Email: [email protected] Website: mayflowerrotary.org

https://www.facebook.com/billericaymayflower?fref=ts

I joined Rotary for several reasons; sent out to the whole Club for consideration. There was

wanting to give something back, wanting healthy and informative debate, which resulted in over

£30,000 being pledged to a variety of worthy causes. to make a difference, good company: and I’m sure many of you will have this in So, thank you Colin. And it’s worth remembering that common with me. But I have been this is often hard-earned money that deserves due surprised at other rewards of being a Rotarian that have deliberation before it is handed on. become obvious since I joined. And first and foremost is On the theme of “proud”, Alistair and Lynn Talbot have how inspirational it has so often been. This month has not been hard at work organising the evening where our disappointed. Following presentations by two charities, Satellite Club will become a Rotary Club in its own right. TEECH and Power2inspire, I’m sure, all members would The first to be chartered in District 1240 for over 12 agree with me that the only word that could be used to years. What began as the germ of an idea from Richard describe them both is - INSPIRATIONAL. I hope that their Rackham during his presidential year has, thanks to the stories serve to make us just that little bit more committed Email: [email protected] hard work of Alistair Mould and Ifor Roberts, become a to “Service before Self”. Website: mayflowerrotary.orgfully-fledged reality in just over two years. We should I don’t know about anyone else, but I was completely all feel proud. unaware of the star that we have among us. Following Chrishttps://www.facebook.com/billericaymayflower?fref=ts Looking ahead, we have Scatter to enjoy, planning is Thurman’s talk on Germany – how surprised was I when he well-underway for both SummerFest 2019 and revealed that in 1991, he had been awarded an MBE. Very Christmas Market 2019, and of course our usual proud of you Chris! Thursday night meetings that are always a joy – one And I was proud of our Club in general, following the way or the other! Business meeting. Colin Campbell had prepared detailed Finally, I look forward to seeing most of you at Charter and balanced reports for four charity appeals that had been Night 2019. Carl

April June Apr 4: No meeting June 6: Job Talk – Derek Collyer Apr 6: Charter Night at Ivy Hill Hotel, Margaretting June 13: tbc Apr 11: HomeStart – Sam Baily June 20: Club Assembly April 18: No Burstead meeting June 27: Handover and Partners’ Evening Apr 25: Business meeting

May July May 2: Porridge& Pens – Jemma Williams July 4: tbc May 9: Scatter reports July 7: SummerFest May 16: Business Meeting and AGM July 11: Motivated Minds – Carla Andrews May 17: Charity Football match at Ramsden Hall (RYLA) July 18: tbc May 23: Chartering of the Satellite Club Dinner July 25: Business Meeting May 30: International Fencing – Seb Pallier Business meeting and Team Reports

Fundraising team: Stephanie Chambers RAMSDEN HALL SCHOOL – this RYLA-based City and Guilds project continues with support from Carl • Planning for SummerFest 2019 and Christmas Johnson, Lynn Talbot, Yvonne Kyndt, and Howard Market 2019 is well on track. There are 51 Watson. Other projects are proving to be difficult as stalls booked in for SF so far. predicted. Various avenues of support are required, and • A Fun Run is being investigated. many more projects are in the pipeline over the coming • There will be a Summer Barbeque planning months and years considering the proposed new build meeting in on April 10. project due to start this year. Current projects requiring support include: • There will be a Fund-raising meeting on Monday, April 15 at the Cricket Club, at • Darsham outdoor activity centre for eight boys - 7.30pm. £2000. • Diss holiday centre for 15 boys - £1000.

