January 2020 Reg. Charity No. 1186535

The night we landed an incredible catch Also inside ………….

Smiles all round as Mayflower The President says….- page 2 hosted of the most inspiring speakers for many a day. Dawn Business News - page 3 Wood captivated her partners evening audience with the story of her 3,000-mile row across Jan & Barry’s Adventure - page 9 the Atlantic to expose the curse of abandoned plastic clogging “That was quite a revolution!” – page 12 our seas. She had swapped her day-job craft, an Essex Police Partners’ Evening – page 15 security launch, for her one- woman rowing boat. What a Dawn’s big row! – page 17 boat! What a lady! See page 17.

Club diary – page 19

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I hope it’s not too late this local firm has been up to, and

to wish our readers a we’ve agreed to keep in touch. very happy New Year. I confess that after a It was not without a certain amount two” -week break,two it’s- been quite tough relief that we welcomed safely back “getting back into the swing of things”, home Jan and Barry Howe after but here we are, a whole month into 2020 their Eastern European and what do we have to show for it? Well, “adventure”. Jan was kind enough where shall we start? to keep us regularly updated via a WhatsApp blog that has been We kicked off the new year with the transcribed in this newsletter. Very review of Billericay Christmas Market, well done, both of you. and where the decision to stage BCM I was very pleased to have been 2020 was agreed. It was difficult not to Billericay Town President Lynn invited to present some of the pat ourselves on the back, as it seemed to Talbot, her husband Gareth and I prizes to winners of the Friends of be unanimously agreed that it was the were really pleased to have Lake Meadows photography “best yet”, and not only from a financial attended a production by the competition, along with point of view (BCM raised over £45,000 Common Ground Theatre Company representatives of other Billericay for good causes), the positive feedback at the Zinc Arts Centre in Ongar of Service Clubs. that we’ve receive, either by word of “Sherlock Holmes and the Warlock mouth or via social media has been of Whitechapel”. It was enormous second to none! Plans for this year are fun. The production was supported already underway!! by Rotarians of Kelvedon Hatch and villages, all proceeds were destined

for the St. Clare hospice.

It was really good to see such a The photographs were charming, great Mayflower turnout to support each showing the best that this Billericay Town’s Crockpot Supper. wonderful Billericay amenity has to It was a huge success, with a quiz offer. and games contributing to the fun of the evening, not to mention the And following up on BCM 2019, David A good number of us attended the wonderful “crockpot” food. And not Randall and I were really pleased to be District Forum at Writtle College. only that, over £1000 raised for able to hand over cheques to a variety And still on the BCM theme, David BOSP. Very well done BT! of supporters for their invaluable help had been invited to give a on the day. presentation on managing a large I’d like to wish everyone a happy event such as a Christmas market. Valentine’s Day, and here are some There followed fairly lively flowers from me to you. Yvonne x discussions about District plans for

2020-2021. More on this on page 5.

Our first speaker of the year was Adam Dudley from Butyl Products. It was a real eye-opener to see what

Email: [email protected]

Website: mayflowerrotary.org 2 | P a g e https://www.facebook.com/billericaymayflower?fref=ts

Mayflower Business News

Fund-raising Team – Colin the planning stage, but the Rev Paul to Club Council for further Campbell Carr is involved, and a bugle player discussion. has been arranged to play the “Last th Regalia – John Morris reported that QUIZ NIGHT - Saturday 8 Feb at Stock Post”. Village Hall - Mark reported that all President’s badges etc. had been plans were in place for the event. The Advertising the event through local ordered. John also requested food theme is Italian as last year. We’re newspapers and social media is just assistance with Club banners at all looking forward to an enjoyable about to start. Tickets are available Partners’ Evenings. He will approach evening. on-line. possible helpers on the night.

SOAPBOX DERBY - Sunday 10th May, MUSIC IN THE GARDEN - Sunday 21st Welfare – John Morris updated Club 9am until 5pm. Colin reported that June. 12pm until 4pm - Gary on Members’ welfare. plans were going well. Entrant numbers reported that all is in hand regarding Websites/IT – a recent “techie” are down by 10 compared to this time the food etc., and Colin confirmed meeting went some way to resolving last year, due to the Worldpay that the Sid Bowlan Big Band has issues with the various websites. confusion regarding the change of been booked again for this year’s Rotary Club running the event event. The Ops team will erect the Scatter – Chris Thurman confirmed (Worldpay is the payment processing marquee. that Scatter this year would be two company that soapbox entrants weeks either side of 9th April. VP SUMMERFEST - Sunday 5th July, normally use to pay their participation 11am until 5pm - Mark reported that Barry Howe to advise Club as to this fee), but this is about to be resolved. he had had his first meeting and the year’s theme. Most of the outside agencies involved plans were going well. in the day have been contacted and all Projects – Andy Hunter (for have agreed to supply all items CO-OP - Colin reported that we’d Mervyn Rogers) previously supplied for the event, in been successful in our application for The Club Treasurer has released most cases the prices are the same as monies from the Co-op’s community £10,000 from BCM into the charity last year. fund for local good causes, and that funds available for donations. There we should get two payments this The Sid Bowlan Big Band is booked to is also £897.69 available which has year, the first in April, the second in play music of the era (Glen Miller etc.) been carried forward, giving a total November. as our event coincides with the of £10,897.69p available for nationwide celebration of the 75 years donation. Club Admin. – Barry Howe since the end of the war in Europe. Billericay Outreach Worker for Pathé News from the time will be Attendance - following Club Council’s Citizens Advice. Andy Hunter’s shown on the big screen. We’re in decision, John Vaufrouard (JV) revised draft which was submitted to discussion with HAPA group to dress in reported that attendance figures Evanston has been rejected. costumes of the day, both military and were now being recorded for Club However, Club agree to continuing civilian, to perform at different times interest/meal purposes only. A with this project. Monies from the during the day. perceived drop in quality/value for Co-op, with a top-up from Club, (in money of meals at The Burstead was David Randall is negotiating a price with the form of this year’s Foundation discussed. Colin Campbell has the food and beverage suppliers for the contribution) should ensure the approached the Burstead, and the event and Colin C has negotiated a £15,000 that is required for the first issue has been resolved. favourable deal with the children’s ride year of this local project. Club agreed area. The Thanksgiving and Membership – the matter of a to continue with this project. Remembrance service at 9.30am is in recruitment campaign is to be taken

