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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 GEARAugust 2011 No. 962

THE ROTARY CLUB OF GLOUCESTERChartered 1920

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

INNER WHEELDiary Dates and speakers

Tuesday, August 2nd - Club Council meeting at Badgeworth Village Hall, 6.15pmFriday, August 5th - Speaker finder, Friend and Vote of Thanks, Clive HannisFriday, August 12th - Speaker finder, Friend and Vote of Thanks, Andrew HollowayMonday, August 15th - Club walk. Further details from Colin and Phil Dunford. Friday August 19th - Business MeetingFriday August 26th - Rotarian Matt Cass will give his Job Talk. Vote of thanks, the President. Friday, September 2nd - Speaker finder, Friend and Vote of Thanks, Trevor PickenTuesday, September 6th - Club Council meeting at Badgeworth Village Hall, 6.15pmThursday, September 8th - Gloucester Severn Rotary Club’s Charity Golf tournament at Brickhampton Golf ClubFriday, September 9th - Rotarian Jan Layton-Smith will give her Job Talk. Vote of thanks, the President. Friday September 16th - Speaker finder, Friend and Vote of Thanks, Sarah PowellSaturday. September 17th - Presidential Incoming Party at Reddings Cricket Club. Theme for the evening will be the ‘Wild West’Friday, September 23rd - Speaker finder, Friend and Vote of Thanks, Colin RogersWednesday, September 28th - Club visit to Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham to see ‘The Madness of King George’Friday, September 30th - Speaker finder, Friend and Vote of Thanks, Angela SeddonTuesday, October 4th - Club Council meeting at Badgeworth Village Hall, 6.15pmFriday, October 7th - Speaker finder, Friend and Vote of Thanks, John SargentFriday, October 14th - Speaker finder, Friend and Vote of Thanks, John SmithFriday, October 21st - Business Meeting

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

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LOVE ICE CREAM

Handover line-up

INNER WHEEL OFFICERS President: Mrs Hiliary Cass - 01452 857656, Vice President: Mrs Diane Limbird - 01452 613188, Secretary: Mrs Joy Picken - 01453 882495, Treasurer: Mrs Sue White - 01452 831618

Rotary President Andrew Hurley presents new Inner Wheel President Hilary Cass with the traditional bouquet of flowers and best wishes for her year in office.

OUTGOING President Gill Payne welcomed Hilary Cass as Gloucester Inner Wheel’s new President and presented her with her chain of office. She then wished Hilary a happy and successful year.

Gill thanked everyone for their support during her term of office and all incoming and outgoing members of council were given their badges.

Jackie Matthews was congratulated on becoming the District Secretary, and everyone wished her every success in this onerous job which we are confident she will perform well.

Hilary’s chosen charity for her year is WellChild, - not a very well known organisation, so a representative, Mr Mike Bowdich was invited to tell us about it.,They work to support the families of children with life changing illnesses, who leave hospital to be cared for at home. Names of specialist centres where mobility aids can be supplied and where extra nursing can be sourced are available from the charity.

At the moment several of our older former members are unable to come to Inner Wheel due to illness or family problems, but they are very welcome to join us anytime,

Tuesday August 9 Garden Party at President’s home

Tuesday September 12 Speaker, Arlene Howard. ‘Love without Boundaries’

Tuesday October 11 Speaker, Pete Wilson. ‘ How, what, where and why’

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Two guests at Kids Out enjoy the bouncy cushion at Cattle Country Adventure Park, Berekley. They were two of 400 youngsters at the event. For more details see pages four and five.

ROTARY President Andrew Hurley (2011-2012) with some of his team and distinguished guests in the forecourt of Gloucester’s Fountain Inn following the handover from former president Chris Peak. Left to right are Major Adrian Allman (Gloucester Corps of the Salvation Army), John Weygang (treasurer), Amanda Chamberlayne (senior vice president), President Andrew Hurley, the Mayor of Gloucester (Councillor Andy Lewis) and Paul Wilkinson (secretary). The new president’s objective is to promote real happiness through helping others. More details of the handover on pages two and three.

‘A project of which to be justly proud’

THESE were the words of Rotarian and Salvationist John Smith speaking about the Hope House project in Tallin in which our club has been involved.

Thanks to John himself, the international committee and a matching grant this much needed facility has been given new life.

Inside are two pages describing what has happened at Hope House since our club adopted it as an international project. Like a stone in a pond, the ripples of our generosity have brought in extra funding from the local area of the Salvation Army which has completely transformed the centre. It’s a real answer to prayer.......

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particularly at our social events. We are very willing to bring them along.

Hilary wishes to put ‘Fun into Fundraising’ and to work closely with Rotary whose President Andrew Hurley with his wife Hazel joined us for lunch and presented Hilary with a bouquet, bringing greetings from the Club. He echoed Hilary’s wish for the two clubs to work in harmony.

We all look forward to yet another year of Inner Wheel friendship.

Barbara Seed - Club Correspondent

Outgoing president Gill Payne presents her successor Hilary Cass with her chain of office.

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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 GEARFebruary 2010 No. 953

THE ROTARY CLUB OF GLOUCESTERChartered 1920

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

INNER WHEEL

Tuesday, February 9th Visit of District Chairman, Barbara Chapman and lunch

Tuesday, February 16th Pancake Morning at the home of Joy Picken

Tuesday, March 9th Speaker, Mrs Patti Price on ‘Fundraising and Fun in Borneo’

Tuesday, April 20th Speaker, Mrs Jean Homer on ‘The history of Theatre in Gloucester’

The festive spirit was evident in early December when some members visited Blooms Garden Centre followed by lunch at The Orchard Carvery. Our main Christmas meeting the following week was at the Wall’s Sports and Social Club. It proved a great choice and after a short business meeting, the club warmly welcomed not only our District Chairman, Barbara Chapman but also Gloucester Rotary Club President Jeremy Keck and his wife Margaret and the club’s senior vice president Chris Peak as well as husbands of other members. Afterwards members and visitors were royally entertained - and joined in with Christmas music and carols played by Trevor Picken and The Festive Brass Quintet.

