Welcome

Welcome to our Summer edition of Windsor & Maidenhead Local magazine, with so much going on over the next few weeks, in fact everything from celebrations to festivals there really is something for everyone here in our Royal Borough.

We have been out and about as usual recently, and it always makes me smile when we are asked regularly ‘so, where have you all been and what have you been up to?’ Well, we visited the seaside here at home, and travelled to Istanbul in Turkey, and you can read all about our adventures throughout this issue. Yes, we really do visit all the places we feature in each and every issue. And, we couldn’t leave Turkey without the flavour feast of Turkish Delight, now, could we? Talking of desserts, well celebration cakes actually as May turns 100 and we pop in to congratulate her, and several of our care homes and carers feature in this issue, with celebrations and stories of their own to share.

We also have some professional and financial advice from several of our prominent local business owners and entrepreneurs and we are always appreciative of the time and efforts they take to write for us in and among their hectic schedules and busy lives, and I am sure, you, our readers will find it very useful as always. In addition, there is style, interior design, innovation, and much more, so keep turning the pages and enjoy this Summer special edition.

Well, until late August it just remains for me to wish you all a very pleasant Summer, have a great time and enjoy your Family Fun!

To contribute, feature, or advertise, contact: windsor@localareamagazines.co.uk or please call 07306

Jacqui Priestley meets with Lisa Hunter as she talks about what it means to be a Rotarian

Could you just explain who and what Maidenhead Bridge Rotary Club is?

Maidenhead Bridge Rotary is a club that is very busy but lots of fun and best of all it is a club that is all about flexibility. The aim of our club is to provide people in the area with an opportunity to get involved in the local community with hands-on volunteering, and to meet like-minded people, whilst having fun at the same time!

We know people are busy, so we meet over coffee on 1st and 3rd Sunday each month at 10.30am at Maidenhead Football Club, to plan projects, hear from speakers and have a catch-up with friends.

Who do you help?

Anyone and everyone who needs it! In the last 12 months alone club members have collectively contributed over 2,300 hours of voluntary service, a milestone we are incredibly proud of. One of the highlights in the last year has been preparing special Christmas hampers for 35 local families facing hardship, ensuring they enjoyed a festive holiday season.

In total, our club has raised over £15,000 in the last year, supporting more than a dozen charities and good causes. We know that these efforts have made a significant difference both locally and internationally.

How do you raise money?

We raised funds in a number of ways, including at our much-loved Easter Family Fun Day which supported Daisy’s Dream, the innovative “Quiz with No Name” in aid of Shelterbox, and the highly successful inaugural Indian Cultural Night. This cultural extravaganza, which featured the tastes, songs, and dances of India, raised an impressive £3,000 for Alzheimer’s Dementia Support and Goonj, an Indian charity.

Are the club members volunteers, and what background do they come from?

As a club we have a dynamic and diverse membership, all of whom are volunteers. The club grew by 11 new members this year, bringing the total to 60 and making it the second-largest Rotary club in the Thames Valley.

We all come from different backgrounds, culturally and professionally, with many of us still working too. We welcome anyone so if you’re interested in volunteering and expanding your horizons do get in touch today… and remember some of our members who have young children bring them along too, so no need to worry about childcare!

What is your main focus for the remainder of 2024, and what do you feel the charity can achieve?

We have in fact just started a new Rotary year, which runs until 30th June 2025. To celebrate a hugely successful year we recently held an end-of-year party that marked 12 months of fun, friendship, and service. The event was a testament to the club’s impactful activities and the strong bonds formed among members.

President James Ticehurst handed the reigns over to Sarah Street who praised James for his leadership over the past year:

“Your mantra was ‘Don’t mess it up,’ and I think we can safely say you succeeded, with fun at the heart of everything we do as a club,” commented Sarah.

You can’t have failed to a miss the priority of mental health in the public domain, so Sarah has big ideas about how we can support each other but also work closely with local charity Hector’s House, which was set up by the family of Hector who died by suicide when very young.

Of course there will also be more social events as this is a core part of being in Rotary – having fun and fostering the friendships.

Who gives you inspiration?

I was fortunate enough to know Sir Nicholas Winton, a kind and passionate man who believed that each one of us can make a difference to the lives of others. That no matter how small your gesture it can have a massive impact on those in need.

Whilst his contributions to humanity in no way shape or form could be considered a small gesture, he is right in what he says, we all have the ability to make the world a better place, and through Rotary I can do just that.

What do you like best about Maidenhead?

Maidenhead has a great sense of community, there are so many people and other groups pulling together to make the local area an amazing place to live, work and play. There are so many events that take place each month from Duck Derby’s to Waterways Fun Days to Maidenhead Festival, most of which are free to go along to. I can’t imagine living anywhere else!