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humanity in motion

In Gear can also be viewed on the Rotary Club of Gloucester's website

www.rotaryclubofgloucester.com

IN GEARFebruary 2012 No. 965

THE ROTARY CLUB OF GLOUCESTERChartered 1920

18

INNER WHEELDiary Dates and speakers

Friday, February 3:- Speaker finder, Friend, Grace and Vote of Thanks, Colin EynonTuesday, February 7:- Club Council meeting at Badgeworth Village HallFriday, February 10:- Speaker finder, Friend, Grace and Vote of Thanks, Robert HallFriday, February 17:- Business meeting - Grace, Graham Howell Friday, February 24:- Speaker finder, Friend, Grace and Vote of Thanks, Andrew HollowayFriday, March 2:- Speaker finder, Friend, Grace and Vote of Thanks, Martin HenshawTuesday, March 6:- Club Council meeting at Badgeworth Village HallFriday, March 9:- Speaker finder, Friend, Grace and Vote of Thanks, David AsheSunday, March 11:- Lunch at Brickhampton Golf Complex, Speaker Ian Stewart on Delivering a Safe and Secure 2012 OlympicsFriday, March 16:- Speaker finder, Friend, Grace and Vote of Thanks, Clive KingscoteFriday, March 23:- Speaker finder, Friend, Grace and Vote of Thanks, Robin MorrisFriday, March 30:- Gala Evening at Hatherley Manor. Details from Angela Seddon or Clive Hannis

Looking aheadTuesday, April 3:- Club Council meeting at Badgeworth Village HallFriday, April 6:- Good Friday, no meetingSunday, April 15:- Old Folks Party at King’s SchoolMonday, April 16 (and again on Monday April 30th):- Club visit to the House of Commons Thursday, April 19:- Amaryllis judgement dayFriday. April 20 - Stuart Singers Concert at St Catharine’s Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29: Highnam Court Spring Fair.

PROGRAMME

I have been asked to let members know that if they find it necessary to give apologies by phone or e-mail, could they please give them to Nigel Halls and not Angela until further notice. Nigel is on 01452 731993 or nigeljhalls@aol.com. Donʼt forget this needs to be done at the latest by noon on the previous day before the meeting.

Apologies

Our sponsors are , HB Digital Printing Ltd and Rotarian Robin MorrisLOVE ICE CREAM

In spite of people pulling in their belts and watching the proverbial pennies, the club still raised a satisfying £8,000 over the Christmas period.

The festive season started with a superb Salvation Army charity concert. This was followed by collections around the streets and at city supermarkets.

These not only raised much needed cash but also the club’s profile. For many in Abbeydale and Abbeymead, our Christmas carol float is now an integral part of their Christmas scene.

Also, for the first time this year, our club had a Tree of Light erected in Eastgate Street outside the Guildhall. The 30 feet high tree was covered in lights with each light being a remembrance of someone special or expressing a hope for the future. From a standing start this venture raised around £3,000 - a brilliant result.

HB Digital Printing Ltd5-6 Kestrel Parade, Innsworth,Gloucester, GL3 0BJ

01452 731705

High speed, high qualitylaser printing of■ Training Manuals,■ Reports,■ Instructional Booklets,■ Leaflets and Newslettersand all types of short run colour work.

humanity in motion

In Gear can also be viewed on the Rotary Club of Gloucester's website

www.rotaryclubofgloucester.com

IN GEARAugust 2009 No. 950

THE ROTARY CLUB OF GLOUCESTERChartered 1920

Our sponsors are , HB Digital Printing Ltd and Rotarian Robin Morris

INNER WHEEL

Tuesday, August 11 President’s Tea Party

Tuesday, September 8 Stroud Area - 100 years ago in photographs

Tuesday, October 13 Lingerie Tales

Diary Dates and Speakers

Friday, August 7 - Speaker will be from the Gloucestershire Traffic Police; Friend and Grace, Robert Hall; Vote of Thanks, Andrew Holloway.

