Lower School Prizes

President Michael presented Rotary prizes for Endeavour and Citizenship at the Cowbridge Comprehensive Lower School Prizegiving.

 Rotarians learning new skills!

It is not all about shaking buckets - Rotarians attended a website workshop in the computer suite of the Comprehensive School.

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Award of a Paul Harris Fellowship

President Michael Long presented a Paul Harris Fellowship to Rtn. Steven Blackman on Monday, 9th July. Steven was responsible for many innovations in his year as president of the club, has worked tirelessly on the Dementia Friends project and has stepped up as Chief Elf alongside Santa at Christmas. The club gave its hearty congratulations to Steven as he received his award.

Club Handover Dinner

President David Harris handed over the President's Chain to 2018-19 President Michael Long at the Handover Dinner on Monday, 25th June. Michael Macphail took over the role of Club Secretary and Don Bell remained treasurer.

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Cowbridge Rotary hand over £1700 for MS

President David Harris, as one of his last actions before handing over to incoming President Michael Long, was to present a cheque for £1700 to the MS Society. The MS society was one of David’s Presidents Charities for 2017/18 and it was with great pleasure that Cowbridge Rotary welcomed Terry Moseley, Group Coordinator for the Swansea and District Group MS Society and Ann Jones who is secretary of the Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr group MS Society to receive the cheque and tell the Rotary Club about their experiences of MS. Terry is a carer for his wife Elaine, who accompanied him, and has secondary progressive MS, and was able to tell the members first hand about the condition and the issues in dealing with this degenerative disease. He serves the MS community as a member of the Cymru Council who work with local groups and MS Cymru with the aim to stop MS. Ann Jones spoke to the Club about her experiences of living with MS since being diagnose in 2001 with Secondary Progressive MS.  She described fully the problems that people with MS have to face on a daily basis. Her experience helps to raise awareness of MS, produce the group newsletter informing people living with MS of latest research and fundraising events. The members thanked Terry and Ann for their illuminating presentation and wished them well in their support of the MS Society.

Dementia Friendly Cowbridge Official Launch Day

Dementia Friendly Cowbridge (“DFC”) was officially launched by the Mayor of Cowbridge Councillor Terry Williams on Friday 25 May. Speakers included The Secretary of State for Wales, Alan Cairns MP, Jane Hutt AM, Alan RT Davies AM, David Melding AM and David Harris President of Cowbridge Rotary who presented a cheque to The Alzheimer’s Society.

Rotarian Steven Blackman, Chairman of Dementia Friendly Cowbridge outlined DFC’s objectives which are to help build a more Dementia Friendly Community and provide support and information for people living with Dementia, their families and carers in Cowbridge.

The event was held in Cowbridge Lesser Hall with experts and local support organisations including The Medical practices, Admiral Nurses, Alzheimer’s Society, Keep Safe, The Memory Jar, Golden Oldies Cinema, Age Connects, JCP Solicitors and other social and friendship activities in Cowbridge. There was also time for plenty of tea and cake in a supportive and friendly environment. 

DFC was started as a joint initiative between Liz George former Mayor of Cowbridge and Steven Blackman when he was President of Cowbridge Rotary. Last year Cowbridge Rotary raised in excess of £6000 which was generously matched by the Waterloo Foundation to enable a cheque to be presented to Alzheimer’s Research for over £12000. This is in addition to over £4000 Rotary has raised in the past 5 years for Alzheimer’s charities.

One of DFC’s initiatives includes signing up local businesses and organisations to work towards becoming more Dementia friendly. Rotarian Colin Jones came up with the idea of providing a brightly coloured entrance mat to signify that the business had signed up and made a pledge. He found a supplier and a sponsor who provided £2500 to cover the cost of providing the mats. DFC and Rotary have 14 mats in place and 10 pending.

Each business has made a donation for these mats and the collected funds of £443 were presented to The Alzheimer’s Society by Rotary president David Harris during proceeding at The DFC official launch Day.

It rained all day during the launch but this did not prevent intrepid Rotarians from manning The Rotary gazebo publicising the event and directing the public towards the indoor activities.