Good wishes and congratulations were conveyed to Leo and Dorothy Soble who celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on December 23rd. Member Chris Ellson had agreed to take over from Joyce Lane as Minutes Secretary. Joyce has done a marvellous job for 14 years but is unable to continue due to health problems.

Unfortunately, the club’s usual start to the New Year - the celebration of Inner Wheel World Day - with a church service and lunch on January 13th was cancelled due to inclement weather. It is hoped to reschedule the service later this year.

Looking forward - the District Chairman, Barbara Chapman is visiting again on February 9th followed by lunch. This will be followed on February 16th when member, Joy Picken, dons her chef’s hat to host a Pancake Morning, cooking delicious pancakes for all to enjoy whilst raising funds for Inner Wheel charities. It’s highly recommended.....do come and join us.

Please take particular note that our April meeting is a week later than usual on April 20th, due to the fact that President Janet and several members will be attending the Inner Wheel Conference in Bournemouth.

It is hoped to hold a Fashion Show to raise funds for President Janet’s chosen charity - the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s Robocap Cancer Appeal on April 28th. More details will follow.

Dorothy Allen - Club Correspondent.

Diary Dates and speakers

Friday, February 5 - Speaker, District Rotary Foundation chairman, Jill Johnston. Friend and grace and vote of thanks, Colin Eynon.

Monday, February 8 - Club Council meeting

Friday, February 12 - Speaker finder Peter Cosgrif

Friday, February 19 - Business meeting, Grace, Richard Graham.

Friday, February 19 and Saturday February 20 - Gloucester Rotary clubs combine in a Polio awareness and fundraising campaign.

Friday, February 26 - Speaker finder, Ian Stuart

Friday, March 5 - Evening meeting at Kingsholm Rugby Club to hear Alistair Hignell speak on multiple sclerosis.

Friday, March 12 - Speaker, City Centre vicar, Canoin Arthy. Friend and Grace and vote of thanks, Chris Peak

Friday, March 19 - Speaker finder, David Seed

Thursday, March 25 - Four clubsʼ social at Brickhampton Golf Club when the speaker will be Col Andrew Bellingall

Friday. March 26 - Business meeting

Friday, April 2 - Good Friday - no club meeting

Friday, April 9 - Evening Civic Reception at North Warehouse to mark club’s 90 years of service to Gloucester

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

18

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LOVE ICE CREAM

A very spirited rendering of ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ wowed members and visitors at Inner Wheel’s Christmas dinner. From the left are Mary Weygang (hidden behind placard), District Chairman Barbara Chapman, Barbara Seed, Rotary President Jeremy Keck and President Janet Hayward.

11a Kingsholm RoadGloucester GL1 3AY01452 505550 Phone & Faxwww.gloucesterhealth.co.uk

Didnʼt we alldo very well

WITH three club meetings and the post Christmas dinner cancelled because of weather conditions,

you could be excused for thinking Christmas 2009 was a time when the club hybernated. Far from it. Between the start of December and January 6th the club’s charity coffers rose by an amazing £7,800.

The bonanza began with the annual Salvation Army Charity Concert which netted £2,369 for President Jeremy Keck’s charity, the Gloucestershire Multiple Sclerosis Centre.

Then came the street and store collections which topped £3,400 - another remarkable achievement. Here thanks go to Tony Tetley who again masterminded the event.

Angelaʼs Afghanistan callPOPULAR Rotarian Angela Seddon made history as our clubʼs first female President in 2004-5 and has continued to play an active role ever since.

Now she’s making history yet again - this time as the club’s first past president to be called up and sent to a war front.

As a senior aircraftman with the RAF - a part time role she has had for the past three years - she is off to Afghanistan for a four month assignment.

To make her role even more noteworthy Angela is also a mum and grandmother as well. More details on the centre spread.

l Amanda Chamberlayne’s smiling face is easily identified in this picture taken during the Christmas collections but who’s the man behind the Santa beard?

l City Centre polio campaign - Page 2; l Christmas joy in Tallin - Page 3; l Former President’s Indian eyeopener - Centre Spread.

Another money spinner this year has been car parking income generated by Gloucester Rugby Club’s home games which raised £1,157 during this period. For this we thank Pat Collins whose energy and enthusiasm seem endless.

Then we had a windfall of £880 thanks to an Ashleworth event by Dr Jeremy Barnes and his wife Mary. For years the couple assisted by Rotarian Amanda Chamberlayne and husband Humphrey have organised a pre-Christmas fundraiser. This year’s proceeds went to our Aquabox appeal - a decision which delighted Dr Ken Watson, the project organiser, who also helped with the event.

Congratulations to all who ensured such an incredible result.

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Presidential handover 2011

were again the largest contingent in an event we organised on behalf of a number of other clubs and for more than 400 children)

We have also helped youngsters through the club’s Trust Fund for Young People and also

FEW Rotary presidents can proudly announce to members at the end of their term in office that they have

given away £31,500. Yet this has been the club’s remarkable achievement during President Chris Peak’s year in office.

Inevitably PolioPlus and Rotary Foundation have been the main beneficiaries but there have also been numerous gifts to organisations closer to home

The President’s chosen charities - the Willow Trust and Severn Area Rescue Association - have benefitted to the tune of £2,750 and £2,368 respectively.

Other local organisations to have had help included the Redwell Centre at Matson, the city Foodbank, Family Haven, the Wooden Spoon Society, Cool Runnings, the city’s Street Pastors, the Gloucester Emergency Accommodation Resource (GEAR), the Salvation Army to help with its Christmas parcels and Sailability - a group which offers the disabled and handicapped the chance to enjoy the experience of sailing at Frampton Lakes.

