Car Boot Sales are back!

There will be a car boot sale on Sunday, 8th May
in the Town Hall car park. For timings, etc. click here.
Further sales, weather permitting, will be held on the following Sundays: 12th June, 10th July, 14th Aug, 11th Sept.

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Award of a Paul Harris Fellowship to Margaret Vernon

Margaret Vernon, a long time friend and supporter of Cowbridge Rotary Club, was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship by President Malcolm at a meeting held in Coed-y-Mwstwr Golf Club. Margaret's late husband, Robin, was an active member of the club and Margaret has for many years been participating in the fellowship with our twin club from Meissen in Germany. Our German friends were expected to be with us for the weekend but unfortunately, due to damage to their plane in Berlin, they were not able to attend. They sent their congratulations to Margaret on the receipt of this prestigious and well deserved award.

Click here for photos from the event.

Cowbridge (Gateway) Monday Club Dinner

A message from President Malcolm

When you take on the role of a Rotary Club President, it is a tremendous opportunity to lead from the front. However, you never know what else will come to make that time just so extra special. Last night however it was my privilege accompanied by Carol(who is our President in 2023-2024) to attend the Cowbridge (Gateway) Monday Club Dinner at the Bear Hotel Cowbridge. I can only say what a tremendous host we had in Emily, who looked after us all evening. The members of the Gateway Club are a very special group of people and both Carol and I were made to feel so welcome. It was additionally , an honour to be able to present our cheque to their Chairman for the year. Cowbridge Rotary have been able to donate £850 this year which will assist in the groups annual outing being sponsored by Rotary in Cowbridge and the Rotary Foundation. The attached photo shows President Malcolm Hallewell and  Carol Hallewell being presented with flowers by Emily. Thank you so much it really was our pleasure.

Photographic Calendar Competition

For full details of entry reqyuirements and judging click here.

Over £600 raised from food festival raffle

A raffle run by Cowbridge Rotary Club over the weekend has raised hundreds of pounds for a voluntary courier charity that supports the NHS.

Stallholders at the Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival donated products ranging from chocolate brownies to gins, pickles, cheeses, and pasta, which allowed the club to create three hampers to win in the raffle.

Tickets cost £1.00 per strip and there were three winners in the raffle.

A total of £649.07 was raised which will be donated to Blood Bikes Wales, a courier service that supports the NHS with transferring blood supplies, documents, and other items between hospitals.

The charity was chosen by Malcolm Hallewell, president of the Cowbridge Rotary Club, who expressed his thanks to all who took part and the stallholders and traders for donating prizes. "What more could we have wished for? Great weather, great support, and a result that everyone who participated in our raffle at the Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival can be proud of," he said.

"Additionally, we must also thank the festival organisers for allowing us to carry out the raffle and trust we may be afforded the same opportunity next year."

Mr Hallewell continued: "Blood Bikes are so close to my heart for the work they do, and it's been a pleasure to support them this year as I personally know of the valuable work they voluntarily carry out."

Cowbridge Rotary Club is also looking to recruit new members and would be pleased to hear from anyone who could be interested to ensure their community work continues to move forward.

If you are interested in joining, email rotaryhome1150@gmail.com or call Malcolm Hallewell on 07917 206789.

Click here to find out more about Blood Bikes Wales.

St David's Day Concert

Its great to be back!

Cowbridge Rotary celebrated St David’s Day, with its annual concert on Tuesday 1st March, held at “The Ramoth Baptist Church, the first indoor event organised by the club since February 2019.

Unfortunately, tickets were limited in line with “Social Distancing” requirements, the audience were treated to some wonderful singing from Welsh Music Student Rhydian Jenkins.

Rhydian who is studying at the Royal Welsh Music College of Music and David Seligman Opera Schools in Cardiff, has performed in numerous Operas around the UK and has been the recipient of many awards in his career to date.

Rhydian performed two sessions of 9 pieces that included classics, opera and Musical Show pieces from his repertoire, singing in four languages, to which the audience were so appreciative for his work and range of ability.

In between his performance Rotarians Huw Davies and Gerwyn Watkins members of Cowbridge Rotary performed two pieces of Traditional Welsh Verse to set the scene for Rhydian’s second half performance.

This being a fund-raising event for the club, the traditional raffle was held with varying prizes on offer that included a Traditional Welsh Afternoon Tea Hamper. A total of approximately £400 will have been raised.