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Cambodia Charitable Trust £500 Table and assess what might still be Andy Hunter and Ian Miller will pledge. The New Zealand District Grant required when the building work is approach and was awarded, and the pledge has now complete. about been paid. sponsoring through the Laurie Coram Life Education. A donation of Hutchison Fund. Designated Donations Carried £100 was agreed. The Christmas Market Forward: Porridge and Pens Ghana. A app that helped! End Polio Now contribution. For donation of £100 was agreed. information: the total contribution of £1825 from Mayflower to the world St. Luke’s Hospice. We are waiting fund is made up of: to hear if any help is needed with - £350 raised by two local primary their new facility under construction schools near Langdon Hills. - £350 agreed matching donation - £100 speaker donation Rita Dasgupta reported that she had - £125 member donation of £100 plus been unable to visit Beldanga Eye David with Christopher Lang, and a GiftAid Hospital to view the new Billericay token of our appreciation for the Added to this the annual Club donation Mayflower plaque during her recent enormous amount of work that he of USD1,175, based on 47 members @ visit to Calcutta. This was due to the put into developing the Billericay USD25, (Sterling equivalent £900): current security situation in India. Christmas Market app, which helped grand total = £1825, ending up as £5475 She will try again in the future. In the many people find exactly what they with the Gates Foundation’s meantime, John Miles is visiting were looking for at BCM (although participation. Club on 21st May to give a talk on the meaning of life remains RYLA Leadership and management Global Sight Solutions. elusive!!). programme. £150 paid, £100 has been It really was Ho, Ho, Ho! John Morris reported that he had held back. been unable to establish any Ramsden Hall School. £964 for the interest in a new shelter in Lake purchase and installation of a butyl pool Meadows to protect people from lining. £724 has been paid for the butyl the rain. Item closed. cover. A balance of £240 is being Bert Cartwright agreed to contact retained to fund a winch to move the Barrow Farm to see whether they cover on and off the pool. require further support. Market Garden Project, Port Elizabeth, Andy Hunter raised the question of It certainly was! Rotarians Colin SA. The £1,000 pledge has been paid relief aid for the Australian bush fire Breathwick, Yvonne Kyndt and David and we will apply for a District Grant crisis or the aftermath of the Jakarta Randall recently attended a meeting when applications reopen in June. flooding. It was agreed that we of the Rotary Club of Brentwood at Sunnymede Sensory Classroom. Keith would monitor the Shelter Box the Marygreen Manor in Brentwood Dewis and other members completed website to see if they were to enjoy the evening among friends, the construction work for only £2,050. providing support, and then decide and to present a cheque for £1200 to The balance of £450 will be used whether to purchase more shelter a delighted President Jon Cloke as a towards fit out and equipment costs. boxes. token of our appreciation of their involvement in BCM. Brentwood New Donations Requested: Edward Fortune suggested that we members provide not only Santa and should consider supporting his sleigh, but also bravely (wo)man Fraser Simmonds. The family’s request Médecins Sans Frontières as we had Santa’s grotto all day! What would for a donation for improved facilities for in the past. He agreed to do some BCM be without them?!! home care has been met in full by research and report back to the Round Table. Club agreed to liaise with Team. 4 | P a g e

