Spokesman summer 17

SP KESMAN

Summer 2017

ROTARY’N GWASANAETHU DYNOLIAETH

100 years of Rotary in Southern Wales

‘The Opportunity to Serve’

We were nearing the end of our first online meeting with the Philadelphian Rotarians and I was wondering how to thank them for what they were doing for young Megan and her family when their DG, Dave Haradon, chirped up, “Hey folks, can we just thank you so much for giving us this great opportunity to serve”. I think both Mike and I were lost for words.

However, I shouldn’t have been surprised because this is what being a Rotarian is really all about. We all joined Rotary to put something back into our communities and to help those less fortunate than ourselves or to help others along the way. This story has certainly made the headlines and we wish Megan all the very best as she endures a long and complex operation; but for many members this has also restored belief in what Rotary stands for and what Rotarians can achieve in a way no other organisation can. Nothing is too great and nothing too small.

In fact much of the contribution is unseen. Cash donations are important, but there have also been significant gifts in kind such as the Rotarians who have provided vehicles and drivers and persuaded companies to provide services at nil cost or at significant discounts. This has closed the funding gap and it also demonstrates our influence in the community.

I am also mindful that it was Inner Wheel who put us on this particular road and as many of our readers are members of Inner Wheel I welcome this opportunity to repeat Dave’s words and in turn thank them for giving us, together, the opportunity to serve and supporting us as they always do in so many other ways.

The enduring memories of my year are undoubtedly the club visits and the warmth of the welcome Felicity and I have received wherever we go. As I write this article I am scanning a list of 30 events (fundraisers, competitions, projects, etc.) undertaken by a typical club during the current year. Of this number there are three (spectacles, shoeboxes and polio), which are overseas projects, and the remainder are entirely community based. Intuitively, I feel that this may be typical of most clubs and, therefore, collectively we could be holding as many as 2,000 activities, of which 90% are for the benefit of our own communities. I believe that this meets our members’ expectations and I hope that this observation will dispel the view that Rotary is only interested in large international projects.

We need a larger, more diverse membership to enable this work to continue. In truth, that is down to us all but first we need to be proud ourselves of our contribution and be inspired by stories such as Megan’s so

Our front page shows a delightful picture of Megan who travelled to the USA helped all the way by enthusiastic Rotarians in Philadelphia. Megan is hoping to return soon for surgery that will help her to lead a normal life. Picture was taken by Mary Adams.

Full story on page 8.

Our back page is all about Conference in Plymouth.

This is a weekend away in the eclectic city of Plymouth and will not fail to inspire and entertain you as Rotarians. The organisers have worked hard to provide a varied programme which highlights the best of Rotary, and individual human endeavour. If you have never been, you should go. It’s a highly worthwhile thing to do, if only to meet other Rotarians and see how they do things and marvel at the selfless determination of people making a difference.

Spokesman is the ideal advertising platform to reach like-minded people. You know exactly who receives it and the costs are nominal.

If you think your business would benefit from advertising, my email is below.

Editorial. Text: Word document attached to an email. Don’t embed photos in Word as it reduces resolution. Put your caption in the story and give the picture a proper title, preferably starting with the name of your club, ie “Abertillery stroke awareness” and title the story the same.

When taking a picture try and make the resolution as high as possible. RAW is best.

Your pictures and stories show the amazing things happening in the District, keep them coming!

Rtn Doug McArthur Editor Spokesman dougmca@rocketmail.com

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that we are happy to invite people to join us. No community is too small in fact and I know of at least one club there are 7 members who all live in the same small rural neighbouring village. That’s almost enough to form a Satellite group. We all need to ask ourselves again – “when did I last invite a person to join my Rotary club?”

This year’s Governor group are self-styled the Evolutionaries, partly because our RIBI President is named Eve, but more importantly because we recognise the need to evolve. Rotary can be done differently but just as effectively if we are prepared to change. For example, during the current fortnight I shall be participating in online meetings with Rotarians in Pune (India), Trelew (Argentina), Iloilo (Philippines) and Philadelphia, together with Rotarians in our clubs; and our Youth, Foundation and Membership committees have all met online. All of this saves the precious commodities of money and time and, through Rotary clubs, local communities shall speak unto local communities.

(Don’t tell the BBC I said that!).

We are in our Centenary year and in the years ahead many clubs will be celebrating their individual centenaries. I have read many club histories in the past few years, which serve to remind me that we are the custodians of a long legacy, founded over a hundred years, of service before self. We are still a great and successful organisation and we owe it to those who have gone before us to ensure that what they built can continue in the future so that Rotary will always be here to Serve Humanity.

Steve Jenkins District Governor 2016-17

A Century of Rotary - Making a Difference

It is a great honour to have been elected as your District Governor for the year 2017/18 and I am especially proud to take on this office during such a momentous year. We all congratulate the Rotary Clubs of Cardiff and Llanelli as we join with them to celebrate their centenaries, plus, of course we will celebrate the Centenary of Rotary in Wales throughout our District.

I have attended several training sessions alongside my fellow DGs over the past couple of years but this culminated in our attendance at the Rotary International Assembly in San Diego alongside the other 538 incoming DGs. Although we were all from different cultures we were all connected from the moment we met by our commitment to Rotary. Plus we all felt very privileged to be able to say “I was there” when RI President Elect gave his keynote speech and launched his theme for the year – “ROTARY MAKING A DIFFERENCE” During his opening address, RI President Ian talked about our membership, sustainability of our planet and his dedication to Rotary’s peace initiatives. He has asked us to support him by:Increasing our membership by forming at least one new Club in each of our Areas :: Planting a tree for every Rotarian in our District :: Attending his Peace Conference in Coventry on 24th February, 2018.

RI Pres Ian has also requested that every Club inputs the number of volunteer hours given by its members and the amount of money raised into Rotary Club Central. He would like to calculate the totals for Rotarians worldwide at the end of his year in office and promote these totals to the world’s media.

I believe we sometimes forget the power each one of us has when we get together with our fellow Rotarians and complete a project either in our own community or in another country. So stop, just take a moment and appreciate the difference you have made to another person by your actions. Now do you feel proud to be a Rotarian? Let’s ensure our great work continues by involving more people within our own communities, our friends and colleagues. When they appreciate how Rotarians are “MAKING A DIFFERENCE” they will want to know more. So please ensure that every event you plan is fun and has a membership benefit.

“If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a What seems like a generation ago, it was suggested mosquito” - Dalai Lama. (my motto for the PEPS meeting) that I look for a project to support during my year 2017/18 RI President Ian Riseley, Maggie, 2017/18 RI Director Brian Stoyle. as DG. Because many of our Clubs have their own projects and fundraising initiatives, I chose a project to reflect how Rotary started in 1905 which was promote our service in the community, fellowship and networking. As many of you are now aware the project is to create awareness of and promote Dementia Friendly Communities and the free, interactive Dementia Friends sessions for customer facing businesses and Rotarians. Thank you to all the Clubs in our District who are already working on this initiative and really “Making a Difference” to the people who are living with dementia and their carers. My aim is that every Rotarian is a Dementia Friend by the end of my year of office.

Bill and I look forward to meeting up with many of you at the District Handover on Sunday, 25th June at the Towers Hotel in Swansea. We also look forward to welcoming you for fun and fellowship at our great weekend away in Plymouth at District Conference 13th – 15th October. See you soon!

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GEORGE IS A CHAMPION OF CHANGE

George Mercer of the Rotary Club of Cardiff, has been awarded the national Rotary Champion of Change Award for his work in creating change and opportunity within the field of membership development. George, will be President of his club 2017/18 as they celebrate their centenary.

Chartered in November 1917 Cardiff will be the first club in Wales to celebrate 100 years of service to the community.

The 2016-17 Rotary Champions of Change Awards Night held in the House of Lords added several new categories

this year, one of which was the first ever Presidential Award made by Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland President Eve Conway.

This Award was presented to George as a champion of Rotary satellite clubs - a change of approach in forming new Rotary clubs that is now being used around the world.

This is a significant step forward for Rotary and a seismic change in how they approach the formation of new clubs in an attempt to embrace the changing circumstances both at work and in families that potential new members

Happy 51st at Narberth

Narberth and Whitland celebrated its 51st Charter Night with Guest Speaker Derek Quinnell pictured with DG Steve Jenkins and DG Elect Maggie Hughes. and Mary Adams, 4

encounter.

President Eve Conway said: “It gives me great please to award George Mercer with Rotary GBI’s first Presidential Award. Rotary will continue and expand its recognition of Rotarians like George who are showing outstanding commitment and flexibility for the development of Rotary.”

George on the terrace of the Houses of Parliament after receiving his award from RotaryGBI President Eve Conway with from left, District Governor Steve Jenkins, Willliam Hague and Joan Mercer.

District centenary plans underway

Among the District plans are legacy initiatives such as creating Dementia Friendly Communities to reflect how Rotary originated. The aim is that all Rotarians become Dementia Friends by the end of June, 2018 as a result of receiving the interactive awareness session. We are also working with agencies such as the Woodland Trust to plant 100 trees at key sites in Wales.

Following on from the recent presentation promoting the “Closer to Home” Tenovus project at District Assembly, this has been adopted as a centenary fundraising appeal. We have the opportunity of naming a room in the mobile treatment unit if we raise £25,000 as a District. All our Clubs have fantastic fundraising ideas but another suggestion could be called The Rotary Centenary Mile. The aim is for clubs to team up with their local leisure centre to plan an event and encourage members of the public to complete a sponsored mile.

This could be a mile on a static piece of gym equipment such as a bike or running machine or swimming a mile or taking part in a mile fun run. This event would create major impact across the District and obtain maximum publicity if all those clubs taking part chose to hold the event on the same day e.g. to celebrate Rotary Day on 23rd February, 2018.

A cultural fun and fellowship idea being developed is the setting up of a Rotary choir in each area. Each choir will rehearse the same programme to perform at various “Party in the Park” events around the District during our Centenary year. The possibility of coming together as a massed choir has also been mooted.

A Centenary Committee is being formed to further develop these 100 years ideas and initiatives.

Centenary of service in Wales

The Band of The Royal Welsh which will play at the Castle Beating Retreat Rotary will celebrate 100 years of service in Wales in 2017.

The Rotary Club of Cardiff was founded in the midst of the First World War in 1917 and strove to serve the community during those troubled times.

It has maintained its Service Above Self ethic ever since and now is leading the way for the other clubs in Wales to mark the 100th birthday.

For the last year or so the club has had a Centenary Committee planning various activities including two big events during the year. The first of these will be in May at Cardiff Castle and includes a

Beating the Retreat. This will be a more public event to let the world know the achievements of Rotary.

The second big event will be a gala dinner in November at the Park Thistle Hotel, where Rotary in Cardiff and Wales started. Rotary is about service as well as fellowship so that will be a big feature of the 12 months of celebration. As well as a progamme of community events, there will be a focus on two important charities.

One will be International – Rare and Neglected Tropical Diseases and the other a local community one – Maggie’s Centre.

The fund raising and planning for both of

these has already started. The former will include match funding from numerous sources including Rotary International and the latter will involve the support of other Rotary Clubs in South East Wales.

The Centennial Committee hopes to raise £25,000 for Maggie’s for the fire hearth and cwtch at the proposed Cardiff Centre at Velindre Cancer Hospital, which is hoped will open this year.

Maggie’s centres provide much needed professional counselling, advice, help and support services for cancer patients and their immediate family members affected by the patient’s illness.

PERCY CADLE - FOUNDING MEMBER

Percy Cadle (Tobacconist) was among the first formal admissions to the Rotary Club of Cardiff shortly after its formation on 22nd May, 1917.

Percy Cadle came to Cardiff in 1889, at the age of 25 and his name soon became familiar to generations of Cardiffians whose tobacco requirements were met from his shops in the Docks and St Mary Street.

As the business expanded other shops were opened in Queen Street, Duke Street and the Hayes.

In addition, he had shops at Barry and Pontypridd.

Percy Cadle was one of Cardiff’s leading tradesmen and had been connected with the tobacco trade for 55 years.

He was a founder of the Cardiff Chamber of Trade, and became president in 1914. He was largely instrumental in forming the Cardiff Pals Battalion.

As a member of the old Glamorgan Cricket Club committee he advocated that Glamorgan should qualify as a a first class county, he was first Chairman of the Finance Committee when this was brought about.

