Summary of Club Activities

April 2024

The final tea dance of this season was staged on 27^th March in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. Again, the hall was full with some 95 guests enjoying dancing, appreciating the music and tucking into the customary homemade cake. Guests generously donated a total of £298 bringing the grand total of donations to £1258 for the five tea dances held since November 2023, all of which will go to deserving dementia related causes. A huge thank you to all those who have supported these events. Our aim is to get the new season of tea dances underway in the autumn.

In the past month the club has made a financial donation to a local student for a school trip to Borneo to undertake conservation work and to help local schoolchildren. The local Oasis Memory Café has received a further donation to help with the costs of a canal boat trip at Saul Junction for thirty Memory Café attendees. We also paid for the purchase of some welcome new jigsaws. On the international front and prompted by a worldwide appeal from Rotary International the club made a further financial donation to ShelterBox, the international disaster relief charity which provides humanitarian aid to countries suffering from disastrous events. The club also gave further financial support, via Care International UK, to an initiative called ‘Lend with Care’ where the aim is to assist small enterprises in developing countries to set up and run businesses. Progress is monitored and it is satisfying to learn that previous financial support has been put to good use.

Club members joined several other volunteers in early March to participate in the monthly litter pick sessions organised by the Yate and Sodbury Clean Up Group. As ever an incredible amount of litter was collected in the space of one hour, especially in and around Morrison’s car park and not for the first time! Also, the club continues to support the PhysioNet charity based in Berkeley, where surplus medical equipment is currently being prepared for transporting to Lesotho and elsewhere.

Our club annual Charity Golf Day is scheduled to take place on 24^th May at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club. More entries are still needed. Please contact Ian Joseph at bigjos1953@gmail.com

Finally, on the social front friendly games of boules have resumed on a weekly basis and we continue to get together for occasional lunches at local restaurants.

Stuart Fraser

March 2024

March was another activity filled month for Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club. We were delighted to make a financial donation to the Oasis Memory Café at Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church to help with the costs of a trip for Café attendees to enjoy a day out on a canal boat at Saul Junction in late April. The club also made financial donations to the Medical Detection Dogs Charity, to the Forest of Avon Trust and to the Brains Trust.

By the time of publication, the club will have staged its fifth and final tea dance of the season. All donations made by attendees will be distributed to local dementia related causes. A new season is scheduled to get underway in the autumn.

Club members helped to plant some 200 trees in Hawkesbury Upton recently and to conclude the tree planting season some 50 trees were planted in hedgerows in the middle of a field adjacent to Chipping Sodbury Common.

Once more, club members joined the Yate and Sodbury Clean Up Group volunteers for the monthly litter collection effort. Our speaker in February was Ross Arnott, ITV sports presenter and formerly a reporter with the Sodbury Gazette. Ross entertained members present to a comprehensive summary of his career to date. Our March speaker was James Murden who gave a very informative talk concerning the development of his Musical Festival ‘Good Times’. James explained how the event has increased in popularity, clearly illustrated by the fact that the 2024 event at Yate Town Football Club will extend over six days with 12000 tickets already sold and featuring big names, including Jools Holland.

Looking ahead we are preparing to stage, in conjunction with Yate and Sodbury Sports Linka Charity Sports Fun Day at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex on 27^th April. The event will commence at 1pm and go on until late in the evening providing fun events for kids, charity games, drone show, food and drink and much more with music throughout. Also, the club’s annual Charity Golf Day will take place at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club on 24^th May. Sponsorship for holes is being sought and entries remain open. For further information contact Ian Joseph at bigjos1953@gmail.com.

Stuart Fraser

February 2024

It was with great pleasure that club President, Steve Young, inducted Richard Williams as our latest new club member at our business meeting on 5^th February. The occasion was made even more memorable given the visit to our club by the Rotary District Governor, Anne Bartholomew (see photo). Anne observed how impressed she was with the size of the club, the enthusiasm and spirit in evidence and the sheer volume of activities undertaken by the club, supporting the local community and beyond.

The fourth in the latest round of tea dances, was held in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall on 1^st February. Once more, the event was very well supported with just short of 100 attendees enjoying music, dancing, a free raffle and with light refreshments provided by the ladies of Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club. Attendees gave over £300 in donations, all of which, along with donations from the other tea dances in this round, will go to worthy local dementia related causes. The last in this round of tea dances will be held on Wednesday 27^th March in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall starting at 2pm promptly.

The club has agreed to fund a popular event in the annual Chipping Sodbury Festival in June, namely a puppet workshop and show to entertain many local primary school children.