District 1240 Forum Summary January 12, 2010

DISTRICT 1240 - All Clubs are reminded to set their District Young Environmentalist - Foundation Committee goals for Foundation and Polio on final submissions to Gloria Nichols Report - Robert Macaulay Rotary Club Central, and also to (Brentwood Breakfast Club) – by report their activities for the End th Paul Harris Lunch - 23rd February 2020. Saturday 29 February 2020. Polio Campaign to one of the Well over 80 attendees are booked in. Young Artist – winners from each leadership team. The speakers will be Rotary Foundation section to Alan Clarke by Monday nd Trustee, Steve Munns, Rotary Global DISTRICT 1240 – Youth 2 March 2020. Scholar Moeno Kiuchi, and Caroline Report – Peter Dowse We still need a District Stringer. Dates for the District Finals: Coordinator for Young Technician. District Foundation Seminar - Regional Finals will be held in This is an increasingly popular Saturday 18th April at Writtle College in Cambridge on Saturday 21st March competition and we already have the main hall. Clubs are reminded that 2020. four teachers who wish to enter to be able to sign the Memorandum of their schools: unfortunately, we The National Finals will be held at Understanding, which is necessary to do not have a coordinator. Full the Birmingham Expo over the apply for a grant, at least one member training will be given by the RIBI weekend of 1st, 2nd and 3rd May of the club will be required to attend, Coordinator. Also, coordinators 2020. preferably the incoming President and for Young Filmmaker please. Volunteers required! Foundation Chair, or a member of the RIBI have decided that all Regional Foundation committee of that club. Finals will occur in a different Institute of Leadership and District each year from 2020 Grants - The application for the District Management Certificate - The 2nd onwards, i.e. Young Musician Grant for the current Rotary year has Tutor Induction Day will be on finalists, Youth Debate winners, and th been submitted. Last year’s applicants Sunday, 19 January 2020. At Young Chef will all happen on one must complete their reports before present there are six confirmed day in one place. any application for this year’s District groups, making a total of 34 students. This may be increased to Grant can be processed. This is also a District Finals reminder to those clubs considering eight groups, totalling 40 students being part of a project requiring a Young Musician - if the Police Cadets are able to Global Grant, to involve the District Cathedral, 29th February 2020 at 7 provide 50% of the ILM fee. We Foundation team at an early stage. p.m. could manage four more groups, but this is subject to funding from Polio - The confirmed new case-count Young Chef - Chelmsford College clubs. All AGs have been asked to for wild polio in 2019 to date is 143: 26 (Training Dining Room), 22nd speak to clubs to see if they could in Afghanistan and 117 in Pakistan. February 2020, 9am – 1 p.m. commit to £150 to help with the This is a great deterioration from 2018. matched funding from District. Youth Debate – Chelmsford County However, the Pakistan government Council Chambers – Intermediate appears determined to get a grip of the Young Musician - Due to personal and Seniors on 4th March 2020 at problem: control of the crossing points and domestic circumstances, 6.30 p.m. between the two countries appears to Andrew Allen will be resigning as our Young Musician Coordinator. be the key. Applications for Young Writer and He is seeking a new coordinator Young Photographer to Jenny Polio Fundraising - The goal is that we within his own club, but if any Versey (Dunmow) by Monday 2nd raise $55 per capita within RIBI. Levels other Rotarian would like to take March 2020 of giving for the year are low. on this role please let me know.

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District 1240 Forum Summary (continued)

Rotakids - This is an area where we https://www.rotarygbi.org/membe I have raised a query with RIBI about hope to expand. Bryan Davenport has rs/public-image/webinars/ phishing regarding T-shirts. I am been excellent in organising only the concerned that there has been a second ROTAKIDS Conference in GB, Nominations for the annual Public breach of data. RI is still investigating and so we need to keep the Image Trophy are now open. There the source of the data list following my momentum going. We will now have is just one trophy, although there earlier query a couple of months ago. a small team of Bryan, Bob and Judith was talk last year of having one for Should you receive an email about Barclay plus myself to try and Best Photograph: however, this Rotary T-shirts, the advice is to ignore encourage more clubs to establish hasn’t materialised. The award is it. new RotaKids clubs. either to the District or Club which has best promoted Rotary’s Public David Cope has created a Rotary Club INTERACT – To encourage future Image in the community through a logo for every club in the District. Rotarians, we need to have young project or event. Judges will look at Please contact me if you’ve not people from RotaKids moving to integrated campaigns using a received one. I will forward it. schools with Interact Clubs. Those variety of media sources and be in District 1240 - clubs supporting RotaKids should try line with Rotary’s key priorities of Administration Report – to start a local Interact Club and vice increasing membership, Keith Brownlie versa for those with Interact Clubs. humanitarian service and Youth Exchange - I have received only engagement in Rotary Standing Orders - Stan Keller updated programmes. An application form one application for attending a camp. the Standing orders to make them and guidance notes are on the RIBI All applicants need do is register on consistent and compatible with new youthexchange.org. It’s simple and website and deadline for entry is terminology. 31st March 2020. we really should be telling schools and Council on Legislation - Through the individuals about this, as well as Short District 1240 News continues to be District Secretary, Stan circulated the Term Exchanges in the summer oversubscribed in terms of copy Council on Resolutions proposed received. We have had some Life Education Essex - Those who amendments and invited comments. success with additional advertising attended District Conference 2019 will During the voting period, a number of recently and once again I urge all have heard about Coram Life Clubs sent feedback and these Rotarians to support the Education, supported in Essex by a coincided with Stan’s own views and he advertisers, tell them you saw their small team of Rotarians. We are voted accordingly. ad in our Rotary magazine, and be training a second educator and, along on the lookout for anyone else who District Sports - Derek Hutchinson with Life Space (the large tent – may wish to advertise. reported that a total of 94 teams had expensive but with full technology), been entered by 23 Clubs for the we will soon be able to expand A reminder to clubs that there is a winter sports. First rounds are almost coverage to Brentwood and the South wealth of marketing resources complete. Second Rounds are in Essex Area. available from District to promote progress. Trophies for the summer District 1240 - Public Image club events. These are free of sports are to be presented by DCM in Report – Stan Keller charge to use and Peter Simpkins, January. Vouchers will replace glass Area 7 Assistant Governor has now tankards for the winners. There will be I have had a couple of requests for taken over responsibility for no prizes for the runners up. access to past RIBI Public Image looking after them and for keeping webinars. They are on the RIBI a reservation list. website, but difficult to find so here is Email: [email protected] a link: 6 | P a g e

