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23rd February 2025 marks Rotary's 120th anniversary

HADDENHAM and DISTRICT ROTARY

HUMAN FRUIT MACHINE

Our popular and original Human Fruit Machine was in action again at Haddenham Fete to the great delight and excitement of fascinated players, 'front of house' and the brave Rotarians who operated the machine's complex mechanism

Photo; Courtesy Haddenham.net

HADDENHAM and DISTRICT ROTARY

PRESIDENT'S DINNER

Monday 9th June President Humphrey invited Members
Partners and Guests for dinner with excellent food at The Dinton Hermit
to celebrate the end of a very successful Rotary year

The assembled company were entertained with 4 Bach cello pieces
played by Museum Of Music History Trustee Nick Roberts

MoMH General Manager Professor Kate Kennedy gave us a fascinating talk
on her search for a famous Galiano cello thought lost during WW2,
and learning to design and build a cost effective instrument 'with gorgeous sound'
on which Kate played a Bach duet accompanied by Nick Roberts 

The Museum of Music History is located in Haddenham and invite enquiries about volunteering to help with the Museum's archive work

The evening was completed by President Humphrey welcoming Martin
into his Presidential role for the 2025-26 Rotary year

Photos; Rotarian Bobby Sibanda

YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER COMPETITION 2025

Haddenham and District Rotary's

Popular Young Photographer Competiton 2025

is now open for entries in three age groups

Junior 6-10yrs, Intermediate 11-14yrs, Senior 15-18yrs

£400 in prize money just waiting to be won

The theme this year is 'FRIENDSHIP'

FRIENDSHIP: ‘A relationship based on mutual affection’

which makes the world a better place

Photo: Courtesy of Pexels

In his book written around 350 BCE and still true today

ARISTOTLE said there are three ‘flavours’ of Friendship:

- friendship based on what someone can do for you;

- friendship based on shared enjoyment;  and

- friendship based on people you like just for themselves

(Aristotle liked this last one best)

The notion of Friendship is common between people but why not include pets?

Details and Conditions and Rules of Entry, and

ON-LINE ENTRY FORM are available HERE

Closing Date is 6th September 2025

Our competition is a wonderful opportunity to explore and experiment with creative depictions of 'Friendship' and our judges are eager to receiving your entry

Download our Poster HERE

EGGceptional RESPONSE TO OUR EASTER APPEAL

Haddenham and District Rotary

Members extend a huge 'THANK YOU' to everyone who contributed to our Easter Egg Appeal and to Sainsbury's (Aylesbury), The COOP, Bradmore Farm and Morrisons in Haddenham who facilitated collection of the 352 Eggs donated

A special Thank You to Sainsbury's and Bradmore Farm who both also made a significant contribution of Easter Eggs and Sweets

President Elect Pauline arranged with Councillor and Inspire Bucks supporter Paul Irwin to take delivery of eggs and sweets from Rotarian Jason for distribution to Buckinghamshire's vulnerable young people and children

NOTLEY ABBEY - A Real Treat

Haddenham and District Rotary

Members, partners and guests enjoyed an engaging and well researched talk by historian scholar Will Strange on the history of Notley Abbey

Will enthusiastically illustrated how Notley has changed since its 12th Century origins, through the reformation and private ownership to present day use as a wedding venue

Photos: Rotarian Bobby Sibanda

VALE HARVEST

Haddenham and District Rotary 

Members early April happily supporting another edition of Vale Harvest and offering fantastic prizes in our Spring Raffle

Photo: Rotarian Bobby Sibanda

VISIT TO ASCOTT HOUSE, WING

Haddenham and District Rotarians, partners and guests

Visited this National Trust gem and enjoyed a guided tour
of the house and the spectacular gardens on a gloriously sunny day in March

Photos: Rotarian Chris Behan

There are more photos HERE

MAJESTICARE TEA PARTY

Haddenham and District Rotary

Members were joined by MP Greg Smith and delighted to support
a recent social gathering hosted by Majesticare at Haddenham's new sports pavilion

HADDENHAM COMMUNITY VEHICLE

Haddenham and District Rotary

Rotarian Bobby is a volunteer driver for Haddenham's Community Vehicle 

Haddenham Rotary President Humphrey (left) and Rotarian Bobby
recently attended when the second vehicle 'Carrie 2' was delivered

Photo courtesy of Haddenham Community Vehicles

VISIT TO THE MUSEUM OF MUSIC HISTORY

Haddenham and District Rotary

Members received a warm welcome on their recent visit to the newly established Museum of Music History (MoMH) premises in Haddenham which will serve as an exhibition space and central location to consolidate archive and research activities