Yate has close links with the village of Genieri in the Gambia. Our club has agreed to make a financial contribution to the construction of a dining room shelter to enable the children to eat their school meals under cover.

On 3^rd February some 50 club members, family and friends joined others in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall for a memorable Burns Night Supper. Entertainment was provided by the outstanding Rock Pipes Band, and we enjoyed an excellent traditional Burns Night meal. We were invited by the band to select a local worthy recipient of the proceeds of the raffle and our club President announced that the raffle proceeds would go to The Blonde Angel Street Team who continue to do a wonderful job in supporting the homeless.

Several club members joined the monthly litter picking activities of the Yate and Sodbury Clean Up Group on 4^th February. Once more, in just one hour, some 25 volunteers collected an almost unbelievable amount of litter and other discarded items.

Stuart Fraser

January 2024

2023 ended with a very enjoyable club Christmas dinner at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club. Some 60 members and guests attended.

The club’s final donations for 2023 were made to the Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity and to the Caring in Bristol Charity’s Big Give Christmas Challenge. The latter contributed to a significant overall sum raised to support the homeless in Bristol over the winter. The club also donated clothing, footwear, food and toiletries to the charity’s Caring at Christmas Appeal.

As we move into 2024 our first tea dance will take place on 1^st February in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall starting at 2pm. A further tea dance is scheduled for 27^th March.

Several of our members attended an Inner Wheel meeting in early January to hear a very informative talk by a representative of the charity Medical Detection Dogs to hear how many dogs can be trained to help identify various medical conditions and diseases in humans.

The club was delighted to learn that the two nominations we submitted for the annual South Glos Council Community Awards scheme had been successful. Sarah White, the lead for the Yate and Sodbury Clean Up Group and the Yate Community Bike Hub will receive their well-deserved awards at a ceremony at the end of January.

As the year progresses club members will continue to support the fortnightly Oasis Memory Café sessions at Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church, the Berkeley based PhysioNet charity providing equipment to a range of countries worldwide and litter picking with the Yate and Sodbury Clean Up Group.

On the social front several of us gathered at a local pub in early January for a new year catch up.

Stuart Fraser

December 2023

CHIPPING SODBURY ROTARY CLUB – ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2023

It was with great pleasure that our President, Steve Young, inducted Anne Berry as our newest club member at our meeting on 4^th December.

At Victorian Day on 3^rd December the club had its traditional stall selling mulled wine, mulled cider, hot chocolate, and mince pies. Despite the weather people turned out in their hundreds to enjoy the varied entertainment and soak up some festive atmosphere topped off with a very impressive float carrying Father Christmas. Again, our presence resulted in a very worthwhile fundraising effort for our charity account.

Our third tea dance of the season was held on 12^th December in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. With the support of the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society and the ladies of the Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club the event proved to be very enjoyable for the large number of attendees with dance, music, light refreshments, and a raffle. In early 2024 two further tea dances are scheduled on 1^st February and 27^th March.

2023 was another very successful year for the club as readers will observe from the following summary:

Community – Financial Donations, events and support:

• Alzheimer’s Society
• Oasis Memory Café
• Yate and Sodbury Clean up Group
• Five tea dances
• PROPS Charity
• Rotary Community Awards to three local residents
• Caring in Bristol Charity – The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023.
• Caring at Christmas – donation of warm clothing, food, and toiletries
• Julian Trust Night shelter
• Green Community Travel
• Royal British Legion
• Participation in the Chipping Sodbury Annual Remembrance Service and Parade
• Sodbury Slog – marshalling
• Annual Sodfest
• Chipping Sodbury Big Christmas Lunch
• St John the Baptist Church
• Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity
• Yate Ageing Better Festival
• Hosted an event to welcome Ukrainian guests.

Youth – Financial Donations, events and Support

• Rotary Kids Out day at Cattle Country Adventure Park
• Annual Rotary Youth Leadership Award participation supporting a local secondary school student.
• Chipping Sodbury School Rotary Racer Enterprise
• St John’s Mead Primary School – supported attendance at summer outdoor event
• Crackerjack Children’s Trust
• Jessie May Children’s Hospice
• Eight local schools and groups – financial support for a range of projects
• Staged Rotary Young Innovator Competition for local secondary schools

International – Financial Donations and events

• Rotary International Foundation Charity
• ShelterBox (emergency shelter for major disasters worldwide)
• Aquabox (equipment to facilitate safe drinking water)
• Medicine provision for Genieri, a village in Gambia
• Care International ‘Lend with Care’ initiative
• Community War Graves Commission
• Rotary Twinning Visit to Toulon to meet with Rotarians from France, Germany and Italy

