Partners Evening

Hucknall seem to be one of the few Rotary Clubs that still hold a Partners Evening event.  I’ve noticed that many clubs seem to have merged the traditional formal functions of Charter evening and Ladies Night together.  I guess that this has been a natural development since Rotary first began to induct female Rotarians in 1987 and clubs became mixed-gender.  However, some of the Charters I’ve attended have had dance bands rather than a keynote speaker but the majority of attendees were male – so no dancing actually took place!

Away I digress.  Our Partners Evening has always been seen as an opportunity to thank the partners of club members for their ‘tolerance’ of Rotary over the last year and has also given clubs an opportunity to poke some fun at the president.

I’d been reluctant to hold a Partners Evening (not because I was fearful of the inevitable skit) but I was glad we held one which ended up a most enjoyable occasion.  The meal we shared together was divine and we couldn't have booked a better band than Motown Goldrush ( well, maybe U2 but they were unavailable/unaffordable!).  The company and fellowship enjoyed was first class and should always be a mark of a quality Rotary function.

I had a fantastic team of people helping me.  Joanne Maddock had found an excellent venue for me in Woodborough Hall and negotiated a superb menu for us all to enjoy. Peter and Rita Pickering looked after the bookings, menu choices and table planning.  Melvyn Stanley provided brilliant entertainment liaising between club and the soulful group ‘Motown Goldrush’ who performed a memorable set.  Stuart Whitehead also added to the entertainment performing a Tommy Cooperesque Magic routine which I assume was in ‘tribute’ to the magic I’ve been known to perform.  Our treasurer also did a sterling (pun intended!) job of looking after all the financial arrangements.   

It was a great night and I’m most grateful to my club members, their partners and friends for making our partners evening a great success

Giggle Doctors bring laughter to Hucknall

When a clown entered the Horse & Groom Public House in Linby, a few eyebrows were raised as there wasn’t a children’s party taking place.  However, this was no ordinary clown but Dr Flora Flowerpot  who had come to share with the members of Hucknall Rotary Club the amazing work that Giggle Doctors perform.    Dr Flowerpot is one of only 22 Giggle Doctors nationwide who, through the charity Theodora Children’s Trust, visit 60,000 children annually in 18 UK hospitals.

A stay in hospital can be a scary and daunting time for us all, particularly for children. They find themselves in a new environment full of different people, strange equipment and tests and procedures that may often be painful or uncomfortable. The usual routine of school, friends and play can be disrupted as the illness becomes the focus and many of the children visited spend weeks at a time away from home. On a dialysis ward for example, children can be there 3 times a week for most of their childhood and on an oncology ward children may be in and out of hospital for years. Theodora Children’s Trust believe children in hospital need respite from their suffering. The role of the Giggle Doctor is essential to the hospital as it is always important to remember that the patients are children first and patients second and therefore have the same needs as all children of their age.

Giggle doctor Flora Flowerpot (who also goes by the name of Helen Jones and is a former pupil of Hucknall’s National School)  told Rotarians how she had undergone a rigorous two year training schedule of artistic and medical workshops covering topics such as child development, infection control, child bereavement and the impact of illness and bereavement on families.  Prior to the meeting, no-one present had heard of Theodora Children’s Trust but after listening to Dr Flowerpot, those members present were amazed by the work of the Giggle Doctors.  Further information about Theodora Children’s Trust is available online http://www.theodora.org.uk/

Dr Flora Flowerpot is pictured with President Ian Young of Hucknall Rotary Club

Bulwell and Basford's 51st Charter

The latest charter I attended was the 51st anniversary dinner of the Bulwell & Basford Club.  I have to say that the venue of Woodborough Hall and their catering was superb.  Seeing as this is also the venue I've chosen for my Partners evening Dinner and Dance, you wouldn't expect me to say otherwise.  Similarly, if you are interested in attending a great night hosted by Hucknall Rotary Club, please contact me for further details.

The menu card was the most elaborate one I've seen this year and included details of the clubs formation.  The first headquarters of the club was the Newstead Abbey Public House, St Albans Road, Bulwell as the landlord was the third person contacted with a view to being a founder member of the Club.  I'm pleased to say that the Rotary Club of Bulwell and Basford has fared and aged much better than the aforementioned pub!!!!

The guest speaker was Tim Reddish OBE, ( http://www.timreddish.net/)  who was born  in 1957 and raised in Bulwell.  In 1988, he developed a hereditary degenerative condition affecting his sight.  Already a keen swimmer, the following year he competed in his first international championships winning 11 medals.

In 2009, he became the Chairman of the British Paralympic Association and was a board member of the organising Committee for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Tim was a truly inspirational speaker as he shared his story.  He was very encouraging about Rotary and challenged Rotarians not to devalue the great work they do.

Champions

In a pulsating final of the Rotary East Midland’s District 10 pin bowling tournament, Hucknall Rotary Club overcame a gallant effort by Bretby RC to be crowned District Champions 2012/13.  The final was staged at AFM Bowling Centre, Ilkeston.

Bretby started off strong as Hucknall struggled to find their rhythm   and took an early lead.  However the Hucknall team comprising of Ashley Maddock (Captain), Stuart  Whitehead, Neil South, Jack Gray and Kevin Rostance managed to strike back and established a lead of 49 points by the end of the first half. 

