Page Last Updated: 19/07/2010

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Weekly Meeting 19 July 2010

The club turned out in force on Sunday afternoon to cheer on four sailors in their yacht as it passed Deal pier. Their journey was one leg of several from Plymouth to London raising money for the Help For Heroes charity. The stiff winds brought them 30 minutes early which nicely coincided with two concerts: the Essex Yeomanry Band on the Deal Memorial Bandstand and a reggae band on the seafront area outside he Kings Head and Dunkerleys. The public gave generously but at the time of writing we are unable to say how much because all money was handed to the land base crew so that they could continue their journey. On board was skipper Chris Highnam, one disabled soldier and two amateur sailors each paying £50 a day for the privilege of sailing for this truly worthwhile charity.

The previous day the club presented certificates to the primary schoolchildren that took part in the Bike-a-Cow sponsored cycle ride the previous month at Fowlmead.  The certificates were presented by Deal Town Mayor, Cllr Ben Bano who firstly gave them a guided tour of the Mayor's Parlour.

Slideshow pictures of both these events are on this website.

The business meeting on Monday was well attended by thirty Rotarians who were informed about a charity for the homeless called Porchlight who are opening its doors to the public on Saturday 31st July and providing a unique opportunity to see what hostel life is really like.

The National Trust at Chartwell are staging a concert with the RAF Central Band on 4 September and have issued an invitation for attendance at a cost of £32 a ticket. This is a Battle of Britain concert in the grounds of Sir Winston Churchill's home. If enough people show an interest in attending, transport may be arranged.

John Utting informed the club that we intend holding a street collection on Friday and Saturday 1 and 2 October when a shelterbox, with erected tent, will be on display to demonstrate these vital emergency accommodation boxes so needed in disaster area such as used in Haiti after their devastating earthquake earlier this year.

There were two 200 Club draws resulting in wins for E Franco of The Queens and our own Jean-Louis Van Lens. The wine draw was again won by PP Mike Baxter.