A well known bridge player, Percy was captain of a team competing for the British League Gold Cup. He collapsed and died while attending a bridge match at a house in He was also a keen bowler and a member of the Plymouth Road, Penarth in 1934. He was 70 years old. governing body of the Bowling Association.

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“There is no greater purpose of people in public life than pursuing peace” The conflict in Northern Ireland since the sixties was not just a conflict. It was civil war. “We weren’t allowed to call it that, but that’s what it was.”

According to Lord Murphy of Torfaen, pictured, was the Secretary of State for Wales and also for Northern Ireland at one of the most dangerous times of ‘the Troubles’.

This was a part of our country, with half the population of Wales, which saw over 3,500 people killed violently.

“There were wars all over the world since the sixties, but one of the worst was in our country,” he told the District Peace Conference at The Senedd.

“In Northern Ireland there wasn’t a single family that wasn’t affected.

Caroline Millman of PeaceJam UK, Fiona Mistrust, discrimination and resentment McCauley, Senior Lecturer in Peace resulted in war, and it was only after and Conflict at Bradford Peace Centre gruelling work that we came to an and Lord Murphy of Torfaen. agreement.

The unique event held age-appropriate “We brought the factions together and presentations and workshops featuring eventually we signed the Good Friday topics that aimed to inspire peaceful Agreement. action and reactivate involvement in the “You can deal with issues but peace will local community – all while bonding only come if people’s mindset changes. together the generations of Rotary.

Then after the ceasefire we had to start the real peace process. This was a slow A weekend with Nobel Peace Laureate, Leymah Gbowee process in the face of a lack of trust, then finally it began to work in a way that you couldn’t imagine.”

Since then Lord Murphy has travelled the world talking to people about how the peace process was made to work in Northern Ireland. “Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers, Palestine and Israel, Catholics and Muslims in the Phillipines, even talked peace and reconciliation in South Africa.”

There is no greater purpose of people in public life than in pursuing peace.”

During the day, The generations of Rotary come together at the District 1150 Peace Conference.

Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, RotaKids and more were housed in one room for the spectacular peace event at the Senedd.

The theme, ‘A World in Need on In March, PeaceJam UK held a 200-strong conference in Winchester. Representatives our Doorstep’, hosted high-profile from Cardiff Bay Rotary and City of Cardiff Rotaract have attended the annual event, speakers including Jenny Rathbone AM, which hosts a Nobel Peace Laureate, for the past three years.

However, this year the conference held a strong Welsh presence. While the Rotaractors underwent their usual role as valued student mentors, Coed Cae Interact, the Caerphilly Youth Forum, Mountain Ash Cathedral School and Newport Advocacy and Participation Service also made the journey over the border.

All groups had the enlightening experience of listening to and interacting with Leymah Gbowee; a Liberian activist and peace laureate.

Needless to say, the groups found solidarity in their Welsh commonalities and are now suitably fired up to expand the PeaceJam programme and go back to their communities to make a difference.

by Jamie-Lee Cole Marketing and Communications Officer, Rotaract in Great Britain and Ireland Past President, City of Cardiff Rotaract How to start a conference the Rotaract way - with a dance.

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Rotaract welcomes New Citizens Back in 2015, City of Cardiff Rotaract Club had a discussion on the refugee crisis in Europe and in what ways we can help as a club. During that meeting, Alison Sutherland said that she had noticed that there was a resettlement centre for refugees and asylum seekers in Cardiff, so our starting point should be there. Alison met the Manager of the Centre and put forward our proposal which was accepted.

We came up with the idea to teach the PeaceJam programme on Introduction to Global Citizenship to the residents at Lynx House who stay there for about a month until they are moved elsewhere. Topics such as identity and difference, empathy and compassion, overcoming stereotypes and human rights were tailored for our audience to understand in their native language and in English. Some days we are working in five or six languages, using the residents as translators, one to another.

With our programme in hand, along with cupcakes and sweets, Rotaract members Jamie Lee Cole, Kemba Godson-Phillips and Alison Sutherland went into Lynx House and began our relationship with the people staying there. We had some difficulties such as finding someone to translate for us, however with our constant interaction with Lynx House, we were able forge friendships with some of the residents who later became translators for the programme and members of our club.

It has been two years since our initial start in Lynx House and as a club, we can say that this initiative is a success.

We can see a change in their attitude. They are more confident, happier and full of joy. We continue to help our new citizens in Cardiff and will be a welcoming face for them. We have now also been asked to see what we can come up with specifically for the women and children.

Below, Rotaract and Alison Sutherland take a break from helping with blood pressure testing (page 9).

Jamie-Lee Cole City of Cardiff Rotaract

‘YOU CAN CHANGE’

Programme Delivered into Parc Prison, Bridgend

by Alison Sutherland

Over the last fifteen months, District Peace Officer Alison Sutherland, has been delivering a programme entitled ‘You Can Change’, based on the PeaceJam Juvenile Programme, to first time offenders in Parc Prison, Bridgend.

Prisoners from the Endeavour Unit (former servicemen) and the Father’s Unit (fathers), who are serving their first prison sentence, have had the opportunity to sign up for the three day course.

Each programme has been attended by 18-20 participants. Although Alison has not been made aware of each participant’s past, she has found they are very open to sharing the reason for their prison sentence.

Two participants are serving life for murder, several are arsonists, some involved in drugs or alcohol related crime, and some imprisoned for domestic abuse.

It has been greatly advantageous that Alison has been joined by a Prison Intervention Officer, Howard, who himself has had a very chequered path around drug abuse. He had an ‘epiphany’ and turned his life around. Consequently, he has the respect of many of the prisoners for what he has achieved and the way in which he fulfils his role as Intervention Officer.

The first day of the course usually begins with most of the participants thinking “Well, at least we have three days off work” or “We can’t change”. But by the end of the third day these attitudes are turned on their head. The course has enjoyed 100% success with sustained good behaviour, restoration of relationships with family members, more engagement in other intervention projects and a commitment not to re-offend.

It is hoped that this programme could be replicated to other prisons. The cost of implementing this programme is low but the financial benefits are great.

The cost of keeping someone in prison for a year is about £30,000, plus costs of intervention programmes and other help. Added to this are benefits paid to the family to help them with subsistence whilst the prisoner is in prison. The cost savings to the state over a year for this programme could amount to £1 million+. But more importantly, the programme returns a father to his children, a husband to his wife, a citizen back into the community.

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Hands across the sea ‘feel the love’

by Maggie Abbett

Partnership working between Rotarians from both sides of the Atlantic has given a boost to a young aspiring gymnast who needs life changing surgery.

Megan Sadler, aged 10, from Milford Haven has a dream of becoming a gymnast.

But Megan suffers from severe scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, which means that she has to permanently wear a body brace.

There is no treatment available in the UK that would enable Megan to fulfill her dream. However the Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia is pioneering a successful treatment that will continue to correct the spine as Megan grows but time is running out and she has a very narrow window of opportunity available to her.

Shriners generously offered to perform the operation and treatment free of charge, but there are still major costs for the family to find - to pay for flights and accommodation. Megan’s sister has autism and with a four year old to look after as well this is a challenging time for the family.

Milford Haven Rotary was alerted to the family’s plight by their local Inner Wheel club who had already began fund raising. The club sprang into action, initially raising £1,000 in a special concert. This was further boosted by a concerted fund raising effort from both Rotarians and Inner Wheelers in Pembrokeshire. Megan’s story then began to gain support through social media posts and links to the fund raising website.

In February Megan travelled to Philadelphia for final tests to ascertain whether she would be receptive to the treatment. It was a big trip for the family who have never travelled abroad before.

District Governor Steve Jenkins contacted his fellow District Governor Dave Haradon in Philadelphia, District 7450 to ask whether local Rotarians could be there to wrap an arm around the family when they arrived.

The response was immediate and an online video meeting was set up with Rtn Mike Peake of Milford Haven, DG Steve and with DG Dave and Rotarian Ted Trevorrow from District 7450, which helped to identify all the family needs. This took no more than 45 minutes and by that evening there was a plan in place.

Their response “We will strive to be excellent”.

And they were true to their word.

When the Sadler family arrived at Philadelphia Airport 2 days later, tired and jetlagged and wondering about how they were going to get a taxi to the hotel there were 30 Rotarians waiting at the airport with Welsh and Union flags and welcome signs and well as a myriad of practical gifts including food, toys and an i-phone with $200 dollars credit.

A taxi from the airport to the hotel would cost $50 but not only did the Rotarians drive them to the hotel they also set up a rota system to escort the family to and from the hotel and the hospital every day – a half hour journey. These seemingly little things add up.

The Sadler family were overwhelmed with the support from the American Rotarians

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and to cap it all their Rotary welcome was covered live on Philadelphian TV. On Tuesday 21 February Megan went through five hours of tests to see whether she was suitable for the operation.

In the UK Rotarians were waiting for the news and the family were able, via Rotary to break the positive news that Megan will be able to start the treatment in May. But it doesn’t end there.

Megan has been awarded a Child of Courage award from ITV Wales who have also been covering her story.

Southern Wales District 1150 is now working on more fund raising initiatives for Megan and District 7450 are preparing for the families next visit to Philadelphia in May. District Governor 1150 Steve Jenkins said: “Megan’s story has proved that distance is no barrier to Rotarians working together in order to overcome a need in our communities – in this case helping a family in need and to give Megan the chance to live her dream. We must continue to use social media and new forms of communication positively and effectively.

Together we are stronger” Rotarian Ted Trevorrow put it quite simply on television “We are all Rotary members, this is what we do” The final word however comes from RI President John Germ who has taken a personal interest in Megan’s Adventure: “This is a true sign of “Rotary Serving Humanity”. I hope the visit goes well and they can get the surgery done while here and it is successful. I would appreciate your keeping me informed” We will.

Above, Megan with sister Kaci.

Below left, President of Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club Mary Adams and her husband Huw collect the family from Heathrow airport as their car had broken down on the way to the airport.

Below Megan meets one of her consultants.

KNOW YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

City of Cardiff Rotaract partnered with the Cardiff University School of Medicine and the Stroke Association to provide a full day’s event at the Capitol Centre, Cardiff.

During the day, some 242 members of the public had their blood pressure checked by first year medical students. 179 of the checks were fine. 59 needed to be referred to their GPs within the month and 7 were asked to see their GP urgently.

The event gets better each time. The School of Medicine provides all of the equipment together with around 40 first year medical students who rotate between taking the blood pressure, writing down the details of the person to be checked or joining Rotaractors in approaching members of the public, asking them to participate. Rotaract, courtesy of the URC Church in Windsor Place, provide the actual furniture and can be seen in Queen Street first thing in the morning laden with chairs and tables.

The Stroke Association are now offering Ambassador training to Rotaractors and Rotarians which would equip and enable them to put on such events without the necessity of having a doctor or nurse present. (For Rotarians who are interested in doing this, please contact Alison Sutherland, ypalison@yahoo.co.uk who will be co-ordinating the numbers for this training day with the Stroke Association). Alison Sutherland

Despite the approaching local and national elections, some of our well known politicians didn’t appear to be feeling any particular pressure as they supported Know Your Blood Pressure Day on April 22nd. This annual event, organised nationally by the Stroke Association, and supported by Rotary Clubs, gives people all over the country an opportunity to get their blood pressure checked.

First Minister, Carwyn Jones and Madeleine Moon MP joined Porthcawl Mayor Robert Lee and his wife Ann in the queue to have their blood pressure checked at the event organised by the Rotary Club of Porthcawl at Trinity Church, Porthcawl.

During the day, health professionals took the blood pressure of 163 people. Of those people, eighteen were advised to have a follow-up check within a month, and one was advised to make an urgent referral. (photo shows Rotarian Dr Colin Williams, with First Minister, Carwyn Jones; Madeline Moon MP; Mayor and Mayoress of Porthcawl, Cllr Robert Lee and Mrs Ann Lee) At Tescos in Merthyr. Several Rotarians from the Merthyr Tydfil club joined the Rotaractors to check blood pressure, above. The School of Medicine provided enough students to man four booths.

Residents in Abertillery and Blaina were invited to take a moment to have a free blood pressure test at their local Tesco.

Over half of all strokes can be caused by high blood pressure and it is estimated that over five million people across the UK don’t realise they have the condition.

