Club Bulletin April 2022

                                            Rotary Club of Cheltenham North

                                                        April 2022 Bulletin

Founder Member

As we get ready to celebrate 50 years of Cheltenham North Rotary Club it seems appropriate to remember the leading founder members Jim Readings (who is sadly no longer with us) and Ross Cole (who is very much with us). Their hard work has ensured the survival of the club.

Opera Brava Eric Labrum

I am now able to share with you the arrangements for Opera Brava to perform at Rodmarton Manor, Cirencester this coming season.

They will perform on Friday July 29th at 7.30pm 'Carmen' this performance will finish at 10.20 pm. Price of tickets £35.00 each

They will perform on Saturday July 30th at 7.30pm 'La Traviata' this performance will finish at 10.15 pm. Price of tickets £35.00 each

In both performances there will be an interval of 30 minutes

For people who experience walking difficulty a limited amount of parking is available sited close to the garden area adjacent to the stage. This year additional time is being given to rehearsal due to the demands of these operas.

The lighting around the Manor will be improved as in the past this is thought to be inadequate. This particularly applies to exiting at the finish. Also due to the popularity of the event(s) additional toilets will be available and including those for disabled people. Everybody is encouraged to bring their food and drink to picnic. The gates will be open from 6.30pm. Lastly do bring a torch, as extra lighting in surrounding areas would be beneficial.

This information is given to establish the possible numbers for each evening. It is not wishing to commit members at this point in time. This is usually done about four weeks before the performance dates.

I look forward to your response.

Collection for Ukraine Richard Purdon

Being at the right place at the right time literally – March 6th – 18th 2022

The Story of the outstanding collection at the Cheltenham Race course comes in 3 distinct chapters.

One

On Monday 6th March, I was asked if I could make contact with the newly appointed Andre Klein at the Jockey Club office in the Hall of Fame. We were led to believe that all of the Jockey Club venues were going to have special collections for UKRAINE, instead of their previously planned Charity causes. At the Festival this meant that day 1 of 4 was selected on the followingTuesday.

So the call was made – ANSAPHONE!! And the modern statement given – “I am a bit busy right now, if you could send me an e-mail I will get to this quicker, or leave a message”!

Fortunately I had been a volunteer a few years before, and understood I thought what was needed. So as time was short, I started the process of trying to assemble 30 volunteers. I waited for 24 hours and thought it would probably be better to try and catch Andre in his office. And there I learned that their system had changed – for security, terrorism and insurance purposes.

He was just going out but committed to get back to me on Wednesday by e-mail. But I knew then that we had to do this. I was to be given 40 free tickets for access to the racecourse property, and 20 green car park passes. I knew that the Jockey Club was asking all money raised to go to the Red Cross and that they wanted to know by 9 am on Wednesday morning how much we had collected for their PR purposes.

And then the fun really began. We had no base to get ready. No space to store the cash as it grew. No central spot in the nearest car park to the major public exit routes. I had to assemble tabards, buckets to collect, and make a logo for the day.

Helen made 6 flags to be waved at our collection points. I collected the RCCN Tabards from various locations, and the same was needed for the buckets. And John Thompson did a fine design of the Ukranian flag in the shape of a heart with, WE CARE written on it.

Sense prevailed and I was allocated a good car park spot next to the Hall of Fame where I could meet and greet the volunteers and issue tabards and buckets!!

So, ready to go, with the last 4 volunteers signed up by 10 a.m. on the day. I managed to have a great team of 27 women and men, from 3 Rotary Clubs, the Cheltenham 41 Club and friends and associates.

The major change the Jockey Club had made was only allowing the collectors to be in place from 3 .30 p.m. This was as the 4th race of 7 was running. And we knew that the vast majority of the cash would come around 6 p.m.

TWO

The afternoon of Tuesday 15th March

It turned out to be a sunny, bright afternoon. Volunteers started to assemble from North, South, East and West of Cheltenham. 2 more volunteers dropped out due to the impact of covid in their homes. 2 more replacements were recruited.

The massive crowd of 67,500 were safely in the stands and around the course as we took our stations. 6 from the newly formed Rotary Group of Bishops Cleeve covered the Best Mate Gates.7 mostly from our club were in action at the North Gate on the exit towards Southam. 3 had a great location at the Hall of Fame where the VIPs would be exiting!! And a group of 9 stood by the entrance to the Centaur Centre and the main concourse into the Tattersalls and Main Club arenas.

And then as though a tap had been turned on, after the 6th race, the exodus started. Our buckets were soon both full and heavy!! I spent some time replacing empty ones and taking the cash back to my boot. But the thrill of interfacing with the happy punters was exhilarating.

We were slightly worried that we would be handicapped – note the racing pun – by not having card machines to accept in lieu of currency. But this was far from the case. As the wags said – “horse racing is 1 of the few places left were cash is king”.

And soon it was to be all over. My boot was bulging with 30 collecting buckets, 30 tabards, and more coins than you will see in a long time. The journey out of the course was a little slow, but we made it home to Prestbury a little before 7.30 p.m.

I was incredibly proud of the 25/27 who had volunteered from the Rotary Clubs and the Cheltenham 41 Club. Some like Helen were partners of those groups. They had been standing around some of them for 3 hours without a break or a loo stop!!

