QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR ROTARY MEMBERS IN BERKSHIRE, OXFORDSHIRE ANDThamesThames PARTS OF BUCKS & MIDDLESEX ValleyValley RotaryRotary Quarterly Magazine of Rotary District 1090 in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and parts of Buckinghamshire & Greater London

Inside …. King is ‘Crowned’ for 2015-16

Cover Story ver 100 Rotarians and guests met in The time had arrived when DG 2014-15 Tim District Handover P.1 the Castle Hotel Windsor on Friday handed the Chain of Office over to DG 2015-16 O 26 June 2015 for the District Fred King. Tim wished Fred and his team every Club News-Around District Handover from District Governor Tim success for the year ahead. Promoting Rotary P. 2 Cowling and the 2014-15 team to Fred King Fred opened by Unique Young Club and his team for 2015-16. paying tribute and ’Muddy Challenge’ P.3 I m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g d i n n e r thanks to Tim for the Caravan Rally P.4 entertainment was provided by the determination and Kamuli Global Grant Occasions Singers from Bracknell (below). grit he has shown in

Around Clubs in Brief P 5-7 his year as Governor Fun in the Didcot Sun P. 8 and also thanked Linda Cowling for the Odds & Ends P.9 tremendous support The Rotary Bag she had given to Tim. RI Special Appointment Fred then told his Ebola Award story of how he was drawn into Rotary when Membership Solution? he spoke to two Rotarians collecting outside a News Extra P.10 Tim Cowling spoke of his year in office which supermarket following which he joined Conference 2016 did not start well due to an injury he Burnham Rotary Club. In 2003 he became So to the Future sustained but, in true Rotary spirit, he carried involved in the Shelterbox scheme as a Slough Help for Blind on with his role through a most successful coordinator. This allowed him to gain a good year. He is immensely proud of the work that overview of clubs and District on his visits to District News P.11 has been achieved in the District. He paid clubs and events. Other roles on District PDG Judith Diment Award tribute to those that has supported him followed leading to his becoming District Sir Nicholas Winton during the year - members of the District Governor. Executive for their hard work, Club And Finally… P.12 Presidents and club members who had Fred gave an overview of his visit to the On The Lighter Side worked tirelessly to help those less Rotary Assembly in San Diego where he met District Diary fortunate. with District Governors from around the New Rotarians world. It was there where the Rotary theme - Tim went on to thank others for their special Editor’s Comment ‘Be a Gift to the World’ - was expanded upon work - Matt Mason of Reading Matins for by Ravi Ravindran, RI President 2015-16 . raising £250,000 via Yogscast for the End Polio campaign, the VTT team for their work The aims for the year are to be Membership, in Kamuli led by Gillian Pearce and Karen Rotary Foundation and the End Polio Eveleigh then the award for Rotarian of the Campaign to help finish this important Year, Brian Jonson (see report later). He project. Fred also intends to focus on Youth to then presented District Citation awards to include Interact, Rotaract and RYLA plus widening the public image of Rotary. nine clubs for their work in areas of Views expressed by Membership, Rotary Service and Light up Finally, Fred promoted Conference 2016 - see contributors to this magazine the Family of Rotary. page 10 and also the conference website. are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Officers of Rotary Tim expressed his thanks to all clubs for their The final message from Fred was to “Be a Gift District 1090. support for his charity SeeSaw. He said, “To The Editor retains the right to to the World as Rotarians we can leave behind include, edit or reject any date, we have received in the region of something real and lasting. Our time is now material, articles or items £11,000, which is tremendous, and I am and it will never return”. There is much work submitted for consideration for entry into this magazine. immensely grateful to everybody who has to do in the year ahead. On this note the supported me with this charity”. evening was brought to an end.

August 2015 www.rotary1090.org No. 106 Oxford Spires Promoting Rotary

The Rotary Club of Oxford Spires really got into the carnival spirit when members from the Club attended the Cowley Road Carnival in Oxford on Sunday 5 July to promote Rotary to 45,000 people who attended the event.

This was the first time that the Club had attended an event purely to promote Rotary. The Club invited carnival goers to enter a free prize draw to win an Amazon voucher and at the same time talked to them about Rotary. The stand contained information about the End Polio Now campaign, the six areas of focus, opportunities for the young and the youth competitions. To encourage the younger members in the crowd to stop they brought along ‘Splat The Rat’ game - equally enjoyed by the adults! Layla Claridge, Miss Oxfordshire 2015, also made a special appearance, stopping at the Rotary stand to pose for photographs.

