Charter Lunch 2015

Fifty Six years and still going strong



To a Club which is Solid and True

Can I praise them, the part they have played

In helping communities, charities too

Ensuring a difference is made.


To a club that is solid and true

To Rotary ideals of compassion and help

And the members who've dined here with you

Our Charter lunch moved this year from the Chichester Hotel, to the Beauvoir Arms at Downham, where we had enjoyed a great social evening a few months ago. 

After a very good meal, and the occasional drink, Founder member Ben Clarke read the "Objects of Rotary" to the assembled forty members and guests, and President Ed Harrison, as modest as ever, took everybody through our recent achievements and plans for his Presidential year.

The Key themes were:

  • Membership - our greatest challenge. We have our first Associate Member and another is in the pipeline
  • Fireworks Display - Next Saturday we will be helping Round Table at the Fireworks display in Lake Meadows.
  • Male Cancer Awareness - the following Saturday we will be promoting Male Cancer Awareness for the third consecutive year
  • Christmas Market - On Sunday 6th December the Lions, Round Table, the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower, our daughter Club, and our own Club will be working together to raise money for various charities at the the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower's Christmas Market in Billericay High Street.
  • Youth activities - Once again we will be supporting the Rotary Young Chef Competition and, for the first time we will be running a competition in Junior rather than Secondary Schools. Our Youth Officer James is running the District’s Young Photographer Competition for the first time. The Interact Club at The Billericay School and Rotakids at Quilters Junior School continue to thrive.
  • Billericay Fun Walk - Our participation in the Billericay Fun walk earlier this year had raised £1340 in Sponsorship.  Ed and Peter Greene had attended the Bonus Pot presentation the previous Friday evening where we received an additional £1260 - the bonus was 90% of the sponsorship money raised!
  • Soapbox Derby - our biggest event for many years scheduled for May 2016 with the objective of raising significant sums of money for local and international charities, and raising the profile of Rotary.  We hope it will become an annual event
Ed ended by proposing the toast to all the guests, without whom the event would not have been so successful.

    It was now the turn of Alan Clarke, District Governor, who proposed the toast to the Club.  Alan gave tribute to the achievements of the club and his wholehearted support for our plans for another Cancer Awareness Event this month, and the planned Soapbox Derby in May 2016 (the first such event in the District).  Alan noted that one of the charities which would benefit from the Soapbox Derby is "Hope and Homes for Children", a charity very close to his heart and one of his nominated charities for his District Governor's year.  In an emotional interlude, he explained to us how the charity had been formed and what its objectives were, and reported on his recent trip to Rumania and the situation he found there.  It is a vital charity, very deserving of our support.

    An interesting and amusing speech which brought laughter and applause for the sudience, and ended with a poem written by Alan which can be seen in full here, but an extract of which is shown above.

    The final event of the day was the draw for the winners of the 50:50 club, organised by club member Roger Kettle.  First prize went to Roger's wife Sarah, and second AND fourth prize went to President Ed!

    Other distinguished guests were Richard Rackham, President of Billericay Mayflower, Barry Schofield, President, Rotary Club of Basildon, and Angela Clarke, President of Inner Wheel.  A total of seven Basildon Club members and partners, also attended, for which we extend our thanks for their support.

    Our thanks to Norman Bishop for again arranging a superb lunch and to the staff of the Beauvoir Arms for their excellent service and support.

    Related pages...

    Malcolm Acors and President Roger Kettle

    Return of the Ring 2023

    more A new club bell has been acquired, installed on a beautiful quality oak and maple stand, replacing the bell lost at Reids several years ago.

    Everybody seated

    Christmas Lunch 2023

    more Club Members and Partners meet together to celebrate the holidays

    Roger, Mary and Ben

    Christmas party

    more Drinks and Nibbles round at president Roger's house

    Both Teams

    Sporting Prowess 2023

    more We take part in the Rotary District 1240's Darts competition.

    DG, President and Lord Petre

    2023 Charter Celebration - 64 years

    more We celebrate 64 years of service to our community since the chartering of the club in 1959

    Joint District Conference

    All The World’s A Stage and ...2023

    more Ten members and wives attended the joint District Conference at Stratford Upon Avon for the weekend.