MoMH General Manager Professor Kate Kennedy and Trustee Nick Roberts illustrated their work in collecting, assessing and cataloguing the extensive amount of material and music artifacts accumulated, and introduced some of their exhibition items

A unique metal bound handwritten score presented to (then) Princess Victoria

Beatrice Harrison cellist and broadcasting pioneer.
19 May 1924 Beatrice played cello while a nightingale (a real one) sang.
Broadcast by the BBC, live from a Surrey garden - a world first outside broadcast

Members were surprised and delighted to be treated to an impromptu cello duet
by Kate and Nick. Both virtuoso cellists

Photos: Rotarian Bobby Sibanda

MoMH are seeking volunteers to help with their archive and exhibition activities
and invite interested sponsors to arrange to visit

Oliver Davis FRCM, Hon ARAM and distinguished pianist
inspired the founding of the Museum of Music History in 2003

More about MoMH CLICK HERE and the MoMH donations page CLICK HERE

ROTARY PURPLE FOR POLIO

Haddenham and District Rotary

Planted crocuses on Banks Parade in 2010 giving 
early support to Rotary's Purple for Polio campaign

Our crocuses continue to flourish in 2025 and are a delight

Photos: photoninja

A LETTER FROM UKRAINE

'A Letter from Ukraine' recounts the experiences of prominent Ukraine Rotarians
Olga and Mykola Stebljanko as they describe what life is like in their country
and the positive impact that Rotary has had on the lives of people living there

CHILDREN'S FRIENDSHIP BOXES

Amidst the chaos of conflict, Rotary's Friendship Boxes are bringing immense joy
and a sense of normalcy and care to children in Ukraine

GLOBAL POLIO ERADICATION INITIATIVE (GPEI)

Cases of the wild polio virus frustratingly increased in 2024 in the last two remaining endemic countries, "Pakistan and Afghanistan". READ HERE about plans to reverse this

SEE HOW technology is being harnessed to transform GPEI Polio eradication initiatives

Rotary is a founding partner of GPEI which has vaccinated over 2.5 BILLION children

CELEBRATING BURNS NIGHT

Haddenham and District Rotary

Photo: Rotarian Bobby Sibanda

Rotarian Jim Foulton gave another outstanding 'Address to the Haggis'
accompanied by a bravura performance of virtual bagpipes

Rotarian Malcolm McDonald drew on his experience of previous Burns Nights
to give an amusing Ode to Robert Burns after the meal

This was followed by the traditional Toast to the Lassies and Response from the Laddies
from Rotarians Alan and Pauline Dichler respectively

OUR CAUSES

Rotary is dedicated to causes that build international relationships
improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts
and end polio forever

Read more about what we are doing HERE

AFRICAN ADVENTURES UPDATED

Haddenham and District Rotary

Contribution to the Christmas Meal Appeal run by African Adventures Foundation
has been a great success

More details and photographs in the December update from Kya and Rachel

Photos: African Adventures

THE ONE, THE ONLY, THE TOTALLY AMAZING
ROTARY HUMAN FRUIT MACHINE

Haddenham and District Rotary

Had a wonderful time entertaining visitors to Haddenham Community Junior School Fete
with their Human Fruit Machine

Photo: Rotarian Bobby Sibanda

Organiser Rotarian Jason said:

"Great fun was had by all children and parents, and the big children of Haddenham Rotary
had huge smiles on their faces throughout!
The machine was busy with queues forming to win that prized pineapple from the moment we opened"

Thank you to all our participants. Proceeds from the evening were donated to school funds

CPR TRAINING

Haddenham and District Rotarians

Recently participated in CPR Training conducted by Thames Valley Air Ambulance
training champion Robin, in Haddenham Village Hall

Photo: Rotarian Bobby Sibanda

Event organiser Rotarian Roger said:

"We are delighted to update ourselves with the proper application of resuscitation techniques and use of defibrillators. This will give us further confidence to intervene in the event of a cardiac arrest in the period before an ambulance arrives

The training has improved our understanding of when and how to use the defibrillators we have supplied at St Mary's Centre and the Haddenham Coop store"

A third of all TVAA call-outs are for cardiac arrest!

More on TVAA CPR Training HERE
 

TOOL COLLECTION

Haddenham and District Rotary

Partnered with Aylesbury Hundreds Rotary to collect a wide range of tools generously donated by residents in Aylesbury, The Vale, High Wycombe and Waddesdon

All the tools were delivered to Workaid in Chesham who will refurbish them to a high standard and send on to training centres and self-help organisations in the UK and Africa.

