Welcome to the Rotary Club of Bridgend      

1. What do we do?

By combining skills and resources, Members of the Bridgend Rotary Club make a real contribution to the lives of others. As Rotary is present in 200 countries, we are unique in being able to reach people in need all over the world, from running life changing projects in developing countries, making an immediate response to disaster hit regions, and supporting local community projects and charities.

Club President's Handover Dinner

The Rotary Club of Bridgend Handover Dinner took place at the Heronston Hotel on Monday 7th July. Special awards were also made on the evening. This year the Harvey Palmer Award was presented to Mr Richard Howe from Heronsbridge School for his work promoting football and other activities for children and adults with physical and learning disabilities. The Rotarian of the Year award was presented to Rtn Edgar Burt for his outstanding work for many years organising and running the fishing for the disabled and Interact Club at Pencoed Comprehensive School. 

Catherine with President Allan Presenting the Harvey Palmer Award. President Allan presenting the Rotarian of the Year Award to Rtn Edgar Burt.

The out going President Allan spoke of the hard work and achievements of the Club over the last year and thanked everyone for their efforts. The new President Sue Cassidy thanked Past President for all his hard work. President Sue spoke on the year ahead and what was hoped to be achieved. The international theme for Rotary this year was "Light Up Rotary" and by this we understand what it means for Rotary in the Community. A sense of joy, happiness and hope with fellowship is a vital part of our Club. We are a group of individuals who bring all of this together with our own personalities, abilities, strengths and interests to the Club.

 

Past President Allan handing over to President Sue. President Sue presenting the Rotary plate to President Elect Alan Reeks.

 

Wiggle Dragon ride 2014

On the 8th June the Wiggle Dragon took place starting and finishing in Margam Park. Riders had the choice of several routes up and down the South Wales valleys with most experienced riders taking the Devil's route over 200K. Over 4,000 riders took part in the race. The Rotary Club of Bridgend was in charge of 5 of the 6 feeding stations for the riders and was supported by the  Rotary Clubs of Porthcawl and Rhondda, and by friends and relatives.  

The feeding station at Glasfynydd

A lot of hard work and planning went into the event with members having early starts and very late finishes.

The feeding station at Rhigos working flat out feeding the riders.

A big thanks to everyone who helped to make the race such a success.

 

Fishing for the Disabled Annual Competition

 Byron Morgan Memorial Cup Wednesday 18th June 2014

                                  

Bridgend President Allan Brooks presenting the cup to the Pencoed Special Unit Winning  Team with Carly Bold and Amy Williams proud members of staff at Pencoed Special Unit.                                                                                                                   

The former Headmaster of the Bridgend School for the Blind was remembered when special schools in the area competed for his commemorative cup.The winners were from the Pencoed Special Unit School with the other competitors from Heronsbridge, Bryn Castell, Valley Gateway and the Bridgend Resource Centre.

The Rotary Club of Bridgend sponsored the event which was organised by the Bridgend and District Fishing for the Disabled Association.

President's Dinner 

On Monday June 2nd the Rotary Club held its President's Dinner with honorary members First Minister Carwyn Jones and Win Griffiths and their wives attending. The guest speaker for the evening was Mr Peter Vaughan QPM Chief Constable S.Wales Police.

          With President Allan Brooks, Chief Constable Peter Vaughan, Emily Hunt and her Mum    

The evening started with an excellent short recital by Emily Hunt of Bryntirion Comprehensive School who won the Young Singer Competition held jointly with the Rotary Club of Porthcawl. The two pieces Emily sang were Vilia by Franz Lehar and My Life Belongs to You by Ivor Novello. Mr. Paul Greenway accompanied Emily on the piano.   

Our guest speaker, Peter Vaughan QPM, started his talk on the Police and the reorganisation in South Wales. He then went on to relate humourous stories and events he has been involved in with the Police Service. 

An excellent evening was enjoyed by all.    

Trelales Triumph in Rotary Junior Quiz.

Local Primary Schools took part in the annual Rotary Junior Quiz Competition which was generously hosted by Maes yr Haul Primary School.  Thursday 1st May was an exciting evening enthusiastically supported by students,teachers,family and friends. Tondu, Ffaldau, Maes yr Haul, Litchard, Tremains and Trelales Primary Schools each prepared a team of 4 students who took on the challenge of the quiz and fought a very close competition in an attempt to become this year's winners.

