Monday 25 October 2010 - Rotary Club of Beeston Charter

I toasted the Rotary Club of Besston with my usual tipple - water! I must be the cheapest District Governor that we have had to entertain!
President Nick Doughty held a very good evening at the Novotel with good food and good company.




It was interesting to see a photograph of their original Charter being presented in June 1939 in West Virginia in the company of Paul Harris. This copy does not do it justice but Paul Harris can be seen in the centre. On the left is the RI President George Hager and on the right is Henry Morley the International representative.

Monday 25 October 2010 - Inner Wheel District 22 Overseas Lunch

The "Two birds together" are deep in conversation putting the world right!
This very well attended excellent meeting was held at the Village Hotel in Chilwell. The accent was on overseas projects and we had an interesting presentation on "Impact" by Dr Brenda Luck on their tremendous work in Bangladesh.
District Chairman Elaine is seen her with DOSCC Di Sardesai and Rotarian Gail Ashley, District 1220 International Service Co-ordinator. Gail gave a speech about international projects being undertaken by Rotary this year, in particular the housing project in Andhra Pradesh

Sauturday 23 October 2010 - Crocus planting

A perfect Rondel!


Focus on the Crocus continued at the City Hospital in Nottingham when a group from Sherwood Sunrisers planted a second instalment of purple crocus bulbs in the grounds. If they are late showing Sunrisers are organising a team with hair dryers to encourage them!

AG Noel Harrison, Angela Mawson and Kevin Brown are seen here before the event.


Pauline Johnston with Angela Mawson


Kevin and Val planting.



Kevin, Pam and Noel Harrison checking that none are poking through!

Saturday 23 October 2010 - our birthday!

Terry and Val share the same birthday but, Val points out, not the same year as she is a little younger!
This means a joint celebration and we are often sent a card between us! Tonight we hope to see our beloved Nottingham Panthers win handsomely at the Ice Arena. I did offer to take Val out for a meal but she declined as she has eaten out for the last three months!

Friday 22 October 2010 - Essentially Brass

Terry and I joined the Inner Wheel Club of Mansfield and the Rotary Club of Mansfield at a superb concert given by "Essentially Brass" in the magnificent setting of The Old Meeting House in Mansfield.
It is over 300 years old and the perfect venue for a music concert with superb accoustics.




The stained glass windows are spectacular and this photograph was taken outside in the dark with the light shining through from inside.

Thursday 21 October 2010 - Joint meeting Matlock and Wirksworth

President Bill Darley of Matlock and President Ian Dolby of Wirksworth arranged a joint meeting of the two clubs at the Temple Hotel In Matlock.

It was an excellent vibrant meeting with lots of banter and clearly they all enjoy their Rotary.

I am sure that if more clubs occasionally had joint meetings they would find them really memorable.

Wednesday 20 October 2010 - A day off!

Terry here:
Val had a whole day with only emails etc to catch up on so how did she spend this valuable time?
Watching recordings of Casualty, Holby City, Waterloo Road...............!

Tuesday 19 October 2010 - Hucknall Charter

President Ivan Manning held an interesting Charter evening at the Springwater Cantonese Restaurant in Calverton. It was a fabulous meal enjoyed by all.

It was good to see faces from the past too - Peter Pickering and Peter Sherlock. Physical education teachers wear well!

Tuesday 19 October 2010 - Sherwood Sunrisers - Induction

It was delightful to see the induction of Julie Dilks as a new member at my own club, Sherwood Sunrisers.

President Kim Armstrong is reading the details to Julie and there was a large club attendance for this important occasion.

Monday 18 October 2010 - Visit to Church Wilne

President Barry Woodhead is seen here receiving the RI President's banner and a rarity - a banner from the Rotary Club of Shanghai in China. This was presented by our Ambassadorial Scholar, Lily Gong, the first Ambassadorial Scholar to come to our District from the Peoples Republic of China.












Lily is seen here with her Counsellor and mentor, Rotarian Mick White of the Rotary Club of Church Wilne.

Sunday 17 October - A day off!

After spending some time catching up with the paperwork and emails etc Terry disappeared to watch football for the first time for a month and I went back to bed!

Saturday 16 October 2010 - Lincs with India

We attended an Indian evening at the Yacht Club in Nottingham which was raising funds for a Lincolnshire charity, "Lincs with India". This is an independent charity started by a few Rotarians to provide schooling etc for some of the tribal children who live in the forests of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu.
It was a very lively evening with Indian food, dancing and singing.
We were requested to wear Indian dress, hence the photographs!
















Guess who was first on the floor for the dancing!

Saturday 16 October 2010 - RC of Ravenshead walk in the woods

On a beautiful Saturday morning I joined the members of the Rotary Club of Ravenshead and Inner Wheel, friends and locals for a 4 mile walk in the woods around Thieves Wood and Portland College.

President Richard Lord and Mary, together with other stewards, made sure that we went the right way.
After the walk we were treated to a home made lunch of soup and apple pie served by secretary Paul Craddock and his team.