Monday, August 10 - Club Council meeting at SWJ House 6.15pm

Friday, August, 14 - Speaker will be from the South West Regional Development Agency; Friend and Grace, Chris Soane; Vote of Thanks, Ian Stuart.

Friday, August 21 - Speaker Rotarian Trevor Picken; Friend and Grace, Graham Howell; Vote of Thanks, the President.

Friday, August 28 - Business meeting; Grace, Louis Recine.

Friday, September 4 - Speaker finder, Robert Hall

Friday, September 11 - Speaker finderr, Sue Smith

Monday, September 14 - Club Council meeting at SWJ House 6.15pm

Friday, September 18 - Speaker finder, David Corbett

Friday, September 25 - Business meeting

Friday, October 2 - Evening meeting with partners at Chavenage House. Vote of Thanks, the President

Friday, October 9 - Speaker finder, Colin Dunford

Monday, October 12 - Club Council meeting at SWJ House 6.15pm

These dates are correct at the time of going to Press. To check further please consult the Diary on the club’s websitre. To access this just insert the words Rotary Club of Gloucester (either as separate words or as a string of letters without spaces) in your Google Search Engine and it should be the first site at the top of the page.

President Mrs Janet Hayward 01452 725225Vice President Mrs Gill Payne 01452 750466Secretary Mrs Jackie Matthews 01452 302367Treasurer Mrs Sue White 01452 831618

PROGRAMME

If you can’t make a meeting then Angela Seddon explains the current system of apologies. She writes: “The apology system is now to notify house up to THURSDAY 10am. This can be done on the apology sheets at Rotary reception on a previous Friday or by emailing me (Angela) or texting or telephoning me. This system is in place even when I am away.” Thanks Angela.

Apologies

LEFT - Outgoing President Jane Peak hands her chain of office to her successor Janet Hayward. RIGHT Jane presents a £2,000 cheque to Dr Marie Owen of the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

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FOR once our new president - the photogenic Jeremy Keck - has been upstaged by three attractive lasses. Here we see Rotarian Sue Smith, Margaret Keck (wife of President Jeremy), and Heather Hall (wife of Rotarian Robert) relaxing with drinks in President Jeremy’s pool at the end of his incoming party. The pool, was the centrepiece of the party held at Jeremy and Margaret’s delightful Cotswold home.

The previous day President Jeremy (inset right) had been handed his chain of office by outgoing President, John Sargent. More photographs of the handover and the party can be seen on pages two and three.

On the right is a delightful picture of Margaret Keck and one of the youngest visitors to our annual Kids Out event - a report and pictures of which appear on pages 6/7.

Other events featured in this edition are:- the District Governor’s visit (P4), and fundraising concerts in the Forest of Dean and the Cathedral (P8/9).

President Janet Hayward is presented with a bouquet by the President of the Rotary Club of Gloucester, Jeremy Keck.

A delicious lunch - in a marquee at member, Christine Elson’s home - was enjoyed at the handover meeting in June. Christine offered its use and was warmly thanked for her kindness. Several members provided fresh strawberrues and cream for dessert.

At the start of the meeting outgoing President Jane Peak presented a cheque for £2,000 to Dr Marie Owen, who thanked the club and detailed equipment she hoped to purchase for the Nigel Hunter Nursery at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Jane thanked everyone for their support during her year then presented her chain of office to incoming president Janet Hayward who outlined plans for the coming year which she hoped would be one of friendship, laughter and fun.

Kids Out and the Willow Trust outing had proved great successes with many members helping out at these worthwhile annual events.

President Jeremy Keck of the Gloucester Rotary Club joined members for lunch and presented President Janet with a lovely bouquet on behalf of his club. He then gave a very entertaining talk on his varied life including his unusual hobby of cross stitching which he illustrated with some of his delightfully framed pictures.

Many members attended the Summer Rally at Worcester Rugby Stadium where former Gloucester Inner Wheel member, Barbara Chapman was installed as District chairman. Barbara joined Inner Wheel when her husband Derrick was a member of the Rotary Club of Gloucester.