Sharon Harford, President of Abertillery and Blaina Rotary, said: “Know Your Blood Pressure Day, was all about raising awareness of the link between high blood pressure and stroke.

Our club supports the Stroke Association annually with blood pressure events. Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK but, with events like these, we hope to change this. A blood pressure test is quick and painless, and it could save your life.”

Nicola Davies and Beth Phillips from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s ‘Living Well, Living Longer’ Team supported Rotary at the event and took the blood pressure of 40 people, providing invaluable advice to all concerned. (Pictured left).

“We are extremely grateful for their support once again.

And thanks to the staff at Tesco Abertillery for their help and hospitality during the event,” said Sharon.

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Are you a Dementia Friend?

Creating a Dementia Friendly Wales – our 100 year legacy.

One of the major “legacy” initiatives already under way to celebrate 100 years in Wales is to ensure the whole of the country becomes “dementia friendly”.

It is a major goal for District Governor Elect, Maggie Hughes and she has already made a good start working with the DG for adjoining District 1180 regarding North Wales.

She has also been working closely with Inner Wheel Chairman Lynda Brown and with Scouts and Guides groups.

Maggie has been busy over the past two years, delivering presentations about creating a Dementia Friendly Wales to several clubs, to area meetings, inner wheel clubs as well as District events. She has also been very involved working with other agencies on local dementia friendly steering groups.

Maggie has also met with the Welsh Government about creating a “New Dementia Strategy for Wales” and has had Dementia added to the information form in the Message in a Bottle container.

Llanishen has supported a Memory Café for many years. A pharmarcist member is organising and sponsoring an event for all pharmarcists in Cardiff. The club is also hoping to work with Morrisons supermarket.

Similarly Rotary Club of Brecon has been actively supporting Brecon as a Dementia Friendly Town and funding many projects in this field.

Narberth and Whitland Rotary has set up a memory café with the local museum and is raising funds through their Dragon Boat Race. Mary Adams of Narberth and Whitland and Hayley Ridge of Brecon Rotary have agreed to be “Ambassadors” for the project during Maggie’s year of office.

At time of going to press around 21 Rotary Clubs across the District have received the Dementia Friendly sessions.

DGE Maggie Hughes has pledged to enrol over 1,500 Rotarians as ‘Dementia Friends’.

She told Narberth and Whitland that new ‘Friends’ would attend a short seminar on how to deal with persons suffering from mental illnesses many of which are related to strokes, accidents or vascular dementia. The principal aim being to care and assist carers and their loved ones suffering from dementia-related illnesses.

The Club is going to team with Narberth Museum to form a Dementia-Friendly Community Group based at the museum where carers and sufferers may enjoy relaxed and a welcoming reception and enjoy a simple cuppa and some stimulating conversation.

Pictured, Marcia Vale, left, a communities co-ordinator from the Alzheimer’s Society, Reg Wyeth, Chairman of the Taf QT Club, Emma Baines, Heritage Learning Officer, Mary Adams, President Narberth Rotary and DGE Maggie.

Mumbles club (above), joined with good friends Swansea Bay Rotary club and other guests for an interactive session led by Sue Coleman, specialist Occupational Therapist at the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board with a speciality in Dementia awareness training.

Maggie Hughes wishes to see Rotary play a leading part in raising awareness of the increase in Dementia in society and to help support communities in being more understanding.

Sue spoke of the range of sufferers as being from people in the 40’s and upwards, pointing out it is not just age related. All present felt better informed of the challenges Dementia poses to society and we’re delighted to be awarded our “Dementia Friends” badge from Sue. Sue is pictured with all the Dementia Friends and club President David Rees at Norton House Hotel, Mumbles.

We are Dementia Friendly!

Rtn Paula Pippen spoke to Pontypool about the effect that dementia could have on people and their families. It was emphasised that since there had been an increase in the number of cases in recent years it was now essential for a greater understanding of the condition.

She explained that Dementia Friends is a social action movement that aims to increase the understanding of dementia and inspire people to take action to support people affected by dementia in their communities.

The session began with activities which lead to recognition of the five key messages about dementia and the need to change society’s perceptions of the disease. Analogies were used to explain the onset of dementia, how it can affect a person in the performance of everyday tasks and how people living with dementia can still perform some of those tasks with support.

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Telyn ar gyfer Dewi Sant St David’s Day was celebrated by Cardiff Breakfast with their annual Big Welsh Breakfast. Ninety people, club members, other Rotarians and guests, three Interact clubs and school staff, sat down to a splendidly cooked breakfast with plenty of trimmings, including Welsh Cakes cooked by a member’s wife. There was the usual Grand Raffle organised by DGE Maggie Hughes, with excellent prizes donated by our MP Craig Williams, our AM Julie Morgan, and local businesses and members. As usual, the profit, which this year was £835, will go to The Rotary Foundation.

Before and after the meal 14 year-old Huw Boucher from Stanwell School, Penarth, winner of the District Final of Young Musician played seasonal harp music. Huw has completed Grade 8 with distinction in harp, piano and flute but has only been playing the harp for three years Later on that day a group from the club together with DG Steve Jenkins went to the weekly Coffee and Cake morning run by the Trustees of Lisvane’s Old School.

The proceeds were to be donated to Rotary’s “End Polio Now”. Members of the club put up displays and sold the special Purple4Polio plum and greengage jam donated to Rotary by Wilkins of Tiptree. DG Steve talked about “End Polio Now”, and even the local policeman bought some jam. The morning raised £359 for polio. Our thanks to the organisers of the coffee mornings.

Pictured right, Huw Boucher, winner of the District Final playing at Breakfast.

All systems go in the EiShedfod

As the Knighton Men’s Shed continues to increase in numbers (they now have over 40 eager members) their venue near Knighton railway station needed heat. Community Chair Adam Scott suggested we donate two industrial heaters to improve working conditions for the volunteers.

These were presented to the appreciative members by President Patrick Smith.

A shed has for generations been a place for men to escape the stress and strain of life; a haven to gain much needed sanity; to be surrounded by familiar items; and to make things.

The ‘Men’s Sheds’ movement is for men who have time on their hands whether due to unemployment, retirement, bereavement or because they are new to an area. It enables them to pursue their interests, develop new ones, feel useful and have a sense of belonging.

The movement has been spreading throughout the world and has now arrived in Wales where there are over 20 Sheds. The Association of Men’s Sheds Cymru, which helps communities set up their own Men’s Shed, expects this figure to double in the next couple of years. The one essential common strand is that a Men’s Shed helps reduce isolation within the community and brings men together for a chat and to make new friends. The most important piece of equipment is the kettle.

A group of Rotarians and others in Cardiff have created a Men’s Shed called ‘The Den’ while the Rotary clubs of Cardiff East, Cardiff and Cardiff Breakfast have each donated £200 to help get The Den off the ground.

The Den currently meets in Rhiwbina on Thursdays in temporary premises in a garage which the Rhiwbina United Reform Church allows members to use. For several months, Den members have been busy refurbishing garden furniture in the adjoining community garden and have several new projects planned. A sizeable allotment has also been acquired by the Den in the nearby Birchgrove Allotments.

Pictured, members of The Den building a ‘gambo’ as their entry for a competition at the ‘EiShedfod’ at Cardiff Museum.

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The Rector of Dowlais and Penydarren, the Rev Caroline Owen was impressed and wanted to learn more about the fight against polio when Merthyr Rotary planted bulbs at the entrance to All Saints Church, Dowlais.

The Rector decided she would like to help. An article appeared in the the parish magazine and she encouraged her parishioners to buy and wear the purple crocus buttonholes.

Then she asked secretary Colin Parker if she could have some purple crocuses. I went on line to Rotary Crocus Campaign but they could not deliver any before September. So I contacted PDG Mike Parry, regional coordinator for End Polio Now in our Zone and asked for some crocuses. He kindly copied my request to our District Rotary Foundation Chair Paul Bulpin. Paul contacted me to say that he could let me have a box of crocuses. But posting them to me in Merthyr Tydfil would be costly but could DG Steve Jenkins deliver the crocuses if he was travelling anywhere near Merthyr?

DG Steve contacted me to say that he was attending the Rotary Welsh Schools Disability Gymnastics Competition at The Sports Wales Centre in Cardiff on and as he knew I usually attended that event, he would bring a box of crocuses for me.

So on that day DG Steve drove to Paul’s house and picked up a box of purple crocus buttonholes and brought them to the Sports Wales Centre where I picked them up for the Rector. How long did all this take? Less than a week since the Rector’s request!

The Result? Increased awareness of our fight to get rid of polio and some much needed funds for it!

Ganesh

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In the courtyard garden of Bryn Celyn Primary School, Cardiff. The garden was rebuilt and replanted by RC Cardiff Breakfast with the help of a District Matching Grant.

Whitchurch Garden. Crocuses compete with other spring flowers in the Rotary Centenary Garden at Whitchurch Library, Cardiff. The garden was built by RC Cardiff Breakfast in 2005 (in cooperation with Cardiff City Council and local sponsors) to celebrate 100 years of Rotary, and is still maintained by the club.

Crocuses were planted in the grounds of St Michael’s Church, Tongwynlais, with the help of the local “Tiny Tots”. One of the “Tiny Tots” admires her handywork.

Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club Rotarians together with Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo and two local schools Tavernspite and Templeton joined the End Polios Purple4Polio planting scheme by planting purple crocus on the bank opposite the entrance of the park.

The purple crocus is a symbol of Rotary’s worldwide campaign to eradicate polio, with its colour representing the purple dye used to mark the finger of a child who has been immunised, and with polio eradication now closer than ever, this is great opportunity to raise awareness and funds to help finish the job.

The children were joined by Folly Farm Marketing Team Zoe Wright and Gareth Morris, President Mary Adams, Rotarians Yvonne Llewellyn, Rob Elward and Headteacher Kevin Phelps.Thanks to Nigel Towns who organised the event.

Special thanks go to Folly Farm and Paul Davey who donated the crocus corns for the club to plant.

Money for Jam! Researching polio and Rotary’s part in combatting it proved a key feature of Rotakids Young Writer ‘Purple4Polio poetry competition.

The Rotakids’ club was first established at Whitchurch Primary School, Cardiff sponsored by Cardiff Breakfast.

The Rotakids’ committee decided that all ninety Year 6 pupils should enter the Young Writer Purple4Polio Poetry competition.

The pupils supported by their teachers carried out a significant amount of research, which enabled each pupil to produce some very creative and interesting poems. Choosing three winners, one from each class, was a difficult task as each entry seemed to highlight different issues surrounding the disease itself, and the fight to eradicate polio worldwide.

The three pupils chosen by a panel and going through to the District Final were Joshua Jenkins, Lily Harries and Ffion Elson. They were presented with Young Writer’s 2016/2017 Winning Certificates, prizes and purple crocuses.

A comment overheard from one of the pupils was ‘I will never be able to look at a purple crocus again without thinking of Polio’.

This is a really sweet idea - at least according to PCSO Ewan Turner, Lisvane Community Police Officer, when he tried a jar of Purple4Polio jam.

Manufacturer Wilkin & Sons Ltd has supplied a jar of jam for every Rotarian in the UK completely free. Each district, through their District Governor, has appointed a Jam Coordinator, and they will be arranging how, where and when the jars will be distributed within their district.

Special flyers have been produced to go with each jar of jam and will be sent out by Wilkin & Sons Ltd with each district delivery.

The two varieties of Purple4Polio Jam are Greengage and Early Rivers Plum and it will be luck as to which of these you receive.

The aim is to raise at least £20 per jar of jam.

Each Rotarian, club and district can do whatever they choose with their jam but the hope is that each recipient of a jar of jam will make a suggested minimum donation of £2 for it. Once they have enjoyed the contents we are hoping the jars will be filled with loose change, or even £1or £2 coins, so hopefully at least £20 per jar, and brought back to the nearest Rotary club for donating to RFUK. Please remember that the jam should not be ‘sold‘, but attracting donations for it in whatever way your imagination creates is absolutely fine!

We would love as many clubs and districts as possible to use some of the jam for Purple4Polio tea parties.

The Promenade at Brecon will be a veritable picture of purple crocuses.

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I t’s Showtime for Callum What a year for stage struck Callum Howells, Head Boy at Treorchy Comp. At 17, he made the headlines by resigning from a national TV talent show so that he could star in a West End musical drama and it all started with winning the District Young Musician title.