Karen Eveleigh, Club President, said “It was great that we were able to take part in this event and to be close to the main music and food area. More people now know what Rotary is about and what we do, both in Oxford and further afield. If a few of them visit our club meetings and think about joining a Rotary club in the area, then that would be a great bonus.”

Oxford Brookes University was the lead sponsor for this year’s Carnival to coincide with its 150th anniversary celebrations. The procession, with the theme ‘Creating Our Future’, was led by Brookie the Oxford Brookes bookworm mascot and the Rhythm Craft project which made musical instruments from recycled materials. Almost 800 people including school pupils, dancers and musicians took to the streets for a colourful parade featuring costumes, booming music and dancing.

A Unique Young Rotary Club

Bicester Rotary Club has a close partnership with Bardwell Special School with trips to the pantomime, Kids Out and support for their Specialist School Status. In return, the school has participated in Children Singing for Children, raising funds for others in need, contributing to Rotary WheelAppeal, environmental and community projects.

Eighteen months ago the school donated a significant amount of surplus equipment to Chilenje Special Needs Unit through the Wye Valley Zambia Project and through which a strong bond was formed between Bardwell and Chilenje. This has led to ‘pen-pal’ correspondence and most recently exchange visits by Bardwell’s sixth form teacher, Matthew and head of Chilenje’s Special Unit, Brenda.

Brenda’s visit this March coincided with the chartering of the Bardwell Interact/Rotakids club. The school caters for children aged 2-19 with a wide range of complex needs. Being a small school, a sticking point had been whether to have a RotaKids or an Interact Club. It is important that the age and abilities of these special students are respected, rather than focusing on disabilities. With a special dispensation from RI, a neat solution was found with a combination of the two, led by Bard- well Voice, the school’s Student Council, with Matthew as the staff link. The first of its kind in the world!

This is working well with the whole school involved in baking and icing cakes for tea party at Bourne End for the Chilenje Global Grant project. The students enjoy contributing to their community and learning about new cultures. One of the Interactors helped on the Rotary stall at

Bicester Big Lunch and completed a Race for Life in Oxford. They love their new uniforms and being part of the Rotary Family. Ruislip Northwood Help to raise £9,000

On Saturday 2nd May 2015, an intrepid team of five city executives swapped their suits for shorts and put themselves to the test in order to raise funds for the Friends of Grangewood Association by taking part in the West London ‘Tougher Mudder’ Challenge.

The team, appropriately named the MudMen, included experienced Tougher Mudder, Rupert Barton, who had also previously walked a 100 miles in 100 hours in Thailand and Ashish Patel who previously ran the London Marathon, Rajiv Pabari who has previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as well as two athletes Vishal Maru and Vijay Chauhan. The team, supported by Ruislip Northwood Rotary Club, were among one thousand people who attempted the gruelling 12km challenge which was part hill climb, part army assault course including three water obstacles where team members were almost completely submerged. At one point the team had to build and climb a human pyramid. In a true triumph of teamwork, the Mudmen completed the course in three and a half hours despite previous ankle and knee injuries.

Grangewood School in Eastcote was chosen as the focus for fundraising by the team as it provides a range of education and activities to enrich the lives and assist the development of mainly local boys and girls aged 3 – 11 with physical and learning disabilities. Rotary President Nayan Patel joined the team celebrations at the end as they announced that they had smashed their original fund raising target of £1000 by raising £9,000. Nayan congratulated the Mudmen saying “This is a fantastic achievement by the Mud Men team, they have successfully completed the Tough Mudder challenge and raised a substantial sum by taking the initiative in order to help make a difference to the lives of children in need. An inspiring action by these five City Professionals supporting a very worthy cause for which we thank them most sincerely"

The funds raised will enable the school to pay for specialist play equipment for the children and go towards the next school fundraising initiative - the purchase of a new mini bus to enable the children to continue their learning and development through educational visits.

Photos courtesy of Nayan Patel

District Governor visits Rotary Fellowship Caravanners

District 1090 International Caravanning Fellowship of Rotarians were pleased to receive a visit from District Governor Tim Cowling at their recent 5 day Rally at Standlake Water Park near Witney in April which was attended by 40 members from various parts of the Country.

