March 2019

 

 

PRESIDENT Ian Watson

SECRETARY Mike McNally

 

THEBORDERER

March 2019

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

CONTENTS The Farmer’s Choir Michael Pearson Bulletin Award ACTion Cumbria The Levadas Young Photographer Dr Jim Cox Curling Competition Down-a-Gate Centre   REGULAR FEATURES Club History Rotary Webpages Diary Dates Reception Desk Club Council Club Meetings

I don't always say the right thing however I did make the comment last month that the warm, dry weather we were enjoying in February would come back and bite us with a vengeance, and it has, just as I said it would when spring lambs wanted to be outside in the sunshine. Was Climate Change responsible for the dramatic scenes we have seen of the floods in Eastern Africa, Mozambique and Malawi in particular? Thank you to all for your wholehearted support in agreeing to donate a Shelter Box to to be sent to those affected by Cyclone 'Idai'.

 

We were all shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Bob Mather, for me I had hardly time to get to know him, but in that short time it was a privilege to have known him. Our thoughts are now with Annette and family who have asked me to thank Club members for your cards and letters of condolence.

 

We now need to give thought to finding someone in the Club to 'pick up the mantle',and fill the position of 2^nd Vice President and also the position

of Chairman of Community and Club Projects.

 

On a happier note, our congratulations to PP Michael Pearson for being presented with a Community Award at the recent Mayors Civic Dinner, very well deserved. Also to David Morton and his Communications Team for their success in winning the District 1190 Publication Award, 2018/19, with The Borderer It was great fun to go with David and Donald last weekend to Grange Over Sands to collect the award and to have a guided tour of the Cumbria Grand Hotel by Donald who, as a regular visitor there knows most of the staff, not only on first name terms ,most of their life history and their plans for the future, however I still had to pay for the coffee!

 

On the theme of presentations, it was a delight to have with us for lunch last Wednesday the representatives of the Charities who benefited from the proceeds of The Farmers & Farmers Wives Choir Concert. Just to remind you all we raised £14880.

 

We now turn our attention to this year’s Charity Golf Day an May 17^th, Meningitis Now, Eden Valley Hospice & Life Education are the charities who will benefit so please spread the word and encourage sponsors and players alike. Robin has the necessary forms.

 

We continue to attract some excellent speakers, thank you, and this last weeks we have heard from Dr Jim Cox about underperforming doctors, of which it would appear there are a number! Hellen Aitken explained to us about the work of  Cumbria Action and what it does for and with our local communities. Interesting and somewhat an eye opener to us.

 

David Hoggard, with the help of some pictures gave us a whistle stop tour of Madeira and in particular The Levadas, and cheered us all up on what was 'International Day Of Happiness’!

 

 

IAN WATSON

PRESIDENT

       

 

THE FARMERS’ CHOIR CONCERT

RAISED £15,000!

President Ian presents the cheques to charity.

 

Pictured here (L to R) are: Elaine Close, Meningitis Now!, Patricia Livesey, Eden Valley Hospice, Ian Watson and Kate Picken from The Farmers’ and Farmers’ Wives Choir who are giving their share to their chosen charities Macmillan Cancer Support and Motor Neurone Disease Association

MICHAEL PEARSON’S AWARD

 

Michael has received a Mayor’s Award for ‘Going the extra mile’.

 

Michael was awarded this for his role as a past trustee and chairman of Hospice at Home, chairman of The Cumberland Building Society Charitable Foundation, past governor of Stanwix School and a churchwarden of St. Michael’s Church, Stanwix, as well as a Past President of our Club.

 

The Mayor said ‘Michael has been a wonderful champion for his community and it is with great pleasure that I give him this award’.

 

 

 

 

THE BORDERER’S  AWARD

 

The Borderer and its editorial team received the District 1190 ‘Best Club Bulletin’ award at a brief ceremony at the District Conference at The Cumbria Grand Hotel, Grange-over-Sands last Saturday evening.

 

Pictured here Rotary GB&I President Debbie Hodge presents the plaque to David Morton, Chairman of our Club Communications Committee who receives it on behalf the team of Donald Edgar, Nick Utting, Nicki Quayle, Keith Twentyman and, of course, President Ian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Ian and David Morton take time off from their conducted tour of The Cumbria Grand Hotel.
An Amusing and Tongue in Cheek Look at Retirement

Another year has passed 
and we're all a little older.