In addition the club held its annual tea party for 100+ of Gloucester’s Senior Citizens and - at the other end of the age range - taken 100 children to a Kids Out experience at Cattle Country at Berkeley (Where we

through our participation in Rotary’s Young Musician of the Year and Youth Leadership Award schemes.

In collaboration with other Gloucester Rotary clubs, Gloucester Inner Wheel and other local organisations club members have also helped to raise money for a number of causes including Help the Heroes, CLIC Sargent, Pied Piper and the NSPCC.

Nor has the club forgotten its international responsibilities where it has funded projects in the poorest part of South Africa and in Tonga. It has also, once again, continued to fill Aquaboxes for disaster relief all over the world.

In his speech Chris thanked many Rotarians by name but five in particular for their fund raising efforts - Colin Eynon whose Gala Dinner and Auction topped £11,000, Pat Collins’ rugby car parking (£8,313), Trevor Picken’s splendid Brass Band concert (£3,000), Clive Hannis’Golf Day (£2,000) and Tony Tetley’s Christmas collection (£2,000). All magnificent achievements.

Chris concluded by saying: “It has been exhilerating to be at the helm of such an august and powerful Rotary club and I am grateful to have been given such a great honour. I also thank my wife Jane for her unceasing support.”

Making a £31,500 difference

President Chris handing over a cheque to Major Adrian Allman of the Salvation Army.

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FOR one of the guests, the handover meeting was more than an opportunity to enjoy a meal. Carole Smith from Family Haven was presented with a cheque for £1,000 by outgoing President Chris Peak (pictured right).

Chris also presented a £200 cheque to Major Adrian Allman in charge of the Gloucester Corps of the Salvation Army with the promise of more to come in the next presidential year.

As Rotarian readers will know, the Army has helped successive presidents raise vital funds for their chosen charities with Advent Charity concerts over many years. Now the Army itself needs help since it needs a major revamp to its kitchen and its equipment.

Speaking prior to Major Allman’s cheque presentation, Rotarian John Smith said he been present at the opening of a new medical centre at Hope House in Tallin which had been the subject of an international project and matching grant by the club.

John said the club should be justly proud of the way in which this project had changed the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in Estonia.

Carole and Major Adrian were just two of many guests at the handover.

Heading the list was the Mayor of Gloucester Andy Lewis while others sporting chains of office were outgoing president of Gloucester North

Neil Owen and the new president of Gloucester Severn Peter Burton. Also present and a very welcome guest was Hilary Cass, the new president of Gloucester Inner Wheel who is widow of a former club member Mike and mother of a present Rotarian, Matt.

Cheques - and a few chains

President Chris hands a £1,000 cheque to Carole Smith from Family Haven.

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GLOUCESTER Rotary Club might be the oldest in the city and (maybe) it’s the one with the oldest age profile but that doesn’t seem to stop us winning.

In the last edition of In Gear we reported on our success in the Dragonboat Races in May when we went head to head with Gloucester Severn - and won

Elsewhere on this page we report on the club’s victory in the District Skittles competition.

Now to make it a hat trick, we can report on the club golfers’

successes in the annual three clubs tournament with Gloucester North and Gloucester Severn.

Played on the Robinswood course, our team led by Tony Tetley again proved too good for the opposition. To run salt into a few wounds, club Rotarian Chris Soame won the cup for the best individual score with 42 Stapleford points.

Golf aside....the sun shone and it was an excellent day of Rotary fellowship both on and off the course with an excellent meal to round off a smashing event.

Our sports folk are on a roll

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Club golfers triumph again

Two club golfers with every reason to smile. Best individual golfer Chris Soame and victorious club caption Tony Tetley.

District skittles champions again

ABOVE: The club’s triumphant skittlers. Clive Hannis was the only club player to get a spare in the final but top scorer was David Seed.

LEFT: This year’s club trophy for the club’s top skittler which is based on averages goes to Colin Dunford. Here we see him receiving the cup from President Chris Peak.

CONGRATULATIONS to the club’s skittlers for again winning the District Cup. At the Slimbridge British Legion club they secured a 14 point victory over Nailsea.

The cup is competed for by the winners of eight district skittles leagues. These teams then go into a KO tournament and according to Gloucester team captain Colin Dunford this is the eighth time the club has secured the District Cup in the last 25 - 30 years.

The eight teams which come second in the leagues compete for the District plate which the club has also won in the past.

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Four of those taking part in the three-way tournament. From the left are Derek Ellson (Gloucester North), John Roderick (Gloucester Severn), club member Colin Rogers and John Barnes (Gloucester Severn)

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Presidential handover 2011

Saving lives in the Severn

Presidentʼs mission - happiness

New President Andrew shakes hands with Senior Vice President Amanda Chamberlayne. At the time of writing there is no junior vice president.

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FOLLOWING the handover, the club’s new president Andrew Hurley said he was a man of action rather than words - a fact reflected in the length of the meeting which finished 15 minutes early.

Andrew said his mission was the same as that of former RI President Cliff Docterman who chose as the theme for his year in office “Real happiness is making other people happy.”

Andrew’s objective was to achieve this within the club through social occasions, within the city by addressing deserving causes and overseas through the efforts of the international committee.

Andrew has also set himself the task of getting the club to look to its centenary and identify a project worthy of that important landmark.

However in the immediate future Andrew is aiming at fun as well as fundraising. In conclusion he said:- “It is all about doing things together and with your help we can achieve a lot.”

JUST over 50 years ago on the night of October 25th 1960 two tanker barges were swept into the Severn Railway Bridge at Sharpness in thick fog. Two spans dropped onto

the barges which caused the cargo of petrol to ignite, setting the River Severn ablaze. Five men lost their lives, There was no help readily to hand - and even had there been it’s unlikely the loss of life could have been avoided.