    Nick welcomed by Bob

    New members

    more Our club continues to attract new members, and we have welcomed four new members to Rotary in the last year

    Trevor's Talk

    Scenes from a Life 2023

    more Our members have led interesting lives - here's a recent talk by member Trevor Bond sharing some of his experiences resulting from his surname, Bond. We were stirred not shaken.

    Seating 24 Comfortably

    Moving Places 2023

    more We've trialed moving from our existing meeting room at the Beauvoir Arms to the bar area to resolve seating and Speaker issues.

    Members enjoying the evening

    2023 Basildon Handover Dinner

    more Club members enjoyed an evening out at the Holiday Inn Basildon at the Presidential Handover meal from Ben Rajan to Kevin Howard

    A Relaxing mood

    Jazz in the Garden

    more Rotary Club of Billericay Matflower's garden event was well supported by members of our club. A very enjoyable social event amongst friends.

    Blood Brothers Programme

    Blood Brothers 2023

    more A social outing for club members in support of our local theatre group.

    Scene of our sporting prowess

    Sporting Prowess 2022

    more We take part in a District Sporting Competition

    Overview of the Room

    Christmas Lunch 2022

    more Delayed by snow for a week - we all meet up with partners for our Christmas celebration

    Celebratory Article

    Almshouses Association 2022

    more Club Members Peter Strong is celebrated on his retrirement as Chairman of the Billericay Almshouse Association.

    Norman Wilson R.I.P.

    Passing of a Great Rotarian

    more Norman Wilson, the club's oldest member and active to the last, sadly passed away in April 2022, four days before his 99th. birthday

    Roger Kettle collecting for Ukraine

    The Club Goes On 2022

    more Two members have stepped forward to take on the mantle of leadership as President in the next two years.

    Top Table at the Christmas Lunch

    A Christmas Party 2021

    more Our Christmas Partners Lunch at the Beauvoir Arms, now our spiritual home. Just great to meet for friendship and fellowship.

    All together now ...

    A New Beginning 2021

    more We meet Face to Face again at last, and at a new venue.

    100 Club recruitment Poster

    100 Club Bonus

    more Added members mean added prizes - a special seven prize record

    First Prize is ....

    100 Club 2020-21 Final Draw

    more The final draw of this Rotary year took place on June 28 - five more prizes!

    Out with the Old and In with the New

    New Club Officers for 2020-21

    more Virtual Handover of Presidents and Vice-Presidents in the Garden

    100 Club Application Form

    2020 - 100 club Autumn Draw

    more The 100 club is one of the club's regular fundraisers. Half goes in prizes, half to the benevolent fund for charitable purposes. Its growth success means that more members mean more prizes, and both our new members were winners in the Autumn Draw

    All the team on Zoom

    Zooming Into View 2020

    more Forced to end Club face-to-face meetings by Government “Lockdown”, the club has continued AND THRIVED using on-line tools.

    Presidents Ben and Francis

    Visiting our Mother Club 2019

    more Of the 60th. anniversary of the founding of the Rotary Club of Billericay, members visited our Mother Club in celebration of this acheivement

    President Ben welcomes everybody

    Christmas Partners' Lunch 2019

    more Our annual opportunity to host wives and partners at our Christmas Lunch goes well.

    Quite a crowd

    Attracting New members

    more Social interaction and fellowship, and valuable information on a club with a very successful recruitment history

    We all had fun

    Christmas Charity Lunch

    more Our annual Partners Christmas lunch at Reids on Monday, December 10 - fun for all and money raised for St. Lukes Hospice

    With the Wreath before the ceremony

    Morris men at the Menin Gate

    more Club member Ken Smith and his fellow Morris Dancers travelled to Ypres in the WWI 100th anniversary year to lay a wreath for fallen Morris Men

    A winning score

    2019 Rugby Trip

    more A great social visit to see two England teams face the Barbarians at Twickenham

    90 candles for a 90 year old

    90 Not Out

    more Founder Member Ben Clarke celebrates his 90th. birthday at the club

    Altogether Now!

    2019 President's Day

    more Over 20 Club Members and partners celebrated IPP Les Sheppard’s year of office with a tour of Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal and a matinee.

    Cheers!

    Trip to Twickenham 2018

    more Social outing to Twickenham for England vs. Japan, and perhaps a little food and drink...

