27th April 2021

Brian Donohoe - The Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan

13th April 2021

Jim Cordiner - The Manchester Ship Canal

Jim from the Peel Ports Group talked about the history of the Canal from the initial planning through to the modern day.

This helps to show the scale of the canal (note the main in the foreground).

30th March 2021

Professor Sarah Bridle - Climate Change with the Hot Air

Sarah spoke about the particular contributors to climate change but particularly focused on the impact of food.

She has recently published a book on the matter which is available free of charge.

23rd March 2021

Jon Kelly - When the Jacobites visited Wilmslow

There had been mention of the some of the Jacobites coming through Wilmslow through a previous speaker and Jon offered to talk more at length about this as well as setting the scene that led to the revolt.

And some passed through Wilmslow on the way down South ...

As well as on the way back ...

Before defeat at the Battle of Culloden ...

Polio Awareness

As noted below we recently had a talk about the continuing work (including by Rotary) to eradicate Polio from the world. Nearly all countries in the world are clear of Polio although pockets of Polio can still be found in two countries and arguably a serious outbreak could still happen especially given the ease of travel around the world (which COVID-19 has shown). Hopefully we will be able to completely eradicate Polio in the near future but, in the mean, awareness of Polio and the work to eradicate it is still important. Purple has become a key colour in the campaign as a purple dye is used in a number of countries during mass immunizations to mark children's little finger to show which have received the vaccine. In many places, purples crocuses are planted and we have planted some along Water Lane and given others to local schools. Here are some planted at St Benedict's Catholic Primary School in Handforth    

9th March 2021

Katherine Whitaker - The Joys of Being a Magistrate

Katherine gave an interesting talk about being a magistrate. Whilst this was partly for information and for those present to ask questions, it was also to try to encourage those present (or those they knew) to consider putting themselves forward as magistrates as more, particularly at the current time, are needed.

We have had various other interesting talks since Christmas but others have not been captured "on camera". These have included a talk about Lindow Moss (Past, Present and the Future) and about the continuing work to eradicate Polio. This latter talk also extended to a talk about COVID-19 given that this too was a virus with the deployment of a vaccine to counter it.   

Santa out in only a very limited way this year.

Derek (one of Santa's woodworkers and painters) with some of his beautiful bird boxes to support various local/Rotary charities. 

Orders can still be placed (for the New Year) in advance of the nesting season by contacting mmartyn@talktalk.net with you contact details including address and phone number. The boxes cost £20 not including delivery although local deliveries or collection can be arranged..

We celebrated the 83rd anniversary of the formation of our Club. This needed to be via Zoom but we tried to still hold to the spirit of what we would normally be doing albeit without any meal. President Sue welcomed member and guests to the meeting before Richard introduced our newest member

This was followed by a reply from our new member, Niamh Murphy

We then had a number of toasts (this one to Rotary International)

 

And speeches (this one by Immediate Past District Governor, Patrick Tyrell)

 

Before our guest speaker, comedian Gary Skyner

  

Who kept the audience entertained

 

10th November 2020

Roger Small - The History of Handforth Station



Our speaker, Roger, presented on the history of Handforth Station which is not just part of our community/locality but also home to one of our community gardens/projects.



If you would like to see a full more of the slides from the presentation then please have a look at:
Handforth_Train_Station_presentation_10nov20.pdf
[A history of Handforth Station and its branch lines; Successive owners of Handforth station: their company crests; 
First class coach of the Manchester to Birmingham Railway; The Royal Train calls at Handforth Station; 
Martin Bell opens the new ticket office; Excursions by preserved steam passing through Handforth]

1st November 2020

We received a certificate for our work supporting Wilmslow in Bloom



20th October 2020

We had a fascinating talk from Catherine Stott about visiting Antartica (as a holiday destination!)



which can include visiting the South Pole itself



13th October 2020

Whilst we can not get out and about being tourists at present, Murray Jacobs gave us a virtual tour of Cambridge



with some of the sights



and highlights



22nd September 2020

Disaster Aid UK and Ireland is one of a number of charities that we regularly support bringing disaster relief/recovery assistance. Craig Roberts updated us on the work following a recent disaster in Indonesia





and the work continues

3rd. August 2020

THE CLUB CELEBRATION PARTY.

FOLLOWING THE GOVERMENT INITIATIVE REGARDING THE MANCHESTER LOCK DOWN, THE DEANWATER WERE IN ORDER ALLOWING A FACE TO FACE MEETNG FOR THE CLUB.

A welcome from President Sue.

CONFORMING TO ALL THE GUIDANCE RULES, MEMBERS  ENJOYED OUR FIRST CLUB MEAL AFTER MANY WEEKS.   

WE ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF A GUEST SPEAKER, ROGER SMALL, WHO GAVE HIS ILLUSTRATED  PRESENTATION  OF THE PROJECT ALONG WITH FELLOW RAILWAY ENTHUSIASTS TO re-INSTALL A LARGE RAILWAY NAME BOARD FOR HANDFORTH STATION.

 The new sign going up at Handforth train station

The official unveiling of the sign

14th July 2020

The first speaker in the new Rotary year.   

President Sue Worthington welcomed Esther McVey, Member of Parliament for Tatton our local constituency. Esther, fresh from Westminster, joined our club zoom meeting to give a comprehensive account of the various takes from MPs to the many problems caused by the pandemic. A splendid evening and a fine start for Sue's year.