However the inicdent is a constant reminder of the dangers of the Severn. Today we take so many things for granted. If a boat gets into trouble at sea or a yacht gets stuck on a sandbank in the Severn Esturary we assume that a call to the Coastguard, Fire, Police or Ambulance will bring help - and it usually does.

At sea such help is provided by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and now (since the early 1970s) help in the Severn comes from members of the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) who are called upon to respond 24x7.

This is what they do about 100 times a year and - apart from the services of one paid administrator - they are all volunteers. These include Deryck Pritchard who came to speak to the club at a lunchtime meeting in June.

Deryck, who has a relatively short history with SARA having joined it in September 2008, became an operational crew member in June 2009 and then last October, the association’s fund raising officer.

In an illustrated talk he explained that SARA had rescue teams at Beachley, Sharpness, Tewkesbury and at Wyre Forest near Kidderminster.

He then described the boats they had available and the differing uses to which they could be put not only to help people and vessels in peril on the Severn and Wye but also at times of floods such as those which hit this area in 2007.

In particular he mentioned that one boat had reached the end of its operational life and needed replacing - at a cost of £66,000. He also mentioned that the cost of kitting out each crew member was in the region of £1,500 including such items as a dry suit (£500) life jacket (£150), a helmet (£150), torch (£120) and a personal radio (£150).

In answer to questions Deryck said that the crews trained at least twice a week and that the association depended entirely on voluntary donations.

This, in one sense, neatly brought matters to a close when President Chris who had chosen SARA as one of his two presidential charities presented Deryck with a cheque for £2,000.

Proposing a vote of thanks, Robin Morris said that the city and county was extremely fortunate to have so many volunteers who enriched and enhanced the lives of everyone and, in particular, he thanked SARA for the work they have now done since their formation in 1973.

Rotarian Robin Morris with SARA fundraiser Deryck Pritchardl

SEVERN VALE Rotarian Martin Greaves, a familiar visitor to our club, was relaxed and casually dressed when he returned in his new role as District Governor. His

message too was refreshingly different although it was disappointing that non-attenders and early leavers reduced the number of listeners.

Martin started on a light note by saying that earlier this year he had e-mailed all 67 presidents elect in district promising £5 to each when they replied or to collect £5 if they failed to reply. After President Andrew paid up, Martin announced he was in pocket on the deal.

Turning to membership Andrew said that in District numbers were slightly up but within RIBI slightly down. Worldwide it had barely moved from its level of 2003 with equal numbers of new members coming - and others going.

He then urged members to embrace change and try new things - even if this resulted in occasional failure. There was also a feeling that the movement still portrayed a stuffy image and should invest more in PR to change the public’s perception.

Picking up on his earlier call to adopt change, the new DG then outlined a totally different approach to this year’s district conference in Bristol. This had been prompted by the fact that in the past only 20% of Rotarians had ever attended such a gathering with cost and distance precluding many from attending. This year there would be a pick and mix format with Colston Hall as the main venue and registration reduced to £20. This meant that members could attend on Saturday and Sunday without the expense of staying in an hotel. There would be a black tie evening for the traditionalists at

the Royal Marriott Hotel but there would also be a less expensive ‘do’ at the Aquarium. Speakers at the conference would include James Cracknell, Carol Vorderman and RIBI chief Ray Burman.

On the Sunday, the green outside the Cathedral would be given over to a display of Rotary projects in order to raise the public’s perception of what Rotary does. Martin said he hoped all 67 clubs would take part in this exercise.

Martin also drew members’ attention to a new District website aimed at the whole membership and not just club secretaries.

In conclusion many members expressed their disappointment at the new scaled down handbook, Martin said that the smaller version had saved district £2,000 but said that because of members’ concerns it might have to be reviewed next year.

Martin strikes a new role

A relaxed and informal District Governor Martin Greaves (right) with senior club member Graham Howell.

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Celebrating the cityʼs heritage

Music has played an increasing role in the heritage days and this year is no different with the Cathedral’s organist Ashley Grote, the St Cecilia Singers, Pipe and Tabor bands and many others taking part.

This year - for the first time - there will be an added attraction...a Gloucester History Week. This is designed to link Gloucester Day, which is becoming increasingly popular on the first Saturday of September, with the HODS that encompass the second weekend.

GLOUCESTER City centre was considerably busier than usual on the second Saturday of last September. Thousands of people were intently moving from one building to another and there was music, singing, exhibitions and talks.

It was all part of the Heritage Open Days. The HODs are part of a national scheme to encourage people to appreciate the country’s built heritage and culture. This is achieved by opening historic or landmark buildings usually closed to the public or lifting charges on buildings which normally charge for entry.

In Gloucester this initiative is led by the Civic Trust and in July Rotarian John Lovell, secretary of the Trust, introduced his Trust colleague Alex Bailey who explained the scheme. Since he became involved with the HODs four years ago, Alex has extended the scheme and last year 100 events were organised for the first time and more buildings than before opened their doors. In 2010 footfall also increased on the previous year (up 16% to nearly 13,000).

Many visitors also enjoyed one or more of the themed walks compiled and delivered by Civic Trust guides. In fact these proved so popular that some walks were ‘swamped’ with too many people. This has resulted in the Trust training more guides to deliver specialised tours.

The idea of linking the two was the brainchild of another Rotarian, Richard Graham, and already several talks by national and local historians have been organised,. All but one of these will be held in Gloucester’s ‘hidden’ gem, Blackfriars.

Alex was thanked by the chairman of the Gloucester Civic Trust, Rotarian Robin Morris who pointed out how fortunate the city was in having a corps of volunteers in the Trust ready and willing to champion the city’s heritage.

Speaker, Alex Bailey (left) with Mandy Norman and John Lovell l

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Kids Out

Where would we be without them? Once again the ladies from Gloucester Inner Wheel did a fabulous job helping with the refreshments at Kids Out.

