Circa 1200 News

Unfortunately, The Rotary Club of Melcombe Regis had been left of the club links, on the right hand side of this page – with thanks to Richard Cropper who brought it my attention at the District Assembly Meeting, Break Out Session, this has now been rectified.

Everyone click thru and see what a great website they have – and enjoy.
Melcombe Regis Club
Gail Tucker – Administration Circa 1200 OnLine News.

It is with great sadness that Yeo Vale Rotary Club announces the untimely death of Immediate Past President “Doc” Tony Simmonds

Tony Simmonds

Everyone agreed that the weather during the visit of the Guingamp, our Twin Rotary Club from Britanny, was generally the worst that anyone could remember- but it did not spoil the programme.

President Ruth Fivash welcomed the party at a lunch in the Whitley Reading Rooms before the guests dispersed to a variety of Rotarian homes, including for Terry and Juliet Bazeley a party of 4, Rotarian Alexandre and Anne his wife, but also his mother-in-law Marielle and his 4 year old son Tom, late replacements to the party because of illness. The Melksham Club asked that special good wishes be given to Rotarian Pierre Janier, an Honorary Member of the Melksham Club. Later that evening Terry and Juliet hosted a dinner party for 10, with similar parties at other homes.

The Wadworths Brewery visit was a great success on Saturday, particularly the opportunity to sample a variety of beers after the tour, before shopping and lunch in the town. In the evening, Pauline Jacomb ensured that the Safari Supper ran smoothly, starting with an aperitif at the Corsham home of Honorary Rotarian Mrs Janet Smith. Our French visitors were later clearly impressed with the Art House Café in the Market Place, admiring the art work on display, the fresh décor and the excellent dessert and coffee served by Mrs Tessa Missen and helpers.

Peter King managed a short tour of the Corsham Almshouses for Terry and Juliet’s party on Sunday morning before joining everyone for President Ruth’s Drinks reception in the Art House Café. A really leisurely Farewell lunch at Beechfield House Hotel provided a most enjoyable climax to the visit, with sincere best wishes for the visitors on the return journey which promised further stormy weather. The Guingamp visitors promised us much better weather for the Melksham Club’s return visit in 2013!

Peter King, Melkesham Club Press Officer.

Rotary Club of Chippenham & Members Receive Community Recognition for Their Work with ‘Snap’.

The Rotary Club of Chippenham was given the accolade of receiving the Chippenham Area Board Community Team Award for the completion of the ‘SNAP’ project. In his remarks Vice Chair Mark Packard stressed the dedication of the ‘SNAP’ Team to raise over £700,000 for the project and he emphasised that the Pool was now being fully utilised, not only by the pupils of the St Nicholas School but by the wider community, including the Stroke Club. Rotarian Eric Sambell (Chippenham) received the award on behalf of the Rotary Club of Chippenham.

On Saturday 28th April, a few members of The Chippenham Rotary Club (Rotarians Peter James, ‘Biggles’ Mathers and Jane Kirby), and a friend of Rotary (Louie) took an ‘Out of this World’ trip in their local Tardis to join many other time travelers at a Sci-Fi Convention in Corsham.

This is an annual event and this year the Rotary Club of Chippenham was invited to take a table within one of the halls to promote Rotary. The event attracted approximately 2,500 visitors who came to see characters from Star Wars, Dr Who and Star Trek. A table was set up table and very quickly Peter James drew the attention of both young and old to have a go at ‘Snap the Rat.’

Many visitors came dressed up in Sci-Fi gear, one of whom was an old friend Hon’ Rotarian Ken Hulbert. (Pictured left above) We understand he was in search of Avatar but he had landed on the wrong planet! It was a great day and Peter kept going with his entertainment all day, many leaflets were taken about ‘Art in the Park.’ The youngsters soon grabbed all the sweets, provided by Louie. What’s more, several time travelers said they were looking forward to another landing at ‘Art in the Park’ in July. Thanks go to Louie helping out and for obtaining this opportunity. Report by Rotarian – Jane Kirby (PE) Chippenham Club

Last year Bradford on Avon Rotary Club gave Usborne dictionaries
to all our local Primary Schools & St. Laurence Comprehensive which
were gratefully received.
Since then we have looked further afield & are supporting Valerie
McGiven in her work with the children of Choba in Tanzania.Valerie
who lives locally spends half her time here & half in Tanzania & having seen the need for an infant school she set one up in an old
building, which was so successful she was asked to set up & build
a new junior school. This she is in the process of doing helped by
the local villagers, they are now raising money for their fifth class-
room.
Bradford Rotary decided to support Valerie by raising £1000 to
purchase text books that were so badly needed by the children &
as you can see from the photo the books are in English which is the
language they have to learn in by law.
The village has no electricity,hence no computers,they are looking
at a solar power alternative which the Club hope we can support in
the future.

Fred Moore
Bradford on Avon Rotary Club