    Traditional Champagne Tea at the Swan Lavenham

    President's day 2018

    more The day was built round a trip through the most picturesque areas of northern Essex and south Suffolk, with lunch at the Fox in Finchingfield and a traditional champagne cream tea at the historic Swan Hotel in Lavenham.

    The Chain passes to a new incumbent

    A New President - 2018

    more Not just Charity Day, but also Handover to our new President.

    Rotary on the Beach

    Rotary National Conference 2018

    more An inspiring conference reminding all how much Rotary achieves, through the conscientious effort and work of club members from across Britain and Ireland. Then add in eradicating Polio and you see the power for good that Rotary represents worldwide.

    A well attended evening

    2018 Basildon Handover Dinner

    more Club members enjoyed a terrific evening out at the Presidential Handover meal from Kevin Howard to Mike Barrett

    Club Members at the Charter Dinner

    2017 Basildon Charter Celebration

    more A great evening out celebrating the Charter Anniversary of our fellow Rotarians at the Rotary Club of Basildon.

    NIck receiving Certificate from Billericay Rotary

    Plant a Tree for Rotary 2017

    more On his visit DG Nick Sillitoe motivates us all with news of the Rotary Wood, membership trends and international charity.

    Royal Opera House

    Royal Opera House Tour 2017

    more Club members, partners and friends visited the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden London for an official back-stage tour on May 27, 2016.

    Lunch is served

    Charter Lunch 2016

    more The club congregates to celebrate its 57th year since it received its charter

    The Visitors - Mike Keith Peter Ed Ben

    Visiting Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary Club

    more A group of our members - Mike, Keith, Peter, Ed, and Ben - visited the Rotary Club of Chelmsford Mildmay to socialize and share experiences and plans.

    President Ed's speech

    2016 President's Day

    more Members, partners, family and friends gave retiring President Ed Harrison a great farewell for the annual President"™s Day at a garden party and barbecue on June 19, 2016

    Giggling Squid Logo

    Partner's Dinner - A Fun Night

    more The club took over the top floor of the "Giggling Squid" restaurant for a Fellowship dinner with Partners and Rotary friends. A great time was had by all.

    Workshop Objectives

    Spreading the word

    more Club members help other Rotary clubs with the why and how to use websites, Facebook and Twitter to get the message out about Rotary's achievements etc.

    Margaret and president Ed Harrison

    Associate with Us!

    more Only a few months after adopting a new category of membership, Associate Membership, the club welcomes its first Associate member

    Beauvoir Arms Sign

    Beauvoir Arms Bank Holiday

    more An evening of fun and fellowship

    Our Group at the Gazette

    Gazette News

    more An informative and information seeking visit to our local newspaper

    Blue Bell Line Logo

    President's Day Bluebell Line trip

    more Members of the club will celebrate President Mike's year of office with a trip on the Bluebell Railway steam trains departing 09.30 from The Coach & Horses. Bluebell train between Sheffield Park Station and East Grinstead. Carvery at Sheffield Park Stati

    Peter and the Logo

    All Publicity is ...

    more The District Media Workshop on May 16th, 2015, promoted new ways to get our events and good works publicized. Better publicity, more public involvement, better fundraising .... and more membership?

    Tour Party two and the guide

    Making a Production out of it

    more The majority of club members, their partners and friends, visited the new Royal Opera House Workshops to experience this great institution.

    2014 Charter Lunch

    more A very successful Charter Lunch celebrating 55 years of service to our community

    OF Britain, not IN Britain

    more Great Fellowship and a heartfelt and erudite talk from the first female President of the Islamic Society of Britain

    The Clash of Empires

    more A Fellowship visit to Stort Valley Rotary Club and a brilliant talk by Baroness Shirley Williams

    Pioneer of Progress

    more A Company Plane before a Company Car! - Member Norman Wilson regales us with tales of his life with the Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company (1939-65).

    President's Night 2014

    more We celebrated President Keith's successful year as our President with a formal meal in this local restaurant, accompanied by partners and our fellow Rotarians from Billericay Mayflower and Basildon Clubs.

    Malcolm receiving the award from President Keith Wood

    Paul Harris Sapphire Award

    more Past President Malcolm Acors was awarded his Paul Harris Sapphire in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Rotary in general and the Rotary Club of Billericay in Particular.

    Ben pulls out another Plum

    more Plum Valley event - the club members and their partners get together for a convivial meal out.