Callum, of Tonyrefail won the District vocal section of Young Musician and with instrumentalist winner Heledd Gwynant went on to the Regional final, which they both won. But the RIBI final in Telford proved just a step too far for the musical duo.

Callum has appeared in several competitions over the years, including winning Star of Stage in 2013 at the Corn Exchange, Cardiff. But nothing prepared him for his momentous 17th year.

It all started when head of music Mr Nick Bristow asked Callum to take part in Rotary’s Young Musician competition. Treorchy Comp had always supported the competition but never took winners through to the final.

“I always sang,” said Callum, who was 18 in April, “but I wanted to perform, and singing is a part of that package. Its been a massive thing because singing has given me so many opportunities.”

Callum who was sponsored by Aberdare, Llantrisant and Rhondda clubs, worked through the first round at Aberdare, second round at Pontllanfraith and then the District final at Cowbridge through to the regional final.

He auditioned for the TV boyband show Let It Shine in August 2016, just before appearing in Brass at the Hackney Empire with the National Youth Music Theatre. The previous year he had appeared in Prodigy, again at the Hackney Empire.

“I knew I had been accepted for Let It Shine, which I knew would be a massive TV show when I was contacted by the director of Prodigy who wanted me to audition for the role of Arpad in She Loves Me at the Menier Chocolate Factory, which is a very prestigious musical drama.

“You hear about the Menier but never think you will perform there, especially appearing with Les Dennis and Scarlet Strallen, who are massive in musical theatre.

“We were in a caravan in Tenby when I got the email offering me the chance to audition, all I could say was ‘Yes please’! and just had to go for it. I was allowed a day off school– It was frightening. Then after all that, I was rubbish and never thought I had done well enough. Two days later I was asked back for a recall and this time they asked me to do the part in my own accent, which was brilliant.

“Its really quite hard as an actor to be someone else and adapt, but this time they wanted me to be myself. So this eastern European character suddenly had a Rhonnda accent.

“They wanted me to come for four months so I could see they were genuinely interested. Which for a 17 year old it was ‘Why did they want me?’ when they could have gone for someone properly trained.

“By now I knew I was doing Let It Shine then I got a phone call to say that Menier definitely wanted me.

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Callum with mum and dad, Alison and Keith in Treorchy.

Below with Les Dennis and some of the cast of Let It Shine.

“I was shocked and surprised and didn’t know what to do. In November I was meant to be in a national TV show and Meniers.

“So I decided to do the first of the TV heats and I got 16 stars which took me through to the next round where I was teamed up in a boy band with seven others. It was then I had to make a choice.

“My thinking was that Let It Shine was unpredictable, there was no guarantee that I would progress any further and it was just singing whereas She Loves Me was musical drama which is what I really wanted to do. So I went for She Loves Me and that was the best decision of my life.

“I went into a show which I loved, working with truly inspirational people, who I just cannot imagine not being in my life now.

“Let It Shine were OK when I broke the news to them, they had reserves to call up but it was a really tough decision.

“In She Loves Me I play the part of Arpad Caszlo, set in Hungary. Arpad is a delivery boy in a perfume shop and his life ambition is to be a clerk and sell perfume to the beautiful ladies who came to buy.

“The story is really about a boy growing into manhood. I was 17 which really defines adolescence. I was learning so much and having such a crazy hard-working time. Then all of a sudden it was over and I am back in school studying for my A levels.”

Callum’s future is still beset with decisions. He has been offered places at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff to study acting, and the Arts Educational School in London, considered the best in the world for training in musical theatre.

Callum is Head Boy at Treorchy Comp and the school allowed him to take six months away on the condition he kept up his school work. His work was posted weekly to London. “They were marvellous, “ he said. “I have nothing but praise for the way the school and my teachers supported me.

And to think it all really started with Young Musician which was the start of an incredibly hectic year.”

Biggest Global Grant approved The Rotary Foundation has approved the largest Global Grant project ever initiated in our District, to help an area of the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Haiyan just over three years ago.

This means that District 1150 will shortly be starting to provide 50 motorised fishing vessels for coastal villages at Anilao on Panay island in District 3850, who partnered with us for our last Group Study Exchange.

This region felt the full impact of Typhoon Haiyan, which is also known as Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. The event was one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record, devastating The scene of devastation with Shelterbox tents portions of Southeast Asia, but in put up wherever there was reasonably level particular the Philippines, on Noground. vember 8, 2013. Over 6,000 people perished as a result.

At the time of the typhoon a many clubs supported the disaster relief effort, principally through Shelterbox Every child in a Kenyan school now has water. Even though the people didn’t have and other box schemes, while 28 clubs a Lifestraw which should ensure clean any of the creature comforts that we are donated an aggregate sum of £25,000 water to drink. used to, the overriding memory was that towards a global grant for the sustainable Jeff Cowland, President Rhondda of a happy environment”. regeneration of the region. Some clubs Rotary Club decided to volunteer in Jeff said “I intend to visit Brynmawr did both.

Kenya and took the Lifestraws, donated Rotary to speak to Rotarians about my These funds have been matched x

by Brynmawr Club with him. experience and thank them for their kind 3.5 by the Rotary Foundation in total at On his return, Jeff said that “The donation of LifeStraws”.

District level and from the World Fund in trip was a humbling experience, where Jeff signed up for the programme and order to create the project which will cost I experienced a totally different way flew out to Kenya in March, for a week’s over $100,000 to deliver. of life, people sleep in tents and huts, visit. He said: “I am hoping for a unique At the time of the typhoon plans by there is poor diet and transport. I visited experience in visiting a beautiful country, local Rotarians to design the best project schools, attended by children, who arrive being able to work alongside talented were delayed because the immediate at 7.30am. Many must walk 10km to and teachers and maybe learn a bit about need was to restore basic services and from school each day in temperatures of myself. I would like to thank the Rhondda infrastructure. Now the way forward 40 degrees C. Rotary Club for helping with my travel is clearly mapped and this project will “The buildings have a limited expenses and Christine Thorpe, Secretary provide not only the 50 locally built electricity supply, no running water and of Brymawr Rotary Club, which has wooden fishing vessels with outboard no sanitation. There were several other kindly donated 500 LifeStraws for me to motors but all the necessary fishing people on the trip, one being a scientist take to Kenya.” equipment and training for 50 families on who spoke to the children about infections how to run a small business. and how they could be prevented. I gave Photograph shows a young Kenyan boy Each boat will carry the name of a LifeStraw to each child, which will go a using a LifeStraw in a puddle of water, the supporting clubs (more than one long way to prevent infection from dirty following a short downpour. depending on the contribution made).

Although it has taken time it means the project will be an apt legacy for commemorating the centenaries of the Rotary Foundation and Rotary in Wales.

Supporting Clubs: Aberdare, Aberaeron a’r Cylch, Abertillery & Blaina, Ammanford, Briton Ferry, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff West, Carmarthen, Carmarthen Tywi, Cefn Sidan, Fishguard & Goodwick, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llanelli, Llantwit Major, Machen, Milford Haven, Morriston, Neath, Newport, Newport St Woolos, Newport Uskmouth, Pembroke, Pontllanfraith, Pontypool, Porthcawl, Port Talbot, Swansea, Swansea Bay, Aberdare Inner Wheel, City of Cardiff Rotaract.

Clean water thanks to Lifestraw

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Young Musician

Young People Show Th Wealth of Tal

An ‘outstanding’ display of musical talent made the District Young Musician final a virtuoso afternoon to savour and remember.

Appropriately the final was held at Cardiff University School of Music. Winner of the vocalist competition was Owain Rowlands sponsored by Llandovery.

Runner up was Manon Ogwen-Parry sponsored by the Cardiff, City of Llandaff Rotary Club. The winner of the instrumental competition was Huw Boucher playing the harp. He was sponsored by Cardiff Breakfast. 2nd place, playing the saxophone was Daniel Davis sponsored by Cwmbran Vale. Owain and Huw represented the District at the regional competition in March in Telford. The winners in the two sections of that competition progressed to the RIBI Young Musician final in May at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. The event will be a fantastic concert of wonderful talented musicians from across the whole of RIBI. The afternoon audience saw performances by 8 excellent vocal competitors. The standards achieved by the competitors, was outstanding, said organisers. It was enjoyable listening to a mix of classical and contemporary music, sung in a range of languages, performed with confidence and maturity.

The three adjudicators, Darya Brill-Williams, Jonathan Gulliford and Paul Deenik had a difficult task and took some time to come to their decision.

Young Chef

During the evening a small but appreciative audience was treated to an outstanding competition by the eight instrumental finalists. There was an interesting mix of instruments being played with three pianists, two harpists and three saxophonists. The standard of performance was very high with each competitor showing a level of technical skill and competence playing a range of difficult and challenging pieces. The three adjudicators, Matthew Poad, Dr Catherine Preston and Mary Williams were certainly given a difficult task when it came to deciding on the winner.

Hannah ‘wows’ the judges

The Final of Rotary District 1150 Young Chef Competition was closely contested at Cowbridge Comprehensive School. The competition required youngsters between 11 and 17 to prepare and serve a three course meal for two people in two hours and costing less that £15.00.

The adjudicators were Stuart Spicer of The Speech House, Christopher Dale of the Firing Line Military Museum, Cardiff Castle, and Gwenda Griffiths District 1150 Youth Competition Coordinator.

In announcing the winner, Chief Judge Stuart Spicer said “the overall standard was again extremely high and first place was very difficult to decide”. The winner was Hannah Bradbury of Narberth who was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Narberth and Whitland. Hannah is a student at Dyffryn Taf, Whitland and her choice of menu was judged “outstanding.”

Stuart added that the preparation, cooking and presentation of her meal “blew the socks off the judges”. Hannah, together with runner up Hope Wilkinson of Llanharry, who was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cowbridge, went forward to represent the District in the Regional Final in Rugby.

Hannah was presented with the winners shield by Rotary District Governor Steve Jenkins.

The President of The Rotary Club of Narberth, Mary Adams, accompanied Hannah in an earlier local competition and is confident that the club will want to assist this Pembrokeshire student in furthering her career in catering to such high standards.

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Above, Young Musicians at Cardiff University Sch Below, Hannah presented with her shield by DG S

heir lent

Youth Speak Competitors from all over southern Wales gathered in the impressive setting of Cowbridge Comprehensive School for the Intermediate and Senior final of the District Youth Speaks.

Crickhowell High School won the Intermediate section, and Maesydderwen Comprehensive School Senior.

Seven teams competing in each competition with subjects ranging from orcas and DNA to social media and science.

Rebecca Hughes, Caitlin Jones and Elin Anthony from Maesydderwen

Above, Maesydderwen Comprehensive School team.

Left, Crickhowell High School team

Young Interviewer

hool of Music.

Steve Jenkins

Comprehensive School, Ystradgynlais won the senior competition on the subject of ‘The F word: Is feminism still relevant in the 21st Century?’ The team from Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morganwg, Barry were runners up.

Joshua Jones, Gabriel Kennedy and Conrad Klapholz from Crickhowell High School won the Intermediate competition on the subject of ’This house believes that the death penalty should be abolished worldwide’. The team from Ysgol Y Preseli were runners up.

Prizes were awarded for the best chair, speaker and proposer of vote of thanks. Intermediate winners were Ciaron Martin – Croesycelliog School, Abigail Wilson-Wood – Ist Cowbridge Scouts and Conrad Klapholz - Crickhowell High School respectively. Senior winners were Grace Lewis, Ysgol Bro Dinfwr, Caitlin Jones, Maesydderwen Comprehensive School and Alana

Lord Murphy of Torfaen found himself in the hot seat, having questions fired at him by the finalists in Young Interviewer.

This year’s final was again hosted by Howells School.

They have graciously hosted the Final for the past three years, providing us with an amazing venue and an outstanding buffet, all without charge.

The actual competition involves an entrant having the chance to question the guest interviewee for five minutes.

These questions, together with their research, were formulated after they have received a written statement by the interviewee, two weeks before the Final.

There is currently one area competition organised

by Newport Satellite Club at Caerleon Comprehensive School.

This year there were six finalists who had the opportunity to question Lord Murphy, former Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland. Lord Murphy had chaired, along with Senator George Mitchell, the peace talks which resulted in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

The finalists had done their research well and several grappled with the international implications of Brexit. One also took the opportunity of asking Lord Murphy whether he had changed his stance on the place of the House of Lords in the parliamentary system.