Arrangements for the President’s Tea Party was discussed as were those for the Association Conference in Bournemouth from 12-14 April 2010 where accommodation needs to be reserved fairly rapidly.

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In the swim President Jeremyʼsincoming party

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Didn't we all do well!!

Nor does the £8,000 tally include substantial takings at car parks we run in conjunction with Gloucester Rugby Club’s home games through the generosity of Watts Tyres and the Winfield Hospital.

As usual the majority of our income will be spent in Gloucester making a difference where it matters - among the neediest families in the city.

However some of it will also go towards Smile Train the world’s leading cleft charity. This charity helps more than three million children in developing countries suffering with unrepaired clefts. For just £150 a child’s life and appearance - and therefore its future - can be totally transformed.

n Inside are stories and photos of our Christmas events - the highlight of which was our New Year dinner - held appropriately on 12th night. Pictures from this appear above and on the centre spread.

These photographs capture the fun and fellowship of our New Year Dinner which was organised again by Amanda Chamberlayne who is seen in the centre with club President, Andrew Hurley.

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Tuesday, February 14th Speaker District Chair, Nicky Clark followed by lunch (meet at Farmers Club - 10am for 10.30am)

Sunday, March 11th Charity lunch with Rotary Club of Gloucester at Brickhampton Golf Club. Speaker Ian Stewart on Delivering a Safe and Secure 2012 Olympic Games. Tickets £16. Partners welcomed

Tuesday March 20th Speaker Elizabeth Haughton on Seven Weeks on Africa Mercy (meet at Farmers Club - 10am for 10.30am)

Tuesday, March 17th Speaker Marilyn Pullon on An Unusual Childhood (meet at Farmers Club - 10am for 10.30am)

SOMETHING a little different this month.............a belated festive message from Inner Wheel President Hilary Cass reviewing 2011 - a year which, she describes as a very busy year.

“Happy Christmas everyone and a healthy and peaceful New Year.

Thank you for your support all year, a very busy year!

I thought you might like to be reminded just how busy!

We have made pancakes (thanks to Joy), made cakes and sandwiches to entertain Senior Citizens. Then we made more cakes and sandwiches to give the housebound a day on the canal and to the children at Kids Out a day to remember. We have visited the sick and knitted for special care babies and Save the Chiildren.

We have collected for Water Aid, stamps for Lepra, specs for Vision Aid, tooth brushes for Mercy Ships and donated clothes and household items to GEAR.

We have raised funds to support: Alzheimers, Help the Heroes, Willow Trust, Lepra, Sara, Friends of Gloucester Cathedral, the County Air Ambulance, Gloucestershire Probation Samaritan Fund, Gloucestershire Talking Newspapers, Connect and Water Aid!!

We have supported our friends in the Rotary Club of Gloucester in many of their activities and enjoyed social events together.

Most importantly we have enjoyed Inner Wheel fellowship at national level at

Conference, at district level at Interclubs and at the District Summer Rally and more particularly within our own club here in Gloucester.

I would like to conlude by thanking our committee for their valued work and support throughout the year.”

The Rotary Club of Gloucester’s President Andrew Hurley maintaining tradition by presenting his opposite number in Inner Wheel with a bouquet of flowers to mark the close relationship between the two organisations.

President Hilary Cass taking over from outgoing President Gill Payne

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Thank you 500 times over!!GLOUCESTER’S Winfield Hospital has enabled our club to raise £000s for charity by allowing us the use of its car parking facilities for Gloucester’s home matches.

They have asked for nothing in return and - until now - all they have received is our appreciation of their generosity.

However, in November, we were able to give them a more tangible sign of our thanks when our president Andrew Hurley presented Richard Foulkes, the hospital’s general manager, with a cheque for £500. The money will go towards The Winfield 2011 charity, which is the Meningitis Trust.

In a note to Pat Collins, who co-ordinates the car parking project Richard said “I am delighted to have inherited such a mutually beneficial arrangement with the rugby car parking. It is great that it is proving to be such a “good earner” for Rotary and your charities, whilst the donation back to Winfield of £500 will be a most welcome boost to our 2011 charity, the Meningitis Trust in Stroud.