ICFR is one of the strongest Rotary Fellowships in RIBI and offers a great variation of venues in many different locations throughout the country as well as abroad for those owning caravans or motor homes. Details of future events can be obtained from PDG Brian Key

Rotary Global Grant makes a real difference at Kamuli

At District Conference in March Dr Jim McWhirter, of Henley Bridge was presented with the prestigious ‘Service Above Self Award’ – one of Rotary International highest accolades. ‘Dr Jim’ was a popular and most deserving recipient, as without him, much of the groundbreaking work at Kamuli Mission Hospital in Uganda and beyond might not have happened. Many clubs and individual Rotarians have been inspired by his work for Rotary Doctor Bank at Kamuli and other hospitals in impoverished rural areas of Uganda and been quick to offer support.

It is important to sustainability and long term benefits that such projects are delivered in partnership with the beneficiaries and host community. The recent Global Grant awarded jointly to Henley Bridge and Elthorne Hillingdon clubs has led to vast improvements in facilities through rebuilding and extending wards and enhanced medical practice through the Vocational Training Team (VTT) visits. The success is due in no small measure to Dr Jim’s wise guidance.

The VTT visits will continue, led by midwife Gillian Pearce and financed by District grants and donations from clubs. It is a measure of their success that a large number of medical staff in the Kamuli area benefited from sharing best practice and the visiting team members found their lives greatly enriched too.

Gillian and team member Aisha Alzouebi, Obstetrics & Gynaecology Senior Registrar at Hillingdon Hospital, have been invited by the International Association of Risk Management in Medicine to present a paper on “Simulation in a country with minimal resources and its impact on clinical safety” at the 4th World Congress of Clinical Safety being held in Vienna from 28-30 September. ……... Around the Clubs in Brief

Eynsham Marlow Thames

The Fishponds are the only remnants of the ancient Marlow Thames Rotary Club have many “fun” evenings Eynsham Abbey to survive in their original setting. The during the year and the “Dress the Bride Competition” ponds were created in 1217 by diverting a stream and held in July was no exception. One member came to the Eynsham Parish Council is restoring this wildlife area with meeting armed with many large newspapers, cellotape volunteer partners. It is visited by local people, including and very little else. the elderly, disabled and very young for recreational and educational purposes.

The circular walking path around the ponds crosses the Old Chilbrook stream. Until recently this crossing was made by steps and a bank which could not be negotiated safely with a push chair or wheelchair. Sections became soft and muddy after rain exposing a tree root hazard.

Visitors to the Fishponds will see a new ramp leading to the bridge across the Old Chilbrook enabling wheelchair users to complete the circular path without having to negotiate steps. Two information boards will soon be in place with a plan of the site. This work has been carried out by the Parish Council as part of their development Following the meal, on a very hot evening, the Club was plan for the site and funded by a £3,000 donation from organised into 4 teams and items were distributed items. Eynsham Rotary Club. Further work by Rotarians is The teams were then told to “Dress the Bride”. planned to improve the surface of the path and to sow Obviously three men opted to become a bride for the day wild flower and grass seed on the embankment. – how long have they wanted to do that! Being such a Rotarian Ron Feasey said “We have given money and hot evening two teams decided to go out onto the support to needy causes in the village since our Club balcony of the pub garden to create their vision. This started in 2011. Beneficiaries have included organisations caused a lot of interest from pub goers which may (or such as the Primary School and the Day Centre plus many may not) be a good way to recruit membership! individuals. Many contributions pass unseen but the The end result was amazing as can be seen from the improvements to the Fishponds will remain visible to for photo although a bit of cheating went on as serviettes many years to be enjoyed by the entire village”. and other bits and pieces from the room were added to Parish Councillor Sue Osborne welcomed the Rotary enhance the creation. Club’s support of the development programme. The evening was great for fellowship and getting to know our new members – and they have come back again! Marlow Thames has a way of making Rotary fun as well as the work members do.

Around the Clubs in Brief ……...