The evening concluded with Lord Murphy acknowledging that these Finalists were indeed formidable. He confessed that he was due to be interviewed on TV the following morning and that normally he would spend the evening in preparation. He felt that no further preparation on his part was necessary as this was well and truly covered in responding to the questions raised by the Finalists.

The competition was won by Morgan Haigh of Whitchurch High School.

Alison Sutherland 17

The journey to the finals - and beyond

Aberdare, Llantrisant and Rhondda Clubs held their combined Young Musician competitions over two evening concerts at Aberdare Community School.

In the vocalist competition the biggest audience for years enjoyed high-quality performances from 12 very talented pupils ranging in age from 12 to 17.

Photographed are Sarah Pugh (winner, Y Pant Comp), Katie Mainwaring (Tonypandy College) and Samuel Vaughan (Treorchy CS).

Similarly the instrumentalist competition was keen with Joseph Colbeck-Jones (winner, piano, Rhydywaun), Isabelle Harris (flute, Cardinal Newman RC) and Abigail Vukashin (piano, Cardinal Newman RC).

Eight local primary schools competed to win the Bridgend Junior Youth Speaks Shield at Pencoed Primary School. The winner on the evening was Madeleine Pondevie from Croesty Primary School.

The eight competitors spoke on a range of diverse subjects, including “The Gift of Dyslexia”, “Why Can’t We All Get Along?”, “Has Technology Changed the Way we Live?” The winner, Madeleine Pondevie, below, offered her intriguing views on “Nationality”.

Aberdare Club’s “Young Presenter” inter schools competition was, once again, an outstanding success.

The competition asks pupils to prepare a 10 minute documentary on a set subject and present it under “studio” conditions. Three pupils form the team must research, plan and present their documentary using computers, projectors, live internet and video links to support their subject, with two presenters taking the oral part of the presentation and a “techie” being responsible for the compilation and smooth running of the support material. This year’s topic was based around the proposal that commercialism was invading childhood.

The winning team, above, and with all competitors, was from St. John’s Church in Wales High School.

Brecon’s youth competitions showed the variety of talent in the schools. Young Chef is a four-stage competition to support and encourage development of cookery skills. The task is to prepare, in two hours, a three-course healthy meal of starter, main course and dessert for two people costing less than £15. The winner of the Brecon Club round was Becky Matthews, who went forward to the Area 8 final at Brecon High School.

Runner up was Victoria Bowen.

Young Musician competitors perform a minimum of two pieces of their own choice, in contrasting styles and are judged within the context of a live performance. Winner of the Vocal section was Lowri Bufton and the winner of the instrumental section was Anna Phillips, playing the harp (pictured).

Young Photographer is designed to support and encourage development of photographic skills. While Young Writer supports and encourages development of writing skills. The task is to produce a written or typed story in prose entitled, ‘Reflection’. The written entry could be fiction or non-fiction, a story or a poem, as long as the piece relates to the theme.

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Pictured, Area 1 (N ) Final of Young Musician 2017 Competition at Penglais School, Aberystwyth.

The singers and instrumentalists involved- Charlotte Carter, singer, Aberaeron, Hannah Williams, piano, Aberaeron,Teah Ross (flute) Llandeilo. Non Roberts (singer) Llandeilo, Cerys Bowen (violin) Llandovery, Owain Rowlands (singer) Llandovery, Nansi Dingle (saxophone) Aberystwyth Rhodri Davies (singer) Aberystwyth.

Also in the picture Carol Rammaya Assistant District Governor and Derrick Whiting Aberystwyth Club president.

Winners were Owain Rowlands, singer and Nansi Dingle, Saxophone.

Area 8 Intermediate Final of Youth Speaks was hosted by Abertillery and Blaina.

Three teams took part in the competition, at Abertillery Learning Community: Crickhowell High School, Abertillery Learning Community and King Henry VIII School, Abergavenny.

Prizes were sponsored by MWW Maintenance Ltd, Abertillery.

Porthcawl’s got talent

Stars of Interact win Best Project - again

Porthcawl’s Young Musician confirmed the wealth of local talent.

Held at All Saints Church, the competition brought together musicians from three local schools whose music ranged from a modern arrangement of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ to Bach, Brahms, Borkiewicz, Fauré, Grieg and Bodorova.

Overall winner was pianist Laurence Hunt from Porthcawl Comprehensive School who brilliantly played Bach’s Fugue in C Minor and Brahms’ Balladen Opus 10.

Laurence won a prize of £50 and was the first recipient of a new award of a winner’s shield presented in the memory of the greatly missed Ann Jarrett – a former Head Teacher of St. Clare’s School and a Rotarian who did so much for the club over many years, much of it involving music and young people in particular.

Runner-up to Laurence was flautist Samuel Finch from Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School who won a prize of £20 for his beautiful playing of the 4th Movement of Bach’s Sonata in E Minor and Fauré’s Pavane.

Congratulations must also go to pianists Indeg Evans from Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg and Lucy Rathkey also from Archbishop McGrath, who provided some stiff competition to the winners, their music also having been played to a standard worthy of such a forward-looking competition.

Left to right: Laurence Hunt, Indeg Evans, Lucy Rathkey, Samuel Finch.

Regional final of Youth Speaks saw Haberdashers Monmouth School for Girls and Shipston High School go forward to the National Final in May at Telford.

Haberdashers won Intermediate and Shipston Seniors in two keenly contested competitions at King Henry VIII School, Abergavenny.

Four teams took part in both sections, travelling from as far away as Stafford and Stratford Upon Avon.

According to the judges, the standard of speaking was ‘exceptionally high.’ Chief judge, John Christie. “These contestants just blew me away. Their depth of knowledge and research was highly creditable. They had challenging subjects to deliver to a diverse and mixed audience, and their use of the stage, their excellent use of humour and their timing were all first rate.”

DG Steve Jenkins who closed the day told the contestants: “Public speaking is a skill you will take with you through your life. Whatever you do in the world of work and elsewhere, your ability to stand in front of people and speak with confidence will always stand you in good stead.”

Southern Wales was represented by Crickhowell High School in Intermediate, debating “Should the United States of America abolish the death penalty?” and Ysgol Maesydderwen from Ystradgynlais, who debated “The F Word: Is feminism still relevant in the 21st Century?”

For the second consecutive year the Blaenau Gwent based Community Interact Club went to the RIBI Conference to receive the award for best RIBI Interact Project.

The Interactors thanked Brynmawr Rotary and District 1150 for the financial and direct support in enabling them to attend. They also asked to thank all the volunteers who work to enable the club to be available for them.

They received the award in Manchester from RIBI President Eve Conway (pictured). The award was won for the film they produced last summer: ‘The Faces Behind the Devices’ – a film, researched, written, directed, filmed and acted by their group of Interactors who wanted to make a difference.

The film began as a discussion session in the youth club which CoedCae Interact Club runs with the assistance of Rotarians from Brynmawr Rotary and parent volunteers. It was bought to the fore that despite attempts to alert young people to ignore bullies they were still having an impact on some young people in the community.

They decided as part of the 6-week summer programme to keep the youth club members and Interactors engaged and look at cyber bullying and its effects.

During the summer holidays for six weeks they researched bullying particularly cyber bullying. They wrote a script and decided who would be the actors, sound crew and film crews and went on to work as a team launching their film in November 2016.

The film was debuted at the Brynmawr Rotary Club Annual Film night in front of 135 adults in the Brynmawr Cinema. The audience was moved by the presentation, said PDG Donna Wallbank.

Since then they have put the film together in a primary version which been edited for use in primary schools in Blaenau Gwent.

The secondary version is being used in the post 11-year-old arena.

This is the second piece of work this group have undertaken to showcase how with commitment, a group can make a difference to the lives of themselves and their peers.

“The community based Interact Club has created an inclusion of many who would not normally come together in an economically, socially and educationally challenged community, has heightened the social inclusion of a group of young people, has given them opportunities that might not otherwise become available to them and the commitment to projects and activities which has proven that being involved and doing things otherwise the ‘norm’, made for a change in their community.” said PDG Donna Following this link will take you to the film.: https://map.rotary.org/en/project/pages/project_detail.aspx?guid=7d666f85-795c-48e5-9827-299de341347e

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ABERDARE ‘Twas a cold and frosty morning at the Aberdare Street Christmas Fair and our Rotary stall was kept busy the whole day!

We wanted to attract visitors to our patch so that we could advertise Rotary and maybe even attract new members. But how to pull in cold, busy people and get them to show interest in the work Rotary does?

The answer? If we attract children to us then parents and grandparents will have to stop too! And then we can talk.

After much discussion our Club had invested in buying a popcorn oven so hot popcorn could be made on the street. And it worked! We gave away FREE bags of warm popcorn to passing youngsters and parents followed. The smell was enticing, the oven was a centre of warmth. By 3.30 pm we had nothing left!

And our success rate? Lots of “message-in-a-bottle” info was passed on, old Rotary magazines given out, and at least one person showed a great interest in coming to Club as a guest to see what we are all about. And we had lots of publicity!

Success? YES!

ABERGAVENNY

Just days after its official commissioning, a defibrillator in Abergavenny Town centre was used in a real life-saving drama.

Abergavenny Rotary has fitted four 20

defibrillators throughout the town during the last eight months as part of the clubs ongoing ‘Well Being’ Initiative. A woman collapsed with a suspected heart attack in the town’s Post Office Square and a passer by raised the alarm. An off-duty fireman and a doctor came to the rescue and used the new defibrillator on the woman who was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

“This totally justified our efforts to provide this facility,” said Rotarian Martin Phillips who led the initiative to supply the defibrillators. “And it also showed that people have to be taught to use them as well.

“While the defibrillators are easy to use and have the latest technology that talks the user through the actions required to safely use the unit, we are now organising training sessions for local retailers to learn how to confidently use the defibrillators as well as other life saving techniques.”

The initiative that started last year with a number of Infant CPR training sessions was such a success that the Club was keen to continue the programme.

The lady was later taken to Nevill Hall Hospital.

Martin Phillips said “We are all very proud that the equipment the Rotary Club has donated to the town has been put to such good use (although you hope its never needed).

Pictured left to right: Rtn Martin Phillips, Andrew Lewis - Welsh Ambulance Service First

Responder, Lionel Elton - President Elect of Abergavenny Rotary, and Rotarian John Bannon with the defibrillator at Post Office Square A Race Night at Llandewi Rhydderch village hall proved a hilarious evening followed by a Scatter Week, when members visited clubs in Forest of Dean,

Brecon, Brynmawr and Crickhowell.

Among visitors to the club we had a talk on the Gwent Wildlife Trust and DGE Maggie Hughes who spoke on Dementia Friendly Communities. Aine Morris, the new CEO of Abergavenny Food Festival joined us for lunch which has resulted in the re-instatement of the final of our Young Chef competition being held on the Saturday of the Food Fest. We will also be looking into the possibility of a Young Baker competition to run alongside.

On the recruiting front, a new members invitation proved successful with 10 prospective new members showing interest in joining. Currently loins are being girded for our main fund raiser, the Steam Rally on the last Bank Holiday of May.

ABERTILLERY AND BLAINA

Bethany Paull is a young up and coming gymnast from Abertillery and we were pleased to be able to give her a donation in support of her fundraising activities to compete in the Special Olympics Great Britain in August.

Bethany attends Pen y Cwm School and is a very keen and talented gymnast.

She trains weekly at Valleys Gymnastics Academy with her coach, Shevell Camilleri, and she has been selected to represent Wales in the Special Olympics after many months of dedicated training for the event.

The Special Olympics are held every four years and represent a huge opportunity to showcase the abilities of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to compete at a national level and experience the personal achievement this brings, as well as enabling them to make friends, travel and socialise.

Special Olympics in the UK was one of the first European programmes of the international Special Olympics Movement. Today, Special Olympics GB serves 10,000 athletes and 4,000 volunteers in 140 clubs across Great Britain.

This year the Special Olympics Summer Games will take place in Sheffield, across a number of sporting venues. Below, Bethany pictured with Stephen David, President Elect and Sharon Harford, President of Abertillery and Blaina.

Abertillery and Blaina Club has inducted two Associate Members, Rhoslyn Baker and Laura Doel.