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ʻAn amazingexperienceʼ

pupils from Milestone and Tuffley Community Schools.

In addition to our two clubs others involved were Bristol Breakfast, Chipping Sodbury, Ledbury, Nailsea/Backwell, Stonehouse, Tewkesbury and Yate.

Among the visitors were this year’s District Governor Chris Fairhead from Thornbury and next year’s DG Martin Greaves, another local man, this time from the Severn Vale club.

Full marks to the large number of club members who turned up and helped Andrew Hurley and Colin Dunford during the day and once again we have to record our thanks to the ladies of Inner Wheel who turned out in force to help club Rotarians prepare all the lunches.

■ Following the event the club had a smashing letter from one of the staff at the city’s St James’ School in which he thanked the club for giving his pupils an amazing experience and for Rotary’s excellent organisation, care and enthusiasm on the day which was ‘second to none.’

OVERCAST skies and the occasional shower looked set to dampen the spirits of the hundreds of children and helpers at Rotary’s Kids Out event at Berkeley - but not a bit of it.

Like so many previous occasions, the clouds dispersed, the sun shone and the 400 children mostly of primary school age had a great time exploring all the facilities on offer at the Cattle Country adventure park. Fourteen schools in all were represented on the day and all the costs which included lunch, T-shirts, hats, ice creams and transport were borne by nine District Rotary clubs.

Our own club took 100 pupils from four city schools and took the lead in organising the day. The four Gloucester schools involved were Kingsholm Primary, Finlay Community, St James’ Junior and Moat Primary at Matson.

The numbers taken to the event by our club were considerably fewer than in previous years due to the non-availability of grants but we still constituted the largest contingent at Berkeley on the day.

Children from two other Gloucester schools were taken to the event by our friends from Gloucester Severn who arranged to take

ABOVE - Here we see some of the youngsters on one of the ‘diggers’ at the Park while BELOW Gloucester club’s Angela Seddon wades into action in the paddling pool alongside one of the pupils from Alderman Knight’s School at Tewkesbury.

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City teacher’s tribute to Rotary

Although 400 pupils plus Rotarians and helpers descended on Cattle Country the sheer size and number of attractions meant that at no time were there long queues. Here we seem some of the more enthusiastic visitors at the top of a climbing frame. All the pictures for these two pages were taken by Trevor Picken, to whom we are very indebted.

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their immediate environment, by chopping firewood or digging a latrine, for example. Every item is durable, practical and brand new. The box itself is lightweight and waterproof and has been used for a variety

OVER many years our club has provided hundreds of aquaboxes which have been distributed in

the wake of disasters all over the world. With their water purification equipment our boxes have undoubtedly saved countless lives.

A variation on this concept was the Shelterbox. This was the brainchild of Cornish Rotarian Tom Henderson who founded the charity in 2000 and which has been supported by Rotarians worldwide ever since. One such Rotarian is Liz Odell, president elect of the Nailsworth club who made a presentation at a June lunchtime meeting.

She said that since 2000 the charity had worked on every continent providing emergency aid after earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, landslides, volcanoes and armed conflicts. In just over a decade more than 106,000 Shelterboxes had been distributed.

At the heart of every Shelterbox is a disaster relief tent for a family of up to 10 people. It is designed to withstand extreme temperatures, high winds and heavy rainfall. In addition there is a range of other survival equipment including thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets. Where malaria is prevalent mosquito nets are supplied, as well as a life saving means of water purification.

A basic tool kit containing a hammer, axe, saw, trenching shovel, hoe head, pliers and wire cutters enables people to improve

of purposes from water and food storage containers to a cot for a newly born baby.

Liz spoke with particular knowledge since she is now part of the Shelterbox response team following a demanding selection process which included roughing it on Dartmoor.

In particular she told of the tremendous work done by Shelterbox after the Haiti quake in which a 250,000 people died, 300,000 were injured and well over a million were made homeless. As part of the response team Liz said the chaos was mind boggling. As the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere there was neither money nor equipment to deal with the disaster.

Getting relief there was a problem. Shelterboxes were flown to Miami and then to the Dominican Republic before being taken overland to Haiti. Part of Liz’s job was to meet the convoys at the border between the two republics and take the lorries with their equipment to where they were needed.

To date 28,417 Shelterboxes have been delivered to Haiti which have helped 284,000 people - an incredible achievement. Although an independent charity, 45% of Shelterbox’s funding still comes from Rotary.

It was a fascinating talk and we’re enormously grateful to Liz for speaking to us. There was an interesting sequel when David Seed told members that Rotary’s Jaipur Limb Project had won the contract for fitting new limbs to the thousands of amputees in Haiti.

Disaster relief in a box

All over the world Shelterboxes have brought relief and accommodation in areas hit by natural disasters. The tent and the survival equipment which are part of the package have proved their worth - but no more so that in Haiti which is still recovering from a tragic earthquake which left hundreds of thousands without homes.

Rotarian Liz Odell, president elect of the Nailsworth club and a member of the Shelterbox response team seen here with Jeremy Keck following presentation in June.

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Kids Out

Around the

Park

AFTER a couple of years when rain dampened enjoyment of the BBQ at Amanda and Humphrey Chamberlayne's smashing home at Ashleworth, this year the sun shone and around 40 Rotarians and guests enjoyed a delightful evening of fellowship.

Our thanks also go to Sue and Mike Smith who bought and barbecued the meat while members and guests brought salads and desserts. Nor should we forget Colin Rogers who helped erect gazebos during the morning and then took photos in the evening. All in all a great evening - great appreciated by all who attended.

Third time lucky

THE latest Rotary walk which started from The Bell Hotel at Tewkesbury was again led by Colin and Phyl Dunford and visited sites of the the battle of Tewkesbury on 4 May 1471, a turning point in the Wars of the Roses.