District 1240 Forum Summary (continued)

Health and Safety - Geoff Kittle has Billericay Mayflower Global Grant District 1240 - flagged up the need to train Club Projects - Billericay Mayflower have Membership Report – Safeguarding officers, and Dave sponsored two outbound Global Lesley Sulley Eagles, District Trainer, has added Grant Applications. The first for this to his list. Geoff is doing DBS equipment at a Global Sight Savers District membership figures: 1st July 2019 1416 applications for LAMPs and is dealing Hospital in West Bengal, the second 24th Nov 2019 1438 (+22) with the occasional safeguarding towards the purchase of a CT scanner enquiry. for a hospital in Gujarat. Satellite/New Format Clubs - The District Membership Team are District Almoner – Keith Brownlie Panglao Global Grant Project - This delighted to be supporting a number will take over this role next year. was the main District International of clubs across the District as they project for 2016/17. The first school look at new ways to appeal to a District 1240 - has been completed with the second more diverse membership profile. International Committee being completed March 2020. Rob The inaugurated Satellite Club Report – Trish Storey Muir will then visit the project to sign membership figures currently stand off before the end of this Rotary year. Sand Dams Project - GG 7 has been as follows: submitted and accepted, I have Bansang Hospital Appeal - Ray Ball – - RSC Bishops Stortford – 10 heard from James Onions D1145 Brentwood a Becket Rotary Club members + 1 potential new member regarding the recognition plaques reported to the International for clubs in D1240 who made Committee about the completion of - RSC Canvey Island (Canvey Coast) – contributions. I will of course be this fantastic project at the Bansang 15 members contacting those clubs individually Hospital in The Gambia, with Rotary once we have details and having funded some 80% of the - RSC Kelvedon Hatch & Villages – 7 photographs of the plaques. This overall cost. members + 5 Friends/Associate Rotary year, Sand Dams are looking Members and 5 potential new to fund a pilot dam in Tanzania and Shelterbox - Peter Dowse is now the members will be taking part in the Big Give District 1240 Shelterbox coordinator. project, so two possible homes for He is available to give presentations The following clubs are working club funds this year. not just to clubs, but to schools or towards setting up a Satellite/New community-based clubs. These can Format Club: The Zvamaida Primary School Project be booked via Shelterbox or directly - Rotary Club of Brentwood - Danny Lovey and Basildon Concord with Peter: Breakfast are reaching out to clubs in D1240 [email protected] for financial assistance for this very - Rotary Club of Burnham on Crouch worthwhile project to build two Trish is currently putting together a classrooms, a new borehole, and District International Newsletter to - Rotary Club of Chelmer Bridge new toilets at the school in the spread the word throughout District Zvamaida Community, Chegutu about these and the many other - Rotary Club of Chelmsford District of Zimbabwe. Danny is International projects that our clubs Phoenix/Rotary Club of Chelmsford available to attend any club meeting support. If you have a project that – Rotary Satellite Club of Chelmsford to give a presentation. you would like included, please let City Trish know. - Rotary Club of Colchester For Valentine’s Day I have been contemplating my current and past relationships. I

organised the data and plotted them using an Ex-Axis and a Why-Axis.

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Membership - (continued) District 1240 - District This resulted in the District Levy being Treasurer’s Report – Bob progressively reduced from £23 to - Rotary Club of Colchester Trinity Booker £14 per member. It is anticipated that (new format) – They have now the target balance of £40,000 agreed on a new club name – RC - District Financial Statements for originally set will be achieved by June th Colchester Camulos the year ended 30 June 2019. The 2020. RIBI has now revised its statements, having been examined - RC Dunmow recommendation to £20,000. The by the District Examiner, Rtn Paul District Levy required to cover the - Rotary Club of Hadleigh Castle Conway, were presented to District estimated expenditure of the District Forum for approval. The Income in 2020/21, without depleting the - RC Halsted – Steering group set up and Expenditure account discloses balance on the General Account, is with first interest meeting on 3rd a deficit of £13,040 on the General £25 per member. This is higher than March 2020 Account, and a surplus of £96 on the £23 which prevailed prior to the the Conference Account. The - Rotary Club of Hornchurch & reductions in the Levy. This is due to former decreases the accumulated Upminster the marked fall in membership. It is balance on the General Account to recommended that the Levy should - RC Rayleigh Mill – Club has agreed £54,271 and the latter increases now be gradually increased to this to set up Satellite Club and have a the accumulated balance on the sustainable level at the rate of £2 per small working party from within the Conference Account to £13,626. annum The Levy for 2020/21 would Club to get plans under way. - District Charitable Fund therefore be £16 per member per th annum. - RSC Thorpe Bay Statements for the year ended 30 June 2019. These statements, The Summary of Financial Affairs District 1240 - District having been examined by the projects a decrease in the General Secretary’s Report – Paul District Examiner, Rtn Paul Fund to £28,000 by 30th June 2021. Chambers Conway, were also presented to the District forum for approval. There was much debate concerning Results of Election and Appointments the proposed levy. In the event, the of Officers for 2020/21 - The Income and Expenditure 2020/21 subscription was approved, account discloses a total surplus of but it was also agreed to take the Assistant Governors: £16. The accumulated balance on Area 1 – Stephen Gale – Thorpe Bay budget away for further scrutiny. the Trust Fund is £3,043, of which Area 2 – Alan Swash – Chelmer Bridge £2,684 is available for general use. Area 3 – Richard Rackham – Billericay Mayflower - Proposed Budget and Levy for Area 4 – Jenny Wells – Brentwood Breakfast 2020/21. The District Governor for Area 5 – Tony Stringer – Chelmsford 2020/21, Keith Brownlie, Rivermead recommended the Budget for Area 6 – Anne Moriaty – Chelmsford 2020/21, which increases the Area 7 – Peter Simpkins – Braintree overall Expenditure budget by Rivers £1,000 to £50,000. Area 8 – Barbara Grimwood – Brightlingsea & District In 2015, the District Council agreed

