Visit To Bangor-on-Dee
Races.
(AKA The Importance of Being a Good Fellow and a Good Mate - A Cervenka).
It was for these reasons that a joint venture was undertaken between our Club and the Ladies of Inner Wheel.
The day was organised for Saturday May the 20th, with the event taking the format of Going To The Races and hopefully having a realy great time whilst taking the Bookies To The Cleaners . .
A total of six Club members and their Ladies attended the Welsh Point-to-Point finale held at the beautiful Bangor-on Dee Racecourse.
Whilst our Club members were busily winning/losing money in the afternoon, the Ladies enjoyed a splendid dinner in the local Cross Foxes hostelry in the evening.
As a result of this wonderful day, batteries were recharged for future undertakings by both charitable organisations.
Club Bowls Tournament
At 9 p.m. on 16 May 1943, Lancaster bombers of 617 Squadron took off from RAF Scampton and headed for Germany. Their mission? To destroy a number of dams in the valley of the mighty River Ruhr. Their means? By delivering explosive charges which could jump over protective torpedo nets: the Highball Bouncing Bombs.
Precisely 63 years and nine days later, Club members re-enacted this event on the challenging terrain of Sutton Fields. The role of defensive forces was played by myriad flights of midges which the attackers failed to destroy.
This thespian raid was undertaken by a significant number of members (although when asked How many? at a later juncture, the House Committee Chairman replied : In the best traditions of the Home Office, I have no idea! ).
The Highballs on this occasion were spherical rather than cylindrical and thus, when released at low altitude (at a target speed of 250 mph), were inclined to change direction on hitting the surface water. Grass, also, proved to be a deterrent factor. However, Guy Gibson (played by Brian Henshaw) and his fellow pilots (played by Eddie Basnett and Ron Parry) whom we shall refer to as the Finalists proved to be unerring in their Highball deliveries.
Unmoved by the failure of their opponents to breach the dam (played by jack ), these three stalwarts persisted in displaying their accuracy until cries of The chips are ready! by hungry onlookers persuaded Eddie and Ron to step aside and allow Brian to be anointed Chief Mohne.
On return to base (played by the Sutton Fields Club House), all pilots were revived with refreshingly hot pie and chips and cooler liquids. In the absence of the President, who was on duty elsewhere, VP1 Malcolm undertook the role of Station Commander and awarded trophies to the three Dambusters once they had been debriefed: Brian, as Victor Ludorum , was awarded custody of a protective shield.
Next years tournament will be adjudicated by a certain Barnes Neville Wallis.
Youth Speaks Competition
Sunday the 7th of May saw the National Final of RIBIs Youth Speaks competition, which was held at The Peel Building, University of Salford, Greater Manchester.
Our Club was involved in this competition as a result of the hard work put in by Brian Henshaw who is a member of our Districts Youth Activities Committee and the main organizer of the whole event.
RIBI has for many years run public speaking competitions for young people as it is considered an important life skill and is one that Rotarians value. This year our District was chosen to host the Finals, an honour we gratefully accepted.
For the second time in two years, there were two RIBI finals: one was the Intermediate competition for those aged 11 to 14 years the other the Senior competition for those aged 15 to 18 years old.
The competition was opened by the Master of Ceremonies our very own Sam Williams, who introduced the The Right Worshipful Mayor of the City of Salford
Cllr James Hunt who gave the welcoming speech.
After the excellent presentations that covered a morning and an afternoon session, local celebrities Meg Johnson (Pearl in Emmerdale) and Charles Foster (ex Granada T.V. news reader) gave each of the competitors a commemorative gift and certificate.
The awards were presented by RIBI President Mike Webb and the winners were :-
Senior
Competition.
- Winner of Best Speaker:
- Mohammed Aslan Ali from Tower College, Rainhill, Merseyside
- Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Rainhill. Dist.1280
- Winner of Best Chairman:
- Jack Robinson from Queen Elizabeth School, Gainsborough,
- Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lincoln, Dist.1270
- Winner of the Best Vote of Thanks:
- Laura Jarvie, Craigholm School, Glasgow,
- Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Glasgow, Shawlands, Dist.1230
- Winner of Best Team:
- The School of St Helen & St Katherine, Abingdon.
- Topic: A Healthy Pastime.
- Team Members: Jessica Liddle, Lucy Evans, Kate Shouesmith
- Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Abingdon. Dist. 1250
Intermediate
Competition.
- Winner of Best Speaker:
- Justina Ogunseitan, Twyford C of E School
- Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ealing, Dist. 1130
- Winner of Best Chair:
- Joseph Nurse, Great Walstead School, Lindfield
- Sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Cuckfield and Lindfield, Dist. 1250
- Winner of the Best Vote Of Thanks:
- Arielle Tchiprout, Twyford C of E School
- Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ealing, Dist.1130
- Winner of Best Team:
- Great Walstead School, Lindfield, West Sussex
- Topic: White lies - good or bad?
- Team Members: Joseph Nurse, Fergus Blair and Jack Donoghue
- Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cuckfield and Lindfield. Dis. 1250
Our photographs show both Winning Teams, along with various VIPs.
