Digital Bulletin No 71

April 2024

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April 2024

From the editor’s desk

Philip Smith accepted the challenge I presented to everyone last month, to write something in exactly 99 words. Unlike me he did try doing it in the form of a poem. You will find his contribution on page 3. Interestingly, both of us alluded to something of an environmental theme.

Anyone else like to have a go?

Words from the President

March 1

Along with Jenny, I attended the online meeting of the various Chelmsford Area Club Presidents. There was a good deal of positive feedback on our meeting at Little Channels the previous evening and it was agreed that where we have a fifth Thursday in the month there would be an evening meeting which all Clubs could attend. The various Clubs would take it in turns to chair and run the meetings.

There was some discussion about the Rotary Day Of Action on 18 May 2024. Everyone felt that there had not been enough notice of this to organise a joint event, although we do have the option of assisting Mildmay with the Great Baddow Races, which are taking place this year on 19 May.

Nigel Wagland from Ingatestone spoke about how his Club is addressing the role of President, in the light of reducing membership numbers and members being less willing to take on the role of President, particularly those who have already done the job. For the next Rotary year, although they will have one individual named as President, they are having a group of four members who will share the various Presidential duties among them. An interesting idea that I feel would also be appropriate for our Club.

March 7

It was our monthly business meeting and an opportunity to discuss the programme of meetings for next year. A number of suggestions were made for the informal meeting to be held on the second Thursday of each month and it should be possible from these to provide a varied programme where all members will be able to find something that suits them and meets their particular requirements. A return visit to the Millennium Centre in Great Baddow, which we tried for lunch a few years ago, was also suggested, and this has now been arranged for Thursday 11 April.

March 21

It was not possible for me to attend via Zoom on 14 March as we were travelling through the Picos de Europa mountain range at the time of the meeting, and I very much doubt I would have been able to get a mobile signal there! I was able to join via Zoom the following week, on 21 March, when our speaker was our own Anne Moriaty, who talked about the International Assembly she attended, together with her path to the role of District Governor, which she will begin on 1 July this year. I am sure everyone at the meeting, like me, is full of admiration for Anne in taking on this demanding job. It is a great honour for the Club to have one of its members as District Governor and I know we will do our best to support her as much as we can.

March 28

A woman with short grey hair wearing glasses Today I was again able to attend via Zoom for this month’s meeting at Ivy Hill, where our speaker was Mary Wild, from the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. It was nice to see Peter Kemp on Zoom and have a chat with him.

I remember Helen Rollason very well as a sports presenter on BBC television, and especially her courage in continuing to broadcast after her cancer diagnosis. It was interesting to learn that she was the first female presenter of “Grandstand”. With the likes of Clare Balding, Hazel Irvine and Gabby Logan, to name just three of the women who now regularly present sports coverage on television, it is easy to forget how male-dominated sports broadcasting was thirty years ago. Helen Rollason was very much the trailblazer for those who have followed, and that is one positive legacy of her tragically early death.

Another is of course the cancer charity established in her name following her death, and Mary gave us a fascinating insight into the work the charity does. Services provided include counselling, mindfulness and massage that meets the special needs of those suffering from cancer. There is a centre in the main street in Hatfield Peverel where these and many other activities are carried out, and the charity has always had a strong Essex connection, as Helen worked as a PE teacher in the county before turning to broadcasting.

My grateful thanks to John Watkins for presiding over this and the previous week’s meeting in my absence.

The Magic of Rotary

The Rotary theme for 2024-25 will be “The Magic of Rotary”, chosen by incoming Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick from the USA.In December the incoming District Governor for District 1240, our own member Anne Moriaty, travelled to the USA with her husband Steve so they could visit their younger daughter and her family for Christmas. They then went to the International Assembly in January, which was attended by District Governors Elect from over 200 countries which have Rotary Clubs.

The photographs show Steve and Anne with Stephanie Urchick, some of the goodies Anne brought back with her, and Anne with another delegate hidden in a large costume. (Is that supposed to be a koala bear?)

The theme logo is shown on the banner in the photograph of Steve and Anne with the incoming International President. The photograph with the other delegate shows Anne wearing the T-shirt designed for the RIBI delegation. Anne said it wasn’t really appropriate for the chilly weather they experienced!

Two women shaking hands with a man to their right and a banner behind them

Rotary mementos A woman in a T-shirt standing next to a man wearing a large costume

Reflections from the Orange Groves
Part 1

Francis Whitbread

Computer image of oranges, two whole and two cut A cycle ride amongst the orange groves that cover much of the lowland north and west of Villalonga is always an enjoyable experience. The aroma from the blossom that still covers many of the trees is a spellbinding nectar indeed, while based on the number of oranges hanging on the trees, this has been a good spring crop. As usual there are equally as many oranges lying on the ground, left to rot. I am not sure what the law in Valencia province is as regards picking up fallen oranges, other than knowing it is forbidden on government property, something learned from personal experience.