Sue Smith writes: "We walked along a lane with the Abbey on our right which took us to Margaret's Camp. This was where the Lancastrian Queen Margaret of Anjou, the Queen of Henrey VI and her son Prince Edward and her army had set up camp. (Queen Margaret stayed overnight at Gupshill Manor nearby) They had about 5,000 foot soldiers camped there.

“We then followed the footpath towards the aptly named Bloody Meadow where the Lancastrians were soundly beaten by the much superior Yorkist King Edward IV's army, who were on horseback and better armed. Approximately 2,000 of Prince Edwardʼs soldiers were killed there. Others who retreated were drowned in the river or took sanctuary in the Abbey. The following day the King went into the Abbey and had all the remaining traitors killed!

“Whilst Colin briefed us about the battle a friendly horse joined the group, pushed his way to the front and appeared extremely interested in Colinʼs comments. The pleasant evening was rounded off by a meal at the Bell hotel."

■ Pictures Mike Smith

Battlefield walk

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A PLAQUE which commemorated a link between our club and that of Dublin which had been discovered in Australia was returned to the club by former Rotarian

Peter Mogan and his wife Jean who brought it home when they went ‘down under’ earlier this year.

Many newer members knew nothing of such a link and when the editor of In Gear contacted the Dublin club (the first Rotary club to be formed in the United Kingdom and Ireland) they were equalled mystified.

When and how this link came to be forged seemed destined to remain a mystery - but no longer. There were, in fact, many in the club who could have shed light on this very brief link but it was Trevor Picken who provided us with a past edition of In Gear which told us how it all happened.

It seems it goes back to February 1982 when a group of club members led by President Robin Morris and including David Seed, Peter Sanigar, Graham Choyce, Jeremy Dancey, Peter Nesbitt and Ken Harden spent the weekend in the Irish capital.

Among the highlights was the Ireland v Scotland rugby match (a home win). This was then followed by a visit to the Dublin club where pints of Guinness were followed by Irish Whisky chasers. Thus ended Saturday.

The following day a car tour of County Wicklow had been planned but when the pouring rain turned to snow a visit to the Wicklow Mountains was abandoned for a pub lunch at a lower altitude where the food was accompanied by Irish singing and more Guinesses and Irish whiskys consumed.

The evening was spent at the premises of the Dublin Knot of the Ancient and Most Benevolent Order of the Friendly Brothers of St Patrick - an organisation formed to stop duelling which had branches in England. Although its original purpose had been overtaken the delightful building with its Georgian architecture and antique furniture attracted much comment and was an ideal backdrop where Rotarians from both sides of the Irish Sea could cement new friendships.

On Monday morning Gloucester’s intrepid travellers visited the Bank of Ireland. This is housed in the old House of Parliament and maintains the adjoining old House of Lords in its previous glory. They were accompanied around both by a delightful guide with a beautifully dry wit before spending the remainder of the morning at Trinity College Dublin where they enjoyed the wonderful buildings and a tour accompanied by a college professor with a wealth of knowledge and anecdotes.

Lunch was again at the Rotary Club of Dublin where splendid hospitality was the order of the day. This was followed by a visit to the Guinness brewery - and the inevitable free pint or two - and then it was back to the airport where the group pooled their money and bought an Irish whisky apiece for the grand (total) sum of £1.40p.

By the time the Dubliners paid a return visit to Gloucester in November 1982, Trevor Picken was president. On this occasion the highlight of their weekend visit was a Ladiesʼ Evening on the Friday, a visit to the Cathedral on the Saturday and on Saturday bulb planting on the new by-pass followed by a splendid lunch before returning to Birmingham Airport for the trip home.

Trevor tells us that it was never a formalised link and no further visits between the two clubs took place during his successor’s term of office. His successor, Stan Cummings, emigrated to Australia which explains - presumably - how the plaque came to be there.

1982 was obviously a year when the club’s vision widened to encompass not only Ireland but also France since July’s In Gear for that year records the first trip to Rodez by club members. It was visit which has turned into a permanent twinning and which is marked in this edition.

Rotaryʼs lost sheep

intervened and a wrong turning meant that the group finished up in Huntley - about two and a half miles from their destination.

It looked like road walking all the way back but the ever youthful Colin Rogers decided on a dash to the Glasshouse where he picked up his car

IT was billed as a reasonably easy evening’s walk from the Glasshouse pub at Clifford’s Mesne near Newent. No walking on May Hill was promised and the distance was about 3.5 miles with a 6pm start and an 8pm finish to enjoy a pre-ordered meal.

The evening was warm and sunny with a dozen walkers enjoying both the walk and company. As is usual on these occasions people took the chance to move around the group and have conversations with a number of different walkers.

At one stage it looked as if an early finish was on the cards. But fate

and returned to ferry all the walkers to their evening meal by 9pm. The beer was good, the food excellent and the evening culminated with walk guide Phil Dunford announcing that the group had covered the May and June walks.....in just one evening!!!

President Chris Peak receiving the from former Rotarian Peter Morgan who brought it back from Australia. Peter and his wife Jean had been ‘down under’ for a holiday combined with seeing their daughter Zoe who was lead singer on a P&O cruise liner.

The walkers line up prior to the start

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A group of Gloucester Rotarians and guests were welcomed on board HMS Gloucester during the ship’s final visit to Avonmouth prior to decommissioning.

It was an enjoyable occasion and members were very well entertained by the ship’s company.

This was the culmination of a memorable weekend, when the ship’s company exercised the Freedom of the City with a ceremonial parade through the City and an inspection by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester who launched the ship. This was followed by a service in the Cathedral when the Captain formally returned the Freedom to the City’s Mayor.

Rotarian Martyn White (who kindly submitted this picture) writes: “The Rotary Club of Gloucester has had a very close association with HMS Gloucester since the laying of the keel in 1982. Like many members I have been privileged to visit the ship on many occasions during her 26 years of service.