Service projects: Colin Campbell • Running Machine for the gymnasium - £895. KOOL CARERS - This course began on Tuesday, March • Canoe course on the creek at Barking with Barry 12, with a full complement of young people attending Howe - £1000. i.e. eight. Colin C has secured support for some of the All projects were approved, and donations agreed. ingredients, mainly fruit and veg from Dan at the Longer term areas of support, hopefully in conjunction Burstead Farm Shop. with other local clubs and organisations, include: YOUNG PERSONS COUNSELLING SERVICE - At our last • A new liner for the existing pool - £16,000 meeting Claire White gave the team a talk on the work • A new heater for the existing pool - £9,000. they do to support local young people suffering from mental health issues. The Service deals with young FRIENDS OF LAKE MEADOWS – the Team recommended people, many who are local, between the ages of 13 supporting this local photographic competition and 25 who have emotional, mental health, well-being organised by the group to the tune of £90. This was and psychological issues. YPCS work with our clinical approved. commissioning group (CCG) and are commissioned by them. A three-year contract has just ended, and a new OUTREACH WORKER - Andy presented a two-year contract will start in April. Their expenditure report on this proposal, which was circulated by email is about £65,000 per year, the CCG paying about and which we are happy to support. A sum of £10,000 £55,000. The remainder comes from clients and was proposed towards this project, with most of it support from local organisations. They wish to invest in coming from the Co-op Community Fund donation to training for high risk and upgrade their IT equipment. the Club. The project will need £10,000 of District Funds The Team recommended a donation of £1,250 to and a £15,000 Global Grant. The £10,000 Club donation was approved, and both Council and Club agreed to support IT upgrades – this was agreed by Club. moving on to the next level with this project. SUNNYMEDE SCHOOL SENSORY CABIN - an indoor room has been identified as a possible Sensory Room BELDANGA EYE HOSPITAL - this is another project that facility. Keith Dewis has costed the project. Barry Fagg the Team is happy to support, to the tune of $6374. reported back to the team. The cost of this project - Council and Club gave their approval to move to the £2,500 – was approved by club. There was also next level and this will be supported on the basis of a discussion about rolling out the concept and case study Global Grant being approved and Foundation funds to other clubs, probably through District. being agreed by District. The report has been circulated by email.

Just seen a massive fight at the petrol station : 15 people arrested in Total

FIRST AID AFRICA - the monies agreed at club have been to be paid for from the Projects Fund. paid to Rebecca Fitzgerald, (a former Billericay School student, now studying medicine at Kings College London) Interclub visit: nine members attended Bury St. to pass on to the charity. She will attend Club on her return Edmund’s Rotary Club (Nigel Barratt’s “new” from Malawi to give a talk on her experiences in Africa. club). While they were there, they learned how to fly a drone (more or less) and afterwards ROLL OUT THE BARREL RECORDING - Alan Campbell repaired to a local restaurant to share in the presented the Team with a report after we requested evening meal with the rest of the Bury members. more information regarding the proposed recording (a type of Live Aid-type appeal) to be made by Adrian March District meeting Brewer’s connections in Africa. Adrian’s report was circulated by email. A £2,500 donation was approved by There was a reasonable turn-out at the recent District Club. meeting at Writtle College. DG Lesley Sulley’s initial announcements made interesting news. In brief: ST MARY MAGDALEN CHURCH - Alan also provided a report on the proposal to support this historic local church 38 clubs were represented at the meeting: 66% of all that badly needs roof maintenance. The estimated costs the clubs in District 1240. would be in the region of £13,000. Alan’s report was Dave Eagles (Brentwood) is now DG Nominee. circulated by email. After some debate, a donation of £2,000 was agreed by a majority of the Club. Membership continues to be a challenge: since 2010 there has been a fall in membership of 17%. WATER AID - after the talk by Mike Ginn about this very worthy charity, Club agreed to a donation of £250. A notable PPP slide was one showing the Rotary age profile in the District: out of a membership of just TEECH – A donation of £800 to a recent speaker at Club under 1500 Rotarians, the number aged below 70 was approved. years was 498; those over 70 numbered 993. Power2Inspire - A donation of £500 to a recent speaker at Following on, Colchester Trinity will close this year as Club was also approved. there are only two members left that are under 70. A Club Admin: Yvonne Kyndt new Club East Thurrock will be formed from the

Attendance: 74% in February. Still three members on merger of two other diminishing clubs.

100% attendance. Meals continue to be well- The gender profile was also interesting: there are received. approximately 284 female Rotarians in the District, representing 19%, and 1207 male Rotarians (81%), Websites and IT: Rita Dasgupta, Yvonne Kyndt, and (figures are a function of information returns). There Richard Rackham spent a day updating the Club are 10 clubs with no female members, and only seven websites. Members were encouraged to log in to clubs that have more or equal numbers of males and both websites and Facebook pages to register their females. interest. End Polio Now – there were some interesting Membership: the Satellite Club has 19 members with statistics. Only six cases have been reported thus far two members to be inducted imminently. this year – four in Pakistan, two in Afghanistan. The drop in reported cases from Afghanistan is largely Satellite Club Chartering Evening: this will take place down to one brave Rotarian managing to secure talks at the Burstead on Thursday, May 23. The cost will be with the Taliban to allow vaccinators into the country £25 pp: this will include drinks and canapes on arrival, during a 24-hour ceasefire. and wine on the table. District will be funding the No new cases have been reported for several weeks. welcome drink. Please note, this is not a Partners’ Evening. Club agreed to allow the wine for the meal You know you’re British when you are unable to stand and leave without first saying “right”.