Rhoslyn is no stranger to organisations like Rotary International and Round Table, having been brought up with her parents’ involvement in both of these organisations and taking part in many activities over the years.

Rhoslyn is pictured being inducted by her Rotarian mum, Sharon Harford.

Laura, from Aberbeeg joined a few weeks later. Laura lives in Cardiff and was a local press reporter, she is now PA to AM Alan Davies.

Two new full members have recently joined. President Elect Steven David introduced Chris and Joanne Wilkins to the club.

Chris and Jo are former police officers who have recently moved to the area and set up a business as Podiatrists.

Sharon and Steve Harford, visited Sofrydd Primary School to speak to the pupils about End Polio Now and how they could help with collecting bottle tops for this Rotary project.

The pupils were extremely interested in becoming involved in the project and participated in the asking and answering of questions about polio and recycling activities.

We get 15p per kilo for the plastics, which is matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

ABERYSTWYTH

Sixteen Rotarians and their partners have just returned from a visit to Northern Ireland. The main purpose of the trip was to visit the Titanic Experience which has recently been voted one of the best visitor attractions in the world. During the visit we also visited the Bushmills distillery, Giants Causeway and The Dark Hedges location from the Game of Thrones TV series.

The Christmas and Supermarket collection raised £3,600 which includes the Gift Aid addition.

The main beneficiaries were McMilllan Nurses, the local Hospice at Home charity and Ceredigion Young carers.

The Club has been involved in the summer carnival, the sea to shore event, Christmas lights and the street market where there was a ready market for the Club’s Christmas cards.

The usual summer pig roast raised £1400 which was shared with Inner Wheel. International Service supported the Toilet Twinning charity which provides hygienic and environmental sustainable toilet facilities in developing countries.

A Silent Auction provided £700 which bought a Shelter Box and a donation of £200 to the RC of Marlow’s Ebola project.

Members and friends visited the Belfast Titanic exhibition and the Giant’s Causeway and enjoyed a sing-song with some Norwegian Rotarians. A visit is planned to the Royal Mint this summer.

The Club’s Quiz team is enjoying the season and is looking forward to the next round.

President Derrick and Cynthia arranged a garden party at their home in New Quay in early Spring . Their theme was “Focus on the Crocus”, part of the “Purple for Polio” campaign - £500 was raised.

The Aber Club, thanks to the President’s dedication, have distributed and planted 5000 purple crocus corms.

The Club’s Wishing Well on the promenade continues to be a valuable fund-raiser. £1240 has recently been sent to Water Aid, again boosted by Gift Aid. Past-president John H Ockey, a Paul Harris Fellow and a former District Officer has been elected an Honorary Member of the Club. John joined the Rotary Club of Haverfordwest in 1972 when serving as a veterinary officer in Pembrokeshire.

He joined the Aber club in 1981 , served as Club Secretary and was President in 1992-93.

More than 90 attended the Club’s 69th Charter Night celebrations in April where Lord Bourne , former AM Nick Bourne, was the Chief Guest. It was also a pleasure to welcome D G Steven Jenkins.

A raffle realised £500 for the foodbank of a local church.

BRECON

Brecon Rotary Club went out on the streets selling button hole crocuses to raise money towards the Rotary campaign to End Polio Now. A total of £158 was collected. Every donation helps us obtain the vaccines, transport and materials

needed in the fight against polio.

The club is to invest in a range of local community projects by means of “Community Chest” small grants scheme.

We are now canvassing local groups and organisations that can do a lot of good with a little extra money.

The Small Grants Scheme has been established to help community and voluntary sector organisations or groups with projects that are of benefit to the wider community with non-recurrent grants of up to £500. The projects should be small-scale that provide opportunities for local people to be involved in their local community. This could include setting up a new group, building the capacity of an existing group, or running a new project or service.

BRIDGEND

At its International evening the Rotary Club of Bridgend welcomed many guests including the President and members of the Interact Club of Pencoed Comprehensive School.

From its fundraising endeavours the Interact Club presented a cheque for £250 to Rotary Club President Bob Broughton to purchase a “Community Aquabox”, a portable water purifying system used in poor communities worldwide.

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The entertainment for the evening was provided by Pencoed Comprehensive School Vocal Group, Department of Music and Dramatic Arts. The choir comprising mainly Year 9 pupils with soloist, year 13 student Charlotte Jones, was under the direction of Rhian Jenkins.

The wonderful performances, included a mesmerising rendition of the musical “Les Miserables” with many animated solos. The whole performance was very much appreciated and was roundly

applauded.

Bridgend is organising a Charity Concert in May with the Bridgend Male Voice Choir and is delighted to announce that the Pencoed Comprehensive School Vocal Group has agreed to be part of the programme. A concert not to be missed Above, Pencoed School Vocal Group.

Elin Mannion (Chair of the Bridgend Town Urdd 2017 Eisteddfod Fundraising Committee) and Sian Stephen (Development Manager with the Urdd) attended aBridgend lunchtime meeting. Elin was able to say that, with the help of the Club, nearly 75% of her committee’s target had been reached and that the whole fundraising for the Eisteddfod at Pencoed in May was well on the way. Sian Stephen gave a background on the range of competitions, the expected attendance at the Maes, and the likely economic and cultural benefits that would flow from this year’s Eisteddfod which was last in the Bridgend area some thirty years ago.

CARDIFF BREAKFAST The club has joined the Purple4Polio campaign and will plant 2,500 crocuses.

We made a start by planting in the Rotary Centenary Garden at Whitchurch Library and in the courtyard garden the club created at Bryn Celyn Primary School. Further plantings are planned for Tongwynlais and at the George Thomas Hospice. The latter will involve some of our Interactors.

The work on the Bryn Celyn Courtyard Garden was part-funded by a District Grant and there was sufficient money to meet the school’s request to have a flagpole. So while we were at

Bryn Celyn, we also put up a 20ft pole so that they could fly the flag showing that they have won an Eco-School Award.

COWBRIDGE

Cowbridge Rotary Club had a great Monday evening’s entertainment listening to the sometime WBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight boxing champion, Nicky Piper MBE, who was born in Culverhouse

President Elect Wayne Morgan presented a cheque to Elin and Sian, for £5,887.44 raised by the Rotary Club of Bridgend at an autumn luncheon.

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included the 10 second countdown! After his retirement Nicky became a sports commentator and in 1997 a member of the British Boxing Board of Control. He worked as Chairman of the Professional Boxing Association and in 2005 he was awarded the MBE for his services to the sport. But not only that, he is a member of Mensa, the high IQ society, and now works for George Thomas Hospice Care as events manager. He talked fluently and easily for some 40 minutes and gave a thoughtful and entertaining insight into the world of the professional boxer.

Our Santa Sleigh charity collection was a huge success, and collected £2,290.

Money raised will go to Alzheimer’s Research and Dr Barnardo’s.

Cross. With a record of 26 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws he was a formidable presence in the ring, and he had a wealth of fascinating and amusing anecdotes about his time as a professional boxer, when he fought Nigel Benn, “The Dark Destroyer” for the World Super Middleweight title in 1992, and the characters like Frank Warren and Don King who had trained the fighters who had squared up to each other in the nineties. One of his claims to fame was when he took on “Big John” Ellis in November 1990; he knocked him out in round one in 12 seconds, and that

CRICKHOWELL

Lying down on the job, what better way to raise money for Crickhowell’s War Memorial Hospital?

Crickhowell Rotary Club wanted to put something back into the hospital in recognition of its quality of service to the community. After discussions with staff it was decided to equip each consulting room with a new examination couch.

This is an ongoing project which will eventually equip all consulting rooms.

Pictured, left to right: Practice Nurse Gail Blackwell, Rtns Frank Williams, Stephen Flynn, Geoff Davies, Dr Paul Barnes, Dr Douglas Payton, Dr Cathy Stoker, Practice Nurse Rose Jones and taking it easy, club President Hywel Bevan.

Picture by Tim Evans

KNIGHTON & DISTRICT

Sylvia Meredith spoke to us about the campaign to erect a War Memorial in St Mary’s churchard in Bucknell.

The war dead are acknowleged in Rolls of Honour to be found in the church and in the Memorial Hall which was bought from the Army and erected soon after the First World War. However, the Rolls are often concealed behind locked doors. The villagers, including relatives of the dead, feel the need for an outside memorial that can be seen at all times by locals and the many visitors who come to the area.

The target is to raise £5,000 for a granite and slate memorial to be erected just outside the main door of the church.

It is to be made of local stone and worked by a local stonemason.

The committee has raised £3000 in just one year and is committed to completing the project by 2018, the centenary of the end of the First World War. Smalls for All is a Scottish Charity which collects and distributes underwear to women and children in Africa. They help those living in orphanages, slums, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and schools, as well as providing underwear to hospitals to help those suffering from medical conditions.

In the past two years we have sent over 7kg of underwear to this excellent charity and will continue to do so over the coming years.

If you want to find out more see their website smallsforall.org or contact us to find out when our next collection will take place.

The concert, organised by Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club raised over £8,000 for local and international Rotary charities.

The second Autumn Concert at the spectacular Follies Theatre, Folly Farm played to a packed house and highlighted the musical talent which has grown in the area. The Whitland Male Voice Choir completed the billing.

LAMPETER

NEWPORT

A recliner chair has been presented to Cleddau Ward of Glangwili Hospital

by President Kevin Sivyer on behalf of Lampeter Rotary Club.

The chair will allow relatives of terminally ill patients to stay comfortably alongside their loved ones during their final days. The idea for the chair was suggested by ex senior sister Fran Evans shortly before her retirement from the ward. Current senior sister Vicky Thomas commented that the chair is vital for both patient and relative and will be a fitting legacy to Fran’s long and dedicated commitment to Cleddau ward l-r Senior Sister Vicky Thomas, Ward Clerk Wendy Evans, Sister Fran Evans, Nurse Kelly Rogers and Staff Nurse Bindu Divawaran with President Kevin Sivyer

We celebrated our anniversary with a slice of the club’s 97th birthday cake.

Fortunately the brief interlude did not distract our special guest speaker, Keith Dunn OBE. He congratulated us on our 97 years of service without looking superior when telling us that St John Cymru was about to celebrate 100 years of voluntary service.

In the absence of any comment from Area on sponsorship of equipping one of the rooms in the St David’s Hospice project, we decided to earmark £2500 as our share between the four Newport Clubs. In the absence of any comeback from Area, the original four-club approach is being re-opened.

NEWPORT USKMOUTH

The news came through that the crocuses at Malpas Court School had burst into flower so the Youth Committee returned to the school to photograph them.

Children were rounded up and photographs were taken at the raised flower

beds. The caretaker agreed to fix the signage onto the raised beds so there will be a permanent reminder of the Polio Plus campaign as the bulbs flower each year.

Within days Llanmartin let us know that theirs had also flowered so Lyn and Eric visited the school. A bonus for them was that they attended a special school assembly with about 20 parents present.

After the various school presentations Eric handed over the signage and Lyn was given the opportunity to talk about the eradication of Polio campaign.

Pictured below, Lyn and Eric and the children at Llanmartin School.

PEMBROKE

In the 2016 ‘Young Writer and Photography’ competition two pupils from the Pembroke Rotary Club area won 1st prizes in the junior section, an excellent achievement from one club. Rhys Lewis a 7 year old from Pembroke Dock

Community School won the competition for writing a poem commemorating the Queen’s 90th birthday. This poem was sent direct to the Queen and in November 2016 Rhys received a ‘thank you’ card from the Queen and a letter from Susan Hussey, the Queen’s lady in waiting, congratulating him on his achievement. She stated that the Queen was deeply moved by the thoughtful sentiments expressed in the poetry. We would also congratulate Finley Bruce a pupil from Golden Grove

NARBERTH & WHITLAND

Welsh Tenors, Rhys Meirion and Trystan Llyr Griffiths showcased a dynamic evening of music at the Follies Theatre, Narberth, supported by the local talent of Rotary Young Musicians.

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Community School Pembroke who won the photography competition.

Pictured: Mrs Michelle Thomas, Headteacher Pembroke Dock Community School, Rhys Lewis and Rotarian Dennis Jones.