DISTRICT SECRETARY - Paul Chambers that a deficit budget should be set – Brentwood a Becket in order to reduce the balance on the General Account, which had DISTRICT TREASURER - Bob Booker - reached £75,000, to the £40,000 Chelmsford then recommended by RIBI.

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Moldova and back It was bitterly cold today, but it didn’t stop us delivering food aid We all knew that Rotarians Jan and and shoeboxes to some very Barry Howe were heading off to needy people. I hate to say it but Moldova to deliver “shoeboxes” and we really don’t know how lucky food parcels to some of the poorest we are; the poverty here is on a families in eastern Europe, what we different level. We’re off to didn’t know was that Jan would be Moldova tomorrow and all bets sending us an almost day-by-day are on as to how long it takes us to account of the trip. Here are the main get through the border. highlights: Happy New Year all and see you on Saturday Dec 28 - we’ve arrived in the other side xx Romania after a looong 24-hour drive from the Hook of Holland. But Barry plus other lorry drivers are still at Tuesday Dec 31 - yesterday was our Romanian border as border guards first shoebox drop at a school in have managed to find small issue with Romania. The playground was very both lorries’ road toll papers. Any cold and icy, but the kids were all excuse to fine them €200! Perhaps I’ll very excited to see Santa. We also see Barry on the way home. went to 3 orphanages and gave the children shoeboxes. Today, we are Sunday Dec 29 - woke up to snow but delivering food parcels, door to door. Wednesday Jan 1 - we’ve finally the good news is the border guards let It’s a thermal underwear day! made it to Chişinău Moldova . the men go with a fine of €200 fine Another looong drive today but and a box of celebration chocolates. we are currently sitting in the bar Dropped food aid and shoeboxes to a in the Radisson Blu drinking group of families near to Oradea and cocktails Well...... it is New saw how the local brew - Palinka - is Year’s Day. We did meet with the made. We now have countless ‘coke’ Rotary club of Chişinău earlier bottles of it secreted under the and we’ll be back out, on the minibus seat. We could probably run roads, tomorrow visiting schools the lorries on it. We’re now in Targu and community centres in remote Mures, Transylvania but haven’t seen villages. More soon. Dracula yet!

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Friday Jan 3 - Day 2 of giving shoeboxes Saturday Jan 4 - here’s a link to a news Oh, yes. And our vehicles to children in schools and food box clip of us today. We’re famous on got stuck in the snow drops to the elderly in remote parts of Moldovan TV . Look out for Barry on today. Moldova. It’s very humbling to meet the back of the lorry, me helping with the people, who always ask you to shoeboxes on the lorry and Barry as come in and drink their moonshine. I’ll Santa. certainly have hairs on my chest when https://noi.md/ru/obshhestvo/anglijsk I get back! We visited an orphanage ie-volontery-prinesli-luch-sveta- today too. More remote villages detyam-sela-ivancha- tomorrow near to Ivancea. video?fbclid=IwAR1DBAoHlzC0_a7sjju 7-z1bvMvXcGLdh6uPYC-

uxpzH6if2tgQT5dVpM14

(copy and paste the link into Google - Ed) Spreading salt and sand Sunday Jan 5 - another day when words fail me. Happy children at school on the road. received Xmas presents whilst I am out in the local villages taking food parcels to mainly disabled and very elderly people who live in roads only goats can reach. Very muddy and icy and rutted beyond belief. And then knowing the happy children are going home to abject poverty. It’s something I hope you never experience.

Monday Jan 6 - It’s Christmas Eve here, (feels quite surreal) and here’s one little girl who was very excited to get a present from Santa. Off to the Ukrainian border tomorrow to spend Xmas Day there - Moldovan style.

