so that parents can attend the meetings.
President Robert Parker thought this was a good idea but felt that
this would not be suitable for ‘Haven’ bearing in mind the average
age of the club. There were several questions from the floor and it
was Rotarian Ted Witton who gave the vote of thanks.
The club welcomed
Mr Gossage to the meeting who was the guest of Victor Ling.
Rotarian Ian Tilley will be arranging a speaker for next Monday’s
meeting.
|
March 23rd 2009
Our speaker today would have been Dr TC Harry but unfortuneately had a
management meeting at the hospital.
His talk was to have been
"Urological services in the James Paget Hospital".
It is hoped to arrange this later.
As
a result of this, Club members had a lively discussion about "payments" if a
member did not cancel in advance his agreed attendance at any of our
functions if he was unable to attend.
March 16th 2009
|
On Friday the 13th March the club held a special dinner to
say farewell to Rotarian Michael Woods who will soon be hanging up his
vestment for a new life in Borneo. This was an opportunity for President
Robert Parker to present Michael with a commemorative bowl on behalf of
the club. It was Rotarian Ted Witton who summarised the life of Cannon
Michael Woods which included his time at University and his work as an
overseas missionary. Reference was made to his 48 year link with St
Nicholas Church and his constant concern for the disadvantaged people
that came to him for help. There were several other Rotarian's who paid
tribute to this member but it was his final address to the club that had
a more poignant meaning. Rotarian's and their guests were once again
treated to a speech that gave all the members time to reflect on
Michael’s wicked sense of humour and his infectious friendliness that
was clearly a gift that gave so much pleasure to all those people who
came in contact with him. Michael will be made an honorary member of
the club which hopefully will encourage him to make frequent trips back
to the UK. At Monday’s meeting the club dealt with business matters
where all the respective committees set out their plans and pending
projects for the coming months.
At next weeks meeting
Rotarian Tuboyne Harry will be arranging next week’s speaker |
March 9th 2009
|
Digital Photography in relation to eye screening for diabetic
retinopathy was the subject of this week’s talk given by Rotarian Robert
Lovick. This power point presentation included information on the level
of diabetes within the UK and worldwide and the hourly cost to the NHS
in treating diabetes.. Robert who works from the Norfolk and Norwich
University Hospital as an eye screener explained the process of the
programme and how it had changed since its introduction in 1990. The
service first started using conventional film, which meant that they
had to be developed before they could be checked firstly for their
quality and then examined for the disease. This was a slow and very
time consuming method . With the digital age this gave the department
instant high quality pictures that could for any reason be retaken at
the time of the appointment. The slide presentation allowed Robert to
display several images of the retina showing healthy images and those
where retinopathy was present. The talk also covered the grading
process and how the initial examinations of the images are now
undertaken by the screening staff that have been specially trained in
this field. Robert also covered the option of treatments available if
the sight of the patient was at risk. There was no doubt that this
screening programme for diabetics can help to prevent loss of vision or
impairment as a result of being a diabetic. Rotarian John Clark gave
the votes of thanks.
At next Monday’s
meeting the club will be dealing with business matters. |
March 2nd 2009
Wally Ladmore from the Foundation Committee announced at the meeting that the
Club Quiz raised a total of £170 00 for his Committee and thanked all those who
had assisted in this event.
Ask local
people to select some of Great Yarmouth’s landmarks that were prominent in their
minds it would surely have to include the Pleasure Beach which has brought fun
and happiness to all ages over many years. Albert Jones who is the proprietor
was this week’s guest speaker and whilst he mentioned his family connection with
the complex it was the proposed business venture at the South Denes that was the
main thrust of the presentation. Alert had this idea some 12 years ago when it
was obvious to him that Great Yarmouth was in need of new leisure facilities
that would meet the requirements of the ever competitive holiday industry. The
proposed development would include a casino, multi complex cinema, fitness and
leisure facilities, theatre and hotels. The scheme named ‘The Edge’ would mean
that it would be open all year round thereby increasing the number of people
visiting the town and creating over a thousand jobs. This development would
cost in the region of £35 million to fund but Albert explained that this
investment would generate much needed revenue for the town which would
ultimately benefit everyone. With a very impressive display board showing the
proposed development as a backdrop to the meeting one could not fail to be impressed
with this idea. Ted Witton thanked Albert for attending the meeting and wished
him well in his endeavour to see this project through and his vision to
rejuvenate this part of the town.