Newbury Oxford Spires

Mon Dieu! Despite the rain in the morning, the third The Rotary Club of Oxford Spires was delighted when the running of the Newbury Rotary Club’s Boules in the Guinness World Record Holder of the ‘Largest Winnie The Square Tournament proved to be another great success. Pooh Memorabilia Collection’, Deb Hoffmann, travelled from Wisconsin, USA to play in the World Pooh Sticks The 16 teams threw themselves into the spirit of the Championships that were held on Sunday 7 June at event and after some great competition and, at times, Langel Common, Witney. very tactical pitching, the final for the cup was contested between AFW Boule Dogz (AMEC Foster Wheeler) and Deb was combining her trip to England with other Prestige Network with the latter succeeding at their third ‘Winnie the Pooh’ related visits such as to the original attempt in this competition by 13 to 6. bridge in Upper Hartfield in Ashdown Forest, London Zoo to see the statues of ‘Winnie the Bear’, as well as visiting During the course of the day teams representing both the Guinness World Record offices. community groups and businesses from A-Plan, Buzz Magazine, Charles Lucas & Marshall, Gardner Leader, The event saw several other Thames Valley Rotary Clubs Newbury Round Table, Newbury Spring Festival, PBA working with Oxford Spires including Banbury, Accountants, Premier Lifestyle, Regent Lettings, Faringdon, Witney, Bicester, Windsor St George and Shrewsbury Terrace, St Bartholomew’s ONA, Vodafone, Wallingford & Sinodun. Members helped put up tents; West Berks Mencap, Wilkins Chimney Sweep had sell tickets, badges and certificates; run the games on the g radually been eliminated. bridge; put up banners; manage the queues; hand out the sticks; promote Shelterbox; manage the car parks; This event, run as part of Newbury Fest 2015, temporarily sell teas and coffees; and present the prizes. converted The Market Place into a French town centre with five boules pistes - four for the team competition Over 300 volunteer hours go into running the event on and one for an adult and a junior “closest to the jack” the day alone with another 100+ volunteer hours in the months before for planning and preparation. competition open to the general public. The adult prize for the latter was a meal for two sponsored by Strada Over £1,600 was raised for the following charities and which was won by Mrs Lynn Flitton with a total groups: Aspire, BWS Support Group, Cogges Cub Scouts, combined distance of 20.5cm. The junior prize, a goodie Cogges Manor Farm, Kidlington Guides, St Mary’s Cogges bag sponsored by Bill’s Restaurant was won by a young Church, Rotary International End Polio Now Campaign, Grace Cole. Rotary Club of Witney and Rotary Shelterbox.

The event, sponsored this year by local companies, raised The World Pooh Sticks Champion 2015 was James Smith, some £2300 which will be used to support Rotary a quantity surveyor from Long Hanborough. charities.

Hemant Amin (right) presenting the cup to the winners, Prestige Network Team

……... Around the Clubs in Brief

Reading Abbey Reading Maiden Erlegh

On Thursday 25th June year 6 children at Southcote A charity golf tournament held at the Sonning Golf Club Primary School were awarded dictionaries by Reading on 3rd July raised £2700 for the Thames valley Air. Abbey Rotary Club. Lisa Telling, Head teacher of the Ambulance and other Rotary good causes. Organised by School opened the doors to the Rotarians to award the Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh, the children new dictionaries. This project is run by Rotary to tournament was attended by 67 golfers in 17 individually help support and develop literacy by encouraging named teams. children to learn new words and subjects independent of The winning team was Kerry London Hopefuls. The team, their teacher. Dave Chard, Barry Whitfield Dan Abbot and Niall Carlton

turned in the best overall score, which was seven points

clear of the runners-up.

In the evening, during dinner, the Thames Valley Ambulance, Mr Colin Lee MBE thanked the organisers and golfers for raising the generous sum for the charity.

President Janet Sartorel, Rotarian Anthony Rowberry and Lisa Telling, Head teacher of Southcote School

Janet Sartorel, President of Reading Abbey Rotary Club said “I joined Rotary for this reason, giving back to the Barry Whitfield of Kerry London Hopefuls driving community. Today has been so rewarding, seeing the for the par 3 green two hole children’s faces light up at being awarded their own Reading Maiden Erlegh dictionary and knowing this will make a real difference to their lives is wonderful”. On a sunny evening towards the end of June a party of 46 Reading Maiden Erlegh Rotarians, partners and The children were given a challenge too. They were friends enjoyed a picnic and an open-air performance of asked to find a unique word in their dictionaries - William Shakespeare’s Henry IV part I. The performance “pneumatic”. After a few minutes of page flicking the was run by the talented Garden Players in the garden of winner was awarded a £10 book token. the Stubbings Estate near Maidenhead in Berkshire. The award ceremony demonstrated that children are still And the bonus? The Garden Players kindly donated £10 excited by books and although tablets and consoles from each £18 entry ticket to our Rotary funds making a widely used, nothing inspires children more than a brand total income of £460. The Garden Players also donate new dictionary. funds to the Child Bereavement UK and SportsAble charities from the ticket sales for all of their performances.