“Many thanks again for your hospitality and long may the car parking arrangement continue - though after three home losses we may need to consider a trebling of parking rates for opposition supporters!”

Winfield Hospital general manager Richard Foulkes with President Andrew Hurley and the £500 cheque.

A similar number had also undertaken to run comnmunity youth projects while others have taken on highways duties such as cutting grass verges and being responsible for local gritting.

In many cases, Mark claimed, these services were now being run in a way which produced local benefits and more closely matched local aspirations. He cited instances of community initiatives producing results that would have taken years to achieve otherwise.

In Quedgeley usage of youth facilities had fallen and anti-social behaviour was on the rise. Now with local involvement there was a new programme of activities seven days a week including vocational training, football camps and pamper days which more closely met community needs.

Meanwhile other communities were looking to replace bus services which had either disappeared or been severely curtailed as a result of a £2m cut in the community transport subsidy.

‘THINK not what your county can do for you but rather what you can do for your county.’ This statement (with apologies to John F Kennedy) could well have been the subtitle of a talk given to Rotarians at the end of November by Gloucestershire County Council leader, Mark Hawthorne.

Faced with a massive cut in Government subsidy, the county council had to find novel ways of hiving off some services while continuing to protect those services aimed at the most vulnerable ......like the elderly in need of care, or children with disabilities or youngsters at risk.

Tough decisions were called for. Where the county could no longer afford to run the service they made their big offer to the community...to run some services themselves.

Sugaring the pill with inducements like rent free buildings, all the books, computers and fixtures and fittings (plus a little cash), the county has now got 11 communities to run their own libraries....no mean achievement.

And it looks as if the list of devolving power (and services) to locals could go on and on. Even looking after the increasing number of elderly might be included,,,,after all maintaining someone in their own home instead of putting them into care saves £50,000 a year.

It was a thought provoking presentation which, sadly provided little time for questions. Is this the birth of David Cameron’s Big Society? - only time will tell.

County Council leader Mark Hawthorne.

Tough at the top

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Christmas fare

Entertained by a music God!As in previous years they served up a medley consisting of festive carols and songs both old and new. The combination of voices were heard to their best by Derek’s choice - all of which he introduced with his usual amusing and informal wit. Hardly surprising, therefore, that he scores top marks in the popularity category on the ratemyteachers website. At the end of their short concert, President Andrew Hurley presented Derek with a cheque for £50 to go towards King School charities.

Earlier in the proceedings Major Adrian Allman of the Gloucester corps of the Salvation Army presented Andrew with a £2,800 cheque for Smile Train to go towards his presidential charity. The money had been raised at a charity

ON the ‘ratemyteachers’ website King’s School Director of Music Derek Harris is described as a Music God by one of his adoring fans.

So we were doubly fortunate in having both a Music God and his acolytes the - Harmonists - to entertain us at our club’s Christmas dinner.

As usual they were absolutely wonderful. Faces may change as pupils leave the school but the quality of singing remains as high as ever - a tribute to Derek’s enthusiasim and professionalism.

After members had enjoyed an excellent meal at Bowden Hall, we sat back and enjoyed a delightful interlude of wonderful singing by Derek and his seven Harmonists.

concert - a report of which appears elsewhere in this magazine.

Andrew also thanked members of the club who had assisted the Army in collecting items and packing them into Christmas parcels for distribution to the city’s most needy families. To date, Adrian announced that the Army had completed 400 toy parcels and 380 food parcels and more were still be prepared.

n The club’s council has already decided to increase the £2,800 cheque to £3,000 so that 20 children in developing countries can have corrective cleft palate surgery.

n Once again members are indebted to Angela Seddon for organising another excellent club event.

Relaxing ....left....club stalwarts Roy Lewis and Nigel Hall and - right - former president Clive Kingscote and Rotarian Jan Layton-Smith

Beautiful singing in a delightful setting. The King School Harmonists with their incomparable director Derek Harris at the club’s pre-Christmas dinner at Bowden Hall.

