Basildon Rotary Club 2023 Handover

A delegation of members had a great evening supporting Basildon Rotary Club's 2023 Handover event


In Praise of Volunteers

On June 29, 2023 President Roger and Sarah, Les Sheppard, Margaret Fowler, Brian Wellman and Peter Greene all went along to the Holiday Inn Basildon to support Basildon Rotary Club and celebrate the end of Ben Rajan’s year as President of the Rotary Club of Basildon, and his handover to Kevin Howard.  About twenty-five people attended this milestone event.

After a welcome from President Ben, the tables were invited one by one to go up to the buffet to serve themselves from a choice of Pork, Cod, and vegetarian dishes accompanied by rice, new potatoes, and salads.  The food was good, although the cod had a bit of a “bite” to it – very spicy.  Dessert followed with a choice of a delicious (and highly calorific) chocolate cake, or a healthy fruit salad (no guesses for my choice! – Editor), and finally coffee.

Charity begins at home

Next came the business of the evening with the major donation of a cheque for £1500 to St. Luke’s Hospice.
This was followed by the announcement of Basildon Rotary’s “Unsung Hero” award, this year presented to Chris Lovell, the founder of the “Table” in Basildon square, a member of BENS (Basildon Emergency Night Shelter) for the homeless and for his extensive work with the homeless.  Chris was humbled by the award and gave his grateful thanks.

What a Story

President Ben ended the formal part of the evening with his final speech, as he put it “In the words of Max Bygraves, I want to tell you a story” – yes, some of us are old enough to remember Max!  Ben listed the major achievements of his year, and thanked every member of the club, in particular Mike and Carole Barrett, and Peter Townsend, for their help in making his term of office a success, and not the ‘Car Crash’ he had feared.
But there was a surprise for Ben, the award of a Paul Harris Fellowship handed over by Secretary Carole Barrett, in tribute to all he had done for Basildon club and the community it serves.  So well merited.

Unfortunately, Kevin Howard, incoming president, was unable to attend the handover, which made the event a little strange, but Mike Barrett stepped in as substitute, accepting the chain of office on Kevin’s behalf and reading out a message from Kevin to all present. 

A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining evening out with friends and fellow Rotarians, much appreciated by Basildon members.  As one past president put it “Great to see you all last night and thanks for supporting us again. Much appreciated”.

High Sheriff

The evening ended with a talk by last year’s High Sheriff of Essex, Nick Alston CBE DL, the first Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, who members may recall spoke to our club when he was in that role in 2013.  Nick’s father was Deputy Chief Constable of Essex and was educated at KEGS and Cambridge University.
Nick briefly ran through his career starting as an Essex boy born in a police station.  He has held many posts in the Navy, in government, at Goldman Sachs as a security chief before becoming the first Essex Police and Crime Commissioner where he served one term.  He has also been Chair of Trustees at the Essex Community Foundation (ECF), is a Governor at Anglia Ruskin University, previously chaired the Mid-Essex Hospitals Trust and was Chair of the drug and alcohol charity, Open Road.  All this before being appointed the 842nd. High Sheriff of Essex in 2022, a post which dates back to Saxon times.  Not bad for a grandchild of servants at Marks Hall.

Grind to a Halt

At the top of his list of priorities for his year in office, was supporting the role that volunteers play improving communities for the benefit of others.  Nick handed out free copies of his book “The Essex High Sheriffs’ Fund” celebrating 25 years of the Essex Community Foundation, including contributions from past High Sheriffs and beautiful photographs from around the County.  Each year the Fund supports groups of many different sorts across Essex working to make their communities safer.

Nick ended by thanking us for all that we and Rotary do - in his words “Essex would grind to a halt without the support of volunteers like us and others like us.”
For more information: https://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/high-sheriffs-fund/

Related pages...

Cury Night Poster

Curry Night Fundraiser

more Members turned out to support Rotary Club of Basildon's fundraiser in Thundersley

Publicity Banner

Christmas Market 2023

more We support Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower's Christmas Market

Bonfire (night)

The Best Of British 2023

more As usual we supported a community event by supplying six volunteers to man the gates for Round Table’s 2023 Fireworks display at Lake Meadows Park.

The invite

Fundraising Indian Buffet 2023

more We supported Basildon Concord's fundraiser in Benfleet

What a Hat!

Marie Curie Collection

more We supported our daughter club in collecting for this charity

Not too bad

A Quizzical Night 2023

more Saturday 28th January saw the Chantry Centre packed to capacity for the annual Billericay Town Rotary Club quiz. Our team was Michael, Les and Val, paired with three from Billericay Mayflower - President Mark Chambers, plus Barry and Angie Fagg

Santa in his sleigh

Billericay Christmas Market 2022

more Members supported Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower's premier event - the Christmas Market

Flyer for the evening

Basildon 62 Year Anniversary - 2022

more Nine Members of our club and partners supported our friends from Basildon Rotary Club at their Charter Dinner

A Great Jazz Band

Jazz in the Garden 2022

more Many members supportedRotary Club of Billericay Mayflower's fundraising event

Audience eagerly awaits the action

Murder Mystery Fundraiser - March 2022

more A Murder Mystery night raising Money for Rotary Club of Billericay Town's Charitable Causes.

Oyeh Oyeh

Christmas Market 2021

more We helped prepare and then supported the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower on the day

President Peter Townsend welcomes all

Basildon Anniversary – 61 Years!

more We joined Basildon Rotary Club in celebrating their Charter Evening

Quiz Masters - Just “Biden Our Time”

more We entered a team in the Rotary Club of Billericay Town's virtual quiz in aid of the local charity BOSP, and scoop the winner's prize.