 

But lots of things, That come to mind
Just make me kind of sad.

There was a time not long ago 
When life was quite a blast.

Now I fully understand
About 'Living in the Past'

We used to go to friends' homes,
Football games and lunches.

Now we go to therapy, to hospitals,
And after-funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers,
From parties that were gay.

Now we suffer body aches 
And sleep the night away.

We used to go out dining, 
And couldn't get our fill.

Now we ask for doggie bags, 
Come home and take a pill.

We used to travel often
To places near and far.

Now we get backaches
From riding in the car.

We used to go out shopping
For new clothing at the Mall

But, now we never bother...
All the sizes are too small.

That is how life is, 
And now my tale is told.

So, enjoy each day and live it up...

Before you're too darn old!

The Club was pleased to welcome Hellen Aitken one of three Development Officers for ACTion with Communities in Cumbria to speak about the role and history of this organisation.  Marking 70 years since its inception in 1948 the charity was born of the need for effective collaboration between the voluntary and statutory sectors for welfare needs to be met.  It is about supporting communities at grass roots level, bringing people together to find solutions whilst strengthening their collective voice so that rural communities can be heard in local and national government. 

 

We learnt that ACT champions community and rural issues concentrating broadly on four main areas:

Plan for their Future:  Covering such areas as assisting communities to produce Parish & Neighbourhood plans as well as helping and encouraging families and households to cope better in emergency situations by putting an ‘Emergency Plan’ in place

Develop Projects: eg. providing specialist advice and expertise for village hall and Community buildings;  addressing affordable housing needs; providing sports equipment.

Work with Others:  Helping coordinate working with each other either as individuals within their own community.  Acting as a facilitator for the community with the local authority and agencies.

Influence & Change Policy:  Influencing change by informing decision policy makers who often have misjudged assumptions about rural areas as opposed to the urban areas.

 

ACT is free to the local community and funding this organisation is a challenge but they are assisted by Cumbrian  local authorities, the Big Lottery as well as  ACRE (Action for Communities in Rural England), Defra and the Sports Council to name but a few.

 

I think a few of us were surprised that this organisation has been around so long and were probably more familiar with VAC (Voluntary Action Cumbria) than ACT.  Equally I believe many of us were not aware of the full extent of how much the charity does and has probably, on occasion unbeknown to us, impacted on our own personal lives.

NICKI QUAYLE                        www.cumbriaaction.org.uk

THE LEVADAS

 

David Hoggard gave us a well-illustrated talk on Madeira, where he often spends a few weeks during the British winter.

 

Madeira is part of a group of Portuguese islands off the coast of Morocco with temperatures of 14°-21°in winter and 18°- 27°in summer. The island is 35 miles by 14 miles and the mountains rise to 6,000 feet. Its international airport is built partly over the sea and flights can be cancelled or diverted in winds over 25 mph.

 

To the north of island’s mountains the climate can be very wet, but to the south the weather is much pleasanter, allowing agapanthus and many other exotic plants to thrive everywhere.

 

 

 

David showed us pictures of Funchal, the capital with its fruit and fish markets with the Espada or Scabbard fish on sale

 

 

 

 

 

One street in the centre of Funchal had been taken over by local artists who had painted literally hundreds of front doors with very individual designs.

 

 

In the 16^th century the Portuguese made use of the wet north of the island to carry water to the agricultural regions of the south with aqueducts or levadas made by slaves or convicts.

 

These levadas are usually about a foot wide and the water runs about 3” to 6” deep usually with a (sometimes precipitous!) footpath longside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The levadas are owned and maintained by the government and when a farmer or gardener requires irrigation they speak to the sluicemaster who arranges for the water to be diverted.

This was a most interesting talk which David assured us was not sponsored by the Madeiran tourist authority!

 

DAVID MORTON

YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER

Six entrants competed for prizes in this year’s Young Photographer competition, for which the theme was “The beauty of nature”.  All the entries had been taken with smartphones.  After careful deliberation, the judges awarded First Prize to Bethany Finnigan, who produced, in the judges’ words, ”three nice photos: a lake scene, a holiday hotel and a zoo.  All nicely focussed, level and well cropped. A good winner in the intermediate (11-13 yrs) age group.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER (continued)

 

Mia Potts (junior age group – up to 10 yrs)) was Highly Commended, with the comments “Two good photos of sky and foreground. The sunset was most attractive with nice colours, but the other photo was not level. However, a good entry from someone so young.” Bethany’s and Mia’s photos have been entered into the District competition.

