What's New
Frodsham Community Association’s Downhill Run.
On a very warm and sunny Saturday the 6th of September, 6 of our Club members were pleased to respond to the request for the provision of “Top Quality Helpers” from the organizers of the Frodsham Community Association’s Downhill Run.
Firstly we were asked to help provide the cordoned off “run-in” to the finish of the Downhill Run, however following an early “cri du coeur” from Sam Williams, who was having an erection problem, our work extended to helping him put up a very large Gazebo! Secondly, we were pleased to join the ranks of the many volunteers who agreed to help with the actual “Marshalling” of the Downhill Race itself.
Not surprisingly, the day will be remembered by President Adrian, Don, Graham, Jeff, Malcolm and Sam because part of the deal was that they all had to complete a “Trial” Downhill Run prior to the actual Race itself, just to check everything and everybody was all set and ready for the real race! Would We Tell Fibs? As expected, the event was a huge success, with not only keen runners being involved, but also Fun Runners along with Mums, Dads and Children running as a family.
We feel that we must mention (otherwise he will get ever-so-cross) that Frank Ball, one of our most energetic Club members, completed the run …. without breaking sweat! Come in No 126, Your Time Is Up.
Our Club members look forward to helping with next years Downhill Run, as such Community Events are seen as a most important part of the work done by our Club.
By the way, Graham, where were you when we had our photos taken, counting the takings no doubt?
Don Paterson Retires!
Yes it’s True. To paraphrase “Frazer” out of Dad’s Army, …… We’re Doomed Mr. President! (Said with a Scottish accent). Who can Club members now blame for Road Closures, Pot Holes, Traffic Detours, Overflowing Road Gullies, Faulty Street Lighting, Un-emptied or Lost Refuse Bins, Horse and Dog Poo on roads and pavements, or for that matter any other problematic thing associated with Vale Royal Borough Council’s areas of operation……... Well certainly NOT Don Paterson.
Friday the 5th of September 2008 is a date that Don will not forget in a hurry; it was his last day of work for VRBC, as he has Retired! Her Majesty has been informed, so Don, …….expect a telegram. We say “Last Day of Work” tongue in cheek and with a rye smile; it is alleged that the major part of his day was spent being left speechless and with blurred vision, brought about by tear filled eyes and lumps in his throat following speeches made by the Great and the Good from VRBC.
It goes without saying that copious amounts of liquid refreshments might also have been involved, but Don refused to be drawn on this aspect.
To commemorate this momentous occasion Ian Tickle, our VPII, presented Don with an appropriately rude card and ostentatiously expensive bottle of cheap wine at our Club’s Dinner meeting held on the previous evening.
Don, as you might expect, President Adrian and all the members of our Club wish you a long and happy retirement.
Frodsham Festival In The Park.
Once again, our Club has been involved with Frodsham’s “ Festival in the Park” which entails working very closely with Castle Park Arts Centre, members of Frodsham Town Council and of course Vale Royal Borough Council on this wonderful Community Project. Sunday the 6th of July was the chosen day, and bearing in mind the poor weather prior to the event, all fingers were crossed and many prayers were said for fine weather on the day.
The event was “Officially Opened” at 1.00pm by Frodsham’s Town Mayor, Councillor Pammi Taylor, who is an Honorary Member of our Club. She commented on the many shows, presentations and displays that were set up for the afternoon’s entertainment, all of which she intended to visit or see, although rides and attractions at the children’s “Fun Fair” would be graciously declined! Also mentioned was that next year there would be changes to Castle Park and its facilities, with special celebrations already being considered to mark the 800th Anniversary of Frodsham being granted the dignity of becoming a true Borough. She concluded by thanking all who had attended and wished everyone a pleasant afternoons enjoyment. We are pleased to report that some 30 Trusts, Organizations, Societies, Clubs, Groups, etc. were represented at the Festival, thereby ensuring that a good day out was in prospect for residents of the area and visitors alike.
Our Club member’s day started around 8.00am with the setting out of the event, ensuring all exhibitors were provided with an appropriately sized area, from which they could work, or set up their displays.
Our “Bacon Baps & Burger Stall” was in full production for the entire event, with our Club members helping on the stall as well as managing the Car Parking and of course the important Donation Collection Buckets. It is, however, saddening to report that the Festival did not fully escape the vagaries of the weather with rain featuring again, but Eddy Basnett’s Aston Martin car, that was used to promote our Club’s forthcoming Motor Show, didn’t get too wet as it had a Gazebo all of its own!
However, as far as the Festival was concerned, the good folk of Frodsham, Helsby and surrounding areas are made of stern stuff and are not easily put off enjoying themselves and proved the saying “The Show Must Go On” ….and it did, well into the late afternoon!