Club President Malcolm Hallewell, thanked the attendees and attempted one line of welsh himself, said

“After so many months of being restricted in arranging events to support its charitable work for those in need, it felt as though a major milestone had been achieved this evening by us getting together.

The performance of Rhydian, who comes from Maesteg and that of his accompanist Kim Lloyd Jones, gave such an array of musical excellence and that the club will be following Rhydian and look forward to the next time we hear his wonderful voice”.

The evening although being an event of celebration, started with a moments silence in respect of the Ukrainian people and the devastation happening at this time to their country, and closed with the singing of the Welsh National Anthem “Hen WladFy Nhadau” led by Rhydian.

Videos of Rhydian singing can be seen on the Cowbridge Rotary YouTube channel using these links: https://youtu.be/stXGSp8DQmI   and    https://youtu.be/2GS3IkZ1gKA

Presidential Citation for Rotary Year 2020-21

President Malcolm Hallewell presented a Rotary International Presidential Citation to last year's President, Steve Pearce. Steve was congratulated for leading the club through the difficulties of Covid and making sure that all members and the widows of former members stayed informed and connected even though face-to-face meetings were not possible.

A “Step Forward for Rotary”

Cowbridge Rotary, formed 60 years ago, have taken great strides into providing for the future benefits of the community.At its hybrid meeting at the Bear Hotel on the 13th September 2021, the club celebrated the formation and "Chartering" of the E-Rotaract Club of Cowbridge.

The group comprising of young people under the age of 30, links to the Family of Rotary set up by the club, consisting of 2 Rotakids Clubs, an Interact Club, Youth Interact, Cowbridge Rotary and now E-Rotaract.

The E-Rotaract Club comprises of many members from the Cowbridge Comprehensive School Interactors 2019 cohort, who continue to join in the benefits of the main club.

It has taken time to get the club formed, due to the problems of Covid, however when it was finally agreed. The Charter President Luke Hinkin-Evan's, alongside Rotary Members Andrew Lane, Colin Jones and Carol Whiteley set about the task and brought it to fruition.

The Charter of the club was approved by Rotary International on the 2nd July 2021. This was presented by Rotary Cowbridge President Malcolm Hallewell.

Malcolm stated "a new era for Rotary in the town has been born tonight and am very proud to be leading the Rotary Club at this time. Luke too should be proud of the honour in being it’s Charter President and for all the hard work, that he had been put in to get this formed".

The club has started with 14 members, who will be mainly based in Universities around the UK, hence why the “E” reference, however it allows all its members to retain links throughout their studies and develop projects for the benefit of the community.

Cowbridge Rotary and Rotaract are members of Rotary International, who have 1.2million members and 219,000 Rotaractors around the globe in over 200 countries/regions.

Our aims are to provide support for communities locally, nationally and internationally by “doing good in the world” with an emphasis on increasing our membership at all times.

Should you feel that the organisation is one that is of interest, please contact us where we will be more than happy to invite you to come and hear what we do.

 

Purple for Polio

You may see purple crocus flowers starting to show in Twt Park and at the Comprehensive School. These have been planted to raise awareness of the Rotary End Polio Now project which started in 1979. The wild polio virus has nearly been eliminated from the world and we must finish the job.

Learn more at www.endpolio.org.

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Cowbridge Rotary is based in the lovely market town of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan. Members, who are from Cowbridge and the surrounding area, and from all walks of life, support the local community by volunteering their time in a range of different activities to help others.

 The club usually meets most Monday evenings at the Bear Hotel with a meal and sometimes with a speaker, to enjoy good company and to plan our activities of service and charitable work.

 We donate about £15,000 each year to our charitable causes, money we raise each year through car boot sales, concerts and other fund raising events. We work closely with local schools, organising competitions to help young people develop their skills. We also provide support and entertainment for the elderly.

 Rotary is evolving, making it easier than ever to be part of this amazing organisation of ordinary people who simply want to give something back to their community and make a real difference. Click on the link below to our video gallery and you may be surprised.

It is easy to contact us using the "Contact" link at the top of the page.

 Click here for Video Gallery - What is Rotary?

If you think that you would enjoy being a member of Rotary, please go to 'What we do' in the Menu and click on 'Membership' to find out more.

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