Fundraising

• Annual Classic Vehicle Run
• Annual Charity Golf Day
• Victorian Day
• Sodbury Slog

Social

Boules, skittles, quizzes, pub outings and variety of guest speakers

Finally, we would be delighted to hear from anyone if they would wish to hear more about the Rotary movement and membership. Please contact us at csrotaryapplication@gmail.com

Stuart Fraser

November 2023

November was a very busy month. The first tea dance was held on 2^nd November, the first of three such events in the run up to Christmas in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. Over 80 guests enjoyed the dancing, singing and light refreshments (provided with precision by the ladies of the Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club). The second event on Tuesday 21^st November will have been held by the time of publication but the pre-Christmas special will be held on Tuesday 12^th December starting promptly at 2pm in the town hall.

Our club President, Steve Young, had the privilege of laying a wreath at the war memorial on behalf of the club during the recent Remembrance Day Parade in Chipping Sodbury High Street. Despite the weather a significant gathering was present to pay their respects. The club made its traditional financial donation to the Poppy Appeal. On the same day the Sodbury Slog took place. Our club President Steve was at the start to see the runners off. The club, once more, provided several marshals for the event. Steve said ‘I would like to thank Bitton Road Runners for their continued generous support to Rotary. I was delighted to receive a cheque on behalf of the club, the content of which will be deposited into our charity account and will be used for a range of worthy causes’.

The club recently made a financial donation to St John the Baptist Church in Chipping Sodbury to enable new and robust carpet to be laid in the entrance porch to the church.

We had a very enjoyable quiz evening at the end of October at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club where 13 teams competed for a splendid trophy. President Steve was in the winning team. The proceeds of the raffle went to the PROPS Charity and to the Oasis Memory Café at the Baptist Church to help with the Christmas party on 5^th December.

Some eight club members joined the Yate and Sodbury Clean Up Group on the first Sunday in November for another very productive litter picking session in Chipping Sodbury.

Looking ahead to Victorian Day on Sunday 3^rd December the club will have its usual mulled wine and mince pie stall outside the Beaufort pub. This is one of our major fundraising events of the year and we hope to attract the usual large number of customers to enjoy the excellent home-made mulled wine and mince pies on offer to support Rotary.

Finally, on behalf of the club, can I wish everyone in our local community an enjoyable Christmas and a healthy 2024.

Stuart Fraser

October 2023

By the time you read this article the first of the new season of tea dances is likely to have taken place on 2^nd November. Two further events are already planned for 21^st November and 12^th December. The venue is Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, and the events will run from 2 to 4pm. Everyone welcome to come along for a dance and to enjoy the company and the music.

Green Community Travel provide a very popular local travel service, particularly to individuals and groups unable to use public transport. They need a new storage facility, and the club was delighted to secure a District Grant which the club was able to match fund to help significantly with the overall cost involved.

The club was also pleased to fund a recent outing to Saul Junction for some 25 attendees of the fortnightly Oasis Memory Café meetings to enjoy a trip on one of the Willow Trust canal boats. A great day was had by all.

Once again in October several club members joined other volunteers to support the litter picking activities of the Sodbury and Yate Clean Up Group. Sadly, there never seems to be a shortage of litter and other items, irresponsibly dumped. The next monthly event will be on Sunday 5^th November, meeting in the public car park adjacent to Waitrose in Chipping Sodbury.

Our speakers in October were Zena Jones and Lynn Cross from the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society who spoke passionately about the charity’s efforts to help support those and their loved ones who live with the awful disease of dementia. The photo shows the donation the club made to the Alzheimer’s Society from some of the funds generously donated by attendees at the last season of tea dances.

Finally, on the social front, our Thunderboules team reached the final stages of the annual District Rotary Boules competition, beating Clifton Rotary Club in the semi-final, only to lose to the Gloucester Severn Rotary Club in the final.

September 2023

The ever-popular tea dances, staged in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Society and the Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club, will make a welcome return with the first scheduled to take place on Thursday 26^th October in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall from 2 to 4pm. All are welcome to come for a dance, sing along and enjoy delicious homemade cake with a free raffle too.

It was with great pleasure that our club staged a Rotary Community Awards evening on 18^th September to recognise three local people who have each made an outstanding contribution in differing ways in our community. They were Sarah White (the driving force behind the Sodbury and Yate Clean Up Group), Rebecca Bennett (the lead for the Yate Community Bike Hub) and Bob Keen (very active in certain U3A groups and passionate about promoting the potential benefits of cycling). Each recipient was presented with a framed certificate by our club President Steve Young accompanied by a financial donation for a charity of their choice (see photo). The club also provided Sarah’s group with a financial grant to fund some equipment needs.

