The Rotary Club of Westminster West together with the Commonwealth Rotarian Peace Envoys (CRPE), is leading a series of peace-building efforts with other clubs in the London district. These efforts will be showcased at the upcoming CHOGM, with events at the Queen Elizabeth Centre themed Rotary and the Commonwealth – Drumming for Peace. There are also two concerts open to the public, one on 19th April at St George’s Church featuring Peace Songs composed by students from the Purcell School of Music and the Commonwealth Resounds. The second concert on 20th April is called ‘Sound, Image Movement – The Commonwealth’ and features the Peace Drummers representing the 53 Commonwealth Countries. We shall also participate in the Big Lunches and Tree Planting Events all through the week of CHOGM.
The Rotary Club of Westminster West launched the Commonwealth Rotary Peace Envoy project to train and build up the capacity of leaders in civil society and the private sector who actively promote peace through work in diverse sectors. The Rotary Club of Westminster West invites all those who are interested in Promoting the Commonwealth as well as Peace Building Activities to join hands in these events which are part of the Commonwealth celebrations that begin on Commonwealth Day on 12 March and end on 20 April 2018 – which marks the end of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London.
The headline events presently being organised by the CRPE and which are currently in the advanced stages of planning are:
Saturday 24th March – Tree Planting at St Georges Park, Newham.
The Commonwealth Rotarian Peace Envoys have placed an order for 210 trees with the Woodlands Trust and these will be handed over to Newham Council. The Council has agreed to plant and maintain these trees at the King George V Park in Newham. Members from the Rotary Clubs of Tower Hamlets, Newham, Stratford and Westminster West have come together to support this project.
Tuesday 17th April - Rotary in London and the Commonwealth - Drumming for Peace.
This performance will be at the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Centre in Westminster and is called Rotary in London and the Commonwealth - Drumming for Peace. A number of Commonwealth Forums are being held at this venue and HM the Queen and Commonwealth Heads of State are expected to attend at various times during the day. London Rotarians and drummers representing the 53 Commonwealth countries are performing under the direction of Kevin Hathway who is a renowned professional percussionist and musical director. The music has been composed by young Commonwealth students from the Purcell School of Music under the direction of Alison Cox, Founder of The Commonwealth Resounds. The performances are being held at various times during the morning and further details will be provided by the CHOGM organising committee based in the UK cabinet office.
Tuesday 17th April 2018 – The Commonwealth Big Lunch.
Rotary in London and the Commonwealth Resounds are bringing their performers and support teams together to celebrate their connections by hosting a Commonwealth Big Lunch during the lunch break at the QEII Centre. The Purcell School is arranging for a special Commonwealth Packed Lunch for its performers. Lunch may take place on Parliament Square where all the 53 Commonwealth Flags are fluttering in the wind. There will be approximately 70 performers and logistics supporters present for this event.
Note on The Commonwealth Big Lunch:
The Commonwealth Big Lunch is being advocated by the Eden Communities Project with the aim of bringing people together to celebrate their connections between Commonwealth Day on 12 March and 20 April when the Commonwealth celebrations end. We will be joining people across six continents to celebrate community and build new connections. The Big Lunch which is the official Eden Communities Project takes place every year and falls on 7th June this year.
Thursday 19th April 2018 – Peace Songs dedicated to Rotary in London and the Commonwealth.
The peace songs were composed by children and young composers, using poetry written specially for this event by Commonwealth poets. The young people will perform at St George's, Hanover Square(2a Mill Street, W1S 1FX) and are part of the Commonwealth Festival Choir and Orchestra. Guests of Honour include Mike Hodge who is the London Rotary District Governor and Dr Josephine Ojiambo who is the President of the Rotary Club of Westminster West. (We are also planning to invite Mr Vijay Krishnarayan from the Commonwealth Foundation). This event is being organised by the Commonwealth Resounds, Rotary in London and the Royal Society of St George. Proceeds from this event will go towards supporting victims of Hurricane Irma in Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica.
Friday 20th April 2018 – Tree Planting at Tower Hamlets.