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Thursday Jan 9 - Today we set off on the Monday Jan 13 - Thought I should humanitarian aid situations, and as long journey home. We’ll do the update you to say we’re home. We part of planned infrastructure 2300km in three stages and stay slept for 12 hours last night and feel development projects. Their overnight in Romania and Hungary. The pretty good now. The picture below equipment can be found in refugee last stage, from the Hungarian border shows our haul of home-made and camps and disaster zones will take us circa 20 hours, so we’ll bought red wine, palinka, honey and throughout the world. The travel through the night. I’ll be riding in cherry juice. As you can see from the Research & Development engineers the lorry for the last stage but have the 6-litre container; we’ve started on it are constantly designing and comfort of a car today and tomorrow. already . Thanks for reading my developing new items and The trip has been emotional and little travel blog. modifying existing products to worthwhile, and we’re all knackered! meet the changing requirements of Now to get through the climate- and conflict-driven disaster Moldovan/Romanian borders without needs. giving away a box of Roses chocolates and a large sum of money. Bribery and In addition, the company has been corruption are rife here. designing, manufacturing and installing geomembrane-based lining systems for over 80 years.

Their area of expertise includes:- lagoon and reservoirs, gas protection, tank lining, contaminated ground protection, Jan and Barry river and canal lining, cut-off A hidden gem! trenches, liquid transport and storage, effluent treatment And what a surprise it was to hear lagoons, landfill lining and capping, local company Butyl Product’s story. reed bed lining, landscape lining We were delighted to welcome and building protection, which of Adam Dudley to Club recently, who course can be essential provisions A little boy wearing his came to tell us about the company in areas of disaster, whether in general, and their charity efforts Sunday best natural or man-made. in particular. Saturday Jan 11 - Hi all. We spent There was an interesting series of Thursday travelling from Moldova Butyl Product Ltd. have been questions and comments at the end across Romania. On Friday we working with Global Aid Agencies, of Adam’s talk, with mention of the travelled from Romania across International Relief Agencies and fact that Butyl Products will be Hungary - 800 miles. Today we set off National Governments since 1970, supplying the liner for the at 6am for the 900-mile drive across responding to emergency and Austria, Germany, Belgium and onto swimming pool at Ramsden Hall Calais. We’re nearly 12 hours into the Academy, for which Mayflower has drive and have only 325 miles to go. allocated funds. Barry drove for the first nine hours It was very heartening to hear of a and now we’ve changed drivers. It local company that shares our would be good to get the 01.30 ferry values. but I’m sure we’ll end up on the 04.40. So, we’ll all be very tired by the time we get home. All’s good though.

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New feature for 2020

Job talks have always been a fascinating part of our after-dinner calendar. But recently joined members will not have heard from their founder colleagues and others from the 1990s. We invited former “golden oldies” to recall the days before their pension kicked in. For starters, we asked Peter Owen to unveil his job talk. That was quite a revolution “Come the revolution“, the joke went, “it In tandem, journalists had now will all change”. become free to set their own type, create their own headlines, It came. And it did change. Beyond all convert their own photographs recognition. onto screens and then photoshop them as they wished. How could l, a weedy 16 year old, have ever imagined as I left school on that Yet I might never have entered April Friday in 1949 the extent to which I papers had it not been for an would become a bystander and enthusiastic English teacher at my participant in an incredible revolution in secondary modern church school the way people would be served by the (five years earlier I had been a newspaper industry I was to join three village school, 11-plus failure as a days from then? London evacuee dodging the Here I was in a North London reporters’ Looking for inspiration bombs, but falling victim to a room converted from a bedroom in an at his Grays desk in the conflicting Lincolnshire old house, one of three reporters being '50s. curriculum). referred to by my boss respectively for That sound as a single sheet was fed by With just three months remaining the next two years as “Mr Owen”. Apart an ancient worker wearing an even of my interrupted education back from the clack of ancient typewriters more antediluvian thumb stall is home, “Mr Thomas” rescued me manufactured early in the century, the embedded in my hearing. only sound was that of “shung-doonk, from my somewhat limited shung-doonk”. Near midnight 58 years later, in a ambition merely to be a hotel page modern skyscraper building in Canary boy (I had liked the idea of wearing Wharf, I pressed a computer key that the uniform). He lent me a book on sent the final edition page of a journalism and pointed me in a national Sunday newspaper to ultra- direction that was to prove one- modern presses in three parts of the way for the next half century. I British Isles and to far-off buildings in never saw him again. Wish I had. Europe that would thunder out He had earned a lifetime of thanks. completed papers at thousands an The only clue on why I switched hour. direction from page boy to paper pages so easily may lie in that for As I walked away then from a lifetime two years I had chosen to study in newspaper journalism, I had good shorthand and typing as an extra- cause to reflect on what had filled that curricular activity rather than a

space between the two moments of technical choice on offer for boys. Peter, in new coat on first day my personal history. A whole method Foresight on my part? Possibly. in journalism, Finchley 1949. of printing, of preparation, of that new More obvious perhaps was that I word “technology” had somersaulted. had elected myself to become the It came from the machine in the room A whole layer of traditional only boy in a class of pubescent below printing one side of 10,000 sheets craftsmanship had disappeared and girls. (continued next page) of one-yard square (a metre to you) with it the compositors’ trade union pieces of paper before being turned over who had helped their colleagues to the next day to print the other side, and hold the newspaper owners to ransom on the third day being cut and folded for more than half a century. ready for sale as a newspaper. 12 | P a g e