The club has supported the Caring in Bristol charity for some years and this year we are making a financial pledge to the charity’s involvement in the ‘Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023’. Their aim is to raise vital funds for their work in tackling poverty and homelessness In the Bristol area. Separately, a financial donation has been made to the Crackerjack Children’s Trust to help fund some essential equipment for a ten-year-old disabled boy living in Yate. A financial donation has also been made to a Fishponds based charity called PROPS which supports adults with learning difficulties to gain work skills and to put them into practice. On the international front a further financial donation has been made to Shelterbox, an international disaster relief charity, which aims to provide humanitarian needs to countries experiencing disastrous events usually involving significant deaths, with the most recent occurrences in Morocco and Libya. Also, the club donated to a charity called Aquabox which provides equipment that facilitates safe drinking water with the next consignment going to Libya.

Finally, on the social front our Thunderboules team has made it to the semi-finals of the annual Rotary District Boules tournament following a very close match with the Rotary Club of Cirencester.

Stuart Fraser

August 2023

The club’s outgoing President, Bob Holt, was joined by some 60 club members, guests, and family for a memorable lunch at Tortworth Court Hotel in July to celebrate the completion of his year in office.

Also, in July the club had a stand at the Yate Ageing Better festival in Yate Shopping Centre. On a sunny day and with good footfall the event provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the club’s activities in the local community and beyond. Our thanks go to Yate Town Council for organising the event.

On the international front the club agreed to make financial donations on two fronts. First, via Care International UK, we have agreed to provide funding for an initiative known as ‘Lend with Care’ where the aim is to assist small enterprises in developing countries to set up and run small businesses. Second, under the Yate/Genieri Link we have agreed to help to fund the provision of basic medicines for the healthcare centre in the Gambian village of Genieri.

Club members recently enjoyed an excellent talk from a representative of the local PROPS charity which focuses on supporting adults with learning difficulties to achieve their full potential in a range of fields. Moreover, the charity now operates the Tapestry Brewery in Bristol with the help of some those they support.

In August a few club members joined Rotarians (see photo) from other clubs to support a charity known as PhysioNet to prepare and load on to a large truck a range of medical equipment destined for a town near the front line in Ukraine which, by the time you read this article, will be in use in hospitals there.

On the social front our Wunderboules team have progressed to the knockout stage of the District annual boules competition. Meanwhile our Thunderboules team await the completion of the group stage matches to see whether they too have progressed. Finally, a good number of members gathered in mid-August at the Horseshoe pub for an enjoyable lunch and brainstorming session.

July 2023

It is with deep regret that I must report the recent death of David Peacock, one of our longest serving members. David was the club President in 2003/4 and had been a great ambassador for the club, involving himself in many activities, perhaps most prominently in the youth sector where he led the club’s participation in the annual Rotary Youth Learning Awards, an intensive leadership experience for students in our local secondary schools. David will be much missed. Our condolences go to David’s wife Angela and their family.

At our club meeting in early July the outgoing President, Bob Holt, handed over to Steve Young for the Rotary year 2023/24 (see photo). Steve emphasised the need to make the most of every opportunity to promote the club and its many activities, particularly in the local community. He added the need to persuade new and younger members, both women and men, to join the club.

Again, this year the club was delighted to host the Chipping Sodbury Rotary Young Innovator competition. This event took place in late June in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall where GCSE and A level students from Chipping Sodbury and Brimsham Green Schools exhibited their project work in several categories, including product design, textiles technology, art, photography, and graphics. Students grasped the opportunity to demonstrate some outstanding pieces of work, readily acknowledged by the respective judges for each category. Remaining on the youth front the club was delighted, once more, to support the Rotary sponsored ‘Kids Out’ event at the Berkeley based Cattle Country Adventure Park. Our club supported some 40 or so children from Culverhill School in Yate contributing to transport costs and providing Kids Out t-shirts and caps. The children expressed their thanks for a very enjoyable day out.

Recently, club members were entertained to a fascinating presentation from Carl Morgan, a blind music therapist. Carl explained how he overcomes the many challenges he faces daily and demonstrated his talents as an accomplished musician and explained how he puts his music to good use with clients.

Again, this year a good number of club members helped to serve beer at the annual Sodfest event organised by Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club. Club Rotarian, Nick Cragg, acted as the MC throughout. Despite the changeable weather the event enjoyed a very good attendance, entertained by a number of bands.

The annual District Boules tournament continues and, so far, our Wunderboules team have won both of their matches whilst the Thunderboules team have won two out of three matches.

Stuart Fraser

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