 

 

UNDER PERFORMING DOCTORS

Wednesday 27-02-2019.

Dr Jim Cox was for 22 years one of the doctors serving the village of Caldbeck and the surrounding district. Joining the Calbeck practise in 1980 he worked alongside his father serving the community between them for 53years.

In 2002 he stood down to take on two new roles with the National Clinical Assessment Council and the General Medical Council.

 

The GMC sets standards of professional and ethical conduct that doctors in the UK are required to follow. It was founded in 1858 serving to maintain standards ruling over what doctors could not do. That changed over time and to 1995 when good medical practice was judged as “what a doctor could and should do”. For the first time the GMC was given powers to discipline doctors whose performance was found to be seriously deficient.

 

Up to 1990 disciplinary procedures entailed suspension often for long periods, referral to occupational health, referral to the GMC or sometimes ignored and tolerated while the person was still allowed to work.

 

Possible causes of underperformance

Personal

By 1994 it was estimated that 6% of doctors had problems; these included poor attitude, behaviour, lack of commitment and poor skills. It was therefore necessary to find out the cause before action taken. The arising problem of underperformance could be much deeper. Consideration must be given to a number of potential causes; Physical health (self-treatment) illness, sight, hearing, corridor consultations, working when unwell, psychological health or just burnt out. Other factors include, cognitive impairment, disease, drugs, alcohol, age related often concealed, or just not having a clue. Part of the problem is just coming to terms with it,

 Practice

Poor practice infrastructure, relationships, premises and facilities, financial pressures, inadequate staffing levels. There is a clear link between the health and well- being of a doctor and the organisation in which they work.

Early signs of Trainees in difficulty include disappearing, low work rate, temperament, rigidity, fatigue, medical and surgical errors, taking longer to do, lack of sleep. Time of year phenomenon in July when newly qualified doctors are released!  It is important that these conditions are recognised often just by observation as early as possible in order that corrective measures may be taken. There is often a failure to rescue when complications develop .

 

 Doctors now work in a very different and difficult environment , situations where there is relative lack of control, fragmented teams, pressure to meet targets,  NHS-as pressures increase need to look at doctor provision, Patient 10minute- only one problem per consultation.

Part time working, locums, sub specialisation, failure to take responsibility; do not know what to do in a situation, no response to the patient’s problems.

Leadership is Important in every walk of life.

 Definition of underperformance, an underperforming doctor is one who persistently fails to comply with the standards identified in the GMC Good Medical Practice handbook

 GMC performance assessment. A test of competencies is a process of finding out what the person can do. It is a situation similar to a driving test, you do, I watch. Other assessment methods involve a step by step process to ensure that the doctor having been shown can demonstrate that he or she has a full grasp of the training given.  Jim Cox along with two specialists was part of the GP assessment team.

GMC-Fitness to practise survey.

240000 licensed doctors

8500 inquiries

1300 investigations

200 referrals to tribunal

62 erased

76 suspended

119 undertaking conditions

130 warnings

The number of doctors thought to be underperforming is small but work still needs to be done on developing tools that can be used in everyday practice to enable doctor to confirm for themselves, their colleagues and their patients that they are providing an adequate level of care. Under performance is often highlighted following a complaint.

Performance procedures are set in place to protect the public from doctors providing seriously deficient care.

 

In summary Dr Cox described his talk as “A story of a journey from a country practise through the GMC to become a Professor of incompetence.”

 

DONALD EDGAR

ROTARY CURLING NIGHT 2019

 

Wednesday 13^th March saw the annual visit to Lockerbie for the club’s curling competition.  With the World Championships currently taking place in Silkeborg, Denmark Eurosport were unable to find space in their schedule for us, so here is my report.

 

Teams were selected as follows:

 

Red Stones                                        Yellow Stones

 

Brian Edmundson                                Peter Hall

Tom Dawson                              Mike McNally

Bob Mather                                        Nicki Quayle

Annette Mather                          Malcolm Metcalfe

 

The evening commenced with some coaching from Marion Murdoch, past coach to the Great Britain curling team and mother of ex- world champion David.  After a few practice stones the match was played over 5 ‘ends’.

