These last few weeks have been busy for us, although many would argue we are always busy, either with our Club’s own social activities, or those within the Community at large.
3 members walked the Dome (ie the Millennium Dome). Mad fools. But £1000 was raised for Rotary International’s End Polio Campaign. As a worldwide organisation, Rotary launched this initiative in 1985 seeking to eradicate polio worldwide, and supported by the Gates Foundation, has poured millions into the scheme so much so that so far in 2015 there were only 22 new cases worldwide, and overall a 99% reduction in the incidence of polio.
Over the Easter weekend, we sent 2 young people on the Rotary Young Leaders scheme, one from Waldegrave School, one from Twickenham Academy. Recommended by their schools, these young people were given the opportunity in a social environment to practice leadership skills.
The chess club we run with Heathfield Junior School is going from strength to strength, and so much so we have had to draft in additional help from our sister Twickenham Club. Some 32 students are currently participating in this.
We have agreed substantial funding to Richmond Young Carers, to offer a group of them a weekend break on a date to be chosen in the future. It is hoped this will be the start of an ongoing relationship.
There were 150 entries in the Rotary Young Writers Scheme, and these were read by 3 of our members (unsurprisingly from an educational background). The standard was perceived to be very high, and a credit to the schools. The winner came from St Mary’s School and to whom we send our congratulations.
Our very own in-house photographer, Michael Horner, judged the Rotary Young Photographers Competition, again open to local schools. This attracted 17 entries, and the winner, again, came from St Mary’s.
Planning for our annual International Trip is now complete, and a party of 40 is off to Munich in May, for a three night stay. The previous two years have taken in Madrid and Nice. The debate this year was between Munich and Dublin, with the Bavarian capital winning out. Weissbier or Guinness ? There’s a choice.
The latest in a series of Blue Badge Guided walks took in Lincoln’s Inn last week. An incredible journey in history. Not sure any of us had appreciated that John Donne was a legal man.
– Dion Scherer – Twickenham Upon Thames Rotary Club