A scene from the play (courtesy of the Garden Players) Didcot Truckfest 2015– Fun in the Sun

Didcot Rotarians dug in for some seriously hard work, as a record number of Festival fans flocked to Hill Farm, Steventon for the annual two days of music and mayhem.

The Festival organisers made additional demands this year, asking Didcot Rotary to run a new Breakfast Bar on the campsite, open from 7-11 a.m., in addition to their regular Food Marquee and doughnut van. The organiser also brought in a number of his own food outlets, bringing the prospect of serious competition for all the Rotary Clubs, Ronald McDonald House, Bateman Trust and other voluntary groups. The new Breakfast Bar menu went down well, and, as always, early queues formed on Saturday and Sunday mornings, to grab the double bacon, double egg Breakfast Specials – the best cure ever for a hangover!

Didcot’s army of helpers included friends, neighbours, relatives, Guides, 6th Formers and students. DG Fred King visited on Saturday and spent an hour with volunteers before joining the crowds heading off to Oxford Spires ‘Dalicious’ and Faringdon Pizza Palace, which were doing a roaring trade.

DG Fred King and Didcot President Bernie Melanophy Enjoying the Rotary day in the sun!

Didcot Rotary catering operation was so popular that additional food supplies had to be rushed in for Saturday morning.

7,680 Bread Baps 3,360 Beef Burgers 480 Veggie Burgers 1,540kg Bacon 3,250 Eggs 45kg Grated Cheese 4,500 Cheese Slices 90 litres Tomato Ketchup 100kg Fried Onions Umpteen doughnuts and… A TON OF CHIPS!

Early indications are that this is Didcot’s most successful year, with a record amount raised for charity.

“I really enjoyed helping out ……….I think the Rotary are amazing to help and support such worthwhile causes, and I am proud to have been a small part in the fundraising at Truck, well done” (Didcot volunteer)

‘Chippy’ PDG Brian Key cooking up something! DG Fred lends a hand to ‘be a gift’!

Odds & Ends

It’s all in the Rotary bag! Special Appointment to RI

PDG David Buckland was recently receiving treatment at Nayan Patel, a Risk Management the at the Berkshire Healthspace Clinic in Bracknell and as specialist from UK with over 35 a result of his experiences there his thoughts turned to years of experience as a banker, how Rotary could assist in improving the experience for has been appointed as RI Special other patients whilst attending the Clinic, in what must Representative for Indo-British seem a difficult and alien environment. So the idea of the initiatives for a period of two years Rotary Bag was born. beginning July 1, 2015.

The bag comes with a brief letter of He is currently President of the introduction to Rotary outlining the Rotary Club of Ruislip-Northwood make-up of District 1090 and the from where he volunteers his time to raise funds for local, scope of activities Rotary are national and international humanitarian and educational involved with, especially clubs in projects. District 1090. The explanation In this role as Special Representative for Indo-British includes the charity work at initiatives, Patel is expected to identify high net worth international level (Polio Eradication, individuals and corporations engaged in CSR initiatives Shelterbox, etc) and also at local at and with connections to both India and UK, and introduce community level including Macmillan Nurses, Alexander them to RI staff as possible donors and partners for Devine Hospice etc. which relate directly with the primary Rotary’s humanitarian work. function of the clinic.

Born and brought up in Kenya, Patel completed his higher It also explains the extent and variety of the Rotary clubs education in the UK at the Trinity College in London and make up and the fun and fellowship that members enjoy Manchester Business School, specialising in International whilst progressing the various projects. Finally, it also Banking. He has travelled extensively and has a good offers an open invitation and contact details for anyone grasp of the Middle East and African economies. A keen to find out more about Rotary and the work sports enthusiast, he plays golf regularly. Rotarians do.