A few years ago, we had friends staying for a few days and took them to see the impressive monastery ruins at Simat de Valldigna. Spotting numerous fallen oranges, David and I decided to pick a few up, but were stopped in our tracks by the custodian, who emerged from his little hut and although neither of spoke Spanish, it was clear we were to put the oranges back where we had taken them from. As he was wearing a holster with a gun in it, we deemed it prudent not to debate the issue.

I must admit to having been an orange thief, on a very minor scale, over the years in the more secluded groves, as frankly it seems such a waste to let the oranges simply rot. My nefarious activities have declined this visit, as Jose, the excellent gardener we use, brings us a box of oranges most weeks. They are very juicy and sweet, and so much nicer than the ones you can purchase in the UK. We do have some orange trees in the garden, and they are abundant with fruit this spring, of a size that makes you think they are tangerines, but they are oranges and very edible.

Returning to the fallen oranges, I have tried to find the definitive position on collecting them on Google, but without success. It would make an interesting project for a Rotary Club, as I am sure there are many local charities that could benefit, but probably a bit too far away for The Rotary Club of Chelmsford to consider! It is good to see new trees being planted, as a few years ago many orange groves were being removed and replaced by avocados, which apparently are much more profitable. The orange grove on one side of the drive up to our little house was removed in the autumn of 2017, and we were sad to lose both the lovely smell and also the relaxing buzz of bees in the evening.

I was walking back from the village with Dixie last week when I was hailed by the elderly widow who lives in a house at the bottom of the drive, who was picking fruit from a tree in her garden. I have nicknamed her “Donna de Salamanca”, as when we first met her and her late husband, they told us they came from that city. She always greets us with a smile, although I have to leave Jackie to do the talking as my grasp of Spanish is, I am afraid, not good enough to carry on a conversation, although I did manage a “Muchos Gracias” when she handed me a bunch of what looked like apricots but were actually nispero japones (Japanese plums). They need peeling, and contain two stones, but are delicious.

We regularly meet Donna de Salamanca when we are walking down to or back from the village, particularly on a Friday, as she goes every week to the hairdresser. The walk down is OK, but coming back is definitely uphill, on a slope that demands a low gear when I come that way on my bike, so I am sure the climb keeps her in good trim. We saw her yesterday in the main paeso, when we were having a coffee; she declined to join us as she had to be home for one o’clock as her grandchildren were coming. At that precise moment, a group of children leaving the school at lunchtime passed by and one young boy received a most exuberant kiss from his grandmother. Our friend told Jackie we were very welcome to reach over the fence and help ourselves to some more nispero japones, and added, “I told your husband that last week!” I must improve my understanding of the language, although in my defence she does speak very quickly and excitedly.

Ninety-nine words

Philip Smith

There was a time when I loved a drive,
A ride in my car for sensation.
Better to travel than to arrive
At some humdrum destination.
But now, sad to say, how can you enjoy,
A trip round Chelmsford’s new system
Of roundabouts, in a big convoy
Of vehicles that cause such mayhem
In criss-crossing lanes mysterious,
Not knowing where they are leading us.
Stopped at all point by red traffic lights
That never seem to turn green.
Better by far the bullet to bite,
To abandon our car and give up the fight
And keep our atmosphere clean.

Children and parents

Be kind to your children when they are young. They will be choosing your nursing home when you are old.

Today my daughter called me “Birth Person”. I replied “Yes, Financial Drain.”

You spend the first two years of your children’s lives teaching them to walk and talk. Than you spend the next twenty years telling them to sit down and shut up.

If you get bad marks at school, show them to your mum when she’s on the phone.

When your dad gets mad and yells “Do I look stupid?” don’t answer.

If you want a puppy, start by asking your parents for a horse.

Thoughts for the Day

March 7, Geoff Dickman
We make a living by what we get
but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill

March 21, Keith Otter
He who never makes mistakes never makes anything.

March 28, David Axon
Learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow.
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Albert Einstein

April 4, David Axon
Nothing is impossible.
The word itself says “I’m possible.”
Audrey Hepburn

Continued success

A smiling girl with long black hair and a white dress Rose Buggle is continuing to enjoy success in the Rotary Young Musician competition this year.

As members may remember, Rose came second in the vocalist section of the Chelmsford heat in January. She then proceeded to the District Final in Brentwood in February, sponsored by us and the Rotary Club of Brentwood, which she won.

Rose has now won the Cluster Final held in Norwich in March and will go forward to the National Final.

This is a tremendous achievement for someone who is only 13 and taking part in Young Musician for the first time. Those of us present at the Fellowship Meeting on 11 April signed a card congratulating her and wishing her continued success.