Rotarian Robert Lovick will be the speaker at next Monday’s Meeting and his
presentation is titled ‘Eye Photography for Diabetics’
February 23rd 2009
Norfolk is a county which relies heavily on tourism and it was the
marketing strategy at the Potters Leisure Resort situated just
outside Hopton that was the subject for this week’s speaker Mark
Jones. Mark who was introduced by Rotarian Brian Potter gave a
presentation on his role as the Marketing Director at the holiday
complex. He has been involved in marketing within theatre and
television and has been employed by some of the large leisure
companies such as Warner Leisure Hotels and Butlins. Mark joined
Potters in 1997 and immediately improved his quality of life having
left behind the stress of being a London computer. This new
position created its own challenges which meant a more hands on
approach within this family based business, where good guest
interaction and a very high quality of service has meant that it
remains a very successful resort with a very high level of customer
satisfaction. This resort is constantly reviewing its facilities
in order that its stays competitive within this very tough market,
so for this reason it offers good value for money by addressing the
ever changing needs of the customer. The majority of visitors come
from the Essex area and with the World Indoor Bowles
Championship held at the resort it brings in a wider base of
clientele . Rotarian's asked some in-depth questions but it was the
recession and its effects on the industry that dominated the time
allocated for questions. Club President Robert Parker gave the vote
of thanks and Rotarian Mike Spalding will be organising the speaker
for next week’s meeting.
|
February 16th 2009
Today was the inauguration of a new member to the Club, Mr Terry Hall...
classification ...Property Development.
Welcomed into the Club by President Robert in his inimitable style !
Our guest speaker was Councillor Barry Stone a well known local school teacher
and Deputy Leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council introduced by John
Burroughs. He gave a very interesting illustrated talk on his life between the
years 1969 to 1976.
After qualifying as a teacher at Newcastle-on-Tyne
university, he applied for and was successful in obtaining a teaching post at a
boarding school in Bulawayo in Southern Rhodesia ( now Zimbabwe ) which catered
for 500 boys. He was responsible for teaching History and Art and because he was
keen on sport, he was asked to coach Basketball and Rugby. Because of his
responsibility for Art he found himself having to paint the school gates ! Also
as a resident in the Country and of the right age, he was called up into the
Rhodesian Army for one year in 1974 as an infantry officer, all adding to a very
interesting period of his life. He visited many surrounding Countries and was
always keen to see and take photos of the many varied wildlife. The Elephants
being his favourites. The vote of thanks was given by Mike Butcher.
Next Mondays speaker will be introduced by Brian Potter.
Teams are required for our annual Quiz night on 26th February.
Councillor Barry Stone addressing the membership. Rtns John Wiseman and John
Burroughs listening with interest.
February 10th 2009
The annual TRI-Club meeting took place today at The Burlington Hotel , when
members from Our Haven Club, The Great Yarmouth Club and Gorleston Club met for
fellowship and informal lunch.
A very good attendance over 75 members were present and
the meeting this year was hosted by the Great Yarmouth Club.
President Ian Dalgleish of the Yarmouth club and President
Bob Catchpole of Gorleston Club were warmly greeted by our President Robert
Parker.
There was no speaker but there was plenty of fellowship
and chatter amongst all that were there. A special thanks to The Burlington
Hotel for a splendid chicken meal .
Once again a reminder of our Quiz night on Thursday
February 26th. Teams of 2 - 4 are urgently needed to make the evening a success.
The fish and chip supper will be well worth attending !
Photos by Rtn. Alan Spinks
The three local presidents enjoying the fellowship as well as the members from
the three local Rotary Clubs
February 2nd 2009
|
Despite the appalling weather conditions many of the club members
managed to attend this weeks meeting and were delighted with the wit and
humour of Rotarian Michael Woods who was this week’s speaker. The club
will later this year lose this long standing member as Michael retires
as Canon of St Nicholas Church to start a new life in Sarawak Borneo.
So for the members this was a special time to listen and enjoy some of
his experiences within his current role and as a Rotarian. It was
people’s names that were to feature in this presentation and how they
sometimes form a different meaning once the Christian name and the
Surname are pronounced.. Only Michael could have delivered such a
speech with so much meaning and clarity which included ‘spoonerisms’
that caused some difficulty with some of the members as they tried to
remember what exactly 'spoonerisms' were. None of the members escaped a
mention during his talk as he very cleverly incorporated every member in
his final delivery that definitely brought joy and laughter to all those
who attended the lunch. Michael intends to return to the UK each year
and will hopefully make time to visit the club. There is no doubt that
he will be missed by all the members.
There will be no meeting on Monday 9th February as there is
a Tri-Club meeting at the Burlington Hotel at lunchtime on the Tuesday
10th.
