District 1180 Conference Chester 2015

Six of us, President Rod Stokes, Ashley Weaver, John Meadows and our ladies, attended our first District Conference as new members of the district, and enjoyed it very much.

It was a one day, Saturday, conference, shorter than those of District 1050, and none the worse for that.

After the formalities at the start, and the welcome by the Lord Mayor of Chester, Jeremy Hurst from the Rotary Club of the Cayman Islands brought greetings from RI President,   K. R. Ravindran. Rod wore his Cayman Islands Rotary Club shirt to make him feel at home!

Dr Kath Brougham, a slip of a girl, about 30 years old, and already a consultant forensic pathologist, told us how, not having any interest in sports, she had watched the Great North Run when a student, decided that she would like to do that, and proceeded, not only to do the Great North Run, but went on to compete in “iron man” competitions so successfully that despite injuries, she qualified for the World Championships in Hawaii. She is now training for a 55 mile run over most of the significant peaks of the Lake District!

We then had an excellent video and talk by Sheila Elsey on the Philippines Community Fund whose members rescue children from picking over the rubbish tips of Manilla looking for scraps to re-cycle; and give them food and an education so that they have the chance of a decent job which will enable not only them, but their families to escape the appalling conditions in the rubbish tips.

This was followed by a very accomplished presentation by two pupils of the Woodchurch Academy School in Birkenhead who told us how, with the help and continued support of the Birkenhead Rotary Club, they had formed an Interact club which was thriving, and brought a new dimension to their education. What we only learned later was that this is not a “posh” school in a leafy suburb, but is an ordinary comprehensive in the middle of a large council estate in Birkenhead, one of the most deprived areas on the Wirral. Those children were a real credit to their school, to Interact and to themselves. We wish them well.

After this, Jo O’Connor, a veteran sergeant in the SAS told us how he survived a broken neck from a 400ft drop in a Brecon Beacons training session to recover, after being told he would never walk again. Not only did he do so, but went on to form a charity, Sanctuary for Veterans, based near Tarporley, to help those injured in the forces to recover, not only physically, but also mentally, and so adapt to their new circumstances, whatever they may be.

After lunch a display by the SPARTAC gymnastic team from Edge Hill University was billed, it looked as if it might be OK so we stayed, only to find that all of its members were handicapped in some way, most having Down’s syndrome, who treated us to a truly amazing and disciplined display of gymnastic prowess. They, too, were a real credit to themselves and also to their coach.

We then watched the BSL choir, who were all either deaf or who had family members who were deaf, and “sang” in British sign language. The expressions that they were able to put into their signing was quite amazing, and, at times very poignant

Finally we listened to Gary Skyner, whose mother had taken thalidomide, as a result of which he had no arms or thumbs. He is a true scouser who has been determined not to let his disadvantage get in the way of what he wants to do. Amongst his many achievments he drives, holds a pilot’s licence, does a (very good) stand up comic act, and has played a significant part in obtaining compensation from the Distillers Company that marketed thalidomide, and also from the government that allowed it to be prescribed.

Quite an exhausting day, but we persevered, and after changing into our finery, enjoyed a drinks reception hosted by District Governor Chris Sumner, ably assisted, as he was for much of the conference by his wife, Bernie. The evening continued with a gala dinner, Chester Racecourse did us proud, and a dance for those with the ability and energy.

Altogether a shorter and much less formal conference than we have been used to, and a somewhat more economical one being held within the district, and with the Chester Holiday Inn Express being the conference hotel. Not luxurious, but clean and comfortable. We look forward to DGE Molly Youde’s 2016 conference at Thornton Hall, Wirral.