More success for the Satellite Club! Earlier in the month, Lynn Talbot took great delight in inducting four new members to the Club: Barbara Campbell, well known to us as Colin’s better half, Eleanor Wheeley, Jane Street and Maddie Binning. Not long to wait now until Billericay welcomes its third Rotary club.

Eleanor Wheeley and Lynn Barbara Campbell with Satellite Chair Lynn Talbot Lynn and Jane Street

Maddie Binning with Lynn Inductees, Jane and Eleanor

Satellite Club Chartering Night – May 23, 2019

Preparations are going very well for the Chartering of the Rotary Club of Billericay Town on May 23. Mayflower members are asked to inform JV as soon as possible if they are not able to attend as unused places will be offered to District. This will be a “normal” Club evening, i.e. not a Partners’ Evening. And it looks as if we will easily reach our maximum number of attendees – 80, among them will be DG Lesley and Martin Sully, from the Lunchtime Club President Les Sheppard, Secretary Ed Harrison, Peter Greene, several other Rotarians from around the District.

The evening will begin at 7.30 with Prosecco and canapes, with the aim of being seated by 8.20.

You know you’re British when you look away so violently as someone nearby enters their PIN that you accidentally dislocate your neck.

Well, it was certainly “thumbs up” for the Lunchtime Club at the recent Satellite Club Quiz Night. This winning team, made up of President Les and Val Shepherd, Ed Harrison, Peter Greene, Sue and Mike Ginn, and Derek Norman, walked off with several bottles of wine. But it was a close-run thing – just one point in it. Money raised from the evening, well over £500, will go to Headway Essex, that provides care and support not only to people who have suffered brain injuries so that they might live a fulfilling life, but also to families and carers ensuring that they are better able to cope within their caring roles.

Well done to Jill Roberts, Nick Lang and Richard Leahy for organising this very enjoyable evening.

(Some) of the winning team!

Barry and Angie Fagg Alistair and Nicola Moulds

Liz and Andy Hunter

Tricia and Edward Fortune, with scribe Barry

Mervyn and Jane Rogers and friends Satellite Club Chair Lynn Talbot

I though the drier that was making my clothes shrink, turns out it was the ‘fridge!

President Carl and Caroline Johnson

Quizmasters Jill Roberts, Nick Lang and Richard Leahy

Pauline Randall

Barry and Jan Howe

Kathy Herlock

Pam Sabine and Neil Campbell

Gytha and John Washington and friends

The Campbells and the Coles Mike and Sue Ginn, with President Les

I took the wife’s family out for tea biscuits. They weren’t too happy about having to give blood though. Our Speaker Finder’s Swansong

And what a privilege it was to listen to Chris Thurman’s talk entitled “What shall we do with Germany?”

We didn’t really know what to expect when Chris offered to “perform” at one of our Thursday evenings, and the title was fairly enigmatic too. However, we were in for a real treat.

Chris and his MBE Another banner for the collection! Chris receiving his award from the Queen herself. Chris’ knowledge and understanding of European history, not only of Germany, was astonishing. Ranging from Julius Caesar through the Middle Ages and the Thirty- Year War, to the Napoleonic Wars and the Industrial Revolution, right up to the present day via both World Wars.

His grasp of the facts and his intelligent observations were very impressive – and all without a script.

Chris went on to describe his affection for Bavaria and the wonderful holidays he and Gill have enjoyed over the years and plan to do so again in the very near future. Barbara and Colin Campbell rounded off their five And as if that weren’t enough, Chris ended by sharing weeks on the Algarve with a visit to the Rotary Club with us photographs showing him receiving an MBE from of Almancil. the Queen in the 1991 Birthday Honours, for “services to President Brian Giles, having given Colin and Barbara the brewing industry”, and according to Chris this was a very warm welcome also presented him with their also around the same time as he joined Rotary – banner. Colin had gone prepared! coincidence?? President Brian sent his best wishes to the Club. Chris, very well done! It was enjoyed by everyone: a swansong to be proud of. My grandfather told me that he saw Titanic and that from the beginning he warned all the people that ship wold sink, but nobody listened to him. He was a brave man. He didn’t give up. He warned them again and again on several occasions … until they kicked him out of the cinema.

TEECH A team of volunteers will once again be making the journey over to Moldova in August. TEECH was established in 1998 when a group of people who worked together at BT near Ipswich took up the challenge from a colleague to help repair two hospitals in Bucharest.

About fifty volunteers travelled to Bucharest under the banner of ‘BTL Aid to Romania’ in August that year and set about painting, plastering, providing lighting and generally making the hospitals cleaner, safer and brighter places. After the success of this trip and seeing the need to be more structured, the volunteers organised themselves into a Registered Charity and hence TEECH (Telecoms Eastern European Challenge) was born retaining the "telecom" connection in its name.