The real test, and the follow up, was about to start after supper for 5 – the count and bagging up for the bank

THREE

Tuesday late pm, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday until the end of March

We separated the notes from the coins first? No we had a well-deserved drink first!!

We counted £13,500 in recognisable, English notes, and bagged up nearly a £1000 in £2 and £1 coins.

So, I wrote to the racecourse team on time, to say we had at least £14,500 in hand and hopefully £4,000 in other coins. In fact we lodged £15,567 on Wednesday morning.

The majority of the bags were ready Thursday. We took all the other Sterling from Scotland, and Northern Ireland. And weighed and accepted £8845 of loose change. This included a few of the old round £1 coins. And there were a few more notes and a cheque – is lieu of swapping some euros too

And then a final visit on Friday to take in the remaining £1,120.So I could account for nearly £26,000 by Friday lunchtime. Heath Wilson offered to come round on Saturday to exchange some dollars as he was going to the States a few days later. And we had a bucket in a local shop which

was also collected. Beth, brilliantly, told the tale at the Hair dressers on Friday and came away with £40 from fellow clients. So these last donations took us over the £26,000 stated.

I have written individually to everyone who helped. All were elated at the outcome.

And I sent out messages to BBC Glos; the Gloucester Echo; the Rotary Magazine in Britain; the 41 Club National Magazine and the Racing Post.

But the best news of all was early in the following week when Linda confirmed that a massive cheque had gone to the Red Cross and had been safely delivered and accepted.

Postscript

I was at the right place at the right time on that first Monday.

I was trusted because I was a Rotarian.

I hope there is never such a need as this to support our fellow man, due to the illegal act of callous warfare.

I worry that that wish will fail again.

Carol Concert Tuesday 13th December 2022 Nigel Gilhead

Planning has started for the Carol Service on 13th December. Peter has passed the committee chairman's baton to Nigel, with an excellent brief on the state of play, and a box of previous events' highlights.

Even hoping that everyone who was on the committee, will continue this year, we are left with a big gap in the team; will anyone volunteer to pick up; all, or at least some of, Geoff's former role?

In addition we need members to understudy other committee roles, so if you are interested in helping the team plan this superb event, please contact Nigel and plan to come to the committee meetings.

Our first committee meeting will be in The New Club on June.16th at 5pm.

Rotary 150 trees

With a huge amount of hard work from Sue Jenkins the 140th of 150 trees was planted at the end of March. This one was funded by Cheltenham Borough Council.

Cllr Suzanne Williams with Rtn Sue Jenkins

Future Programme Clive O’Gorman

This programme was correct as of 31 March 2022

Please note also there have been significant changes to the Dates and Programme for June. Details can be found below and on the Club Website.

Thu, Apr 7th 2022 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting

This Meeting is cancelled as 50th Celebration Dinner next week.

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Thu, Apr 14th 2022 at 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Cheltenham North 50th Anniversary

In 2022 Cheltenham North Celebrates 50 years as a Rotary Club. Celebration Dinner at the Queen's Hotel with Guests, Speakers Alex Chalk MP and District Governor. Host Geoff Fox.

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Thu, Apr 21st 2022 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with Guest Speaker at the New Club

A Club Meeting with Guest Speaker Rotary DG. Graham Ogden at the New Club. Host Geoff Fox

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Thu, May 5th 2022 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with Member Speaker at the New Club

A Club Meeting with Member Speaker at the New Club. Member David Hearle will give a Vocational talk. Host Bill Macleod

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Fri, May 6th 2022 at 9:00 am - Sat, May 7th 2022 - 5:00 pm

Volunteer Expo

Volunteer Expo is back for 2022! And we’re excited to be returning with a live, face-to-face show at the NEC, Birmingham on 6th and 7th May 2022! Registration is now open, so book your free tickets. See website for details.

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Thu, May 19th 2022 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with Guest Speaker at the New Club

A Club Meeting with Guest Speaker Simon Fox at the New Club Simon Fox will give a talk on "Smooth as Silk" .Host Clive O'Gorman

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Mon, May 23rd 2022 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

District Council Meeting

A District Council Meeting at Jurys Inn.

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Sat, May 28th 2022 at 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Mile of Coins

The Three Cheltenham Clubs, as part of their 100 years celebration of Rotary in Cheltenham, are organising a "Mile of Coins" Charity Event. See website for more information and how to obtain the collection cards.

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Thu, Jun 2nd 2022 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

This Meeting is Cancelled

This meeting is Cancelled as it is the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The Club AGM plus Club Assembly for 2022/23 have been moved to 16th June

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Thu, Jun 9th 2022 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

A Club Meeting with Guest Speaker and Partners

A Club Meeting and Partners with Guest Speaker Chris Nelson. Chris Nelson is Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, and will talk on "Improving Policing in Gloucestershire." Location Brickhampton Golf Club Host Tony Pawley

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Thu, Jun 16th 2022 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Club AGM plus Club Assembly at the New Club

The Club AGM plus Club Assembly for 2022/23 at the New Club Host Geoff Fox

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Sat, Jun 25th 2022 at 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

District Governor Handover and Gala Dinner

The District handover plus a Gala Dinner See website for more information

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Thu, Jun 30th 2022 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm