Rotary Becket News

Rotary Becket likes to keep you updated about its activities.  We also have a “Friends of Becket” mailing list with news of our latest activities please 

email Reception@rotarybecket.org for details 

2nd April 20225

At this week's meeting our International Chair Rtn Gordon Roan gave Rotary Club of Northampton Becket members an update of Phase 3 of our Classroom Build Project and Chitipi School in Malawi which is nearing completion.

Particular thanks go to Rotary In The East Midlands - District 1070 Foundation committee together with partner Clubs -  The Rotary Club of Towcester, Rotary Club of Northampton West, Rotary Club of Kettering Huxloe,Corby Phoenix Rotary, Lindum Rotary Club, as well as Clubs from Woodhall Spar, Peterborough & Bakewell.

Great Work all!

Details and pictures of the presentation can be found at the April 2025 Update Phase 3 of the Classroom Project at Chitipi Page.

28th March 2025 SSAFA Donation

Following a recent talk from Gareth Bull of SSAFA Northamptonshire to the Club, Rotarians Jane Simpson & Irene Loftus drop in this morning with a donation of £250 worth of Argos vouchers for Veterans and their families due to the generosity of the people of #Northamptonshire  during our Santa Sleigh collections in December

27th March 2025 Food Bank Donations

Rotary Becket were delighted to supply a further £650 worth of much needed food to Hope Foodclub and Weston Favell Centre Foodbank Rotarian Alan Nunn pictured at Hope and Steve Wheeler at Weston Favell. 

8th Marh 2025 Rotary Becket's 37th Birthday Party

On 8th March the Club celebrated their Birthday with friends at Kingsthorpe Golf Club for more pictures visit the PAGE

2nd February 2025 Quiz & Fish n'Chips Nignt

Rotary Becket held one of their famous Quiz Nights with a half time break for traditional Fish & Chips

For more visit the PAGE

5th February 2025 Yet Another New Member Inducted!

At our breakfast meeting, President Elect, Lynn Kitchen Tade was delighted to induct Hannah Cole as the latest Corporate Member of Rotary Club of Northampton Becket.

Kirsty has become the 4th Member representing DFA Law to join the Club

1st February 2025 Transforming  the Nursery for "Growing Together Northampton" Part 1

A team from our Community Service Committee made a start on transforming the play area for the local charity on the Eastern District in Northampton supporting young families by dismantling an old shed and taking it away.  Watch this space for more news

29th January 2025 Another New Member Inducted!

At our breakfast meeting, President Tade was delighted to induct Kirsty Simmonds as the latest Corporate Member of Rotary Club of Northampton Becket.

Kirsty has become the 3rd Member representing DFA Law to join the Club.

27th January 2025 "India on a Plate"

Thanks to Balti King Northampton for hosting our "India on a Plate" evening  organised by Rtn Doug Wilson to raise funds for Rotary Club of Northampton Becket community projects.  With the support or members from The Rotary Club of Towcester & Rotary Club of Northampton West and the great friends of Becket the sum of over £1,650 was raised on the evening and a good time was had by all!

Santa's Sleigh has just finished a 14 nights out on the road, visiting schools and care homes in and around Northampton as well as visits during the daytime and statdics at Tesco Mereway raising over £12,000 for the Community

For more details visit the Santa Sleigh Page

18th December 2024 Jokers' Breakfast

Rotary Becket held their annual Charity Fundraising Jokers' Breafast at Overstone Park when a record number of 80 peple attended - some telling their jokes and being judged by a panel.

Rtn Irene Loftus was the winnner.  Well Done!

A record amout of over £1,000 was raised in an hour and a half for our Community Projects.  Thanks to all that joined us and bought raffle tickets so gererously.

16th December 2024 Rotarians Jane and Robert were  delighted to deliver a few Christmas gifts  for the young residents at YMCA Northamptonshire yesterday as part of our Serving the  Community Project.

11th December 2024 Our SGM

Rotary Becket held their Special General Meeting when they appointed their Officers for the coming year.  We were delighted to elect Simon Sherry as incoming President for the Year 2027-28

Simon, who joined the Club in 2013 has in recent years been our Environmental Service Chair, as he feels passionately about such matters.

Simon joins incoming Presidents, Lynn Kitchen (2025-26) and Jackie Barnaby (2026-27) making a great team for the future of Rotary Becket 

In addition to the SGM business two new Corporate Members were inducted to Rotary Club of Northampton Becket this morning by our President Tade.  Karolina Arbacauskaite (Known to us as "Karolina A")  from DFA Law and Beau Holland from David Williams IFA.  It is great to have you both on board.

9th December 2024 - Bernie Keith Show

Our own David Sparrow was interviews on the Bernie Keith Show on BBC Northampton this morning and packed the 8 minutes with all the details of Santa's appearances in the run up to Christmas.  If you missed it you can hear the recording HERE

4th December 2024 - Another new Corporate Member

President Tade was delighted to induct Matt Cox as a new Member of Rotary Becket.  Matt (who has been associated with the club for a number of years) will be a Corporate Member representing David Williams IFA.   If you would like to know more about Corporate Rotary Membership contact David Sparrow

23rd November 2024 - Northampton Rotary Club Quiz Night

Our Grandmother Club had a super quiz night hosted by Richmond Village, raising funds for Rotary Becketd's Chipiti School project in Malawi. Presented by Terry Atkinson. 