PONTLLANFRAITH

December is one of the busiest months in the Club’s calendar. The Businessman’s Lunch was held at Bryn Meadows Golf Hotel and Spa with 273 members and business friends attending this popular annual event. The guest speakers were Jonathan Davies OBE who gave an insight into his life as a professional player in both Rugby Union and Rugby League, he was ably supported by Jed Stone who entertained us with a comical look at life in the Welsh Valleys.

The Businessmans Lunch, top table guests (left to right) Jed Stone, President of Pontllanfraith Rotary Club, John James, Jonathan Davies OBE and Master of Ceremonies Rotarian Howard Jones.

Club members turned out to help with the fund raising with Santa and the sleigh in the usual organised visits to the different villages in the old Islwyn area. We also collected at the static days at Tesco’s in Ystrad Mynach and Caerphilly. The annual painting competition for primary schools was again a great success we are always impressed and amused by the submissions made and know that they brought a smile to the faces of those members who visited to the schools to judge the work.

The start of the year has been a busy time for the Youth Service Committee.

The Youth Speaks and Young Musician Club competitions were a great success and the Club also organised and hosted the Area Young Musician competition.

The DG made his official visit to the club in January where we were joined by the Presidents and members of Rotary Clubs of Blackwood, Bargoed and Abercarn & Newbridge We did enjoy celebrating Burns night and in the true tradition the haggis was paraded and ‘stabbed’. Served with neeps

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and tatties it went down well and the stories and poems were really enjoyed.

The St. David’s Day concert held at Blackwood Comprehensive School was again well attended, the music for the evening was provided by the Tenovus Choir from Cwmbran and the Oakdale Silver Band. An enjoyable “Welsh” evening was enjoyed by all.

PORT TALBOT

The Rotary Club of Port Talbot is celebrating its 90th anniversary this Rotary year. Every year since 1928 we have raised money for local, national and international causes, and sadly, every year has seen competition for help increase.

The last few years have been even harder, as demand closer to home has become more challenging, but happily, we retain Foundation Sustaining Membership. We

are now sixteen members, but as they say in some quarters, we punch above our weight. Our contributions across the town have been, and remain, significant.

Recently we hosted a very hard fought, very high standard, Youth Speaks competition, and we’ll again select two youngsters for the RYLA scheme. Late June we’ll be hosting members of the club’s family and guests from other local clubs to our 90th birthday party.

those 40 years and has also been a driving force with the Rhondda Swimming Club.

Rotarians attended the Polar Bears Annual Presentation Awards to give another donation of £1,000. They also surprised Glyn Harris by presenting him with the Paul Harris Fellowship, in recognition of his selfless service. Photograph shows Richard Fletcher, Secretary Rhondda Rotary presenting Glyn Harris with the Paul Harris Fellowship Certificate and lapel badge.

For the past twenty years, Rhondda Rotary has arranged its popular Nativity Scene Christmas Collection. It is the club’s main source of revenue and the traditional carols and music are always welcomed and help to engender the Christmas spirit.

Club President Jeff Cowland said that “the Christmas collections have been organised for many years with ‘military precision’ by Rotarian Gwyn Rees, who continued his efforts again in 2016.

Christmas 2015 resulted in a record collection, but 2016 surpassed that with

RHONDDA

Rhondda Rotary has in the past given the Paul Harris Fellowship Award to non-Rotarians, to recognise their outstanding commitment to the community. The last award to a non-Rotarian was back in the late 1990’s, so the club recently decided it was long overdue to make further awards to deserving local people.

Rhondda Rotary has supported the Rhondda Polar Bears Disabled Swimming Club over the past few years with regular donations. There are many volunteers who have given outstanding service and commitment to the Polar Bears since it was formed some 40 years ago, none more so than its coach, Glyn Harris.

He has been with the Club throughout

Collecting at the Nativity Scene another record totalling £7685, helped by the favourable weather”.

SWANSEA BAY

Swansea Bay Rotary held a charity Curry Evening in aid of the Afia Banjul Football Academy Foundation. Dr Mair Williams presented the £180 collected to Isabel Goodman who with her husband Craig has set up the Foundation to help young children in the this area of the Gambia by providing them with sports and essential educational equipment.

Dr. ROBERT LOUIS BRATMAN, P.H.F. Aberdare Rotary Club

Gynaecologist, obstetrician, Surgeon Commander (ret.) and gentleman, Dr. Robert Bratman became a Rotarian in 1960. Prior to this he was a Junior Rotarian and at the age of 14 he met Paul Harris, founder of Rotary. After graduating he became a Surgeon Commander aboard a USN destroyer and was highly respected both in and out of uniform.

Committed to Rotary ideals he transferred from his Californian club and joined Aberdare Rotary Club following his marriage to Marilyn and permanent move to Wales. He became the first British doctor to volunteer for the new Rotary International “Doctor Bank” scheme, so new that RIBI hadn’t yet formalised its scheme in detail. Uniquely Robert was an American volunteering for service under RIBI overseen by the Swedish Rotary Clubs! He worked on the East African island of Pemba off the coast of Zanzibar before returning to Aberdare, adding Consultant to Doctor Bank to his already vast Rotary commitments.

In 1999 Robert was our President, taking us into the 21st. century putting “Service Above Self” high on our agenda through his personal expectations. This year Robert would have been a Rotarian for 56 years.

Robert has achieved many minor miracles throughout his service to mankind. He never boasted; he was never one to say “I did that”, but his life of Service Above Self was remarkable. A knowledgeable, approachable and gentle man, Robert will be missed by so many for so many reasons.

Keep warm with litter pickers

Dr Mair Williams presents the £180 collected to Isabel Goodman at Swansea Bay’s Curry Evening.

SWANSEA VALLEY

One of our highlights was the resounding success of our annual football competition for local Primary Schools, at the Pontardawe Leisure Centre. This year we hosted 22 teams.

As in previous years the club has continued its support of District Youth competitions.

The Youth Speaks team from Maesydderwen competed in the RIBI Regional Final in Abergavenny.

Also, other young people from various schools in the area competed in the finals for Young Musician and the Young Writer competitions.

We were excited to welcome two new members to our club, including our first female member. Both of whom have settled in very well.

Our work with The Cross Community centre continues and forms a focus for a lot of support activities from the club.

A customary International evening, held this year at the Pontardawe Golf Club, saw us partnering with the Atlantic College based in Llantwit Major. We hosted four young students from countries from around the globe, who spoke for a few minutes about themselves and their aspirations for the future. They were delightful dinner guests, full of confidence, humour and ideas for the future.

City of Cardiff Rotaract braved the bitter February weather to do their bit for the environment. With soggy shoes, but an unbreakable spirit, members of the club joined Keep Wales Tidy’s weekend event, ‘The Great Taff Tidy’.

Over the course of two days and two different locations, the 12 volunteers made up of students and young professionals based in Cardiff - underwent an epic battle with the river’s litter.

City of Cardiff Rotaract’s volunteers collected dozens of bags of rubbish (with a few odd items!) and were praised on social media by members of Keep Wales Tidy.

Jamie-Lee Cole, Past President of City of Cardiff Rotaract said, “We’ve had the pleasure of working with the great team at Keep Wales Tidy before, and I’m sure we’ll get involved in future KWT events. Environmental projects are something that we’re looking to be more involved with in future. It’s fantastic that something as simple as a litter pick can have such a positive effect on the community; not only does it help the environment, but also shines a positive light on the diverse groups of volunteers, perhaps not native to the community, who are so happy to be involved and are enthusiastic to meet new people.”

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The RYLA Experience

By Hollie Wiggins, Pembroke I went on the RYLA Leadership course and I found this experience a challenge mentally and physically, but all the while thoroughly enjoyable.

Our first task took me by surprise as we were put into our groups and sent off to find a point of reference and then find the road again using a compass. I was not ready for this first task and panted heavily, thinking “what have I got myself into?” but my team were so nice towards me, and when other teammates asked to stop we did. This task shocked, but also prepared me for the week ahead, and I got to know my team members better while attempting to talk through panting heavily.

I choose to lead gorge walking with my team member Kayleigh. Originally I chose canoeing but another team member really didn’t want to lead the gorge walk so I said I would, having no idea what it was. However I am extremely glad I did because gorge walking was amazing, it thrilled me, and pushed me to my limits because of all those high jumps, oh, and breaking my glasses on the first day made it quite comical as well. The gorge area was absolutely beautiful I would go back to Brecon just to see that again. I was quite visually impaired but it really was a breath-taking place to be able to gorge walk.

The loonies leap was hard for me, and I nearly didn’t do it, but two boys, Gethin and Adam, who were learning to lead Gorge Walking like myself, helped me to do it and I am so grateful they did. I still found it terrifying because heights are not my thing, especially jumping from them, but I adored every minute and wouldn’t change it for the world.

The first day we were led to caving, and by gosh I was scared, because the idea of small spaces just did not seem appealing,

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Clean - for once - a team on RYLA

but my team members Teilo and Elis were so good at leading. We had to really work as a team because one girl in our group, Harriet, was terrified to do any of the caving but with the help of Simon, our amazing instructor, we all made it through and it was a really good experience and something lots of people will never get to experience, making me really appreciate what I was able to accomplish and do that day.

However, during caving, there was a hole called “the superman” hole and you went head first with your arm out, but you had to go through the bigger part because this hole had two sections to it where it became narrower, and me, being very silly, I got stuck, my instructor and team mate had to move my legs to help get my backside through this hole. Although incredibly embarrassing at the time to be stuck, it is one of my fondest and funniest memories.

On the second day it was Kayleigh’s and my turn to lead. This helped me

PDG Mike Rye is General Secretary of the Rotary Retro Automobile Fellowship (RRAF) and would like to welcome you to a “Taster Car Tour” to be held in September in and around Llandovery and Builth Wells.

This tour in one of the most beautiful areas of the UK is limited to 12 cars and will be booked on a first come basis.

You have to supply: A car (there is no age limit) fuel, lunches, breakdown and travel insurance. Costs: 4 nights per car (driver and co-driver) sharing a twin or double bedded room, £594.00 - Limited Single Rooms are also available.

Each day comprises of a route of approximately 100 miles and can be easily completed in the day without having to rush. For further details contact: Michael Rye, 56 St Isan Road, Heath, Cardiff, CF14 4LY. Tel 02920 611304

to learn so many things about control, instructions and time keeping and I found the experience really rewarding. On this day we also walked up Pen-Y-Fan, It was really tough but our team supported each other and we wouldn’t leave anyone behind, but we also didn’t let each other stop because we wanted to push ourselves and it was well and truly worth it when we reached the top.

On the third day, as a group we went canoeing, which was quite hilarious as some of our team just could not work out the high-tech way to paddle in a canoe and at one point we all joined our canoes and rowed for them. They were our comedians for the day.

And sadly, my week comes to an end with the team building challenges, my group, Team C, came second, but there was foul play involved because once everyone’s boats had finally sank, only Team D remained floating, Leaving the people I had become to close with over the course of four days was truly a heart breaking experience.

But, lastly, I’d like to thank the Rotary Club of Pembroke for allowing me to take part in this leadership course. There will be events to come in my life that will shape me as a person and, I feel this was one of those events. I have gained so much that I couldn’t be taught but had to learn, about people, and leadership and myself. I hope to further these skills when I go off to University but for now the skills I have are thoroughly helping me to achieve. Currently I am directing Romeo and Juliet in the Shakespeare School Festival and the lessons learnt from this course are really helping me progress in everyday life as well as in my extra curricula activities. I have even applied to go back to Storey Arms to help a course for the less abled, so and thank you again for this opportunity.

Come and be a Dragon Boat Racer!

The Welsh Dragon Boat Championship, run

by Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club will once again be a great day out for the whole family.

This great event happens on Sunday May 28th with additional free entertainment available for children visiting the Llysyfran Country Park and Reservoir.

Adults will pay £3 for entry for the whole day but all children are admitted free of charge and will be delighted with the extra treats available for them this year.

Welsh Water invested in a new play area and climbing frames at the entrance to the park.

A bouncy castle, inflatable dome and tea cup rides are being provided by Care

C’mon, it‘s not that bad!

Aberdare Rotary’s newest member Dominic O’Donnell undergoes the Club tradition on St. David’s Day of dining on a Welsh leek - and surviving!

in Hand. They are based in Narberth and are always pleased and proud to support the Narberth & Whitland Rotary.

In addition, (pictured), Care in Hand are sponsoring Face Painting provided by Gabrielle Swales in the giant marquee in the centre of the field. Rotary organiser Ken Morgan said: “without generous support of the sponsors we could never provide free entertainment all day for the children.”

