Len Yates was a long standing meber of Long Eaton Rotary Club, becoming an Honorary Rotarian later in life. The Funeral Mass for Len was held at 11.45am in Saint Luke's Parish Church, Derby and was attended by a goodly number of Rotarians as well as other friends and of course his family.
Although I did not know Len personally, from speaking to some of his Rotary colleagues it is clear that he had been a really active Rotarian and somey missed.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Monday, 25 March 2013
Paul Harris Fellows Lunch 24th March
Over 140 Rotarians and guests attended the annual Paul Harris Fellows lunch at The Novotel in Long Eaton on Sunday. Despite freezing temperatures and heavy snow they managed to make their way to the Novotel for lunch - Thanks to the Highways Department the vast majority of the major roads were clear of snow and very safe. However my thanks to each and every one who made the effort in such conditions.
The meal at the Novotel was of a very good quality and the standard of service was also very good today. Many of the Rotarians and guests present took advantage of the 10% Rotary discount in the bar.
The speaker for the event today was Rotarian Peter King from the Rotary Club of Kew Gardens. Peter is the RIBI Vice President Elect and will become RIBI President in 2014-15. This was the first time that I had heard Peter make a speech and I have to say that I was quite impressed. He talked about the challenges facing Rotary in these islands and of the changes that needed to be made. He did this without preaching and with a sense of humour. His talk seemed to go down very well with the audience.
District Governor Nominee, Steve Lawes, who will be DG during the same year as Peter is RIBI President gave the vote of thanks.
Overall a most entertaining and enjoyable lunch - oh and I managed to sell (sorry - donate) £20 worth of pin-on crocuses to unsuspecting Rotarians who turned up not wearing one.
The meal at the Novotel was of a very good quality and the standard of service was also very good today. Many of the Rotarians and guests present took advantage of the 10% Rotary discount in the bar.
The speaker for the event today was Rotarian Peter King from the Rotary Club of Kew Gardens. Peter is the RIBI Vice President Elect and will become RIBI President in 2014-15. This was the first time that I had heard Peter make a speech and I have to say that I was quite impressed. He talked about the challenges facing Rotary in these islands and of the changes that needed to be made. He did this without preaching and with a sense of humour. His talk seemed to go down very well with the audience.
District Governor Nominee, Steve Lawes, who will be DG during the same year as Peter is RIBI President gave the vote of thanks.
 |
| Peter KIng with DGDave, DGE Peter, DGN Steve and all our wives |
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Charter in Grand Surroundings 22nd March
The Town Hall at Burton upon Trent was the venue for the 77th Charter Anniversary celebration of the Rotary Club of Mansfield. It is a most impressive building and a fine setting for such a celebration. With snow and very cold temperatures being the prevailing weather all day, Gail and I set off for Mansfield in company with Rtn Ron Giffin from our club. As we neared Burton the amount of lying snow diminished till in the town there was none. However it was snowing steadily as we arrived and this continued during the evening so that when we left there was a covering of an inch or so.
We were greeted by President William Saunders, resplendent in his tartan - there seemed to be a Scottish theme running during the evening with several others similarly attired. President William had arranged for members of the Derby Magic Circle to provide table entertainment during an excellent meal. After the meal the toasts followed the traditional pattern. At the conclusion of his talk, President William made a number of presentations to worthy Rotarians. Arthur Greenhalgh and George Beacock received Sapphire Pins for the PHF awards and Janet Threlfall and Keith Howard received Paul Harris Fellowship - my congratulations to each of them. William also gave floral gifts to a number of ladies who were top table guests of the club, including Gail.
After the formal part of the evening members of the Derby Magic Circle provided further magical entertainment till the conclusion of the celebrations at 11pm. It was an excellent evening's celebration of Rotary and with great entertainment Gail and I had a thoroughly great time.
My thanks to Ron for accompanying us and to all members of the Burton Club, particularly President William for organising such a great event.
We were greeted by President William Saunders, resplendent in his tartan - there seemed to be a Scottish theme running during the evening with several others similarly attired. President William had arranged for members of the Derby Magic Circle to provide table entertainment during an excellent meal. After the meal the toasts followed the traditional pattern. At the conclusion of his talk, President William made a number of presentations to worthy Rotarians. Arthur Greenhalgh and George Beacock received Sapphire Pins for the PHF awards and Janet Threlfall and Keith Howard received Paul Harris Fellowship - my congratulations to each of them. William also gave floral gifts to a number of ladies who were top table guests of the club, including Gail.
After the formal part of the evening members of the Derby Magic Circle provided further magical entertainment till the conclusion of the celebrations at 11pm. It was an excellent evening's celebration of Rotary and with great entertainment Gail and I had a thoroughly great time.
 |
| President William, his wife Eileen and my wife Gail |
 |
| Table magician in full flow |
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Celebration for Manfred Dessau - West Bridgford
I had the privilege and honour this evening of being present at a special meeting of the Rotary Club of West Bridgford. The meeting, attended by almost all the members and many partners was to celebrate the fact that Rtn Manfred had been a member of the club for the last 49 years. Manfred was attending his last meeting before he and his wife Mirelle move south to the London area to be closer to their family.
After a special three course meal several members spoke about Manfred's involvement and exploits in the club over the years, with a number of photographs being shown that highlighted these exploits. I was then asked to speak about Manfred which I was delighted to do. I then presented Manfred with a framed certificate thanking him for his 49 years of service in the District and an RIBI certificate of 45 years service.
The evening was rounded off when President Elect Denis Jones presented Manfred with a Paul Harris Sapphire pin in recognition of the service he has given to mankind.
Manfred was not aware that I was attending - he thought it was going to be a somewhat low-key affair and by the end of the evening was visibly emotional at what had taken place.