‘’On a trip to Malawi in 2011, to see the existing aid projects supported by Rotary Becket, Rotarian Terry Atkinson and his wife went to Chitipi school and were so moved by the sight of 120 shoeless children having their lessons under a tree that they felt compelled to help. On their return to UK they said:

“We have the skills, the enthusiasm and the necessary knowledge to put a plan in place and build two classrooms for Chitipi School. All we need is the cash”.’

The school has grown through the Rotary Club of Northampton Becket’s 12 year building and development program from 300 to 1,000 and now exceeds 1,300 pupils. We are thankful to the Northampton and Corby Phoenix clubs for supporting the project

November 19th 2024 Sleeping Bags for Hope!

Jane Simpson, our Community Chair, delivered a quantity of sleeping bagsto Northampton Hope Centre  for those in need who will be sleeing out this winter. Rotary Becket have been regular suppottyer of the Charity ove the years - particularly during lockdown when the provided over £20,000 worth of food and equipment.

October 25th 2024 - Classroom Hand-over

Today was the handover of the three new classrooms at Chitipi School, Lilongwe Malawi. The classrooms were funded by Rotary Becket with the desks kindly provided by the Rotary Club of Towcester. The day was organised by our partners, the Rotary Club of Lilongwe who supervised the works. They also presented some reference books to the school to start a library.

For more read our November 2024 Update Page

October 23rd  2024 - New Corporate Members

President Nominee Jackie Barnaby presided on her first Rotary Becket meeting this morning in the absence of President Tade.  She had the pleasure of inducting new corporate members from DFA Law  at our Business Meeting.  Welcome Paul Currie and Danny Roberts.  We hope you enjoy Rotary!

11th October 2024 Classroom Box

Our Classroom box charity presented materials to the pupils of Mtsiliza School in Lilongwe, Malawi. Well received as always!

October 3rd - 6th 2024 - Ride For Hope

Two Rotary Becket Members - David Smith & David Sparrow ("the 2 Davids") participated in the annual bike ride to raise funds for Northampton Hope Centre.  This year, as a celebraton of 50 years since the charity was formed, 50 riders hoped to raise £50,000.

You to can help by visiting the link

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/rideforhope2024

September 19th 2024

Members of Rotary  Becket do not just do "good works" they also have fun - and a bit of competition.

On Friday the 19th we held our annual President’s Putter Golf Day which took place on a very wet Friday at Kilworth Springs Golf Club.  Members and friends are invited to take part for a "friendly competition".  

President Tade was presented the winners Rotarian John Saynor and his partner friend Richard Loveland with the trophy.  The good news is that as the Rotarian winner John gets to hold the award for the year.  The bad news is that he has to arrange next year's game!! 

August 31st 2024

Team from Rotary Becket were back to finish the  job at Rectory Farm Primary School. The pictures tell the story of how the 10 Rotarians complete the transformation 

August 17th 2024

Team from Rotary Becket were at work again over the weeknd on a Community Project.  This time refurbishing the garden planters railings, and garden gazebo at Rectory Farm Primary School.  David Smith  said "It was hot work but enjoyable though".  The team like to make a difference 

August 10th 2024

Members of Rotary Becket greatly enjoyed donning their waiter and waitress outfits again on Saturday at  Bethany Homestead serving high tea to the residents and those from the nearby Methodist Homes with Enid at the piano playing some hymns.  They had song sheets and sang along.  The magician, Steve Dimmer, who had them all laughing and joining in.  More cake than needed so extra went back to Methodist and Bethany Homestead to share with whoever couldn’t attend. They enjoyed the afternoon with much thanks al round

August 7th 2024

President of Rotary Club of Northampton Becket 2023-24, Martin Thornton (right), was delighted to meet up with Michelle Morris of Cynthia Spencer Hospice on Wednesday together with Golf organiser Alan Bunn (left) to present a cheque for £1,361.00 being funds raised from our Charity Golf Day at Northapton Golf Day in June. For details visit the page.  Cynthia Spencer Hospice were the lead Charity for the event.  It was particularly appropriate as the Hospice kindly cared for one of our members during his last days in July.  Thank you all those who supported the event and thank you Cynthia Spencer Hospice for your great work in the community!

August 4th - 7th 2024

Rotary Becket (with support from the Rotary Club of Towcester) recently purchased and prepared this ambulance to be driven out to the Ukraine.  It will be used in conjunction with local Rotary Clubs in the Ukraine to transport the injured and elderly to safely.

Members, David Smith and Terry Atkinson, set off on Sunday 4th August and, following an eventful trip delivered it to Ukraine on time during our Wednesday Breakfast Meeting on 7th.  Read about the story at the Ukrainian Ambulance Project Page

July 31st 2024

Our 5th Wednesday meant that the membership had an evening event with a Narrow Boad Trip at Stoke Bruerne followed by a meal at the Boat Inn.  It was an opportunity to wish David and Terry Bon Voyage on the trip deliverning an ambulance to the Ukraine!

26th July 2024

Sadley we lost  one our longstanding and much valued members, Rev Alan Panton PHF

July 3rd 2024

Wednesday 3rd July was the first meeting of the "Rotary Year" when President Martin Thornton handed over the reigns to incoming President Tade Oduyale with President Elect Lynn Kitchen and President Nominee Jackie Barnaby making up the team.Martin has handed the Club over in good shape with membership at a record number and the Club in good spirits.  Thanks you Martin and we look forward too supporting Tade in the coming year

For Earlier News Visit our News 2023-24 Page