Summary of Club Activities

At the club meeting on 1^st July club President, Steve Young, made Dr Tony Sarafian an Honorary Life Member in recognition of the many years of service to our club and the Rotary movement in general. Tony has been a stalwart of the club filling virtually every club official position including his year as President in 2007-8. Another long-standing club member, Geoff Baker, was presented with a long service award in recognition of his contribution to the club and for his lead role over many years in staging the annual Rotary Classic Run. Club members paid personal tributes to Tony and Geoff.

The club hosted the Chipping Sodbury Young Innovator competition in the town hall in late June when some 47 students from Chipping Sodbury and Brimsham Green Schools exhibited their project work in a range of categories. Students from the same schools demonstrated their cooking skills at two recent Rotary Young Chef competitions. The club made a financial pledge to support the Junior Fascinating Rhythm Chorus to assist with the cost of staging a mini production of Cinderella later in the year.

At the end of June several club members supported the Physionet charity to load a container lorry with surplus medical equipment destined for Cape Town.

A dozen club members served beer and cider at the recent successful Sodburyfest event staged on the Ridings amidst a great atmosphere.

Finally, the club had a stand at the recently held Yate Ageing Better Festival in Yate Shopping Centre presenting an opportunity to raise the awareness of our club and its activities in supporting the local community and beyond.

Stuart Fraser

2024 Rotary Classic Run

Some 180 cars, vans and motorbikes of all colours, shapes and sizes lined up in Chipping Sodbury High Street on June 30^th for the 28^th running of the Rotary Annual Classic Run. Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club President, Steve Young, and town Mayor, Adrian Rush, greeted the participants at the start before they set off on a tour including a break at Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club where refreshments were served by the members of the Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club. Crowds came out to view the vehicles at the start of the run and again at the finish on the Ridings. Prizes were awarded for ‘Best Car’, ‘Best Motorcycle’ and ‘Best Costume’ and the winners were Ralph Mora, Patrick Horton and David Chapman respectively.

President Steve Young said ‘Yet another very successful event with participants commenting on how they look forward to the event and how much they enjoyed the day. Moreover, it was gratifying to see so many residents in the high street to see the vehicles on display. I must pay tribute to Mark Benstock as the lead club organiser for ensuring the success of the event, our major fundraiser of the year.’

Golf  Day

The club annual golf charity day, held at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club on 24^th May, was a resounding success. With thirteen teams competing and with support from generous sponsors some £3525 was raised and which will go to PROPS a Bristol based charity which empowers adults with learning disabilities to achieve purposeful and rewarding work opportunities. Our thanks go to the participating teams, our sponsors and to the golf club for hosting the event.

Twinning

In mid-June sixteen club members and partners travelled to Mannheim for a three day Rotary twinning meeting hosted by the Mannheim-Kurpfalz Rotary Club and attended also by the Toulon Rotary Club in France. The highlight of this memorable event was a gala dinner at the renowned Schwetzingen Palace, preceded by a tour of the palace and its outstanding and expansive gardens.

Presidents Lunch

On 2^nd June some 60 club members and guests met at the Kendleshire Golf Club for a celebratory lunch to mark the culmination of a very successful year for our club President, Steve Young.

Tea Dances

Out of the proceeds from our last round of tea dances the club made a significant financial donation to the Alzheimer’s Society. We also made a financial donation to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity. On the youth front our club supported, once more, the annual ‘Kids Out’ event at Cattle Country, Berkeley, where some 800 students with learning difficulties gathered for a day of fun. We were delighted to invite 19 students and teachers from Culverhill School in Yate. The club also made a financial donation to the school to provide timber to build new raised plant beds for the gardening activities at the school, supported on a weekly basis by club members. A financial pledge was made to the Alexander Hosea Primary School in Wickwar to contribute to the costs of refurbishing the school library.

International

On the international front we made a financial donation to,’ Tools for Self Reliance’ a UK based charity, to help with the cost of storage at their local facilities before the shipment of tools to a number of countries in Africa.

Several club members continue to support the Physionet charity, most recently to load a container lorry with surplus medical equipment destined for Fiji.

Speaker

A recent speaker to club members was Mark Steeds, a well-known local historian and supporter of PROPS and the Long John Silver Trust who gave a fascinating insight into piracy activities through the years. We also had a talk from Mark Flower, CEO, Age UK, South Glos who explained the comprehensive services they offer for over 50s and the challenges faced in raising funds.

Donation

Finally, club members recently made personal donations to replenish much needed food stocks for the Blonde Angel Street Team who provide a brilliant service to help rough sleepers in the Bristol and Bath areas.

CHIPPING SODBURY ROTARY CLUB – ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2023

It was with great pleasure that our President, Steve Young, inducted Anne Berry as our newest club member at our meeting on 4^th December.

At Victorian Day on 3^rd December the club had its traditional stall selling mulled wine, mulled cider, hot chocolate, and mince pies. Despite the weather people turned out in their hundreds to enjoy the varied entertainment and soak up some festive atmosphere topped off with a very impressive float carrying Father Christmas. Again, our presence resulted in a very worthwhile fundraising effort for our charity account.

Our third tea dance of the season was held on 12^th December in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. With the support of the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society and the ladies of the Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club the event proved to be very enjoyable for the large number of attendees with dance, music, light refreshments, and a raffle. In early 2024 two further tea dances are scheduled on 1^st February and 27^th March.

2023 was another very successful year for the club as readers will observe from the following summary:

Community – Financial Donations, events and support:

• Alzheimer’s Society
• Oasis Memory Café
• Yate and Sodbury Clean up Group
• Five tea dances
• PROPS Charity
• Rotary Community Awards to three local residents
• Caring in Bristol Charity – The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023.
• Caring at Christmas – donation of warm clothing, food, and toiletries
• Julian Trust Night shelter
• Green Community Travel
• Royal British Legion
• Participation in the Chipping Sodbury Annual Remembrance Service and Parade
• Sodbury Slog – marshalling
• Annual Sodfest
• Chipping Sodbury Big Christmas Lunch
• St John the Baptist Church
• Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity
• Yate Ageing Better Festival
• Hosted an event to welcome Ukrainian guests.

Youth – Financial Donations, events and Support

• Rotary Kids Out day at Cattle Country Adventure Park
• Annual Rotary Youth Leadership Award participation supporting a local secondary school student.
• Chipping Sodbury School Rotary Racer Enterprise
• St John’s Mead Primary School – supported attendance at summer outdoor event
• Crackerjack Children’s Trust
• Jessie May Children’s Hospice
• Eight local schools and groups – financial support for a range of projects
• Staged Rotary Young Innovator Competition for local secondary schools

International – Financial Donations and events

• Rotary International Foundation Charity
• ShelterBox (emergency shelter for major disasters worldwide)
• Aquabox (equipment to facilitate safe drinking water)
• Medicine provision for Genieri, a village in Gambia
• Care International ‘Lend with Care’ initiative
• Community War Graves Commission
• Rotary Twinning Visit to Toulon to meet with Rotarians from France, Germany and Italy

Fundraising

• Annual Classic Vehicle Run
• Annual Charity Golf Day
• Victorian Day
• Sodbury Slog

Social

Boules, skittles, quizzes, pub outings and variety of guest speakers

Finally, we would be delighted to hear from anyone if they would wish to hear more about the Rotary movement and membership. Please contact us at csrotaryapplication@gmail.com

Stuart Fraser