The objective is to assist young people to develop their skills and knowledge and find gainful employment

Rotarians Roger King and Robin Elliott
Photo: Rotarian Jason Hewitt

ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD (RYLA)

Photos: Rotary District Governor Kate

We sponsored Sissi in 2024, and delighted to give Sissi and her family dinner
at one of our regular Monday meeting when Sissi gave us an engaging talk on her experience of the Rotary activities based leadership training programme

President Humphrey presented Sissi with her Certificate of Achievement

Photo: Rotarian Chris Behan

Sissi gave fulsome praise for the event and said:

"I enthusiastically recommend the RYLA experience. Activity based experiences like building a raft, navigating in dark caves, abseiling a cliff and blindfold guided walks though woodland, rapidly improved our self confidence to engage with others to organise and work in teams and then to lead a team to complete something we had never done before. I am so grateful to Haddenham and District Rotary for providing this wonderful opportunity which I shall treasure. My RYLA experience will be a lasting reference point for me in my future career path"    

VALE HARVEST

Haddenham and District Rotarians

Support Haddenham's Vale Harvest Markets
where MP Greg Smith visited us in November

Photo: Rotarian Jill Andrew

FOREST SCHOOL PROJECT

Haddenham and District Rotary

Support development of the Forest School at Haddenham Community Junior School

The project continues to inspire and facilitate development of practical life skills
with support from tree expert and Haddenham and District Rotarian David Rankin

New log cutting facility

Photo: Rotarian David Rankin

NEW SEATING

Haddenham and District Rotary

Provide New Seating for Haddenham Community Junior School (HCJS)

We mostly remembered: 'Lift with the knees not your back'!

Photos: Budding Photographer Antoinette and Rotarian David Rankin

NEW RAISED BED GARDEN

Haddenham and District Rotary

Have provided over 15 tonnes of materials and installed three raised garden beds
and a sand pit at  Haddenham Community Junior School (HCJS)

SAVING LIVES: END POLIO NOW

Haddenham and District Rotary

Support the global End Polio Campaign which intensified in 2024

despite significant geo-political and environmental challenges

The global end polio initiative has vaccinated over 2.5 billion children

Just 1% of all children, mostly in hard to reach areas, remain un-vaccinated

See 'Why Zero Matters' for the the global campaign to eradicate Polio

SAVING LIVES: DEFIBRILLATORS

Haddenham and District Rotary

Saves lives by funding defibrillators at St Mary's Centre and the Coop store in Haddenham

SAVING LIVES: UKRAINE AMBULANCES

Haddenham and District Rotary

Donated to the Rotary Task Force delivering ambulances to Ukraine

Photo: Rotarian Tony Preston

MORE SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

Haddenham and District Rotary

Donate to the Rotay Ukraine Task Force

Delivers humanitarian aid and support to Ukraine:

Hosting Ukrainians displaced by the conflict

20,000 Tourniquets

Warm clothing, toiletries, toys, furniture, household goods

Modular Homes for Moshchum

Magnetometers to facilitate mine clearance

Power Generators for hospitals

Laptops and Phone Cards for communication and translation

and much much more

LIBRARY MEMORIAL GARDEN

Haddenham and District Rotary

Assisted with planting daffodil bulbs in 2023

and now bloom into a wonderful display each spring

Photos: photoninja

ROTARY VOLUNTEER HELPERS

Haddenham and District Rotary
Welcome volunteer helpers who work with us to benefit our community
You don't need to be a member. Do what you can, when you can

Come and have fun

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL AWARD

Haddenham and District Rotarian Martin Andrew

Awarded BEM for Services to the Community in organising the 

Haddenham Volunteers Vaccination Programme:

GLOBAL ROTARY VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME

Rotary Volunteer Contributions

A recent study found that Rotary volunteers contribute
 an estimated 47 million hours each year

That's almost 27,000 full-time paid workers
equivalent to about £650 million in avoided costs, every year!

HADDENHAM COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARDS

Haddenham and District Rotary

Sponsor and manage the four Community Noticeboards located
at the Library, Woodways, the Post Office, and on the old Airfield Site
close to the recreational area and new sports pavilion

Photos: photoninja

ROTARY MAGAZINE

A wide range of fascinating features exclusive interviews and inspiring human interest stories from across the world of Rotary

View the Rotary Magazine

USEFUL LINKS