 

This local competition has been running for many years and has been well supported by local primary schools. Bridgend Rotary Club is pleased to congratulate this year's winners of the Junior Quiz: Trelales Primary School.

Rotarian Gillian Hale.

 

Rotary Club of Bridgend Penderyn Distillery Visit

On the 12th April 2014 several members and Partners from the club visited the Penderyn distillery, which is just North of Hirwaun on the A4059.

After a very interesting and serious introduction to the distilling of a variety of spirits, We were let loose into the bar and tasting area. The atmosphere immediately changed and mature members suddenly appeared to be like Children let loose in a sweet shop.

When we had sampled and shared a variety of spirits, we were chauffeured to the Ty Newydd Country Hotel.

After further liquid refreshments we enjoyed an excellent three course lunch and returned home to enjoy a late afternoon / early evening snooze.

An excellent way to spend a Saturday - well organised by Rotarians Sue Cassidy and Alan Reeks.

Rtn Roy Hodgkinson

Special award for Rtn Roger Grannum

On Monday night Rtn Roger Grannum received the highest award given in  Rotary."The Paul Harris award". The award is given for outstanding service to Rotary. Roger joined the club in February 2002 serving as Treasurer, Secretary, and President. Also organising many charity events such as the Porthcawl walk raising thousands of pounds for local charities.

The final took place at Cwntawe Community School on 22nd January. It was a very exciting evening with candidates entering the Young Instrumentalist Competition and the Young Vocalist Competition.

The winner of the Young Vocalist was Emily Auriel Hunt who was sponsored by the Bridgend Rotary Club. She is a pupil at Bryntirion Comprehensive School. She sang two pieces: Un Bel di Vedremo by Puccini and The Enchantress by Herbet.

We wish her every success in the next round of the competition which will be held in Ebbw Fawr Leaning Community Centre, Ebbw Vale on Saturday 8th March.

Rtn G. Hale

Rotary Youth Speak Competition

The Rotary Youth Speaks area final was held in Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg on Tuesday 21st January 2014. The winners of the Intermediate area final were from Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwydd. Members of the team were Elinor Cornish, Loan Lloyd and Aaleah Knill and their chosen topic was "The Inspirational figure of Nelson Mandela". 

Three teams competed in the Senior area Final of the Public Speaking competition. Brynteg Comprehensive School debated the idea that "The driving age should not be increased to 18 years of age". Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd presented an interesting argument explaining "Why social networking sites and Teenagers don't mix. Ysgol Maesydderwen chose to propose the idea that "Booze Britain needs to take Responsibility for its Actions".

It was a very exciting evening and the speakers did not fail to entertain family, friends, teachers and Rotarians who turned up to support them on the evening. It was a very difficult task for the adjudicators but Brynteg Comprehensive School were declared the winners of the competition!

Thomas Prosser was the Chairperson for the evening, Samuel Griffiths was the speaker and Rebekah Lee offered the Vote of Thanks.

They will be going forward to the Rotary District 1150 Finals to be held in the Millenium Centre on March 7th. We wish them success!

Rtn G Hale

What Has Happened Over Christmas !!!

Over the Christmas period we have had lots of funding raising events.

At the beginning of the Christmas Period the club held a party at the Heronston Hotel with excellent food, good quizzes, secret Santa and a Musical entertainment by Rtn Wayne Morgan & Rtn Mike Lewis. A great time had by all.

Santa and his elf's working at the Christmas Party

A great success over the Christmas period has been 'Santa's Grotto' in Bridgend market raising funds for the Club.

 

Santa and his elfs at the Grotto with President Allan Brooks.

Club members were very busy collecting at the Supermarkets to raise funds for local charity's.

Singing Santa's

This is popular event were club members are jointed by members of the Bridgend Choir visiting watering holes in the local area singing Carols and collecting for club funds.

Collecting for 'Cellan'

Over the Christmas period the club has been collecting for 'Cellan' with his family and supports to raise funds for a sports wheel chair. A BIG THANK YOU to Sainsbury's for there help and support.

 

Rtn Gwyn Thomas has been very busy refurbishing the wishing well at the Bridgend market. Also collecting aqua boxes. Pictured with Gwyn is Mrs Jones from Cylch Meithrin Welsh nursery Pencoed who has supported this important project for many years.  

