Sunday 26 September 2010 - a day off? Never!

Well, today I needed to do a million things to prepare myself for Conference but before I made a start I had a golf lesson with Noel Harrison and John Gilby in preparation for teeing off in Southport.
They have made sure that I can hit a ball and to all our amazement I hit every one. Maybe they did not travel far but it is a start!
Thanks Noel and John.

Saturday 25 September 2010 - Amber Valley Charter

Amber Valley Charter was held at the Derbyshire Hotel where the staff look after Rotary really well.
Shown here from the left: SVP Alan Nightingale, Anne Loades, President Andrew Loades, me, JVP David Hickton and Clair Nightingale.

It was delightful to meet Vera Dilks, the President of the Inner Wheel Club of Alfreton and there were a number of other members present. I had to tick off Assistant Governor Roger Summers for flicking paper across the table! He is a new boy to the job!

Friday 24 September 2010- Ambassadorial Scholars meet for the first time!

Our five incoming Ambassadorial Scholars arrived at various time over the last few days and they met for the first time at Nottingham Station when they departed for Link Weekend in Oxford. This is an event where all of the incoming scholars to RIBI met for a Rotary induction programme as well as socialising and making new friends.
Seen here are Yuko Homma from Japan, Jessica Bruce from the USA, Mari Nakamura from Japan, Selina Mlambo from Zimbabwe and Lily Gong from China. They will all be in Southport for Conference next weekend.

Thursday 23 September 2010 - Southwell Charter

The RC of Southwell President Michael Oliver presided over another excellent evening at the Saracen's Head with great speeches and the usual magnificent beef carved by some of the members.
In my opinion it was the best Toast to International since I heard Reg Bee from Stapleford & Sandiacre some while ago. Congratulations to Ralph Davies for an entertaining toast!




The guest speaker was Keith Hellawell QPM
a retired Chief Constable from West Yorkshire who had dealings with the Yorkshire Ripper and later became well known as the Drugs Czar for Tony Blair's government.
He gave us a real insight into the workings of the senior police ranks without giving anything away!

Wednesday 22 September 2010 -visit to RC of Sherwood Forest

President Don Brown and his band of Merry Men in Sherwood Forest - and the Treasurer's name is NOT Robin!






Visit to RC of Sherwood Forest, a joint meeting with partners and the Inner Wheel members invited.
Again I really enjoyed meeting the Inner Wheel ladies who do such tremendous work with little recognition from Rotary. Congratulations ladies!

Tuesday 21 September 2010 - visit to West Ashfield

Club visit to West Ashfield, a lovely welcoming club who have lots of fun and fellowship which makes for enjoyable Rotary.

President Mike Redshaw is seen here receiving this years Theme Banner. Above are the members present on the night so if any of the absentees said they were going to Rotary they will have a hard job proving it!

Monday 20 September 2010 - Bretby Charter

It's the first time that anyone has ever rolled out the red carpet for my arrival, I was very impressed!
The Branston Golf & Country Club is a very good venue and we had another excellent meal.

The entertainment was a medley of songs from Les Miserables by a very talented group of young people known as "The Little Theatre Company"



President Cedric Insley CBE presented me with an autumnal bouquet which is still doing well a week later. It was good to see so many members of the Inner Wheel there including President Gloria Carr.

Sunday 19 September 2010 - GSE Welcome party

John and Barbara Lewington hosted a superb welcome buffet for the GSE team and the GSE Committee. It was an excellent "get to know you" occasion and they are shown here with their first group of hosts.
Now the programme begins!

I was really impressed to see that John had produced a Risk Assessment for the event! Well done John, clearly you listened at District Council this week!

Saturday 18 September 2010 ,- Birmingham Airport!

Our incoming Group Study Exchange team arrived at Birmingham Airport from Chennai, District 3230.
The journey top Birmingham was eventful due to a long detour as the M1 was closed.
When we arrived to meet up with John Lewington the flight had just landed but it then took over 2 hours for the team to clear Immigration due to large numbers of students arriving.
We are looking forward to the next four weeks with our Indian friends.

Thursday 16 September 2010 - District Council

There was an excellent attendance at District Council at the Novotel and we had a very informative talk on child protectionb and the vulnerable people policy by Stuart Barlow.

Unfortunately our other two speakers were not able to attend on this occasion due to illness so we will invite them to a future meeting. I have promised that these meetings will end by 9.00pm and this one ended four minutes early!

Wollaton Park

After a very successful golf day President Mohan Khera of Wollaton Park presented a cheque for over £4,000 to the British Heart Foundation.

Wednesday 15 September 2010 - Wollaton Park

President Mohan Khera presented me with a cheque on behalf of the club for £600 to provide a house in our Indian project.

Another lively meeting with a number of visitors seeing what Rotarians are good at!

Tuesday 14 September -Derby South

It always gives me great pleasure to induct a new member but this one was very special!

Simon Keeling was a Group Study Exchange team member when Terry led the team to District 3150 in India.
I remember Simon being a gentle, shy giant when he came for the interview but the GSE gave him confidence. He now has a new job, recently married and decided that it was time to become a Rotarian.
We now have three news member as a result of this particular GSE. Surelt this is what it is all about?