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Typical long drop toilets used by the majority in Moldovia.

Although BT continue to provide assistance with transport, TEECH is now a small independent charity, run by an unpaid team of six people, which welcomes volunteers from all walks of life. Two members of the team, Holly Field and Rob Brown visited Club recently and gave an excellent presentation on the work that they do to provide the most basic amenities in this impoverished part of the world.

The TEECH motto is “to help those less fortunate create a better future for themselves”, and over the years teams of The girls’ school toilets fitted with paying volunteers have worked with many schools, cubicles. This room along with one for orphanages, hospitals, and a home for the aged in the boys was completed in just seven days poorest parts of Eastern Europe. at the school by a team of 26 Every year a team of about 20 – 40 volunteers armed with volunteers. tools and materials, travels overland by coach ready to get The project will be in a school, but will also support to work. In addition, they deliver aid in the form of clothes the local community, and radically improve hygiene and shoes, equipment for the disabled, spectacles, conditions for the children there. medical supplies and other items that help ease the burden of abject poverty. We’re delighted to be able to support this charity in the form of a donation of £800.

“I’ve heard that you can now drop off small electrical items such as irons at the library”. “Yes, I’d heard that libraries were de-creasing!” Mayflower voice grows in the town’s schools

Billericay Mayflower members continue to play an active role in the education of young people. Over the years they, and in some cases, their wives have served on the governing bodies of several local schools.

Andy Hunter is vice-chairman of the governors and also has the challenging role of Chairman of the SEAX Trust, a multi-academy trust that includes both Thriftwood School and Thriftwood College. Howard Watson has only recently relinquished his role as chairman of St Peter’s Roman Catholic School.

At the influence continues to be considerable. The school is now part of a multi academy trust that includes Bromfords School at Wickford with Colin Breathwick as Trust chairman and Ian Miller and Peter Walker as trustees/directors. Patrick Rothon of Billericay Rotary Club is also a trustee.

Operating within the trust the local governing body at The Billericay School includes long serving member (since 1975) Peter Owen, its former chairman. Faye Gregson has recently retired from her governor role there after more than 20 valuable years’ service. Our club president Carl Johnson, Jackie Malbon and Jill Roberts are also former governors. The late Peter Howarth was a governor for many years and played an important role as chairman of the premises committee, and Mayflower’s founder vice-president Jim Bacchus played a major role for a number of years as chairman of the Billericay School finance committee.

Now there is a further opportunity for the Mayflower link with the Billericay School to strengthen with a vacancy on the local governing body. Peter Owen said: “It has long been accepted that the sense of service to the community that drives Rotarians can be reflected effectively in working with local schools. Rotarians throughout the country can be found on a vast number of school governing bodies.”

Are you interested in joining the Billericay School team? Have a word with Colin or Peter and they will tell you more. Peter Owen

The chance of finding three wise monkeys is about as rare as finding three Barrys sitting next to next!!

The ever-lovely Steve, sporting ANOTHER new shirt!

Basildon Emergency Night Shelter incurred. At least five of our guests have been NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2019 provided with accommodation since November.

We received a ‘phone call from a guest, who had been This letter was written at the end of January, just over half given accommodation, thanking us for the help we way through the season. We couldn’t have got this far had given him over the past few weeks. without the superb help of all the wonderful volunteers who have been marvellous during what have been some The shelter closes at the end of March. challenging times. Once again, thank you so much for your commitment Last year we had 102 volunteers at five venues, but this to helping those less fortunate than ourselves. year there are 180 volunteers active across the seven Best wishes, Phyl McLaren - Chair of Homeless venues. We are so fortunate to have such a wide range of Working Group and Muriel Cornwell, Shelter people who help at the shelters. We all bring different Coordinator. attributes and talents, which contribute to the shelter’s success. Postscript: Phyl McLaren was recently elected