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Unfortunately the more stringent economic times we are now encountering are reflected in the final tally.

Another factor is that other Rotary clubs have got in on the act and we have lost some of our more renumerative store locations.

The importance of the stores as collecting points is reflected in a

THIS year’s Christmas collections around Gloucester’s streets and stores raised a commendable £2,422 - and once again we have Tony Tetley to thank for arranging this annual fund raiser.

Fortunately this year the carol floats were unhindred by adverse weather conditions as they were in 2010. Rotary’s presence on the streets just before Christmas is now both welcomed, expected and appreciated by the community.

breakdown of the collections which show that of the £2,673 collected before expenses, a total of £1,566 came from the stores.

On the other hand the increased profile of Rotary in Gloucester - both through these collections and the Tree of Light - can only improve the public’s understanding of the work we do and the difference we make.

To all those who took part and in particular to Tony we say a sincere thank you.

Thanks to Tony

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Christmas fare

Thank God for the gift of music

Harrison took to the stage with his mum Coleen who told his story and appealled on behalf of Smile Train a charity which provides free life changing surgery for children in developing countries which takes just 45 minutes and costs as little as £150.

Her plea was answered. At the end of the evening Major Allman announced a remarkable £2,800 had been raised following a collection at the concert. (At the behest of several club members a further £200 was subsequently added from club funds so 20 children will benefit from corrective surgery)

In a thought provoking offering Major Allman spoke of the Army’s need to ‘make do’ during a period of refurbishment at the Citadel.........not easy when corps members were compiling hundreds of Christmas toy and food parcels. Adrian then reminded listeners of Joseph and Mary’s need to make do in a stable in Bethlehem but then offered the thought that through Jesus their son, God offered mankind an opportunity not merely to make do but enjoy more. By following

AT the start of the annual Rotary Christmas Charity Concert, Salvationist and Rotarian

John Smith thanked God for the gift of music. By the end we were all doing likewise after another glorious evening of music at the Gloucester Salvation Army Citadel.

As usual the programme reflected the period of Advent and heralded the festive season with a medley of carols and songs. The evening began - and ended - with rousing contributions from the Salvation Army band conducted by Cliff Matthews. Both their Christrmas Overture which opened the concert and the Yule Dance which ended it echoed much loved festive themes.

In between the audience joined in the hymns, listened spellbound to wonderful singing and incredible trombone playing, was fascinated by the tambourine-waving of the Citadel’s Christmas Crackers and enjoyed superb harmonies by the Songsters under conductor Philip Webb.

The vocal soloist was the multi-talented Kate Bennett whose offerings not only delighted the audience but also had them joining in with such popular songs as Winter Wonderland and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

The trombone soloist was the extremely talented Brett Baker who, although hailing from the Forest of Dean, is now a sought after musician all over the world. His appearance came at the end of a six week New Zealand tour and a week of hectic travelling and more solo spots in the UK. His virtuosity was truly amazing and was shown at its very best in a fiendishly difficult arrangement of The Holly and the Ivy by US composer Dorothy Gates.

From the sublime the audience was brought down to earth by the sobering story of young Harrison Harris a little lad born with a cleft palate. Thanks to corrective surgery, speech therapy and other treatments, he can now look forward to a future which those with similar impairments in developing countries can only dream about.

Jesus people could have a richness and quality of life and enjoy a real sense of happiness which money itself can never give.

It was a truly memorable evening for which, once again, we are grateful to John Smith for organising and compering.

n During the concert President Andrew Hurley presented Major Allman with a cheque for £1,000 towards the cost of the Christmas parcels the Army gave to those less fortunate in the city.

LEFT: Trombone virtuoso Brett Baker. CENTRE: Salvation Army Major Allman with President Andrew Hurley RIGHT: Songbird Kate Bennett

From the left are:- Andrew Hurley (President of the Rotary Club of Gloucester) his wife Hazel holding Harrison. The Mayor of Gloucester Andy Lewis and the two soloists Kate Bennett and Brett Baker.