Members
are reminded that Wally Ladmore from the Foundation Committee is
organising a quiz on Thursday 26th February and there is
still time to enter a team |
January 26th 2009
Business Meeting.... Click here for full report of
Council Minutes and amendments and approvals at Business meeting.
|
With no guest speaker it was the member’s opportunity to discuss
business matters from the respective committees. The club is constantly
fund raising which allows the club to consider requests for funding by
individuals and organisations that have come to the notice of the club
as being in need of help. Rotarian Richard Delf presented on behalf of
his International Committee one of his two proposals to finance 3 bore
holes in Igburu, Nigeria that would bring water supplies to several
villages. Club member Tubonye Harry who was on hand to deal with any
questions from the members is planning to visit the area and will be
able to report on the progress of the project which is supported by the
local Rotary Club in Nigeria. The other Committees namely, Community
Service, Foundation, Vocational and Club Service all produced reports to
the members. Canon Michael Woods a long standing member of this club
will be addressing the members at next weeks meeting which is guaranteed
to be a very lively and humorous presentation that should not be
missed.
The Club will be holding its
fund-raising Night at the Greyhound Stadium on Monday 2nd
February and once again this has been well supported by local business
and individuals who have sponsored races throughout the evening.
|
January 19th 2009
|
The club normally meets on Monday lunchtime but this week the members
and guests met in the evening and its speaker was comedian and musician
Colin Burleigh. Colin who was born in 1931 and has lived in Norfolk
all his life, gave an overview of his varied career including his
National Service deployment , retail experience and his passion for
music which meant that he would join the Collegians Jazz Band as a
singer. However he now performs with the Vintage Hot Orchestra as
drummer/vocalist. Colin delighted the members with some of his Norfolk
dialect and humorous stories and his
commitment to keep this dialect alive. He
is now the Chairman of the Friends of the Norfolk Dialect (FOND) a group
that was formed on 1999 to conserve and record Norfolk priceless
linguistic and cultural heritage.
He has appeared on the BBC Radio Norfolk in Keith Skipper's Dinnertime
Show and later with the Press Gang. This was a most interesting
presentation with an insight into one mans journey that now sees him
entertaining not only local people but helping programme makers and
schools and a variety of other organisations to master the very unique
Norfolk accent. Tony King thanked Colin for his presentation which
brought back many memories of words once spoken throughout the county.
Members are reminded that the ‘Walking
Weekend has now been scheduled for the 23rd May and Rotarian
Peter Bondi is coordinating the accommodation for this event. This
coming Monday will be a business meeting. |
January 12th 2009
|
Well it was back to the class room for the club at Monday’s meeting when
Head Teacher Mark Bailie from the Cliff Park High School addressed the
members. Mark who was appointed in 2005 explained how teaching had
changed to accommodate current national initiatives and how it was
addressing young peoples aspirations for the future. Most of the
members had been educated in a much different environment and listened
with interest on how the current teaching methods compared with their
own experiences. Mark was most proud of the achievements at the school
especially the sports academy that had been given a special award by the
Telegraph newspaper. He also talked about many out of hour activities
that are organised for the benefit of the students. Young people he
admitted get bad press when there are problems but little recognition
for their success stories. With student participation in a variety of
roles they are part of the bigger picture and there is no doubt that
their contribution is valued and can make the journey that much more
rewarding. Mark was very passionate about his position as Head Teacher
and looked forward to the challenges that lie ahead and was very
positive for the future. Rotarian Colin Brooks thanked Mark for
attending the meeting and speaking to the members.
Ian McCreadie and John
Burroughs presented the new revamped Tombola unit that is housed at
Potters Holiday Complex. The members were most impressed with the
display and Vice President Mike Erskine thanked both members for their
hard work in updating the unit. Members are reminded that there will be
an evening meeting this coming Monday. |
January 5th 2009
|
The holiday break certainly gave the members time to reflect on the busy
schedule of events planned for 2009. The New Year begins with the
Charity Greyhound Night that will take place on Monday 2nd
February. Members wishing to attend with guests should contact Mike
Muskett or Bob Price.
At Monday’s meeting Rotarian
John Westgate introduced Georgina Norris who did a PowerPoint
presentation about the National Blood Service. This was a very
informative talk that brought home to the members the importance of
giving blood and an overview of those patients who rely on the service.
There are over 1.9 million donors in England and North Wales with around
400 hospitals depending on the supply of blood. It was interesting to
learn that not everyone can give blood and if you are over 17 and under
65 and with the right medical condition you could be eligible to be a
donor. Georgina stated that with all the publicity drives the numbers
of donors attending some of the organised sessions was at times very
disappointing. The members certainly listened with interest to this
presentation which will hopefully encourage some them to become donors
or to try and promote friends and family to give blood. John Burroughs
gave the vote of thanks.
Rotarian Ian McCreadie will
be arranging a speaker for next Monday’s Meeting. |
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