Rotary Engagements since July 1 230
One of the great things about preparing for the
conference (now just 2 and a half weeks away – how did that happen?) is that
it’s turning into a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends. And so it was on Monday. Many years ago we lived in Windsor and on
Sundays we were often at All saints Church where the curate (at that time!) was
one Graham Drake. Graham became a firm
friend, officiated at our elder daughter Jo’s christening and is godfather to
our younger daughter Emma. What more
natural choice for someone to conduct the Sunday morning service at
conference? So Graham came down from
Norwich to stay with us Monday evening and we sorted out the Order of Service –
super to see him and looking forward to his company over the 21-23 March weekend.
Tuesday was our last full conference committee meeting before
we set off for Torquay and to use the nautical phrase, we appear to be all shipshape
and Bristol fashion (why Bristol I wonder?).
Great atmosphere of camaraderie from a terrific bunch.
Wednesday and a real nitty-gritty job, going through all
the flags and signage we need for Torquay – not exactly riveting stuff, but one
of those little jobs that just has to get done – somewhat comforting to find that
the store of goodies contains almost as much junk as our garage – lots of
things that will come in handy one day (oh no they won’t!!). And in the evening the first of three bursts
up the M40 for the week - to Banbury for their inaugural “Crocus Concert”
season. Following on from their highly
rated “Children Singing for Children” involving primary schools, this secondary
choirs event was run in aid of End Polio Now, Rotary’s enduring project for
nearly 30 years. As usual, superbly
organised – such a great occasion.
More young people on Thursday with the second round of
Youth Speaks in Windsor – always impressed by their skills & nice to see St
Helens School intermediate team through to the next round – we live opposite the
school and our daughters both attended.
Also really impressed by LVS Ascot in the senior section. We’ll have to see how they both get on this
coming week in the District final.
Friday another quick burst up the M40 – this time
Chipping Norton for a celebration of the life of Mike Howes. As I said the other week it’s clear that so many
of our members do so much more than be “just a Rotarian” & Mike was very
clearly no exception – so very obviously a hell of a guy.
And in the evening out to High Wycombe to join the RC
High Wycombe evening satellite group for their celebration of their first anniversary
as a group and their first big event – a quiz attracting a great group of
participants and a not so easy group of questions. Was pleased to put together a family team “Governator”
– Jo and her husband Alex joined us – in a hard- fought contest we were pipped
into second place, but thought we’d acquitted ourselves well.
Saturday afternoon saw me at Vicarage Road for a good 4-0
thrashing of Blackpool, following by a quick dash up the M40 again to beyond Banbury
at Sibford for the impressive event that is RC Banbury’s Young Musician competition. In its’ 24th year the competition
has multiple sections and prizewinners, four of whom will appear in the District
final on Saturday 15th March. Oh and we met up with Lucinda Bourne Swinton-Hunter, our Youth Exchange student just back from Auburn, New York and now off to Italy as an au pair for four months - how the young live!
Just to round the week off, lunch on Sunday with our good
friends Tim & Linda Cowling. Not
strictly a Rotary engagement, but then we talked of little else…….
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