Thanks To Everyone Involved.
Welcome To ……….. “The Dragons Den”!
This was the greeting facing 8 Teams at Helsby High School on Friday 11th July, when “Entrepreneurs” (or rather Club members) Malcolm Davies and John Butler, joined Ruth Ward and Dave Braidwood, members of Helsby High School’s Teaching Staff, to be the “Dragons” for a rather special project run by two other Staff members, Eddie English and Steven Capstick.
The Dragons were given the onerous task of deciding a winner of the best proposed “New Magazine” that was to be presented to them that day by Teams involving all the Schools Year 9 students.
The presentations, involving PowerPoint and hard copy illustrations, of their final articles were a credit to the hard work of the student and Teaching Staff, who had been tasked with completing the project within a time frame of just 2 days.
The quality of artwork, marketing research, business plans and presentations was superb and we certainly saw the makings of future businessmen and women. All 8 teams were judged on the magazine copy, business plan and presentation.
After a lengthy and constructive debate amongst the Dragons, 2 teams were selected for a “Head to Head” concluding presentation of their product in front of their Year colleagues, followed by cross-examination again by the Dragons.
The overall winner was the Team who had created a unique male/female magazine which they had called ‘FLIP’.>
For those who are avid viewers of the TV programme “The Apprentice”, whose teams are tasked with various projects to complete, these 8 magazine creations of Year 9 students would certainly rank amongst the best of some of those projects completed.
This was the first of such enterprises by the School and hopefully it won’t be the last.
WELL DONE TO ALL INVOLVED!
The “E” Factor Challenge At Helsby High School.
On Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th of July, a total of 4 Club members went along to Helsby High School in order to join 20 other members of local businesses helping Creative Learning Events Ltd., a Company based in Yorkshire, with this quite unique event.
Each event lasts one full day and involved some 240, year 9 pupils and 20 members of the Schools Teaching Staff over both these days.
This initiative draws together Teams of 14 pupils, under the guidance of one, or more, representatives from local businesses and a member of Staff, in what can be described as a challenging environment. The aim of the “E” Factor Challenge is to help in developing students understanding of the real world of Business.
As in previous years, the Project everyone was involved in was:
a) The Planning of a “New Band”.
b) The recruitment of the “Band” members.
c) The promotion of the “Band’s” records and performances, and
d) Ensuring the “Band” was profitable.
The day is designed to increase the pupils understanding of skills and techniques such as decision making, planning, organization, communication, team-working, meeting deadlines, risk taking, to name but a few!
Suffice it to say that both days went remarkably well and feedback from pupils that were involved showed that the event was found interesting, stimulating and most enjoyable.
As far as our Club members, Alan Gardner (he attended both days!), Alan Revell, George Randles and Malcolm Davies were concerned, they enjoyed the day so much that they recommend that next year, when the event is run again, more Club members should give consideration to going along and lending their support to this event that links our work in the areas of Vocational Service and Youth in a really interesting way.
Retiring Treasurer of Frodsham Community Association Honoured
Cec Batemen thought he had been invited to a quiet dinner at his local Rotary Club but there was more to it than that.
Rotarian, Paul Harris Fellow, and founder member of our Club, Peter Wilde introduced his guest.
Cec started his service and team work as a pupil at the Choir school in Chester and as a chorister at the Cathedral. He then went on to Kings School Chester.
Then followed his first spell at the Midland Bank which was interrupted by two years of National Service in the RAF. Returning to the Midland Bank, Cec spent some time at Kirkham (near Blackpool) where he joined Round Table. He was moved to Frodsham to open a new branch of the Midland as the Manager and, on finding that there was no Round Table in the area he set about forming a club of which he was then the first Chairman. Many people in Frodsham are indebted to Cec for forming a club from which many of us obtained a great deal of pleasure and reward.
Cec later went to Winsford as the Manager of the Midland Bank and where he joined Rotary, becoming their President in 1984. Amongst other events he was greatly involved in their organisation of a Donkey Derby and it is no surprise that one is now run in Frodsham.
All this shows a dedication to local organisations yet he has still been able to dedicate a large part of his time to Frodsham Community Centre where he has been the Treasurer from inception and for the last 40 years.
It is worth considering the responsibilities of this post in some detail. The officers of the Community Centre are responsible for a complex building on which more than 70 organisations rely. By the law of averages some of these organisations will be difficult to deal with and the financial responsibility for protection, maintenance and updating of this important facility which Cec has borne for this last 40 years
Peter finished by asking the Club to honour Cec by presenting him with a Paul Harris Fellowship.
Our photograph shows Cec accepting the award from our outgoing President, Rtn Barry Linaker.