The Commonwealth Rotarian Peace Envoys have placed an order for 210 trees with the Woodlands trust and these will be handed over to Tower Hamlets Council. The Council has agreed to plant and maintain these trees. Members from the Rotary Clubs of Tower Hamlets, Newham, Stratford and Westminster West have come together to support this project.
Friday 20th April 2018 – Sound, Image, Movement – the Commonwealth.
The Peace Drummers will perform at St James's, Piccadilly (197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL) as part of a very special, colourful concert for young people featuring light classical music, folk, jazz and world music created and directed entirely by brilliant school-age musicians from The Purcell School. Guest of Honour will be Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill, High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda. The Concert is organised by The Commonwealth Resounds and the Rotary Club of Westminster West. Proceeds from this event will go towards supporting victims of Hurricane Irma in Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica.
'What We Do' Main Pages:
At the RI Presidential Peace Conference Dinner on 9 February 2024, President Gordon MacInally inducted a new member - Rhea Ramanand, handed over a cheque for 6,400 euros and presented a Positive Peace Award to PP Tarja Inovaara.
moreThis Diwali lunch also served as a fund raiser for the St Elizabeth Lureko Girls Secondary School in Mumias, Kenya.
moreThis was an annual gathering of the club with district officers but we were suprised by the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
moreImmendiate Past President Gina Langton handed over the chain of office to Preisdent Nishma Acharya on 28 June 2023
moreThe Club was honoured to welcome DG Francis at its meeting on 1st July 2020. This was the first official visit by the DG to a club in the District. The incoming President H.E. Amb Julius Moto was handed the chain of office by outgoing President Anna.
moreThe Club is holding a hybrid meeting - where six members are meeting in a socially distanced manner and the rest are joining the meeting via zoom.
moreThe club held its annual Christmas Lunch in the Jubilee Room of the Bbar. President Mark Kelly presided.
moreThis is a District 1130 Peace Committee initiative led by members of the Rotary Club of Westminster West who are past or present officials of the UN and the Commonwealth. Members from other Clubs were inducted after a 2 day Peace Building Workshop.
moreFebruary is Rotary's Peace & Conflict Prevention Month. Moreover 23 Feb is Rotary's 117th Birthday. The Queen completed 70 years of service on 6th Feb 2022. This Peace Seminar Commemorates all three milestones.
moreThis project entails the provision of equipment and materials to a Vocational School in Uganda to train ex-Child Soldiers and School Dropouts.
moreLondon Rotarians participated in a global, 24-hour continuous, live broadcast of music, art and remembrance on 6th August, 2020, to mark the 75thAnniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
moreJoin Rotary in the spirit of Diplomacy, Diversity, Inclusivity, Opportunity, Community, Sustainability, Tenacity and Credibility.
moreThe Rotary Club of Westminster West collaborated with The Commonwealth Resounds and The Purcell School of Music to arrange a programme of Drumming Performances during the week in which Commonwealth Heads of Government met in London.
moreThe Club holds its annual Christmas Lunch in December and invites all friends of the Club to attend as well.
moreThis page lists some of the visits by members of the Rotary Club of Westminster West to other Rotary Clubs around the World.
moreOn 14th March 2018, the Club held a Social Evening comprising Members, their Spouses or Partners, Friends and two New Recruits.
moreWestminster West had a special dinner for its members on 28 June 2019 at the International Maritime Organisation - which is the only UN Agency in the UK. The Drinks Reception & Dinner was hosted by President Juvenal Shiundu and his wife Mrs Rose Shiundu.
moreDG Mike Wren paid the traditional annual visit to the Club and was accompanied by his wife Teresa.
moreRev Fr Patrick Murunga is a Catholic Priest from Kakagema County in Kenya. He has come as a temp priest to a church in the UK. He visited the Club to collect a gift of Encyclopedias for the St Elizabeth Lureko Girls Secondary School in Kakagema County.
moreRotarian Mrs Anna Croghan was inducted on 1st November 2017 at the Meeting of the Club which was held at Browns in Cardinal Place, Victoria.
