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Christmas 2021

Members of Prestatyn Rotary Club were delighted but not surprised by the response from the public when their Christmas Float travelled around the area in December.

Rotary President Jean Smith said “Despite the pandemic and the many other uncertainties affecting us all, the collection amounts were just as good as in previous years. That’s testament to the amazing generosity of people in Prestatyn, Gronant, Dyserth and Rhuddlan”.

The first donations from the float collection are now being made.

£1,000 to the St Kentigern Hospice. Rotary Treasurer Tony England said “Our Rotary Club started fund raising for the St Kentigern Hospice even before it opened in 1995 and we are very lucky to have such a marvellous facility in our community. Not only are we delighted to support the hospice now but I’m sure we will continue to do so in the future.” Pictured are St Kentigern CEO Ian Mitchell, Rotary Club President Jean Smith, Clinical Services Manager Jane McGrath, and Rotary Treasurer Tony England.

£1,000 has also been donated to Ty Gobaith/Hope House Children’s Hospice. In the photo are Ty Gobaith’s Vanessa Thomas, with Rotarian Dave Smith (Secretary), Jean Smith (Rotary President), Rotarian Alan Booth and Mrs Fay Booth. At any one time Ty Gobaith may be supporting more than 750 local families who are either caring for a terminally ill child, or whose child has died. It costs £7.5 million every year to run the services and 86% of this is spent on care. Approximately two month’s income comes from statutory sources and for the other 10 months of the year we are dependent on public support.

Sonia Penlington joined our weekly Rotary meeting on March 7th to receive a cheque for £500 for WCD Young Carers, which is a voluntary organisation and charity supporting Young Carers in our area. Sonia’s team give support where there is a young carer between 8-18 years old in a household looking after an adult in a voluntary capacity. Support can be in a variety of ways including life skills, fun sessions, short respite breaks, signposting to other agencies, and individual crisis support. One of the young carers, Charlotte, also joined us on Zoom and gave Rotarians an insight into how important WCD is in supporting her.

Ukraine support from Prestatyn Rotarians

Prestatyn Rotarians have donated £500 from their charity fund to the Disaster Emergencies Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Weird Fish books for local schools

Prestatyn Rotarian John Sharman was impressed when scientist and author Gloria Barnett gave a talk to his Rotary club. In fact he was so impressed that he decided, on behalf of Rotary, to donate a selection of her children’s books to junior schools in the area.

The author, who has become known as “The Weird Fish Lady”, is passionate about diving in the world’s oceans. Her work aims to help people, both adults and children, to understand how incredibly fantastic the oceans are.

Two of the books in the series, “Logan the Lobster” and “Prickle the Puffer Fish”, are suitable for the 3-6 age group. Others for children up to age 12 are about three young people exploring their coastline and determined to protect marine creatures and their habitat.

Rotarian John said “These books explain about problems in the marine environment worldwide in stories and pictures. As we live near the sea, these books may help to spark an interest in our local environment.”

It was decided to donate a set of six books to each of nine local schools and Rotarian John accompanied by Prestatyn Rotary President Jean Smith delivered these to Ysgol Bodnant, Ysgol y Llys, Ysgol Melyd, Ysgol Clawdd Offa, Ysgol Hiraddug, Ysgol y Castell, Ysgol Gronant, Ysgol Trelawnyd and Ysgol Penmorfa.
 

Dyfan Phillips, headteacher at Ysgol y Llys said “Our children love reading books and they are very keen on our environment, especially protecting our world.   These books sound wonderful. Diolch yn fawr”.

For more information about the author, click here.

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