    A Royal Treat

    more We were privileged to have Arthur Edwards at one of our lunch time meetings. Arthur has a unique insight on the Royal family. He been royal photographer at The Sun since 1977. He has photographed 7 royal weddings, 4 funerals, and 6 royal births.

    A Rugby Outing

    more A Time for Fellowship and ... two great games of rugby.

    Become a Rotarian

    more The advantages of becoming a member of Rotary.

    Fellowship at Basildon

    more A fellowship visit, three weeks before our joint twining visit to Beausoleil and a talk by Harry Payne, Secretary of the "Rotarian Action Group against Child Slavery" which left us all moved!.

    Membership Award

    more Our club is one of those recognised by Rotary International's Board of Directors for its membership development.

    The usual suspects....

    It's the 5th Monday so ....

    more On a very few times in the year, there is a fifth Monday in a month, so the club tries to do something different from its usual lunch time meeting. In July, nearly forty of us met for a convivial evening meal at a local restaurant.

    Christmas Tree

    Christmas Celebration 2013

    more Open House to Club members at President Keith Wood's house thanks to the hospitality of Keith and Gill.

    Christmas Lunch 2013

    more The final meeting of the year saw club members, partners, and guests, celebrate their achievements during 2013, and handover a cheque from the proceeds of their October Concert to St Luke's Hospice.

    Engage Rotary Change Lives

    2013 Charter Lunch

    more Rotary Club of Billericay's Charter Lunch celebrated its 54th. year with Lunch at "The Chichester" Rawreth. District Governor Peter Dowse, and Honorary member The Lord Petre (who also gave a talk about his early family history) attended.

    Outgoing President Trevor hands the chain of office to Keith Wood

    A New President for 2013-14

    more Members, wives and visiting Rotarians meet to celebrate the successes of outgoing President Trevor Stansfield and welcome new President Keith Wood and Vice President Michael Ginn to their new roles.

    The narrow boat Victoria on the canal

    President's Day 2013 - Canal Trip

    more We celebrated the end of Trevor's successful year as president with a trip on the Chelmer & Blackwater canal for members, partners and friends. A great day was had by all.

    Christmas Lunch 2012

    more A final lunch of 2012 to celebrate our work during the year and, with Inner Wheel, to present cheques to the beneficiaries of our joint fundraising Autumn Musicfest.

    2012 Charter Lunch

    more Rotary Club of Billericay's Charter Lunch to celebrate its 53rd. year was held at "the Chichester" Rawreth. Honorary member The Lord Petre and District 1240 Governor Ian McMeekan also attended along with members and friends.

    Winter 2012 Wine Festival Trip

    more A trip was organised to attend the Laithwaites Wine Festival at Vinopolis in London. Transport left Billericay at 4 p.m. members tasted a multitude of wines followed by a great steak meal afterwards at a local restaurant before returning home.

    Clay Pigeon Shoot 2012

    more A Group of members went to the Essex Shooting Ground at Fyfield Essex on October 24th, for a very enjoyable day's shooting, including a tasty buffet lunch.

    Rugby (Twickenham 2012)

    more Some of our members planned an outing to Twickenham to see the London Derby matches between Wasps, Harlequins, Saracens and London Irish. Two great games for the price of one.

    RIBI Annual Conference 2012

    more The 2012 RIBI Conference returned to Bournemouth this year, with nearly 2,000 delegates attending the event under the chairmanship or our District's own - President Ray Burman

    Program Cover

    Wine Festival Spring 2012

    more A very enjoyable social event - a day out at the Sunday Times Wine Festival.

    The First group of Paul Harris Fellows of 2012

    Paul Harris Fellowships 2012

    more The club has nominated six people for Paul Harris Fellowships in recognition of their outstanding contribution to Rotary and to the wider community.

    From Malcolm to Trevor

    Handover Meeting 2011-12 & Paul Harris Fellowships

    more Trevor Stansfield accepted the honourship as 2012-2013 President of The Rotary Club of Billericay from Malcolm Acors, and 2 further Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded.

    back to page above this...

    Top Table at the Charter Lunch

    Membership & Social Events

    back The Rotary Club of Billericay is part of the international Rotary movement of 1.2 million members and welcomes new members. It is a thriving club with an enjoyable social dimension.