It was never to be a lucrative career. A successful in films. Petula Clark and I We got together again. Now Rtn starting wage of 30 shillings and sixpence spent a happy evening together in Bond edits the excellent a week, rising to £2.17s.6d by the time I the company of her Dad, George. newsletter for our lunchtime left for Essex two years later foretold the Rotary club colleagues. Quite a cost of a newspaperman’s parlous future. I had also shared in the usual friendship. For 20 of those years and another 17 of my Monday role of hearing from the retirement time my family gave up proud little Jewish lady who popped Back at the Gazette, just when Saturdays of having Dad around while I into our office from down the road to the old firm had wrongly inhabited the sub-editorial desks of the tell of her son’s latest successes regarded me as part of the Sunday Telegraph sports room to boost combining his national service with a furniture, I up-sticksed to join provincial paper earnings into a living promising start to a showbiz career. the Romford Times in 1958 as a wage. Our opening words were always: news editor heading eight “Tell us Mrs Sellers, what has Peter reporters. Four years later, I Don’t take that as a gripe. I enjoyed my 58 been up to this week.” Her pride, as became editor of the 37,000 a years at work, just as I had revelled in the it turned out later, was justified. week paper, a position I held for two years before it all began, cramming ten years including the final one every non-school hour into a job selling Family life changes in 1951 saw me as group editor of the Stratford newspapers, ciggies and sweets at a local spending my weekends with my aunt Express series, with papers shop. By then, with my Dad too ill to work, and uncle in the Billericay pub they circulating from Stepney to I had become the family breadwinner. had run since 1935 (my aunt Brentwood. renounced the word pub and insisted on its original title of Red My unerring ability to ignore Lion Hotel). It saw me introduced to life’s opportunities had a saloon bar regular, a journalist with included the time I turned down contacts, and within months I made an early 1960s invitation to chat the move to Essex as a reporter on with a new “unknown” pop what was at that time the weekly group rehearsing at the cinema bible for Thameside families, the down the road. “Who do they Thurrock Gazette. I was there for think they are,” demanded seven years, six of them running the cocky Owen of his reporter. “I’m paper’s Rainham edition and off to tea. Silly name for a band becoming part of a team. The anyway. Mark my words ‘The youngest member of the team was a Beatles’ will never catch on.” births, marriages and deaths Before the revolution. Final receptionist on the front counter days in an ancient Fleet Street newly out of school who frankly production floor as Peter and didn’t think much of me . . . then. I sports room colleagues work must have improved. with compositors on hot Perhaps our first date, watching metal pages. West Ham speedway may have helped. Sylvia and I will have been My two years at the Finchley Press were married for 64 years this March. expected to end as the time arrived for His Majesty to call me into his military It was at the Gazette where I was to service. Seems he didn’t want me. Medics meet someone else to whom I might found the first clues at 18 that were to have been joined at the hip these last dog me years later. 60 years. In his first days in Young Editor Owen

journalism, new reporter Trevor sharing a view with the But by then I had tested George Bernard Bond regarded me as his mentor, we Mayor as the 100th year Shaw’s adage that to be a newspaper later worked together at Romford, I issue of the Romford journalist was to earn a ticket to the front became his best man, he became Times rolls from the seat of life. Sunday Telegraph sports editor and presses. (continued next page) I don’t know if it qualifies, but by then I my boss, and when he had given up had interviewed my first celebrity, a his Fleet Street career he wanted to fellow 16-year-old who had been a bit join Rotary. 13 | P a g e

At Stratford, times changed. The papers’ In an incredible effort, our partner Stuck with another cruel old family owners faded away and Shakti Samuha sent out six owner, Panita was forced to pressures grew. A 1972 holiday from a undercover teams to evaluate girls in cook and clean. She was also hectic life changed it all. Devon’s green the entertainment sector. frequently sexually assaulted fields and the joys of time shared with by the clients, but the bar the Owen family dynasty caused me to The team found 19 girls in dangerous owner never defended her. telephone an old reporter colleague on situations who were immediately my return. He had, by now, compiled his rescued and brought to safety. Six of Panita has now started her own c.v. away from the 1950s chasing these girls were under the age of 16 slow journey of recovery, big-wig passengers on Tilbury’s ocean- and were transferred to our safe supported by trained going liners, been to Fleet Street, earned home, Marigold House. counsellors and a reputation, and was the first editor of compassionate support staff. Southend and Basildon’s Evening Echo. The girls all had difficult stories to tell, (* the name has been but Panita* had a particularly unusual changed) Within days I was on his team, my old journey. Unlike most of the children Thank you so much for your “important” titles gone, a slight dent in we rescue, Panita grew up in a rich ongoing support that enables the income but almost a doubling of family with a large estate. us to undertake such time with the family and a chance to dangerous but life-changing become a school governor, a position I However, her life was changed work”. still hold 40 years later. And then in forever when her father was Jo Bega, Chief Executive 1990, membership of a Rotary kidnapped and brutally attacked.

movement that has opened a treasure After he was rescued by the police, he Dare you!! trove of friendships and sheer pleasure. was left traumatised and the family were forced to sell off their assets to The 1970s move to the Echo was to lead pay for his medical treatment. Sadly, to my final permanent title as deputy for he never recovered and passed away ten years to an editor I admired and to a soon afterwards. staff of 50 colleagues whose friendship I valued. Finally, a bonus when it seemed The effect on Panita’s family was all was over. Three years of running devastating. Struggling financially, Billericay Life, “my” magazine that her mother remarried but brought contact like never before with unfortunately this did not ease the readers and with the town that had Panita’s burden. When she was only become part of me. 10 years old, her stepfather sent her All that remains now is the background away to be a domestic worker. admin. link with a long-held journalists’ charity. It too gave me the much-valued Panita stayed with the family for two chance to meet Her Majesty, a happy years but never received payment for day. her work and was frequently verbally Package all this together - what an abused and beaten. She eventually incredibly lucky chap I’ve been. ran away, but it was not long before Peter Owen she was trafficked into a dance bar.