Well done David for conceiving such an innovative, simple Tackling Ebola - Special Award and cost effective way of helping others and spreading the Rotary word. Possibly it will even attract potential A Rotarian call “We must do something”, extended into a new members. call that struck at the heart of many clubs in the district

and to many clubs in other districts - even outside RIBI. Long Term Solution to Membership? This appeal became the focal point for Rotary International’s response to the Ebola crisis in Liberia. Yuliya Lennon, a newer member of Reading Maiden DG Tim Cowling introduced the special award he was to Erlegh Rotary Club, has come up with a novel method of make at District Handover to Brian Jonson, President of producing potential new Rotarians. The idea is a ’grow Marlow Rotary Club, a man who managed to get his club, your own’ solution which she started on Thursday when the District, RIBI and RI all swimming in the same she gave birth to identical twins! This may be the first for direction. Tim said “I remember that when I met with a Rotarian in the UK if not the world. Many Brian and David Frankfort from the Monrovia Rotary Club, congratulations to Yuliya and husband David. Brian said very calmly, “The point about this project is that we will still be there when

the TV cameras and the NGOs

have moved on”. And so it

proved, Ebola under control,

an Oxygen plant to be built and

a scholarship programme for

trainee medical staff.”

News Extra....

District Conference 2016 - 11 to 12 March 2016 And so to the Future…….

Planning for the District Conference in the Savill Court The future is in their hands!. At the District Handover Hotel, Egham, near Windsor, on the edge of Windsor meeting in June District Governor Fred King introduced Great Park, is now well under way. The hotel has the future leaders of District 1090 - District Governor on site accommodation, relaxing spa and free car Elect 2016-17 Joy Arnott (Henley Bridge) and District parking. Governor Nominee David Pope (Abingdon) - pictured.

Clubs have been supplied with details of the More will be heard of the year registration process but take a look at the conference as they make their official club website - www.rotary1090conference2016.co.uk visits to give their support and help to make 2015-16 a memorable one.

Have YOU considered joining the District team? Why not give it a try? You might enjoy the experience!

Slough Help for the Blind in India

The programme can be viewed on the conference Ram Bedi, Past President of Slough Rotary Club, and his website where you will see the names and wide variety wife Shubi, travelled to India in February 2015 to of speakers that have already been lined up to inspire, organise Cataract operations for blind people in the enthuse, inform and entertain all delegates. Speakers villages. This is Ram's 11th year arranging these named so far include - operations with full co-operation and assistance from (right) Shahabad Rotary Club in Haryana in India. Ann Nolan of the Nolan Sisters Chief Constable Francis Habgood, Shahabad Rotary Club had distributed leaflets in Hindi Thames Valley Police around the villages and on 21st February, almost 500 Alison Hooker, CEO Helen & Douglas blind people gathered at the Shiv Mandir House Temple. Each person was examined by a doctor and Roger Askew, Guide at Savill Gardens finally 120 of the most serious cases were selected to And Rotary Speakers be operated on at City Hospital, Shahabad. The Photo courtesy of Bruce Adams and more not to be missed. remaining cases were treated medically or supplied with glasses. The Eye Camp was opened by Fiona Try, There will be something for everyone including - Past President of Slough Inner Wheel Club. Friday evening musical concert by the Redroofs This year, 10 local Rotarians and their friends from Theatre School and 2 course buffet. Farnham Common, Burnham, Slough and Windsor travelled to Shahabad to observe the procedures and they were very moved. A free blanket was given to each blind person.

This project was funded by the Rotary and Inner Wheel clubs of Slough plus donations from friends and family members. Ram is involved with local Blind and Disabled clubs having been inspired to help blind people as his Saturday conference sessions including 2 course buffet wife suffers from acute retina pigmentosis and tunnel Saturday Gala Dinner followed by dancing to a 10 piece vision. band to dance the night away!

How can you resist? Start making your plans, hotel bookings and registrations NOW! Register before 31 October to receive a £5 discount on the package cost. More information can be found on the conference website and from your club coordinator.

August 2010 District News

RI Award for PDG Judith Diment Sir Nicholas Winton - 1909 –2015

At the Rotary International Convention held in São Paulo, Brazil in June, Past District Governor Judith Diment, a member and Past President of Windsor St George Rotary Club, was presented with a prestigious ‘International Service Award for a Polio-Free World’ in recognition or her work in furtherance of the aims of Rotary to eradicate this disease. The picture shows Judith receiving the well deserved award from PolioPlus Committee Chair Mike Rotarian Sir Nicholas Winton, Past President and McGovern and PolioPlus Committee Past Vice Chair Mark member of Maidenhead Rotary Club, has sadly passed Maloney. away at the age of 106. The death was reported “with much sadness” of a man acknowledged as “probably the oldest active Rotarian in the world”.

