Faringdon Rotarian December 2018

December 2018

Faringdon Rotarian The newsletter of Faringdon & District Rotary Club

www.faringdonrotaryclub.org @RotaryFaringdon

faringdon.rotary

‘The Rotary Club of Faringdon & District Trust Fund’ registered charity No: 1023771

Producer & Editor: Michael Bell

The Object of Rotary The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of The worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society; The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business and community life; The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

The Four-Way Test Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

This Year’s Rotary Foundation Scholar

Rotary Foundation scholars head to District 1090 in strong numbers mainly because Oxford University and Oxford Brookes are within the District – 23 this academic year, from all continents. They will be studying at advanced degree level, so are not undergraduates, and will be in the UK for between one and four years.

Faringdon’s RF scholar this year, Aneel Brar, comes from Canada, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Calgary Olympic. As his name suggests his family hailed from India, the far northwest to be precise, where Aneel has an ongoing project helping pregnant women prenatally, at birthing time, and postnatally. This work is not solely medical, but increasingly it is also incorporating mental well-being. In this area of India care of the right sort is only thinly available, especially if it cannot be paid for, so the work of Aneel’s team is already greatly appreciated.

Suitably qualified UK students are equally encouraged to apply for courses abroad, but need to have a Rotary Club prepared to support their application.

Douglas Dalrymple

POLIO PLUS CURRY NIGHT Our Polio fund raiser at the Snooty Mehmaan is now a well-established event in our Rotary calendar, combining a great social occasion whist raising a significant sum of money to contribute to the eradication of Polio. Whether by design or good luck this year’s event took place on “World Polio Day” so adding to the relevance of the evening.

This year was a full capacity crowd of 92, many of whom are non-club members, but very loyal regular attendees.

The food as ever was excellent! Lovely, savoury starters were delivered to our tables in lightening quick time. The buffet main course that followed was extensive and varied and there was something for every one’s taste. Seconds were available for any one that had the space or, for those with a sweeter tooth, traditional rice pudding was there in copious amounts.

President David extended a warm welcomed all the guests and then handed over to Karen Eveleigh, District Foundation Chair, who gave us the latest positive update on progress to eradicate Polio from the world. No evening would be complete without a raffle which followed Karen’s update.

The staff did a truly excellent job coping admirably with the capacity attendance.

A great Event with a great result, having raised just over £1000! Thanks to all who joined us for the evening and we look forward to you joining us next year Clive Clark

Root & Branch Shrivenham Project The Community team felt that the club needed to share our community resources out into the “& District” of the Rotary Club of Faringdon & District, so we looked at where we could provide assistance.

We were aware that the club, several years ago, had done practical work for the Root and Branch of Shrivenham, a charity providing rehabilitation for people with mental health issues, one of eight recovery groups in Oxfordshire, which operate under the umbrella organisation Restore. We made contact and we were immediately welcomed with open arms. An on-site meeting with Rebecca Brain and Ian Matherson, both trustees of the Charity, enabled us to familiarise ourselves with the site, two rows of converted stables, which have listed status. These buildings house an office, a craft room, a kitchen, a woodwork shop, a metalwork shop including a blacksmiths furnace. Our tour enabled us to understand what work the Charity needed to be done on the premises and what the Rotarians are capable of doing.

We identified that all the joinery of the premises, 10 windows in all, needed a restoration process that included applying a preservative, 2 coats of undercoat and a coat of Gloss. The seven doors were given multiple coats of a coloured wood preservative.

The pergola, which supported a very healthy grape vine was also given a couple of coats of coloured wood preservative (the charity had received a quote of £2800 for this work alone). We were also asked to insulate the office floor which was bare concrete, this involved, forming a concrete a step at the entrance, screwing down battens to the concrete floor, infilling with 25mm solid insulation, covering with OSB board and a new carpet, the windows were also fitted with double glazed panels we finished by putting a couple of coats of emulsion on the office walls.

Clive Clark used his influence with Dulux and purchased all the paint and decorating sundries at a very reasonable price, Travis Perkins supplied all the wood and insulation at a very reasonable cost and Carpet Options of Witney provided us with office carpet at no cost.

So, we were all set, a tick list was circulated in the club and several members signed up, the only issue we could see was what weather we would experience in an autumnal October. We were lucky, it was damp on the first day of work, however it improved over the two weeks, with some days where we were bathed in glorious sunshine from dawn to dusk.

We worked 8 days over two weeks, in which, Rotarians put in excess of 150 hours and we spent nearly ÂŁ700 on supplies.

Thanks, must go to Rotarians Ray Avenall, Clive Clark, Bjorn Watson, Mike Bell, Alan Hall, Stuart Spencer, Gordon Hughes, Jody & Dean Whittaker, Tim Gerry and Tim Cowling. I’m sure they all enjoyed every minute, even if they complained about the foreman.