Presentation to Headway

On Monday 16th April President David presented a cheque for £1000 to Lucy Lawler, who gave a talk to club about Headway Cardiff. Headway is a charity that promotes understanding of all aspects of brain injury and provide s information, support and services to survivors, their families and carers. In addition, Headway will campaign to reduce the incidence of brain injury.

Rotary support for Cowbridge Dementia Friends

Cowbridge businesses receiving their new Dementia Friends mats.

Cowbridge businesses have begun to sign up as Dementia Friends, working to become dementia friendly. Last Friday a number of businesses were presented with door mats which broadcast their support.

The Cowbridge Dementia Friendly Community Committee is asking individuals and businesses in Cowbridge to be even more considerate of those living with Dementia and their carers. The Committee is running a number of Dementia awareness sessions produced by The Alzheimer’s Society in order to become a Dementia Friend.

Cowbridge Rotary Club is actively supporting the initiative. One of its members, Colin Jones has secured the production of brightly coloured mats from Millennium Mats to both record businesses’ support and to demonstrate welcome to those living with Dementia.

David Harris, President of Cowbridge Rotary Club and Steven Blackman Chairman of Cowbridge Dementia Friendly Community presented mats to Amanda Jones Jewellers, Arthur John Hardware, The Bear Hotel, Costa Coffee, Cowbridge Cycles, HSBC, Cowbridge Library, United Free Church, Fulgo Developments and Cowbridge Town Council

There are over 850,000 in The UK with Dementia and possible many more undiagnosed.

Cardiff University plays a major role in the UK’s biggest dementia research initiative with their £13m dementia research centre established earlier this year. 

Public health Wales has a six step strategy to help reduce Dementia Risk including being physically and socially active.

Rotary welcomes new members interested in having fun while 'giving something back' to the community. Fresh ideas and enthusiasm are the life blood of any organisation! It is easy to contact us using the "Click Here" button at the top right of the page.

Rotary provides opportunities to connect with people of like ideas, providing unique opportunities to serve the community using one's own professional skills alongside leaders of other businesses and professions. Rotarians help one another, and together help others.

Rotary is fun  every club holds social activities that offer diversions from today's demanding professional and personal schedules. Conferences, conventions, assemblies, and other events provide entertainment as well as Rotary information, education, and the opportunity for service.

Rotary helps personal growth and development by continuing one's growth and education in human relations and by developing and extending leadership skills. Serving in Rotary helps one learn how to motivate, influence and lead leaders.

Rotarians are people who believe that whilst it is nice to be important, it is more important to be nice.

Cowbridge - A Market Town in the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan

Cowbridge is a township that has developed on the site of a Roman fort built in the 1st century AD. Sir Richard de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan, granted Cowbridge a Charter in 1254 and developed the town. By 1266 Cowbridge had town walls with four gates, although the North Gate was used mainly for cattle. It was an important centre for trade and was the last recipient of a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1886 and was able to appoint its own Councillors and Mayor. This tradition has continued in spite of the local Government reorganisation of 1974.

Cowbridge was renowned for its fairs but also became well known for its traffic jams on the main route from Cardiff to West Wales. A bypass to the north of the town solved that problem and the town continued to develop as a business and commercial centre as well as a popular dormitory town for Cardiff.

Today Cowbridge is known as the Bond Street of Wales and there are many shops that make the atmosphere of the High Street an enjoyable place to wander and to spend money! A farmers market twice a month also adds to the variety of goods available.

The Rotary Club of Cowbridge was chartered in February 1961, currently has 36 members and meets in the Bear Hotel, a historic coaching inn. We are always pleased to welcome visiting Rotarians or others interested in the work of Rotary to our meetings.

Rotary was founded over 100 years ago on the principle of "meeting regularly to enjoy and expand one's circle of business and professional acquaintances." That principle remains true today, and in an increasingly complex world, Rotary continues to provide one of the most basic human needs: the need for friends and fellowship.              

(Photos by Mike Baker. www.bakerlite.co.uk)