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Smiles all round

The Smile Train is the world’s leading cleft charity with thousands of partners and programmes in 75 of the world’s poorest countries. With a tiny staff of just 38 people, their aim is to help the more than three million children in developing countries who are suffering with unrepaired clefts.

Christmas fare

Santa's little helpers!!and toys through school harvests, their own harvest and toy service and also members of the public bringing in donations.

The average cost of a toy parcel worked out at about £5.50 which is amazing considering the content that Lt Clare and the team put in them. A food hamper worked out at about £12. Undoubtedly the Army’s gifts are appreciated.

This is an e-mail received by the corps:-

“This year I heard of a parcel of Christmas cheer being given to a less well off family with two children. I was present when these children opened their parcels, I was amazed at the wonderful gifts inside, and to see the children’s faces was sheer delight. I would like to thank the Salvation Army for this kind gesture.”

It’s reassuring to know that Rotary’s money is being put to such excellent use.

AT the Salvation Army’s Charity Concert at the beginning of December there was a reciprocal exchange of gifts between the Army and Rotary Club.

The Army raised £2,800 for our president’s Smile Train project while the club in turn presented Major Allman with £1,000 towards their Christmas food and toy parcels.

Subsequently some of our members helped the Army purchase and then pack items into the parcels - the number of which are 60% up on last year.

In fact the number of toy and food parcels distributed by Salvationists to needy families in Gloucester has doubled in the last two years.

As for finances, the Army spent £4,110 on food and £2,260 on toys this year (compared with £2,400 on food and £1,559 on toys last year).

This year’s expenditure by the Corps is in addition to donations of both food

President Andrew Hurley (above) and Rotarian David Seed helped with buying food and packing parcels for distribution to some of the city’s neediest families.

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“The switch-on ceremony on Thursday November 24th, included a brief introduction by President Andrew, a short speech by the Mayor, and prayers from the former Dean of Gloucester Nick Bury. The Salvation Army band was on hand to entertain in their inimitable way.”

The four charities to benefit this year are: The Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund (LINC) which does vital work with children and families affected by leukaemia; the Salvation Army to help meet the costs of their Christmas Food parcel distribution in Gloucester; the St John Ambulance (the Mayor’s chosen charity) and the Rotary Club of Gloucester which continues to support other local charities.

Martyn added: “There are a number of lessons to be learnt and the sub-committee will soon meet to de-brief and start planning for Christmas 2012.”

THIS year the Rotary Club of Gloucester launched a successful new money raising initiative right in the heart of Gloucester. For the first time local people could choose to donate money to local charities with the help of a Tree of Light.

The Tree - a Christmas fir about 30 feet high - was covered in lights outside the Guildhall in Eastgate Street and each light was a remembrance of someone special or expressed a hope for the future. And from a standing start the club raised just about £3,000 - a hugely satisfying sum in the present economic circumstances.

Heading the team was Martyn White who said the Tree’s potential is enormous.

He writes: “It has the potential to be a substantial project for the club. We were fortunate this year in that with magnificent help from the City Council costs were kept to a minimum. The Citizen Editor was also very supportive.

“The principle was that the tree was decorated with about 4,000 new twinkling LED lights, supported by a further 1,200 lights in tubes giving the effect of snowfall. We asked for public donations and suggested a minimum of £5 with the opportunity to write a message in memory of a loved one, a pet, or any other commemorative message. These were recorded in a book, similar to a traditional Book of Remembrance and placed in the foyer of the Guildhall. We also attached as many message tags as possible to the lower branches of the tree.

A light for the future

President Andrew Hurley, former Dean Nick Bury and the Mayor of Gloucester Andy Lewis in fropnt of Rotary’s Tree of Light.

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Christmas fare Christmas fare

It was imaginative, amusing and excrutiatingly funny. Thanks for the memory.

