Club Chronicle

3 September 2026: Business Meeting

This meeting took place on Zoom. Seven members attended.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. It was noted that the Treasurer’s report had been discussed at the Council Meeting on Tuesday evening. The District Forum will be held on Saturday. President Anne will attend and collect the Remembrance pins ordered by members.

The Club has ordered half a bag for purple crocus corms this year. Warwick Aldham would like some for Mencap.

The dedication of the George Harris bench will take place at Farleigh Hospice on 10 September. This is a Thursday but, since it is Scatter Week, it is hoped a number of members will be able to attend. In President Anne’s absence on holiday that week, Immediate Past President Graham Furnival will attend and present Farleigh with a cheque.

We have booked our meetings at the Ivy Hill Hotel up to December this year. Bob Booker will explore the possibility of holding future Club meetings at Channels, which is less expensive and more convenient. The Six Bells at Boreham was also suggested as a possible venue.

President Anne will consider possible venues for our Fellowship Meetings in 2027. Those who attended the Fellowship Meeting at the Running Mare enjoyed it, but President Anne thought she would book two tables instead of one in future. Peter Kemp suggested looking at the Hare in Roxwell as a venue, provided their service was good.

Warwick is still looking through the Rotary archives at the Essex Record Office for information that can be used in connection with next year’s centenary of Rotary in Chelmsford. It was suggested that we ask all Chelmsford’s Rotary Clubs to include “Celebrating 100 years of Rotary” in their flyers for next year. We need to have a special centenary flyers available by November. Jill Parkin has agreed to put a copy in the programme for this year’s Chelmsford Competitive Festival of Music Speech and Drama. Keith Otter agreed to check the Rotary International website for templates that can be used for a three-fold A4 leaflet.

There was a feeling that our Club would appeal most to the newly retired. The Rotary Satellite Club of Chelmsford City for younger members is currently dormant but could be restarted. The Chelmsford Clubs could start a “Corporate Club” for corporate members, as has been done in Colchester.

We agreed to donate £500 to ShelterBox to support their relief work in Nepal.

Alison Moses has booked our usual venue for a jumble sale on 24 October, which was the only date available. She will need support from other Club members. We decided to ask Warwick to coordinate our attendance at the Chelmsford Competitive Music Festival to select possible competitors for Young Musician.

We also agreed that there is now no need for separate Council Meetings, subject to checking the constitution. Matters discussed at Council Meetings can just as easily be covered at Business Meetings.

Rotary Young Musician District Final

Report by Anne Moriaty

The District Final took place in Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday 28 February in the presence of the Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Smita Rajesh, and her consort.

The audience were treated to a lovely concert with high standard performances from five vocalists and six instrumentalists. Sadly there could only be two winners going through to the Regional Final and after lengthy deliberations the accolades went to pianist Tailin Liu sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bishops Stortford and vocalist Harry Sunderland sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dunmow.

Our Chelmsford winners, Henrietta Lawrence and Chloe Mahler were worthy runners-up.

I had the honour of giving out the certificates and the Deputy Mayoress presented the winner and runner-up trophies.

Collection for Marie Curie

On 25 February 2026 President Graham, Francis Whitbread, Keith Dabbs, Anne Moriety and Steve, worked as a team at Morrisons Supermarket to collect monies on behalf of the Marie Curie charity. We collected a handsome sum, of which £80 was collected via card payment through the “SumUp” device. We enjoyed the day and special thanks to Francis who made the arrangements and remained all day throughout others’ slots. A photo opportunity could not go amiss.