Fellow Rotarians
Welcome to our bi-monthly news letter. I hope that many of you are enjoying our new website. In its early stages of development it is important that you let us know what you like about it, what we can do to improve it and what you would like to see more or less of.
I am pleased to say that our Centenary Project funding, to extend and renew the visitors Centre at Bradgate Park, has risen from £70000 to £92000 since my March news letter . Whilst on track we still need a big effort to achieve the target of £150000 by the end of this year. Our next key event, in collaboration with the Bradgate Park Trust, is an evening performance of Shakespeare\’s \”A Midsummer Nights Dream\” , on the 21st of June, in the atmospheric ruins of Lady Jane Gray\’s House.
Rtn. David Brunton, who is Chair of our Centenary Project Committee, is currently keen for Rotarians to back the recent Aviva Community Fund bid we have made for £10,000. To vote for our project you will need to register on the Aviva Community Fund Website. You then receive 10 Votes, which I hope you will choose to give to our project Please ask family and friends to vote for us too – mine have already. Please note that voting will close on the 30th May.
On April 14th at Sands Restaurant in Glenfield our Curry evening was a great success, raising £1244 for the Presidents local charity Heart Safe – Leicester & Leicestershire. Staff from Next brought some great raffle prizes. Consultant Doug Skehan, who leads the Heart Safe project, was joined by members of his team from the Royal and provided an update on their work. Thanks for making this happen go to Sanjay the owner of Sands for excellent food and not least to our own Rtn Debbie Alderstein .
Our Technology Tournament at Leicester Grammar School on March 6th was a great success as you will have seen from some of the pictures on this website. 22 teams of 4 aged 14 to 17, including one for the accompanying teachers!! took part, from Oakham School, Beauchamp College and Leicester Grammar. The groups spent 5hrs grappling with the invention and building of a device, from a \”flat pack\” of unidentified useful parts and powered by a small battery, that could carry a small load along a \”high\” wire across a \”ravine\” and safely drop it on the spot. For older pupils there was an additional challenge to bring their device back to the start . All the teams completed a device and a surprising number finished their journey along the wire. Leicestershire if not Britain certainly has got talent!!
Thanks must go to Rtn Derrick Sadd for building the prototype in his kitchen and Rtn Colin Derrick his partner in crime, seriously though, doing a great job in bringing this Rotary tournament to Leicestershire. They were ably assisted on the day by several Rotarian judges/advisers and Rtn John Saunders with his camera. The enthusiasm of the teachers from all the schools and the young people, leave no doubt in my mind that next years Technology Challenge will be eagerly awaited and somewhat larger.
On Sunday 10th May the Super Hero fun run, organised jointly by ourselves, the Leicester De Montfort, Leicester Novus and Rotaract Clubs, took place in Abbey Park. We featured in the Leicester Mercury on Monday 11th after a successful day. The runners raised around £2000 for their charities, but at this stage it is too soon to know how much we have made for the three charities i.e. Charity Link, Twenty Twenty and LOROS. From our club thanks must go to Rtn Sue McEniff for organising the web site, marketing and publicity, the 11 Marshalls we contributed and especial thanks to Rtn Robin Sturgess on behalf of the Sturgess Motor Group our main sponsor.
Over 30 Rotarians and partners visited Norman and Underwood on May 5th where we learned about and saw lead sheeting being made, using a process which is little changed since the Egyptians and before. Known for their work on Cathedral Roofs at home and abroad their Chairman John Castleman brought us up to date, describing the Company\’s pride and honour to have been chosen to provide the lead lining for the inside of Richard the III\’s Coffin, personally fitted by John.
In short
- Congratulations go to Des Cloak and Bob Rawlinson for their Paul Harris Fellowships for their outstanding service to Rotary and the Community of Leicester and Leicestershire
- The Club will be making donations of over £4000 to local Charities this month.
- Kids Out 10th June at Wicksteed Park, Kettering. Volunteers please see Rtn Mark Simpson .
This will be my second, but also last news letter as Club President. We shall be welcoming in Rtn Paul Bonnett as President on 29th June. I am having a thoroughly enjoyable year in office, but without the support of my fellow Rotarians it would have been a very daunting task.
President Stuart