This unusual bit of nostalgia came at the end of a delightful evening when Rotarians and their partners enjoyed a delicious post-Christmas

A Blast from the Past was a reminder that Rotary service has always been fuelled by fellowship and fun. At the

New Year dinner at Brickhampton Golf Club today’s members were given a taste of yesteryear with unique video footage of a rather unusual Rotary talent contest from 25 years ago.

Following a smashing dinner, Mike Westbury introduced the entertainment by reminding members that the club always enjoyed a challenge whether that be dragon boat racing, golf, bowls, skittles - or, as they did in 1985/86 - ballet dancing.

Unbelievable though it might seem, a film recording of the club’s unusual entry in a talent contest had been tracked down and - for one night only - provided considerable hilarity as the Bolshie Boys Ballet company performance a sequence from Swan Lake.

Tutored by Mandy Godding, Messrs Hodges, Eynon, Corbett, Howell, Dancey, Nesbitt, Powell and Seed showed that in the world of dance even a pig’s ear can become a silk purse....just....but only after weeks of training supplemented by the inevitable pints of beer.

meal which had been arranged by senior vice president Amanda Chamberlayne in her usual efficient way.

Among the special guests were Emrys and Michelle Jones and David and Hilary McShee. Emrys is responsible for allowing the club to use Watts Car Park for fund raising at Gloucester Rugby Club’s home fixtures while David has printed In Gear for free for many years. Both Emrys and David are major sponsors of the club and without their help the club would be a lot poorer in many ways. We are delighted they joined us for the evening and enjoyed themselves ....at out expense for a change!

Unfortunately Tom and Arlette Lane who were invited to represent Winfield Hospital (another lucrative car parking venue) were unable to be there but they too were thanked by President Andrew Hurley along with Emrys and David whose wives were also presented with bouquets.

n We are grateful to Colin Rogers and Trevor Picken for the pictures on this page and to Peter Nesbitt for allowing us the use of the dance picture which appears elsewhere in this magazine.

The Bolshie Boys Ballet troupe

In Bristol, Michael was one of the first to volunteer and after selection, assessment and an aptitude test was given basic training at indoor sporting ranges and outside military ranges. The guns used were American and were sourced with budgetary constraints in mind.

Only slowly were national standards applied and a common firearm chosen - a Smith and Weston.

From a degree of bungling there has slowly emerged what Michael described as one

MICHAEL Lettey was a firearms officer with the Bristol police for 20 of the 32 years he spent in the force before his retirement in 1989.

In December he spoke at a lunchtime meeting and outlined the ‘bungling’ path to arming the police which was followed here in the UK.

In reality police officers have always been armed since their formation in Victorian days....although in that era it was truncheons - and there is a record of the police being given cutlass training in 1877!

Arming police with guns became more of an issue following the Sydney Street Siege in the early years of the last century when they were faced with armed criminals - and the army had to be called in by the Home Secretary Winston Churchill to resolve the matter.

Many years later - and in response to a Home Office directive - individual police forces began to ask for volunteers to undertake firearms training. At that stage there were no national guidelines as to the training itself nor the weapons to be used.

of the most professional and proficient armed police units in the world. Initially the issuing of firearms was the responsibility of an inspector but later this onerous decision moved to a higher level; - namely that of the Chief Conmstable, his deputy or his assistants.

Unfortunately Michael didn’t have the time to tell us much about his own personal experiences of using firearms.....although he warned us that much of what he experienced was still subject to the Official Secrets Act.

Michael Lettey with Rotarian Paul Woodman who introduced and thanked him.

‘Bungling’ path to

arming police

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A blastfrom the

past...

This smashing picture recalls the elegant(!?!) dancers who delighted with their memorable performance after weeks of intense practice and beer drinking under the guidance of Mandy Godding those many years ago.

Pictured with Mandy and her assistant are Mark Hughes, Colin Eynon, David Corbett, Graham Howell, Jeremy Dancey, Peter Nesbitt, Norman Powell and David Seed.

Thanks for the memory.