As reported in previous issues of this Newsletter and elsewhere, Sir Nicholas, had become known as “the British Oskar Schindler” saving the lives of 669 children from Nazi tyranny and slaughter in Czechoslovakia. In 1939 he arranged the ‘kindertransport’ from Prague in eight trains over 6 months and found host families for them in England. He organised the safe passage of the children fearing they would be sent to concentration camps but told no one of his war time actions for half-a- Her many roles include National Advocacy Advisor for UK century – not even his wife and children. polio, Representative to the Commonwealth of Nations and His extraordinary humanitarian effort only became International Global Polio Advocacy Task Force plus being known in 1988 when his wife, Grete, found an old appointed to the Rotary International PolioPlus Committee briefcase in the attic with lists of children and letters from July 2015! But the work does not end there as Judith from their parents. Believing the children themselves has now been elected to the Board of Rotary Action might need to know missing details of their early lives, Group Against Child Slavery and Human Trafficking! Grete took the letters to a Holocaust historian. A

Readers will have seen various reports written by Judith newspaper article was published and Esther Rantzen and published in the RIBI ‘Rotary’ magazine, the latest of told the emotional story on ‘That’s Life!’. The entire which appeared on page 12 of the June/July 2015 issue in audience was made up of the ‘children’, now well in to which she sets out the vast amount of work being their middle -ages, all meeting Sir Nicholas for the first undertaken by Rotary in conjunction with other worldwide time since they were put on the trains in Prague station organisations. or met at Liverpool Street on arrival in England.

He received a Knighthood in 2003 and a Hero of the Holocaust medal at Downing Street in 2010. Last year he was awarded the Order of the White Lion by the Czech president, Milos Zeman, at a ceremony in Prague. Prime Minister, David Cameron, said: “The world has lost a great man. We must never forget Sir Nicholas Winton’s humanity in saving so many children from the Holocaust.” The Czech Republic are issuing a commemorative stamp and the Jewish Times is heading a campaign for the Royal Mail to do likewise.

“The House of Representatives commends Sir Nicholas Winton, and those British and Czechoslovakian citizens who worked with him, for their remarkable persistence and selfless courage in saving the lives of 669 Czech Jewish children in the months before the outbreak of

World War II”. US Congress Resolution 583 And Finally ..... On the Lighter Side ... ROTARY DISTRICT 1090 Yumeee - I want more!

Editor ~ Eric Malam

Tel: 0118 978 7613 E-mail: [email protected]

Next Edition will be issued on 22 November 2015. Please send any copy or articles for the next issue by e-mail to reach me no later than 10 November 2015.

We are on the Web ~ www.rotary1090.org

For Your Diary - July 2015 to June 2016 WELCOME to Rotary

Thurs 3 Sept - District Council meeting, Benson. The following new members have joined 18 - 22 Nov - Rotary Institute, Kenilworth. Rotary clubs within District 1090. Wed 25 Nov - District Council, High Wycombe. Banbury - Ashley Bedding Sun 13 Dec - Carol Service, St Edwards, Windsor. Loddon Vale - Frank Smith 17- 21 Jan - RI Assembly, San Diego. Jean Smith

Sun 28 Feb - Paul Harris Fellows lunch, Oxford. Newbury - Tim Pritchard Oxford Spires - Alfred Fullah 11 - 13 Mar - District Conference, Old Windsor. Jacques Faye Thurs 31 Mar - District Council, Henley. Wantage - Samantha Bell

1 - 3 Apr - RIBI Conference, Bournemouth. Windsor & Eton - Katharina Bareiss

Sat 7 May - District Assembly, Henley. We warmly welcome them into their clubs, June - District Handover—T.b.c. District 1090 and the wider world of Rotary.

Please note that District Council meetings are open to May they enjoy the fellowship that Rotary offers all Rotarians but only the elected club representatives and the opportunity to help those in need both are entitled to vote. ALL clubs should be represented. locally and internationally.

Editor’s Comment

On we go into a new Rotary Year with new teams at District and in all clubs with much to look forward to. There may be new bulletin Editors, PR officers or others responsible for promoting all the good work that Rotarians do which should be shared with others so may I remind everyone to let me have any examples of such work for me to consider as entries for this magazine. I am grateful to those clubs that send me club bulletins but I do give precedence to clubs that send potential articles for my consideration, especially items where Rotarians are actively involved. Good luck for the year ahead! Editor

www.rotary1090.org