Simple Design Simple Rotary Logo Effective protection

Masking the Virus 2020

more We support the Rotary Club of Billericay Town which has a fundraising venture to manufacture Covid-19 Face Coverings.

Santa makes another convert

Santa Collects

more Rotary Club of Billericay are delighted to support the Billericay Lions Santa Sleigh collections again this year.

Our Members in their finery

Basildon Rotary Charter Night 2019

more A most enjoyable night with our friends at the Rotary Club of Basildon, and £265 raised for Mercy Ships.

The New Club members

Billericay Town Rotary Club

more Billericay's new Rotary Club is Chartered

Top Table

Basildon Charter Night 2018

more A most enjoyable night with our friends at the Rotary Club of Basildon, and over £300 raised for Children in Need,

The team!

Billericay Town Rotary Club Quiz Night

more We win the Satellite Rotary Club of Billericay Town Quiz night in aid of Headway Essex

A great evening

Billericay Mayflower Charter Night 2018

more President Peter Greene and Wendy, Patrick Rothon and Carol, and Roger Kettle and Sarah all enjoyed Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower's hospitality at its 2018 Charter Night.

 A Festival of Stalls

Basildon Concord Mayfest 2018

more Club Members help out as marshals at Rotary Club of Basildon Concord’s Mayfest in Basildon Town Square. A great showcase of local charities.

A packed Hall

BIllericay Town Rotary Quiz Night 2018

more Rotary Club of Billericay Town Quiz Night raises over £700 for Charity

A full house for the horses

A 2017 Race Night

more 70 participants enjoyed a very successful Charity Race Night at Laindon - 8 Races, 8 horses each, but ... we didn't get enough winners! Never mind - the charities were the real winners!

Basildon Concord Team enjoying the fruits of their work

Basildon May Fest 2017

more On May 13, we supported the Rotary Club of Basildon Concord’s Mayfest. We reciprocate the help and support provided to us by other service clubs whenever we are able.

What are doing

Helping other clubs

more Members work with other Rotary clubs including travelling to Harwich to advise on the use of conventional and electronic tools to spread the word about Rotary

Club members at Basildon Charter Night

Basildon Charter Night 2016

more Basildon's 56th Charter Night

A great Dinner Dance in aid of Polly Parrot

2016 Basildon Concord Charity Dinner Dance

more Joining Basildon Concord Rotary club to help them raise money for charity, for fellowship and ... for a good night out!

The masses assemble

Partnership at Wickford 2015

more Fellowship at Wickford Rotary Club and a worthwhile charity

All dressed up and somewhere to go

World War 1 Centenary Exhibition - 2015

more A major exhibition on the centenary of WWI, featuring contributions from the Western Front association and four local Billericay Junior schools - Buttsbury, Quilters, ST Johns, St Peters.

Poster for the Heritage event

On the Heritage Trail

more Club Members supported the Rotary Club of Ongar's heritage event in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the local St Clare Hospice.

Destruction by Earthquake in Nepal

An Appealing Effort

more Members of our club helped Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower, our daughter club, collecting over £2300 for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal.

The Scoreboard at the ground

The Rotary Big Quiz 2015

more The District organized quiz to raise awareness of Rotary, raise money for Lancaster School and make an attempt on the World Record for the most people at a quiz. We sent along a team to participate. A great time was had by all.

A crowded Hall

Quiz Night at Ingatestone 2015

more Joining Ingatestone Rotary club for to help them raise money, for fellowship and a quiz, and almost triumphing!

Final Score!

Italian Quiz Night

more We supported the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower's fundraising event - an Italian Quiz Night with a team of club members and their wives.

150th Anniversary Banner adorns the Reading Rooms

Reading Rooms 150 Year Anniversary

more Billericay Reading Rooms celebrates its 150 Year Anniversary.

Basildon Rotary Club Bike Ride

Supporting the Community 2014 - I

more Club Members supported two major local fundraising events, organised by others, on Sunday May 18th. 2014. The Rotary Club of Basildon Bike Ride and the Billericay Fun Walk.

Legend - Bob Marley at Basildon Rotary Club

more Supporting Basildon Rotary Club at their fundraising Concert.

Brilliant work by the Cater Museum

Cater Museum – A credit to the town

more Several Billericay club members are among the Trustees of our town's Cater Museum and Christine Brewster, the well-liked and respected Curator of the museum for over 11 years, came along to give a most interesting talk to the club about the museum's achie

Supporting the Community 2014 - II

more Bonus distribution for the Fun Walk - this year an extra 60%.

A Magical Night 2014

more And he didn't even get wet.

Billericay Art Trail 2013

more The Billericay Art Trail 2013 brings together artists, retailers, caterers and community groups of Billericay to showcase the talents of local artists and to encourage more people to visit the wide variety of facilities in the town.

Race Night 2012

more Many members of Billericay Rotary Club supported the St. Luke's Hospice Events Group by supporting its fundraising Charity Race night.

Firewalk Autumn 2012

more Club members enjoyed a social outing in a good cause - supporting the Rotary Club of Basildon in their Charity Firewalk by sponsoring walkers, and cheering them on at the event.

Manor House

Abbots Ripton Hall Garden & Food Show

more Members travelled to Lord de Ramsey's garden in Abbots Ripton to support this major Charity Garden and Food Show.

back to page above this...

Club Members at Basildon

Community Support

back These pages describe our activities in support of other organizations raising funds for those in need or supporting our local community.