“Let’s hope that at some time in the not too distant future a similar affiliation with a new Royal Navy ship will be possible.”

■ The officer in centre of the picture is Commander David George, the present and possibly last Captain of HMS Gloucester and the pictures were taken on the helicopter flight deck.

Farewell to HMS Gloucester link?

IF the ‘Big Society’ comes to Matson, then the Redwell Centre and its energetic project manager, Vanessa Worrall, will be in the middle of it.

At a June lunchtime meeting members heard of the range of activities taking place there involving all sections of the local community.

Vanessa, who had been invited to the meeting by Richard Graham for a meal, was a little nonplussed when she was called upon to speak. However, she rose to the challenge and told how, although the centre had originally catered for a youth project, it had now grown into something considerably bigger.

Inclusivity would seem to be the buzz word with an increasing number of activities aimed at wider range of people - young and old, able and disabled.

In addition to the usual youth activities, there’s now a gym (created by a couple of local chaps), a boxing club (which moved there from Tredworth), a Health and Fitness group, an Art Club and a creche......and possibly others Vanessa forgot to mention or our scribe forgot to note.

It’s obviously fast becoming the hub of the Matson Community and there are even plans to bring the library to the centre and run it from there as well!!!!

And all of this is achieved by Vanessa herself, a youth worker and

a part time office manager.....hardly any wonder that MP, Richard spoke so highly of Vanessa when he introduced her.

If she was a little uncertain at the start of her talk, Vanessa (who is employed by the three churches at Matson - Baptist, Anglican and Roman Catholic) grew in confidence and answered questions fluently.

At the end she had more than a round of applause...she was also presented with a cheque for £1,000 to help continue her amazing work there.

Vanessa rises to the challenge

President Chris smiling happily having handed over a £1,000 cheque to the indefatigable Vanessa Worrall with the irrepressible Richard Graham looking on.

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The Dublin link - two weekends of fellowship

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Rodez 2011

IT was an international blind date. Three club Rotarians and their wives flew to the south of France in the summer of 1982 to forge a link with a club in - what was then - a little know town of Rodez.

Would they be met at the airport? How would they travel to Rodez? What accommodation, if any, had been reserved - and would the natives be friendly?

In the event Senior Vice President Trevor Picken, Leo Soble and Roy Porter and their wives need not have worried. They were to enjoy an excellent weekend of Gallic hospitality. From day one a standard was set which is still enjoyed by those who have followed in the footsteps of that intrepid sextet.

When their plane landed at Toulouse nearly 30 years ago the Gloucester party was greeted by President Gilbert Neucher and vice president Pierre Charrie and his wife Monique. They were then whisked off on a non-stop round of sightseeing and fellowship accompanied by a fiesta of food and drink they would never forget.

Leo Soble who penned details for the July 1982 edition of In Gear sums it up:- “Thank you President Gilbert for your friendship, your hospitality, your hard work and for your individual attention and humour for the three and a half days you spent with us. Thank you also to your fellow members who showed us fellowship - French style.

“We went to see if a link was feasible. It certainly would. The area offers wonderful scenery, a storehouse of medieval architecture, excellent food, photogenic buildings, bridges and chateaux and add to this TRUE ROTARY FELLOWSHIP.”

So saying, the link between Rodez and Gloucester was launched and flourishes to this day. Names and faces change but the ‘twinning’ continues.

At the end of May, 15 Rodez members and partners visited Gloucester to again enjoy more entente cordiale with our members and their families. The following pages record what happened during a weekend of fun and friendship.

ABOVE: How the original visit to Rodez was reported in the July 1982 edition of In Gear

Modest start to...

...a great friendship

BELOW: Trevor and Joy Picken are still very much involved in the Roidez link today. Here we see Trevor with Jeremy and Margaret Keck and their French guests at a dinner party arranged by Joy on the Sunday evening.

Toasting another twinning success. International chairman Pat Collins (centre) and his guests raise their glasses during a meal at Prescott. Pat took the lead in arranging a weekend packed with fun and fellowship.

ROGER Hendry is a man of many parts - which is appropriate to someone who has spent over 40 years in the theatre.

During this time he has performed all sorts of roles on and off the stage. It has been (and continues to be) a challenging career involving long hours and little sleep. But it has certainly not been one without incident as members discovered at a lunchtime meeting when he recounted some of the pitfalls (literally as well as metaphorically) which had befallen him.

At present he is the services manager at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham where he is their longest serving member of staff. However he has also interspersed his work there with stints at other theatres, including the Moulin Rouge in Paris. He has also been in demand for TV work where his stage building and special effects expertise has been much in demand.

His has been a fascinating life which has included being head chorister at Tewkesbury Abbey, farm labouring, work experience at The Everyman and then three years at the Swan Theatre in Worcester which was probably the most formative in teaching him the ‘tools of his trade.’

Behind the stage, however, the glitz and glamour are not often evident.

Instead they are replaced by a regime of long hours, often in excess of 80 hours a week, in order to adhere to strict deadlines and a continuing round of new demands as different productions follow each other.

It’s hardly any wonder then that from time to time things go terribly wrong. Apparently one production of Dracula had to be restarted when a series of blunders threatened to turn a horror story into a bedroom farce and Roger had to go into the audience and ask for one of his bats back!

On another occasion he missed his cue to go on stage at the Moulin Rouge, having been distracted by topless models and a man with a bucket of ice. Unfortunately when he eventually galloped on stage well disguised as an animal - but seeing very little of where he had to dance - he missed the stage altogether and finished up in the orchestra pit!!!