 

Brian won the toss and took the ‘hammer’ (a technical term) and gave the Yellows the ‘hack’ (another technical term).  It soon became clear the more experienced team led by Peter were taking things very seriously and quickly established a healthy lead after three ends.

 

Obviously they had remembered much from previous visits and taken notice of  Marion’s wise words, particularly on the need to sweep when asked by the skip. (They also carried a bit of luck, but I would say that wouldn’t I.)

Finally, the Reds got their act together and although we won the last two ends we could not accumulate sufficient points to get anywhere near the Yellows.

 

So the Yellow team skipped by Peter won the day along with the magnificent trophy which can grace their homes in turn over the coming year.  No serious accidents this year, although Nicki did a little practice for ‘Dancing on Ice’ at one stage.

In true Rotary fashion we then retired to the bar for a drink and supper.

 

BRIAN

 

Note:  Next year’s F&S chairman Nicki and I were talking to a member of Lockerbie Rotary Club and a friendly match between our clubs was muted. What do you think folks?

 

 

dc

 

Picture Quiz – Can you spot the Rotarian?

    

 

 

President Ian presents the Curling Trophy to winning team skip(a technical term)  
Downagate Community Centre

Warwick Bridge

 

The Downagate Centre was devastated by the Storm Desmond floods of December 2015 and its rebuilding has been a story of a huge community effort by the Centre’s users, who have joined together to raise funds and to work on all aspects of the project.  It was a real pleasure, therefore, to attend the open event on 17 March and see what is just about the final product. 

The Centre has been substantially rebuilt, with its clubroom, kitchen and store now at first floor level, and with the added feature of a balcony overlooking the playing fields and the river.  Downstairs has been carefully designed to be flood-resilient and contains the changing areas for the playing field users.  Members should take pride in their contribution to the funding for the stairlift, which make the first floor facilities accessible.  District funding contributed to the replacement furniture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the left is a picture taken last year when we presented £3,700 to them.

 

STEPHEN HIGGS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know?

• Just hours before he was assassinated, Abraham Lincoln had signed the papers which created the Secret Service.
• $1,000,000 dollars of gold would fit into a cube just over 4 inches on a side. However, that same cube, if full, would weigh almost 60 pounds.
• Venus’s sun rises are a bit different than Earth’s. There, the sun rises in the West and sets in the East. It is believed that something huge collided with Venus early in its formation causing the anomaly. Uranus also has a strange rotation; it too is believed to have been hit by something, causing its unusual side rotation.
• A blue whale’s heart is the size of a Volkswagen (And you could swim through it’s arteries).
• In World War 2, the Allied forces were able to figure out the number of German tanks being produced because the Germans left the serial numbers on them. Oops.
• The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

 

Theatre and Pizza/Pasta Night

16^th or 18^th May

THE MENU – with apologies for the quality of the typeface

 

 

Club History

a new exciting feature!

 

The first meeting of The Rotary Club of Carlisle was on Wednesday 20^th December 1922 at The County Hotel, next the station.

 

It was in the following year that our Club received its charter.

 

The list of those attending the meeting is interesting and the historians among us could have a field day.

 

For certain RN Burgess (Robin Burgess’ grandfather) was a major shareholder in The Cumberland News, and Major RN Carr was one of the biscuit family.

 

But was WP Gibbings an estate agent, did J. Gray have an art shop, did CW Robinson own Thurnams, and was Morton Chance part of the Ferguson Fabrics family?

 

…more amazing revelations next month!

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH..

 

Quotation for the month;

“If you are paid well enough, you can afford to work part time”

  Jim Cox

 

 

 

FOOD BANK COLLECTION ROTA

DATE	COLLECTOR 1	COLLECTOR 2
SAT MAR 30 /19	Norman Butler	Malcolm Metcalfe
SAT APRIL 6 /19	Ellis Amos
SAT APRIL 13 /19	David Morton	Stephen Higgs
SAT APRIL 20 /19	Ian Watson	Hugh Nicholson-Walker
SAT APRIL 27 /19	Tom Dawson	Euan Cartwright
SAT MAY 4 /19	Michael Pearson	Brian Edmundson
SAT MAY 11 /19	Julian Venables	John Hannon
SAT MAY 18 /19	Norman Butler	Tom Dawson
SAT MAY 25 /19	Stephen Higgs
SAT JUNE 1 /19	Malcolm Metcalfe	David Morton
SAT JUNE 8 /19	Hugh Nicholson - Walker	Julian Venables
SAT JUNE 15 /19	Ian Watson	Ellis Amos
SAT JUNE 22 /19	Michael Pearson	David Morton
SAT JULY 6 /19	Tom Dawson	John Hannon
SAT JULY 13 /19	Brian Edmundson
SAT JULY 20 /19	Euan Cartwright	Ian Watson
SAT JULY 27 /19	Michael Pearson	Stephen Higgs

 

RESERVES JOE WATT AND JOHN CHURCHILL

WISHING WELL

 

The current charity is the NSPCC.