Foundation International Evening

Members and their guests of the Rotary Club of Bridgend were gathered at the Heronston Hotel for the annual event hosted by the Foundation Committee of the Club. As usual, the guest speaker was an Ambassadorial Scholar either studying in Wales from a foreign country or an outbound scholar from Wales who had been studying overseas. On this occasion, the club was delighted to receive Tomos Lewis from Dinas Powys who in 2011-2012 studied for his MSc degree in Columbia University, New York, in Broadcast journalism.

In an excellent address, following a most enjoyable meal, he gave a well-crafted account of his time there and the months he spent looking in detail at the Harlem district and its inhabitants. He was fortunate enough to remain in America and assist the BBC in its coverage of the 2012 Presidential election. During the question and answer session following his address, he answered all questions put to him with a depth of knowledge covering current world problem areas; the place in history he thought the presidencies of Kennedy and Obama would have over the passage of time and his future aspirations. He also mentioned his time when studying for his initial degree at St Andrew's University was at the same time as Prince William and Catherine Middleton were studying there.

All present were delighted with the presentation and wished Tomas every success in his endeavours. He is currently working in London for an independent media company. He had spent time living and working in Beirut, Kuwait and has studied for a short while in St Petersburg, Russia. Before going to America on an Ambassadorial scholarship sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dinas Powys, he worked as a broadcast assistant at the BBC for BBC news in Cardiff, working primarily for the Corporation's Welsh language news programmes on TV and the Radio.

President Allan Brooks thanked everyone for attending, the committee for arranging the successful event, the speaker Tomos for travelling from London and for his polished contribution, making the evening so memorable.

Rtn Hugh Thomas

Chairperson Foundation Committee      

 

Fishing for the Disabled Annual Fishing Competition

      Rotary Club of Bridgend Past President Kendrick Griffiths QPM Trophy

Ex Chief Constable of Merthyr Tydfil Kendrick Griffiths was remembered on 23rd October 2013 when Special Schools in the area competed at Seven Oaks Ystradowen for his commemorative shield.

Rotary President Allan Brooks attended the event and presented the trophy to the winning team of Pencoed Special School.

This annual event is organised by Rotarian Edgar Burt

                                                                                                

Rotary Autumn Walk

At 10am last Saturday (12th Oct). Led by President Allan Brooks and guided by Rtn Hopkin Joseph a party of 8 members and Friends plus a canine guest Ben. (Allan Brooks, Edgar Burt, Paul Cheadle, David Hubbard, Allan Reeks & Catherine, Gwyn Thomas and John McCarthy). Set of from the Llangeinor Arms.

Following the North by North west path over the Llangeinor mountain to Pant Blaenhirwr (over looking Pontycymmer in the Garw Valley and Ogmore Vale in the Ogmore valley). A dry grisp morning with good visibility afforded panoramic views of both valleys in the area cutting through the upper hill strata, and to the south the plains of the coastal areas of Glamorgan. 

The return journey was via the Pen-y-Foel trig point with there after a gentle downward slope to the Llangeinor Arms to be greeted by fellow Rotarians and guests (Bob & Jean Broughton, Dianne Pearce-Hubbard, Caron Jones, John & Diane Ward). For some welcome liquid refreshments followed by a splendid Lunch. For all who walked the last mile downwards from the trig point to the pub was easy walking, but even so no one could keep up with Edgar Burt and Gwyn Thomas!!

Rtn Hopkin Joseph

Bridgend & District Fishing for the Disabled Association

Volunteers from this Association, with the help of the Rotary Club of Bridgend and several other organisations, have for the last fifteen years entertained and educated several special schools students from the Bridgend area.

One day a month, during the season, approximately twenty students are invited to go fishing at the Seven Oaks Trout Farm, Ystradowen.

The organisers have recently decided to donate some of their catch throughout the fishing season to the Catering Department of Bridgend College. These fresh trout will be used to enable catering students to learn the skills of filleting fish, which is part of their curriculum. This is a wonderful gesture of the disabled helping the able bodied students.

Volunteers to help on the day of fishing are always welcome at Ystradowen. Anyone interested please contact Rtn Edgar Burt on 01656 667855.

Schools and Associations, who have already participated and thoroughly enjoyed themselves are :- Heronsbridge School, Bridgend.  Bryn Castell, Cefn Glas. Pencoed Comprehensive Special School. Valley Gateway Day Centre, Sarn. Bridgend Recourse Centre and Blind and Deaf Association, Bridgend.

Rtn Roy Hodgkinson 18th Sept 2013