The winner is Root & Branch who can now spend the monies we have saved them on their core activities.

Glyn James

Thomas Gets a Facelift During Thomas’s Summer inspection and maintenance, his expression expressed the desire for a facelift.

Local artist Peter Wheeler was approached and, although this was a change of genre from his passion for landscapes and architecture, Peter relished the challenge. “I’m always up for a challenge” said Peter “the Rotarians devote so much time to raising money for charity and I am more than happy to add my contribution.

We all look forward to Santa’s visits on his float and this year everything will be shining and smiling a little brighter”.

Thomas was thrilled with the result and also delighted that Ray, Roger and Colin had attended to his electrics and paintwork. What’s more, he got a new bell! He also wanted to thank Robert and Janice for keeping him dry, sheltered and safe during the off season.

For those readers who are unaware: Thomas the Tank Engine carried Father Christmas to Faringdon Lights-On for the very first time on 1st December 1994 during Stuart Spencer’s presidential year. At that time, Round Table membership was dwindling and they were unable to maintain the number of collection nights and so fundraising around Faringdon and surrounding villages was a Rotary joint project with Round Table and raised £800.

Round Table closed down in 1998. The 41 Club took over from Table and shared the 1999 and 2000 collections 50/50. Rotary took sole responsibility from Christmas 2001 when 41 Club entrusted Thomas to our care on a permanent basis and concentrated on maintaining Faringdon’s annual fireworks display. That’s another story.

Fireworks & Bonfire Another very successful Firework Display and Bonfire in the grounds of Faringdon House.

We are grateful to past Rotarians and friends of Rotary for their help and also to Faringdon Rugby Club for their significant assistance in unloading pallets and building the bonfire. Also, a great help to have had Robert Sharp there with his fork-lift.

Our thanks also to the members of YoCO for help with car parking, Gof Smith and team for first aid, Mattingley & Sharpe for the PA. RotaKids were doing a roaring trade all evening selling their popular glow sticks.

Selling refreshments were Pat Thomas butcher, Just Jack's, Faringdon Scout Group and the White Horse Rotary Group.

Thanks also to The Barber Shop, Stay Grounded, Tourist Information, Tesco and Waitrose for ticket sales, to Perry Bishop & Chambers for their sponsorship and to Mr & Mrs CrossleyCooke, Faringdon House Estate for a most generous donation to our fundraising and for the use of their land.

RotaKids Children in Need On Friday 12th October RotaKids’ held a Children in Need tea party when they were selling raffle tickets to win two teddy bears.

Friends were invited to attend for a £1 donation.

As a result, Shaena was able to hand over a cheque for £162.50 to Pudsey on their behalf at Heathrow airport.

Remembrance At their 9th November meeting they applied themselves to the forthcoming Armistice day.

They decided on the words to go on their wreath, completed a quiz showing their knowledge of what Remembrance Day is about and made their own wreath.

Christmas Shoe Boxes As well as all that they filled 9 shoeboxes with children’s goodies to be sent as part of the Christmas appeal. We should be very proud of them.

Collecting for Children in Need Another impressive turnout by Faringdon Rotary on Friday 16th November when twelve members were at Heathrow Terminal 5 collecting for Children in Need.

Remembrance Sunday President David and Amy with our RotaKids on parade in Faringdon Market Place on Sunday 11th November to remember the fallen.

Faringdon Gets Its Christmas Trees Thank you to Acorn Timber for again generously supplying the town’s Christmas tree which was met by Roddy & Roger and erected on 21st November.

The following Sunday morning was time for team Rotary and helpers to wrap the small trees with lights and install them around town; after which they were rewarded with a delicious cup of coffee at Stay Grounded. Thank you to Nick Spence, Richard Marlow, Russell and River Watts for their help once again.

Finally, it was our great pleasure to deliver a fine Christmas tree to Ferendune Care Home.

New Member James Famakin: we extend a very warm welcome to James and our sincere best wishes for a most enjoyable experience of good fellowship within our club and the worldwide Rotary family.

Thank you to all those members who have so willingly contributed articles throughout the year and provided photography when I have been unable to do so. Mike Bell

Publication

The Faringdon Rotarian August 2018 The Faringdon Rotarian April/May 2018 The Faringdon Rotarian February 2018 The Faringdon Rotarian December 2017 The Faringdon Rotarian September 2017 The Faringdon Rotarian June 2017 The Faringdon Rotarian April 2017 The Faringdon Rotarian February 2017 The Faringdon Rotarian November 2016 The Faringdon Rotarian August 2016 The Faringdon Rotarian June 2016 The Faringdon Rotarian April 2016 The Faringdon Rotarian February 2016 The Faringdon Rotarian December 2015 The Faringdon Rotarian September 2015 The Faringdon Rotarian July 2015

Club Website Club Facebook

Digitalised