Hucknall consolidated their lead in the second period finishing with a total score of 1,114 running out worthy champions.  En route to the final they had beaten Trent Bridge, Alfreton, Arnold & Mapperley, Carlton and Sherwood Sunrisers and now, after beating Bretby, were presented the Champions Trophy by District Governor Dave Ashley.

Vale of Belvoir 23rd Charter Anniversary

It was a new venue for me on my tour of District 1220 club charters as the Vale of Belvoir club held their charter anniversary dinner at the Welbeck Banqueting Suite, West Bridgford.   

The Charter was well-attended, maybe even a little oversubscribed, as sardines packed in a tin probably have move space in which to manoeuvre than the guests did.  Having said that, it was good to see a Club being so well supported in their charter celebrations.

Maybe I was a little more sensitive to the cramped conditions as I still ached from my previous days exertions in the garden.  Kneeling to dig out weeds probably didn’t do my knees any favours.

The evening’s speaker was Wing Commander and Tennis Umpire George Grime.( see DG,  I remembered his name  ;)  )  His introductory accolades included attend school with the late John Lennon, being one of only three Tennis umpires to umpire all five finals at Wimbledon and being one of the first umpires to receive a verbal bashing from John MacEnroe.  George spoke very amusingly of the history of the Wimbledon championships and then developed into sharing with us interesting anecdotes from his umpiring career.

Over 73 Tea

Over 100 residents aged 73 up to 92 attended the popular Over 73’s tea event organised by the Hucknall Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs.  

This occasion has been an annual fixture in the town’s calendar since the end of the Second World War and in recent years has been held at the Central Methodist Church Hall. Myself and  President Nova Haskey (Inner Wheel) welcomed the guests as they sat down to a meat salad meal prepared by the members of Inner Wheel.  Founding member of the club Henry Morley had even left a £ 500 legacy in his will for the continuation of this Tea - the £ 500 was used up some time ago!

For the first time in this event’s history, pupils and staff from Hucknall’s Holgate School came and provided entertainment.   First of the School Band comprising of all instruments and vocalists and collectively called the ‘Friday Allstars’ performed 3 numbers including ‘Seven Nation Army,’ ‘Dance with me tonight,’ and ‘Live and Let Die.’  

There then followed a keyboard rendition of ‘Little Brown Jug,’ before the year 13 students performed excerpts from their A level Drama examination treating the audience to a couple of playlets in the style of the Greek tradegies and a scene each from Shakespeare’s ‘Taming of the Shrew’ and ‘MacBeth’.

The 2014/15 Dream Team

Perhaps I’m using a little artistic license describing our most recent visitors to the club as the Dream Team, but it was a pleasure to welcome District Governor Nominee Steve Lawes and Assistant Governor Mike Longdon to our latest club meeting.   

Over the course of the year I have worked alongside both these Rotarians and got to know them well.  Steve takes over as our District Governor in 2014/15 and had vowed to visit ALL clubs in the district BEFORE he assumes the mantle.  Both Steve and I were watching out for the football result between Millwall and Crystal Palace.  Not that either of us follow those teams, rather my team is Barnsley and Steve support’s Peterborough United, and both our teams need to win their last game of the season to ensure survival in the Championship.  Millwall drew so remained in the relegation dog-fight.

Mike Longdon is the organiser of the District Conference that will the place in Steve’s year and spoke honestly about their plans, the projected costing and some of the changes in the programme that will take place after listening to members.

Drone Valley 8th Charter

One of the youngest clubs in the East Midlands district is Drone Valley (chesterfield/sheffield) who received their Rotary Charter in 2005.   As this was one of the longest journeys PP Neil Sharman and myself would be making and the M1 motorway is a stretch of road that should always be avoided on a Friday evening, we left early and hardly saw any other traffic!

The Charter was taking place at the Sitwell Arms Hotel in Renishaw.  On arrival, we asked the receptionist for directions to the Charter function room.  "Up the Stairs and turn left"   and so we climbed two flights of stairs and ended up at the Honeymoon Suite - not exactly where we wanted to be.  We descend a flight of stairs and turned right and eventually found the Banqueting Suite.

The speaker was David Smith and his subject was "Chasing World Records."  David is a Pharmacist from Sheffield who, over the years, runs marathons under challenging situations.  He has raced marathons in every Continent in the world and also runs in costume, breaking such records as the Guinness World record for running the fastest marathon in s Straightjacket, or dressed up as a Gingerbread man or even running a marathon in flip-flops!!

By running in such fashion, David raises money for the MS Society and Ashgate Hospice.

Best of Ashfield Civic Awards Night

I received an invitation to attend the Best of Ashfield Civic Awards Night. My president-elect Alan Newton and myself attended and we were in good company, for also in attendance were rotarians from Sutton-in- Ashfield and Kirkby-in- Ashfield.  Hucknall also falls into the Ashfield District Council boundaries and the present chair of the council is from Hucknall, Cllr. Ken Knight.

It was a pleasure to see awards presented to individuals and voluntary groups who have made a valuable contribution to the local community.