Seventy-four different guests have come through our Festival Leisure Park Volunteer of the doors up until the end of January. We got off to a slow Year. start, as we usually do, but numbers have gradually increased making it necessary to allow up to 17 guests MAYFLOWER 2020 each night. This has inevitably led to some of the venues being a bit crowded, but it seems to be working out. All I recently attended a meeting of the Mayflower 2020 the venues are very well staffed, especially in the evenings, steering group, chaired by Brian Hughes, assisted by but with the possible increase in the number of guests we well-known local historian Julian Whybra, and others. put out a request for more help and we were This group has been set up to arrange a wide series overwhelmed by the response. of events to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Up to the end of January, 437 evening and 423 morning Billericay’s link with the Mayflower, and I have been shifts had been worked and 169 overnight shifts. Thirty- invited, along with Lynn Talbot to an “unveiling” of its eight have been worked at the St Martin’s pre-shelter. programme for 2020. Some evening shifts are 1½ hours and some are 2½ hours Although planning is well underway, there is an issue long. Even if we use the lower number, the total number of funding to which perhaps, we as a club might give of volunteer-hours for all the evening and morning shifts some consideration. amount to 1328. Overnight shifts come to 1352 hours. Without giving too much away at this stage, events There are some issues; not being allowed out for a smoke range from choirs, to a barn dance; from an American after 11pm, guests leaving their belongings behind when quiz to historical visits. The full programme will be they leave in the morning, and snoring. available after April 26. The Red Cross first aid training was well attended and the There may be opportunities for us to incorporate an volunteers who went thought it was very instructive. It’s activity into SummerFest 2020. reassuring to know that we now have several volunteers who would feel confident administering first aid at the Watch this space! shelters should it be necessary. Yvonne Kyndt We have received several donations from local charitable organisations, businesses and individuals, which have helped enormously with the day-to-day expenditure

You know you’re British when you’re horrified that someone you only half know says: “Oh I’m getting that train too” Surprise Interclub visit

It was all done with the utmost secrecy – worthy of a James Bond plotline. Nine Mayflower Rotarians turned up at a meeting of the Bury St. Edmund’s Rotary Club to give ex- Mayflower Nigel Barrett the fright of his life! Well, not quite, more like a pleasant surprise. We hope!!!

Where did it go?? JV and Bob Tyrrell “giving it a go”.

A very surprised Nigel Barrett! Derek Collyer, on the benches with John We then spent the evening learning how to fly Murray and Alistair Moulds drones!! How random is that? But everyone agreed that it is was really good fun. After a couple of hours making complete fools of ourselves, all we’ll say at this point is “thank goodness for the ladder”.

After all the fun and games, we all met up at a new restaurant in the heart of this lovely old city. Drone flying? Maybe it’s something we could try at Mayflower.

Steve McEvoy with his hands full!

Drone versus Rita’s hair. Drone 1 - Rita’s hair 0

John Vaufrouard and Howard Many thanks to Rtn John Watson keen to get started! Murray for organising this very enjoyable interclub visit. When I was a child, I watched the Wizard of Oz wondering how someone without a brain could talk. Then I got Facebook!

Power2Inspire Blast from the past Inclusion through sport

John Willis, with Sri and President Carl If we’re talking inspiration, it doesn’t get more inspiring than listening to John Willis. John, who was born with no legs and much reduced arms (“paws”!!) did not let his disability hold him back. Qualifying in Law after studies at Cambridge University, John worked as a solicitor for 12 years, but then went on to found in July 2015, Power2Inspire, a charity where the core message is that “everyone should have the opportunity to participate in The eagle-eyed amongst us might just sport, regardless of body type, age, disability, or ethnicity”. recognise Satellite Chair Lynn Talbot in the top picture. Starting in Cambridge and expanding nationally, John In 1993, I was “commissioned” by Mayflower to explained that Power2Inspire plans to develop a grid of extend a business trip to India that I was about to “PowerHouses” – centres to develop and champion embark upon to do ‘a recce’ on how Club money that inclusive sport. These PowerHouses will break down the had been pledged should be spent – a burns unit or psychological, physical and logistical barriers to sport that toilets in the villages - guess which won! are faced by groups of disabled and non-disabled people alike. Challenging public health crises, isolation and I stayed with Pushpa, a Rotarian from Poona who will exclusion, Power2Inspire hopes to use accessible sport to be known to many of the current Rotary members. I improve the conditions spent time on the official business trip going around and and aspirations of hospitals and schools, then Pushpa showed me all through working around villages where I was amazed at the resilience and playing together. and good nature of the people who lived there. How John had brought along they kept school uniforms so clean and their kitchen a variety of adapted utensils sparkling I have no idea, it was a humbling sports equipment experience. demonstrating that The Rotary Club of Poona hosted me at their meeting anything is possible!!! (where there were mainly women), and where I was https://www.facebook entertained with wonderful food and stories. It was .com/Power2InspireUK an experience I will never forget, and it was so interesting to see how Rotary money is spent first hand. It has taken me a long time to join Rotary, but better late than never! Lynn Talbot You know you’re British when you feel a huge sense of relief after your perfectly valid train ticket is accepted by the inspector.