Here is the latest news from Jo Bega, CEO, Child Rescue Nepal.

“We are pleased to share the news that six girls have recently been rescued from dance bars and restaurants in Kathmandu.

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And what a treat that was!! Our first partners’ evening of the year was a great success. Our fantastic speaker, Dawn Wood’s presentation was amazing. More of that later, here are just a few reminders of a lovely evening.

Grahame and Val Poel

Great to see Dorothy Vaufrouard with a Jan Howe and Edward Fortune very dashing Mr catching up. Steve McEvoy – clearly a testimony to the craft of recycling

Jane and Gary Eleanor Williams – a rose between Moore two thorns - aka Mike Williams and John Vaufrouard

Good to see Peter and Sylvia Owen

Angie and Barry Derek Colby and Mike Bourne Fagg

Harriet Ellis and dad Stewart

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Derek Collyer and Gautam Chajed Pam and Colin Breathwick

Alistair (“I can see clearly now”) Moulds and John Morris

Kate Morris and Nicola Moulds

John Malbon and Edward

Liz and Alan Campbell

This time, a thorn between two roses!! Gill Jackie Malbon with Chris Thurman, Terry Gregson, Faye Gregson. Thurman

Silence is golden – unless you have grandchildren: then it’s just suspicious!

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Liz and Andy Hunter Jan Walker and Gavin Taylor

Speaker Dawn Wood with Harriet President Yvonne with Dawn and a

photobombing Barry Howe!!

Joining Essex Police 22 ago, Dawn Wood is now a Dawn explained that she continues to raise awareness by skipper with the Essex Police Marine Unit. With a clear going into schools to talk about plastic pollution. love of the water, she took on this “big row”, because She then told us about her next challenge – In August this she wanted to not only raise money for the Marine year, she and her husband will be rowing in the Arctic Conservation Society (over £20,000 to date), but she Circle!!! The plan is to leave from Tromsø in Norway to the also wanted to raise awareness of plastic pollution in farthest point north that they can get to before hitting the our oceans. Dawn completed the 3,000-mile (4800km) ice shelf. They will then row down into Longyearbyen in journey from the Canary Islands to Barbados in 51 days Svalbard where the expedition will end. The very best of luck 17 hours. Setting out from Gran Canaria on January 5, Dawn – please come back and tell us all about it. 2019, and at a maximum speed of 22mph (although sometimes moving backwards because of the winds), Dawn, all she arrived in Barbados at the end of February to be at sea!! met by her husband and parents, and wild applause! Flying fish in the She described her journey as a series of ups and downs picture – quite literally on occasions. From hearing a tap, tap, too! tapping under the boat only to discover a huge turtle checking her out, to seeing plastic bottles bobbing alongside her, she said it was heart- breaking to be in the middle of the ocean and see the evidence of what we are doing to the planet. To see Dawn's daily diary as she crossed the Atlantic and the comments of supporters, go to: rowaurora.co.uk. Her home page will then appear. Cursor down on the right and click on the bar which reads "read Dawn's Atlantic Diary".

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BILLERICAY MAYFLOWER ROTARY

PRESENTS THEIR ANNUAL

SATURDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2020

AT STOCK VILLAGE HALL

STARTING AT 7.30PM

INCLUDING ITALIAN SUPPER

PLEASE BRING OWN DRINK

TABLES UP TO 8

TICKETS £15 OF WHICH £7.50 TO ROTARY CHARITIES

Contact Mark Chambers for further info

Registered Charity Number: 1186535

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Club Diary Other important dates for your diary!

2020 Feb 8th 2020 – Quiz Night at Stock Village Hall

February April 3rd 2020 - District Quiz will be held at the Feb 6th – Barry Fagg - Rotary: Intelligent Anglo-European School, Ingatestone Charity Feb 13th – tbc March 26th – April 23rd – Scatter – theme to be Feb 20th – tbc announced Feb 27th – Business meeting April 25th 2020 – Mayflower’s 30th Charter Night March th th March 5th – tbc April 26 2020 – Mayflower’s 30 birthday!! March 12th – tbc th March 19th – tbc (also District Forum) May 10 2020 – Billericay Soapbox Derby March 26th – Business meeting June 21st 2020 – Music in the Garden

July 5th 2020 Billericay Summerfest

Mr McEvoy’s sartorial offerings for January.

Comedy Corner

If anyone gets a message from me about canned meat, don’t open it, it’s spam!

Just received my Valentines

card from Moon Pig. She hates it when I call her that.

For the past 30 years I’ve received a Valentine card from a secret admirer. So, I was pretty sad not to get one this year. Honestly, what a year, first my grandad dies, and now this!

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Change of venue: now at the Anglo-European School, Willow Green, Ingatestone, CM4 0DJ

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