After a special three course meal several members spoke about Manfred's involvement and exploits in the club over the years, with a number of photographs being shown that highlighted these exploits. I was then asked to speak about Manfred which I was delighted to do. I then presented Manfred with a framed certificate thanking him for his 49 years of service in the District and an RIBI certificate of 45 years service.
The evening was rounded off when President Elect Denis Jones presented Manfred with a Paul Harris Sapphire pin in recognition of the service he has given to mankind.
 |
| Manfred saying a few words |
 |
| Manfred and Mirelle with their cake celebrating 49 years |
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Welcome Home 19th March
Well, the flight arrived more or less on time and after an hour or so of the GSE Team collecting their baggage and going through Customs they strolled into the Arrivals Lounge at Terminal 2 at Manchester.
After four weeks away and about 40 odd Rotary Club visits later the Group Study Exchange Team finally arrived home from Nepal. Rob Gray and I were there to meet them an - hopefully from their point of view - get the last photos of the visit.
Look out for them appearing at a club near you to give their presentation of the visit.
After four weeks away and about 40 odd Rotary Club visits later the Group Study Exchange Team finally arrived home from Nepal. Rob Gray and I were there to meet them an - hopefully from their point of view - get the last photos of the visit.
Look out for them appearing at a club near you to give their presentation of the visit.
 |
| The first one back - Tom Erskine |
 |
| Team Leader - David Hood - still smiling |
 |
| The last "Group Hug" |
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
A Great night with Matlock Club 18th March
9.30am on 19th now and just getting ready to drive to Manchester Airport to pick up the GSE Team on their return from Nepal. Can't wait to hear all about what they have been doing.
Last night I went to the 85th Charter Anniversary celebrations of the Rotary Club of Matlock, held at St. Elphin's House, Audley St. Elphin's Park at Darley Dale (a recent smart venue). Sheilagh Harnan and Peter Shepherd were accompanying me again this evening.
This was a traditional Charter Dinner with a Rotary Speaker. That speaker being Nan McCreadie the RIBI President Elect from the Rotary Club of Feltham.
The effort and care put into the preparation of the toasts, this evening, by President Elect Cynthia Machent, Rotarian Dianne Blount, by Richard cater, RC of Bakewell and indeed by the Club President peter Wigglesworth was inspirational. The evening went like clockwork and although it was not in any sense rushed, we finished at 10. 30pm - quite an achievement.
I would like to thank everyone concerned for making this a memorable evening.
Last night I went to the 85th Charter Anniversary celebrations of the Rotary Club of Matlock, held at St. Elphin's House, Audley St. Elphin's Park at Darley Dale (a recent smart venue). Sheilagh Harnan and Peter Shepherd were accompanying me again this evening.
This was a traditional Charter Dinner with a Rotary Speaker. That speaker being Nan McCreadie the RIBI President Elect from the Rotary Club of Feltham.
The effort and care put into the preparation of the toasts, this evening, by President Elect Cynthia Machent, Rotarian Dianne Blount, by Richard cater, RC of Bakewell and indeed by the Club President peter Wigglesworth was inspirational. The evening went like clockwork and although it was not in any sense rushed, we finished at 10. 30pm - quite an achievement.
I would like to thank everyone concerned for making this a memorable evening.
Monday, 18 March 2013
Dronfield Club Charter celebrations 15th March 2013
Another night - another Charter. This evening it was the Charter celebration of the Rotary Club of Dronfield and the venue was The Ringwood hall Hotel at Brimington, near Chesterfield. With over 100 guests sitting down for the meal, this was a well attended charter.
I was picked up at home by Rtns Sheilagh Harnan and Peter Shepherd. We arrived at the Ringwood hall Hotel in plenty of time. President Michael Whetton greeted us and his other guests and in fact was a most charming host throughout the evening.
The meal was of excellent quality and the service was second to none. Following the meal we went on to the traditional formalities with Rtn Tony Bethell being called upon to say grace and then to call the roll of clubs attending. The toast to Rotary International was given by President Elect Ian Ward, to which I responded and then proposed the toast to the Club.
After responding to the toast to the club President Michael introduced the after dinner speaker, Mr John Titford who gave a most amusing and informative talk on the Derbyshire dialect. This included many funny stories and jokes and was well received by the audience. John is the writer of a book called, "Ay up me duck" well known in these parts. Interesting to note from his talk was the fact that the local dialect of hereabouts preceded the so called "Queen's English" by many years and was the standard way of talking for many years.
President Michael rounded off the evening by presenting bouquets to me to hand to Gail (She was ill and could not be present) and to his wife Tina.
My thanks to all who were involved in the organisation of the evening and to Peter and Sheilagh for my transport.
I was picked up at home by Rtns Sheilagh Harnan and Peter Shepherd. We arrived at the Ringwood hall Hotel in plenty of time. President Michael Whetton greeted us and his other guests and in fact was a most charming host throughout the evening.
The meal was of excellent quality and the service was second to none. Following the meal we went on to the traditional formalities with Rtn Tony Bethell being called upon to say grace and then to call the roll of clubs attending. The toast to Rotary International was given by President Elect Ian Ward, to which I responded and then proposed the toast to the Club.
After responding to the toast to the club President Michael introduced the after dinner speaker, Mr John Titford who gave a most amusing and informative talk on the Derbyshire dialect. This included many funny stories and jokes and was well received by the audience. John is the writer of a book called, "Ay up me duck" well known in these parts. Interesting to note from his talk was the fact that the local dialect of hereabouts preceded the so called "Queen's English" by many years and was the standard way of talking for many years.
President Michael rounded off the evening by presenting bouquets to me to hand to Gail (She was ill and could not be present) and to his wife Tina.
My thanks to all who were involved in the organisation of the evening and to Peter and Sheilagh for my transport.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)