Tuesday 14 September 2010 - Derby South

I really enjoyed being with President Anna Zimand and the members of Derby South. I renewed acqauintances with some long standing friends such as Michael Gust, Norman Chapple and John Booth.
However, the best part of the evening for me was inducting a new member. More of that in the next article!

Tuesday 14 September 2010 - BBC Radio Nottingham

I spent some time with Paul Robey on his Afternoon Show on BBC Radio Nottingham.
We talked about several things including Rotary and it was a superb opportunity to tell the public what we do.
There has been a lot of positive comment about the programme but I have to admit that I was speechless when a former "pupil" at HMP rang in singing my praises and telling of his new start in life.

Monday 13 September 2010 - Keyworth & Ruddington

I joined President John Hooley and the members of Keyworth & Ruddington for a good meeting and what is becoming a regular meal at the Country Cottage Hotel Restaurant.

It is a lovely venue and it helps with the owner being a member!

Sunday 12 September 2010 - D1030 Conference

Sunday morning - Rotary Question Time.

The panel included Past RI Director Gordon McInally and RIBI President Jim Moulson

Friday 10 September 2010 - District 1030 Conference in Durham

We spent a really enjoyable weekend in Durham at the District 1030 Conference, DG Les Fay and his wife Norma were superb hosts.

Past RI Director Gordon McInally represented the RI President Ray Klinginsmith and RIBI President Jim Moulson was there himself.

Pictured here are Jim, me and Les.

We had the pleasure of looking after Ann Widdecombe for lunch.

Thursday 9 September 2010 - Visit to Warsop, Shirebrook & District

President John Fretwell welcomed me warmly and I was delighted to be presented with a cheque for £675 for Polio Eradication.
This is another lively club which is doing a tremdous amount of good work.

Wednesday 8 September 2010 - Visit to Derby Mercia

This was a really good meeting with President John Claridge and the members at the Mackworth Hotel. What a friendly venue and a superb meal!
I give thanks to the member of staff at the hotel whose knowledge of technology is much better than mine.

Tuesday 7 September 2010 - Visit to Kirkby in Ashfield

Another enjoyable visit, I am seen here with Joint Presidents Eric Thompson and John McEwen of the Rotary Club of Kirkby in Ashfield.

I was presented with the DG's baseball cap which Roger Pursey has finally found after two years of searching!

Tuesday 7 September 2010 - Our Ambassadorial Scholar returns!

It was good to see Kate Davies, our Ambassadorial Scholar,at Sherwood Sunrisers this morning.
Kate has just returned from a year studying in North Dakota, USA and we are looking forward to hearing more from her later in the year.
Kate will soon be able to visit other clubs to give a presenation on her experiences and will be at Conference in Southport.

Monday 6 September - Rotary Club of Alfreton Charter

The first Charter celebration of the year! A number of Past District Governors attended this event. It seems that it is traditional for them to hear what the new incumbent has to say and how long it takes. I was timed at 7 minutes 10 seconds which bodes well for the future!
The speaker, pictured on the left, was Wayne Bradley, Managing Director of Alfreton Town Football Club who gave us an excellent insight into the running of an ambitious yet prudent football club. They have made a brilliant start to the season and we wish them well for the future.
The President, Chris Eaton, was a superb host and it's great to see a young, vibrant President with amition to move the club forward. Well done and thank you Chris!

Monday 6 September 2010 - RIBI Golf Tournament

I was invited to meet some the players at the RIBI Golf Tournament at the Nottinghamshire Golf Club, Holinwell and spent part of the afternoon with them.
I was treated to a very windy but enjoyable buggy tour of the course and met Rotarians and guests from all over RIBI.
Unfortunately I had to leave before the prize giving to attend another function.
I must congratulate the members of the Rotary Club of Sutton in Ashfield who have organised the competition for 24 years.
The event raises large sums for the Rotary Foundation and this time we will ensure that there is an article about it in the RIBI magazine. I hope to be able to publish photographs when I receive them.

Sunday 5 September 2010 - District Bowls Competition

Inner Wheel of Carlton - as supportive as ever!












Runners up - Kirkby in Ashfield - lost by just one point!
Bill Edge, Richard Woodhouse and Ernest Bacon













The triumphant team from the Rotary Club of Carlton! Captain Alan Coulson, Roger Green, and Barry Parr seen here with the District Competitions Organiser, Mike Storr.

Great job, well done Mike!









Richard and Anne Woodhouse, Rotary Club of Kirkby in Ashfield, generously donated this magnificent crystal trophy to District to commemorate the many years of pleasure that they have received from playing bowls.

Thank you both!








Just some of the participants left standing after several hours of intense competition.

Eckington has already booked 2 teams in for next year's event.

Saturday 4 September 2010 - Domestic duties!

If you need a job done - ask a busy person!
I blocked the waste disposal and Terry insisted that, as I had done it, I should dismantle it to clear the blockage.

Why do they always put the bolts in awkward places?!!!
Not often you see a plumber dressed like this!

Conference discussion - Wednesday 1 September

I was delighted to see Yvonne Neville looking so well following her operation and a Pacemaker being fitted. We had a good discussion with Mike and Yvonne organising some of the detail yet to be arranged. Terry did take a photograph but he has not worked out yet how to get it from his iPhone to the computer! Hopefully it will be added later.