VIDEO footage of Gloucester Rotarians performing a sequence from Swan Lake was shown at the New Year dinner at Brickhampton Gold Club when today’s members were given a taste of yesteryear with unique film from an hilarious talent contest held 25 years ago.

Fortunately many of those who amazed and amused the audience then are still members today and their one-off ballet performance was as much a hit with current Rotarians at last month’s dinner as they were in 1985/86.

Severn Freewheelers on call 24x7, 365 days a year - and one of those performing this vital service is none other than club secretary Paul Wilkinson.

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Bikers’ vital

service to NHS

shift comprising three riders and a duty despatcher. When calls are received from hospitals, the despatcher plans the route and calls the rider. When there are emergencies the calls are prioritised and riders are trained to use a blue light and siren.

All riders are volunteers and receive no compensation for their efforts. All receive extra training in emergency response riding and go thorough a first aid course. In short, a professional team delivering a professional service, free to the NHS at the point of use.

AT a time when most of us are safely tucked up in our beds a group of dedicated bikers are on standby to provide an emergency out-of-hours service for hospitals in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, North Wiltshire and Herefordshire......and sometimes even further afield.

Severn Freewheelers deliver essential medical items. These could include critical items, ranging from mother’s milk for premature babies to tissue samples, blood and patients’ records.....but not human organs.

The work of this non profit making charity was explained to club members at a lunchtime talk by Paul Fairbank, the Freewheelers co-ordinator and fund raiser, who said that it needed around £45,000 a year to run the service. (The fuel bill alone is £1,500 a month).

The bikers are on call 24x7, 365 days of the year on a shift system - with each

The charity has a fleet of five motorcycles. - four of them BMWs and the fifth a HondaThe service first went live in March 2007 and now averages some 100,000 miles a year in answer to some 3,500 call outs.

Paul said that the charity was always seeking sposnors and additional volunteers......if you think you can help we are sure we can find you a job ....he added.

At the end of an intriguing talk, Paul was presented with a cheque for the Freewheelers by club President Andrew Hurley.

Perks and pitfalls of professionalism

As Peter pointed out many of today’s stars go into the game directly from university or school - and by their mid 30s (batterered sand bruised) are often at their ends of their playing careers.

What then?

Having enjoyed huge slaries (and profile) they return to the jobs market with high salary expectations and a huge problem. As Peter put it succinctly - salary expectations around £100,000 per annum, work experience....not a lot. Apart from the few with high rugby profiles, they face searchig for a job which might well have to last them a further 25 years...........but with few transferable skills.

There are few solutions, although making today’s rugby elite aware of the problem and thereby getting them to focus on it seems to be one of Peter’s goals.

During questions Peter made a couple of astute observations. Firstly that Gloucester unlike some clubs always operated within its budget and secondly that the present squad had great potential and exciting talent and only needed two or three more experienced new players to make them a formidable team.

PETER Glanville, former Gloucester RFC captain and team manager who subsequently joined Cinderford as

a coach, was a fascinating speaker at a lunchtime meeting last month.

A native of Gloucester, he played for Longlevens before moving to Kingsholm where he carved a regular niche for himself in the team and the fans’ affections as a brave and intensely committed back-row forward. These virtues made him very popular with both fans and team-mates alike, and he was rewarded with the captaincy of the club in the 1997-98 season.

Peter has the distinction of having played for Gloucester during that period when rugby turned from an amateur to professional sport. Overnight he was able to quit his day job and entirely devote himself to that which he liked most - playing rugby.....and earn three times as much as he had done previously.

His memories of that halcyon period and what followed was the essence of a delightful talk which was heard with interest by all of us and not only by the Cherry and White fans in his audience. But it also highlighted an increasing problem facing those now playing the professional game.

It was a thought provoking talk about modern rugby from an insider - but one spiced with witty anecdotes. Peter would have made an ideal speaker for an evening meeting. Our thanks to Colin Dunford for bringing him to us.

Peter as Cherry and White fans will remember him and, below, a more recent photo showing him when he was coach at Cinderford.

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