It was a captivating talk, which inevitably included a few show business names including that of Charlie Chaplin. It seems that when he appeared at the Everyman Theatre ticket seats were a little slow, so the ‘Great Dictator’ ordered the staff to form a queue at the box office. This did the trick. Passers-by seeing the queue went into the theatre to discover what was causing such interest and finished up buying tickets for themselves!!!

Theatres can be funny places and it was certainly clear from Roger’s talk that he has enjoyed every minute of his working life - can others claim the same?

Highlights - and pitfalls

Barbara bags John's bras!!!!IT’S not often a female Rotarian visits our club to collect bras from a male members as part of a world record breaking bid. But then Barbara Chapman is no newcomer to our club or Gloucester. Her husband Derek used to be a club Rotarian before he moved to a Worcester club where the couple now live.

Recently Barbara was District Inner Wheel chairman but she is now also a Rotarian and a member of one of the District’s newest clubs - Worcester Vigornia. Her club is now bidding to get into the Guiness Book of Records by creating the world’s longest bra chain around Worcester Racecourse.

Profits raised will be divided three ways - some will go to a local Breast Unit, some to Women’s Aid and some to Breakthrough Cancer.

The male member able to furnish Barbara with some bras was the ever helpful John Sargent. Here we see the two of them in our picture

l Roger Hendry - a man who has played a few more roles in his life than most of us and on the right is Rotarian Bob Short who introduced him.

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Rodez 2011 Rodez 2011

THE temperatures may have reminded our guests from Rodez that they were in

northern climes, but at least the weekend our French Rotarian friends visited Gloucester at the end of May stayed dry and - sometimes - sunny.

Once again a varied programme, organised by international chairman Pat Collins, was organised and went off (largely) without a hitch. Old friendships were renewed and new ones formed as club members took part in a couple of days packed with places to visit and things to see.

Inevitably one of the traditional features of our yearly meetings is the annual Saturday morning golf competition. This year our team comprising Pat Collins, Ken Watson, Bob Short, Colin Rogers and Paul Woodman wrested the trophy back from our visitors in a well contested game based on averages which just gave us the edge. As our

French colleagues were a man short we ‘loaned’ Monsieur Keck to make up their number.

While all this excitement was taking place other members of the French party enjoyed a morning at leisure.....with some going to the Cathedral, others to Tewkesbury, still others to the Roccoco Gardens at Painswick and - most suprisingly of all - a couple went to B&Q (at the French visitors’ request!!!)

Eventually everyone gathered at Gloucester Golf Club for a lunch of ham, eggs and chips, before hosts and guests visited the Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks where, after a stimulating visit, they enjoyed a boat trip on the canal despite a very chilly breeze.

Saturday evening was spent playing skittles at England’s Glory in London Road - the favourite watering hole of Gloucester President Chris Peak.

as reliable as they are today! (Good try Pat).

At Prescott the reason for the trip’s secrecy became known. In addition to other events there - it was a day dedicated to French cars and other vehicles and to make it even more authetic many of the staff wore berets and hooped t-shorts, some of the signs were in French and ‘gendarmes’ patrolled the course. There were even Can Can girls to add to the colour and festivities. Our French guests were delighted.

The day was a huge hit even if the star

of the show was a Bugatti Veyron, the most expensive car in the world with a price trag of £1.9m. And it wasn’t just there for people to view. It also raced up the hill climb to the delight of all present although I doubt it reached its top speed of in excess of 260mph.

After all that excitement guests spent a more relaxed but no less convivial evening with English Rotarians either at their homes or in local pubs, before an early morning start from Gloucester for the trip back to Stanstead and the flight to Rodez.

It was another great weekend which can only serve to strengthen the ties between our two clubs.....a link which celebrates its 40th anniversary next year!

The body language of the urbane Dr Ken Watson pictured here with Alain and Irene Farbre shows that our link with Rodez is rooted very firmly in friendship. Alain and Irene were hosted by Tess and Colin Rogers. The fellow in the background is, of course, our treasurer John Weygang.

Great fun was had by all at a skittles evening organised at The England’s Glory in London Road. Two of the stars at Prescott - the aged Fodens Coach and the spanking new Bugatti Veyron.

Trevor Picken (who also took all our photos during the Rodez weekend) produced this flyer about the unique Fodens coach which was chartered to take our group from Gloucester to Prescott and which added a touch of intrigue and class to the event.

A Tale of Two Presidents - Above we see Gloucester President enjoying the gourmet delights at Prescott while below Rodez President Pierre Roger shows poise and determination on the skittles alley.

Another group of skittlers and guests who enjoyed a great evening of camaraderie during a convivial evening at The England’s Glory.

Several non-hosting Rotarians joined our French guests when they visited the Prescott Hill Climb on Sunday.

Variety was the key to success

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Fortuitously it has two skittle alleys which meant that on one alley the winner (much to her amazement) was English ‘rose’ Mary Weygang while Patrick Mouysset (a guest of Jeremy Keck) triumphed on the second alley. An excellent result for international relations! Full marks to President Chris’s wife Jane who decorared the alley with appropriate flags.

The evening was further enriched by a huge buffet, plenty of alcohol and the suprising revelation - at least to some of us - that the game was not unknown in France where it is known as Le Quille. Undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend fell on the Sunday when, in an atmosphere of secrecy, hosts and guests set off in a vintage Foden’s motor coach for a rather unusual day at Prescott Hill Climb near Cheltenham. This unique form of transport had been provided (inevitably) by Trevor Picken who also produced a flyer which was distributed to everyone on board to add to their journey.

The trip wasn’t without incident. The coach broke down at the Coombe Hill traffic lights on the A38 and for about 10 minutes there were doubts as to whether or not it would continue. However, after hurried telephone calls, the coach was restarted and arrived at Prescott in plenty of time - where it became one of the attractions.

After the unexpected delay organiser Pat Collins announced to sceptical travellers that the ‘breakdown’ had been arranged in order to give everyone a true taste of coaching in days goneby when such coaches were not always

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