We are giving a cheque for £175 to Hospice at Home for the collection made in the past month

Future charities are Life Education, Macmillan Cancer Support, MND Cumbria and Alzheimer’s Awareness.

This takes us to July 2019 and if any member has a suitable charity they would like to nominate please contact me.

MICHAEL PEARSON

 

 

RECEPTION DESK FOR CLUB MEETINGS

 

March        27^th           H N-W & Brian Edmundson

April          3^rd            DH & John Harris

                10^th           DH & John Churchill

                17^th           DH & Steven Bowditch

                24^th           David H & Joe Watt

May           1^st             DH & Trevor Green

                8^th             JV &

                15^th           JV &

                22^nd          JV &

                29^th           H N-W &

 

ROTARY WEBPAGES

 

 

Rotary Magazine – current & previous editions

https://issuu.com/rotaryingbi/docs 

 

EDITOR’S NOTE – The Borderer uses the free version of the same ‘issuu’ website!

 

 

Rotary Policies

Rotary GB&I Compliance Statement – 2017/18

Our Club President or Secretary have been asked to confirm that our Club has read and adopted the following Rotary GB&I documents:

 

 Rotary GB&I Equality and Diversity Policy

 Rotary GB&I Health and Safety Policy

 Rotary GB&I Safeguarding (Children) Policy

 Rotary GB&I Safeguarding (Vulnerable Adults) Policy

 Rotary GB&I Data Protection Policy Statement  

With grateful thanks to the Rotary Club of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire (a long way from the Brecon Beacons - according to our Welsh Correspondent!)

 

 

 

 

Rotary Central

https://my.rotary.org/en

To delve into the detailed Rotary statistics you may need a username and password

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

2019

 

5^th April – Past Presidents Dinner

at Assembly Restaurant.

            

 

12^th May– Spring Walk.

A pleasant walk followed by Sunday Lunch. Euan Cartwright is planning the event and full details will be circulated shortly

 

 

16^th or 18^th May – Theatre and Pizza/Pasta Night

A cheap night out with Happy Hour Italian followed by visit to the Green Room for production of ‘Allo-Allo’.  £24 max per head for Pre-dinner drink, Main Course, Coffee/Tea and Theatre Ticket.

MENU reproduced above

 

17^th May – Charity Golf Match

This date should be in diaries already as we will be looking for Players, Helpers and Sponsors to support our early Summer fundraiser.

 

4th June – Treasure Hunt – details to come.

 

 

7^th July – President’s Tea Party

Crown Hotel, Wetheral

 

 

Club Council Meetings

 

2019
April 17th	11.00 am	Shepherds Inn
May 15th	11.00 am	Shepherds Inn
June 19th	11.00 am	Shepherds Inn

Club Meetings Programme

27/3/19	Evening 7.00pm	Alan Clark	Plant hunting in SE Asia	John Churchill
3/4/19	Lunch 12.30pm	Business
10/4/19	Lunch 12.30pm	Tim Cartmell	The Shrievalty	Nick Utting
17/4/19	Lunch 12.30pm	Sandra Jones	NSPCC	Ian Watson
24/4/19	Evening 7.00pm	TBA
1/5/19	Lunch 12.30pm	Club AGM
8/5/19	Lunch 12.30pm	Julian Venables	Gambian Experience	Michael Pearson
15/5/19	Lunch 12.30pm	TBA		Marian Reed
22/5/19	Lunch 12.30pm	TBA		Euan Cartwright
29/5/19	Evening 7.00pm	TBA		Nicki Quayle
5/6/19	Lunch 12.30pm	Business
12/6/19	Lunch 12.30pm	TBA		Donald Edgar
19/6/19	Lunch 12.30pm	Des Moore	The Cumberland in Cumbria	Michael Pearson
26/6/19	Evening 7.00pm	Club Assembly