The Army Reserve Centre at Picton Barracks, Carmarthen will bring some activity games, military equipment and a Kids Mini Zip Wire.

A mini digger will be available for children to sit in and control the levers of the excavator arm to move small objects from one spot to another. Hywel Griffiths the event main sponsor will be in charge of the excavator and he said: “Kids love the idea of controlling the machine, but of course, we won’t be letting them drive it down the site !”

For more details on how to enter a Dragon Boat Team email stephen.lewis54@btinternet.com This is the fourth year that the event is being staged in Pembrokeshire and already 18 teams have been identified and are actively recruiting supporters.

Over £40,000 has been raised during the

past three years and club President Mary Adams is hoping that proceeds this year will be the best yet.

The number of people in each team has been reduced from 17 to 15 and, the combined entry fee and individual Fund Raising target has been reduced from £65 per head to £50 per head.

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What can be done to improve rural health?

An important seminar on Rural Health and Community Wellbeing in mid Wales has been hosted by Lampeter Rotary Club and the University of Wales.

ABERGAVENNY STEAM RALLY Bailey Park, Park Road, Abergavenny Sunday 28th & Monday 29th May, 2017

Adults £7 12 - 17 yrs and OAPs £4 Children up 28

www.abergavennysteamrally.co.uk

UWTSD and Lampeter Rotary Club host Rural Health and Community Well-being event at the University’s Lampeter campus The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in association with Lampeter Rotary Club presented an open meeting, to raise awareness of what has been done and is proposed for Rural Health and Community Wellbeing in mid Wales, following the introduction of the Welsh Government’s Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The event featured a mix of static displays with formal presentations from various speakers representing the ‘Mid Wales Healthcare Collaborative’, looking after the interests of Ceredigion, Powys and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The aim of the collaborative was to redefine how policies and services can improve the health and wellbeing of those living in rural communities, one stated aim of which is to establish an additional clinic within the local area to dramatically reduce waiting times for patients in mid Wales.

Consultant ophthalmologist Mr Manoj Kulshrestha, Wales’ first Reader in Rural Health and Community Wellbeing, was a key speaker together with UWTSD’s Roger Maidment, Dean of Faculty of Business and Management.

Representatives from Ceredigion County Council also outlined its five year local plan and report on its recent wellbeing survey.

The unique, free event in Lampeter gave healthcare professionals, local care organisations and the general public an opportunity to learn what is being done to improve and promote health and wellbeing in the area.

Roger Maidment, Dean of Faculty of Business and Management, on the left of the banner with Kevin Sivyer, Lampeter Rotary Club, extreme right.

New lease of life for old bikes

Unwanted bikes will transform the lives of youngsters in the slums of Nairobi.

Abergavenny Rotary’s International Committee heard of the charity Fabulous Souls, dedicated to improving the lives of children in Kenya by empowering and encouraging independent thought and action, cultivating leadership, sustainability and entrepeneurship.

“This seemed like a good idea for the International Committee to take on,” said Rob Lloyd, a keen cyclist.

“We contacted the refuse recycling plant, local bike shops, bike clubs and everybody was very positive but we had little or no result from any of those.

“The main success was therefore with Rotarians themselves, their relatives and friends and then spreading the word further via contacts and things snowballed.”

Rob then collected the bikes from a wide area around Abergavenny to a central storage place before they were picked up by the charity.

“The donors of the bikes were very helpful and generous , many of the bikes for both adults and youths are of excellent quality and all will certainly improve the ability of the recipients to get to work, school, and market.”

Fabulous Souls has teamed up with ethically likeminded sister organization Shades of Africa to set off on an endeavour to harness entrepreneurship and productivity by partnering in the “chokora” project.

Street kids or “Chokora”; the Swahili word used to describe our young people, are a vast group of young people who occupy and reside in the streets of Nairobi.

Our youth survive by begging, selling confectionary, working run around jobs for little money or food and picking through bins and landfill sites (without PPE) to earn a small living through recycling. There are other extreme means to survive such as stealing.

Bikes supplied from the UK will be used to set up safety training courses for young people to learn how to safely ride.

They will be trained to manage a bike kitchen, and maintain the bikes.

The bicycles will be used in various ways to improve our youths daily lives.

Some bikes will be transformed into mobile mini shops and cafes providing a variety of services. The bikes will be transformed and equipped using recycled products and renewable energy sources such as solar energy.

Pictured, l to r, David Whittingham, Rob Lloyd and Dean Christie

WALES v FRANCE

70 years ago - almost to the day 70 years ago, Peter Rees won his first cap for Wales.

To commemorate the occasion, Cefn Sidan Rotary had a special cake baked for a St David’s Day celebration in his honour.

Peter is a founder member and Past President of Cefn Sidan, and won his first Welsh Rugby International cap against France in 1947 almost 70 years ago to the date of our dinner, playing alongside some legends of Welsh Rugby like Ken Jones, Bleddyn Williams, Billy Cleaver and Haydn Tanner.

“We thought it fitting that this warranted a celebration of the occasion. A cake was commissioned and presented by his lifelong friend Albert Francis MBE who also has been involved with welsh sport all his life.

“A truly remarkable character, Peter never misses a home game of his beloved Scarlets, the club which he played for and was President of, for many years. Not content to merely be a sports spectator, Peter still plays bowls every week and exercises daily either in a local gym or at home on his exercise bike. He rarely misses a Rotary meeting and woe betide any club official that steps out of line.”

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Great sport at the Championships This year 14 teams competed for the individual sport event trophies and the overall winning shield in the 32nd Rotary Welsh Disabled Team Championships.

Events at the Newport International Sports Village included swimming, basketball, target tennis, football penalty shootout, new age kurling, boccia, target golf, table tennis, weightlifting, pool and shot putt.

The Welsh Championship was conceived by Rotarian John Lister in 1983 after a visit to the English event organised by the Rotary Clubs of Coventry. The first Welsh games took place at RAF St. Athan in 1985.

The day started with each team parading around the sports hall. During the day competitors welcomed to the games Robert Davies the table tennis gold winning paralympian from Brecon.

Competitors were delighted to talk to Robert and look at his gold medal. Below, Rotarian Evan Thomas receives a Paul Harris Sapphire Award for his long service and dedication to Rotary disabled sports by District Governor Steve Jenkins.

Winning Team Tenderfoots Team Captain Jack Woods trying out the weights but still managing a big smile.

Aberystwyth Club President Derrek Whiting was privileged to present the medals supported by several Club members at the Welsh Schools Disabled championship at the Aberystwyth leisure centre in March. A heart-warming occasion and a tribute to the dedicated teachers.

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Paralympian Rob Davies proudly showing his gold medal which he won for table tennis at the Rio Games.

The South Wales finals of the 23rd Rotary Welsh Gymnastics Championships for Children with Special Needs at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff had more competitors than ever before.

The popularity of this event is now such that from a small number taking part in the first event there are now over 600 children participating in the semi-finals to over 200 in the finals.

The young competitors come from schools and gym clubs throughout Wales and travel long distances to participate, with their parents attending to provide encouragement.

District Governor Steve and Felicity attended the final at Cardiff and with the assistance of other attending Rotarians presented the children with their winners prizes.

“The effort and quality of the performances put in by the children are tear jerkers and their faces on completing their performances are a joy to behold,” said organiser Rtn Don Carsley. “Their teachers are brilliant and the chemistry between student and teacher shows the trust between them.

“The event is funded by our District and organised with the assistance of staff from Sport Wales. Their assistance in the organisation is so important to the success of the event and I am sure Rotarians present are impressed by their patience and attitude.”

94th ANNUAL BOWLS TRIPLES COMPETITION LLANDRINDOD WELLS Tuesday 4th July 2017 Lunch Available at: Metropole Hotel at 12.00 for 12.30 p.m. £13.50.

Bowls Competition: 2.15 p.m.

Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club, Rock Park

Teams of three players each playing three woods To win prizes, all three must be current members of your Club * Individual entries will be accommodated, where possible.

Contact: Barry Tomlinson, Rotary Club of Brecon Tel: 01874 611502 Email: barrytomlinson46@gmail.com To all rotary clubs please put this date in your diary so at your council meetings you can discuss this event. Last year there were nineteen teams who really enjoyed the day out.

The entry form sent out in April should to be returned to: Barry Tomlinson, 48, Beacons Park, Brecon, Powys, LD3 9BR to arrive no later than the 20th June 2017.

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See you in Plymouth - Britain’s Ocean City

This year’s conference, 13th-15th October, returns to Plymouth and is shaping up to be one terrific weekend in a newly refurbished hotel with plenty of thought provoking and entertaining speakers and events all wrapped up in an eclectic and exciting city.

Conference returns to the Holiday Inn, but after a complete refurbishment and name to the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Right in the city centre, you can stroll to the seafront, Drake Circus shopping centre or the Theatre Royal Plymouth in a few minutes.

Shows Concert by ‘Weavers Voices’ – a young The stylish restaurants and cafés of Royal group who have travelled the world giving William Yard are a 25 minute walk away. A concerts at many well known venues – not to be stroll to view the sharks and stingrays at the missed.

National Marine Aquarium takes you past the Keynote speakers will be Lt Col Carol Mayflower Steps, the historic departure point for Whittaker, in charge of nursing in Field Hospitals 17th-century pilgrims. in Croatia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. She will There will be plenty of time to work out in the be followed by Doctor Joan Williams from gym, take a dip in the pool or relax in the sauna Cardiff who will talk about Slavery in Wales. or steam room. Enjoy the delicious Marco Pierre Closing the first day of conference will be a Steakhouse and grill penthouse restaurant with presentation on fighting Alzheimers featuring panoramic sea views. The smart downstairs bar radio and television personality, Angela Rippon. is a great place to grab a snack, play pool or Angela has spent a considerable amount of her watch TV. Kids stay free in this family-friendly life raising funds to assist in the fight against the Plymouth hotel. disease. She was made a CBE for her services to If you wish to attend the conference in 2017 Dementia Care in the New Years Honours. and wish to stay at the Holiday Inn, rooms can Conference will be closed on the Saturday by now be reserved by telephoning 01752 639936 the Dementia Society Choir, Plymouth.

The package for the conference will consist of Sunday will open with a Service of Songs of two nights bed and breakfast, with a three course Praise, followed by the first speaker of the day, dinner plus coffee on the Friday night, a two Mik Scarlet. Mik, a disabled champion, is a course finger buffet lunch at the end of conferbroadcaster, journalist, actor, musician and an ence, Saturday lunch time, together with a four expert in the field of access and inclusion for course dinner plus coffee on the Saturday night. disabled people. He spends most of his life in Cost for the package is £180 per person with a wheelchair and is recently quoted as saying, two persons sharing a room. A number of single “Who worries about not being able to walk when rooms are available at a cost of £180. You will you have a wheel chair” be requested to pay £50 deposit for each person, which can be paid by credit card.

He will be followed by Elin Haf Davies an If you wish to stay at the hotel on the adventurer and campaigner for child health.

Thursday night before conference and on the She has recently rowed across both the Atlantic Sunday night after conference prices will be Ocean and Indian Ocean and sailed across the available at the time of booking.

Pacific, spending 204 days at sea.

Tables will be available on both Friday and Sir Richard Stilgoe will tell us about the Saturday nights for those wishing to attend the charity Orpheus, formed in 1997. The charity after dinner entertainment and not stayiong at was set up to help young people prepare for an the hotel. independent living through performing in arts Friday Night will be a Fancy Dress Dinner courses. Sir Richard was High Sheriff of Surrey and Dance with the theme, “Hollywood in 1998 and knighted in 2012.

Blockbusters - A night at the Oscars” with Further details available from Conference music provided by Jamie and the First Class.

Chairman PDG Don Carsley on 01446 720669, Fancy dress is not essential but encouraged. djc@dcarsley.fsnet.co.uk or Conference Saturday Night’s Dinner will commence with Registrar Rtn Stephen Jenkins 03930217756 or a display by the Royal Marine Cadets Bugles rogers.rotary@gmail.com and Drums, followed by a Songs from the See you there.

Plymouth Hoe, by Trevor Burrows.

Inset, Marco Pierre’s Steakhouse Bar and Grill showing the amazing views from the top of the Crowne Plaza.