Week 14 – To the North (ish)…. and back

Club Visits since July 1                                                         45

Rotary Engagements since July 1                                          103

Official Club Visits with Chicken dinners since July 1                7 !!

Started the week a little further North, at RC Witney, where President Ron presided over an excellent evening at Witney Lakes GC, approaching 50 gathered with partners where Joan & I were delighted to witness the induction of another new Rotarian, Janet Eustace, whose husband Bob was a long-time member of Gerrards Cross & Chalfont St Peter (we’ll have to coax him back!), the presentation of the Presidential Citation for 2012-2013 to Immediate Past President Grace (on behalf of the club) and news of the speaking role in Sunday’s Downton Abbey episode for Rotarian John Wharton (and for the appearance of his tar boiler) – the star himself was absent that evening.

Tuesday lunchtime at RC High Wycombe, where the previous day’s exploits of President Humphrey topping the forms of transport for Wheelpower’s Around the District in 80 ways in his glider flight on Monday (rather him than me I have to say).  Now boasting two Rotaract clubs and a growing Satellite group, this is clearly a club seeing a resurgence.

Feels odd, somehow, having a Rotary Club handover in October, but circumstances led to the withdrawal of the originally chosen President for RC Wallingford Sinodun & District and so 2012-2013 President Richard Smith has held the fort for 3 months while new President Michael has quite literally put his house in some sort of order!  (Must say it was nice to be there with nothing to say!)

Wednesday evening a cosy gathering at RC Thame – President Jeanette leading the troops gearing themselves up for their Swimathon on Sunday 13^th October.  Very closely linked with their community.

Thursday saw the second offering of the District Roles Awareness Workshop, so it was back up towards Witney at Eynsham for a lively gathering of members from 8 clubs finding out more about what our District team does (and hopefully thinking of putting themselves forward for service there).

A change of emphasis on Friday at the District 9 Inner Wheel International Rally – first time at an Inner Wheel District meeting for me – very substantial tea I can report!  Speaker for the occasion was the riveting Olivia Giles, a substantially disabled survivor of viral meningitis.  And what a survivor!  We saw her speak at the RIBI Conference in Harrogate this year but to meet her was a truly inspiring experience.  The work of her 500 Miles charity amongst disabled children in Africa is astounding.

 

Last week I reported on our 5 mile stroll as a club – this week it was the altogether much more serious Maidenhead Boundary Walk – not serious in the sense of time pressures or hardened competition, but at 13 miles a goodly step longer than my usual perambulations.  Very pleasant walk in the company of President Pat & her husband Clive, in superb weather for early October and all accomplished within my 5 hour objective.  Well done to RC Maidenhead & RC Maidenhead Bridge for an excellent event.  Rotary Scholar Fanny, from Paris is seen on the right in the picture above R with President Pat, the Mayor & Mayoress of Maidenhead (and their dog Rocky, complete with ball!)