moreIncoming President Dr Josephine Ojiambo took over as President of the Rotary Club of Westminster West from Outgoing President Angela Campbell on 21 June 2017.
moreThe Club's 70th Anniversary fell on 2nd March 2015. The Club held a Black Tie Gala Dinner on this day to Celebrate this event.
moreThe Club has raised funds and undertaken several large and small projects both within the UK and in the International Arena. The Projects documented on this website are listed below. Go to the 'What We Do' tab to read about these Projects.
moreThe Club held an International Evening and raised funds towards the total required for the provision of a Library to the Lokusero Secondary School in the Laikipia District in Kenya.
moreWestminster West Supports Local Community Projects and Recognises Individuals Who Assist the Club In Its Activities.
moreOver the years, the Club has raised funds in support of several International Projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
moreThe Club held its Annual Past Presidents Day Luncheon on 14th May 2014. Past President Clive Knowles chaired this Meeting. Other Senior Rotarians who attended included PP Arvind Barve, PP James Allie, PP Robert Crane, PP Elwin Cummings Palmer & AG Francis
moreThe Secrets are out ; 1). how to park a Rolls Royce in Central London for a £25 month; 2). Who lies behind a Happy Woman in Iceland and who is responsible for a Successful Man in England; 3). Which Club had an encounter with Alcoholics Anonymous;
moreThe Launch of the Lifeboat Project - a fascinating insight into the magnificent achievement of the Rotary Club of Westminster West which raised funds for the Lifeboat named "ROTARY SERVICE" - RNLI Official Number (ON) 1031 and Operational Number 50-001.
moreFunds were raised to Support the Provision of a Library to the Chirovakamwe Primary School in Mutare, Zimbabwe and Information Technology to the St. Elizabeth Lureko Girls' Secondary School in Mumias, Kakagema County, Kenya.
moreFunds were raised for the provision of Information Technology(IT) to the School. The IT systems were purchased and shipped to Mombasa and then onto Mumias. The aim is to improve the IT Literacy of as many Pupils as possible.
moreThe Rotarians of Westminster West visited the Chikuku Youth Centre in Zimbabwe in November 2012. They had facilitated the supply of tools, machinery and two water tanks, and then visited to review the progress at the Centre.
moreThese three Projects provide sustainable sources of clean water and sanitation for three communities with large numbers of children in Entebbe, Uganda. Project Duration Jan 2012- Nov 2013.
moreIn 2012, the Rotary Club of Westminster West Sponsored a Girl Student for the Entire Duration of Her Four Year Secondary Education at the Starehe Girls' Centre in Nairboi, Kenya. She Completed her Secondary Education in December 2015.
moreProvision of essential items of furniture, laboratory equipment, books and uniforms to some rural schools and a van to transport physically challenged children to school in the Chickjajur Area of Karnataka in India. The Project was completed in March 2007
moreProject to provide sewing machines and sewing accessories to the local branch of the Bolivian Institute for the Blind to enable the Institute to enhance its self help programmes for those who are blind or partially sighted.
moreFunds were raised for the Widows and Orphans of Genocide in Rwanda and sent to AVEGA which is a Charity in Kigali, Rwanda.
moreConvert a five kilometre long stretch of the Mutha River Bank from a dump yard to a friendly, flood resistant Park, for the benefit of society as well as to enhance the awareness of the delicate ecology of the river and human settlements.
moreA joint project between the Rotary Club of Amman and the Rotary Club of Westminster West to provide essential medical equipment to the National Tuberculosis Center in Amman, Jordan.
moreTwo Class Rooms were needed for the school in Bukoba. Fund raising events were held in 1998 and 2000. These events raised funds to build the class rooms for the school.
moreThe Rotary Club of Westminster West and the Westminster Inner Wheel Club adopted this project as one of its main projects for which it contributed financial support over a period beginning 1991 to 1995.
moreA British VSO Volunteer Nurse was sponsored to work as a Nurse/Mid-wife at a Clinic in Bonthe in Sierra Leone.
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