Friday 15 October 2010 - GSE team farewell Party

After a hectic month in District 1220 it was time to bid farewell to our visiting GSE team from District 3230, Chennai, India.

A farewell party was held at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton upon Trent when many of those who had hosted and the GSE committee shared in the evening.

Terry and I were honoured to receive beautiful shawls and plaques.

I have entrusted Team leader Anthony with a personal gift from me to District Governor Olivannan Gopalakrishnan, known to me as "Oli"!

Thursday 14 October 2010 - Visit to Chesterfield Scarsdale

It was good to see a face from the past when I visited the Rotary Club of Chesterfield Scarsdale. Many years ago Rotarian Pete Yeomans was the junior teacher under my direction in the Physical Education Department at Gedling School! We had a lot to talk about and enjoyed the evening.

President David Foster made me very welcome and again I was delighted to receive a donation for the Indian housing project.

Wednesday 13 October 2010 - Mansfield Inner Wheel Interclub Overseas meeting

I gave a presentation on Rotary Indian projects to the members of Mansfield Inner Wheel and their many invited guests from other Inner Wheel clubs. This was well received and I was delighted to receive a donation towards the Indian housing project.

This was an excellent well organised and well attended event. I am now getting to know more of our colleagues in Inner Wheel.
The photograph here is of Julie Lamb who gave the vote of thanks and presented the cheque.

Thank you for the invitation, it is much appreciated and Terry did not mind being the only male there. (He was doing an impression of an IT specialist!)

Tuesday 12 October 2010 - Sherwood Sunrisers and Etwall & Hilton

I always try to attend my own club, Sherwood Sunrisers and I made it this morning after having made two club visits yesterday. It was a riotous meeting led by Ed Thompson speaking about the disasters that have overtaken him whilst on holiday. Not to be missed!

In the evening I made a cross country visit to the Rotary Club of Etwall & Hilton with President Barrie Snaith and the lively members of the club. Thanks you for a great evening and the donation for the housing project.

Monday 11 October - Visit to RC of Ilkeston

After having steak and kidney pie for lunch at the Alfreton club I had vegetable pie for my second dinner of the day at the Rotary Club of Ilkeston with President Roger Sissons!

It was difficult to find the meeting place for Alfreton but this one caps it!
Once there, however, it was a fascinating place and we had a lively meeting.

It was really good to meet up again with my great friends "Clint Eastwood" - yes, "Clint" you know who I mean.

Monday 11 October 2010 - Visit to RC of Alfreton

It is getting to be a habit meeting up with President Chris Eaton, this time it was at his own club, the Rotary Club of Alfreton!

We drove past the venue twice before realising where it was but arrived eventually just a minute late.

It was the best steak and kidney pie I have eaten for a long time.

Friday 8 October - Clay Cross Charter

It was superb evening at Santos Higham Farm and, as always, excellent food.

It was delightful to spend the evening with Lois Gent, the first lady President of the club.

7 October - Club visit to Southwell

I made the DG visit to Southwell at the Saracen's Head and forgot to take the camera! I was well received by President Michael Oliver and the members.

Tuesday 5 October - Sutton In Ashfield Charter

John Pearce is pictured here with Ambassadorial Scholar Selina Mlambo from Zimbabwe.
Still as smooth as ever John!!
Another teacher!











President Nigel Harrison kept us all in check for the evening. Thanks Nigel.








I was greeted at The Hostess by the poster on the left published by Crimestoppers!
The reason for this was that the speaker was a police officer working for Crimestoppers.

President Nigel Harrison hoped that I had a good sense of humour and he is right!

Monday 4 October 2010 - visit to Arnold Crosby

We left Southport on a high on Monday morning but felt that we just had to see Arnold Crosby in the Care Home at Duffield to lift his spirits and tell him about Conference.
Arnold was delighted to see us both and we were able to give him a detailed account of events and show him some photographs. He listenened intently and was genuinely uplifted as he relived the Conference through us.
We left Arnold with a smile on his face and a gin and tonic in his hand!

Conference - Our personal thanks

We thank everyone who worked so hard to make the weekend such a success and all of you who came along to enjoy yourselves.

We have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of letters, cards, emails and telephone calls all saying how much you enjoyed the varied programme, the professionalism and above all the warmth felt by everyone throughout the whole weekend.
We will treasure the memories of this weekend and thank you all once again.
Val and "Dogsbody" Terry

Conference -Finale

These two gentlemen masterminded the entire event with a lot of help and support.

Surprisingly, they are still smiling!







You can see the relief on IT Director Steve Lawes face at the end of Conference.
Steve had a fantastic team working with him and my thanks go to them all.







I will never be able to thank Conference Director Mike Neville and Conference Secretary Yvonne enough for their tremendous help and support to make this Conference such a special event and an undoubted success.


















We'll meet again!

Conference - RI Presentative and his wife

PDG Vasant Vora and his lovely wife Indira spent a few days with us before Conference. It was a wonderful experience for us all and we look forward to meeting them again in Hyderabad in December.

Conference - RI and RIBI Representatives

Past District Governor Vasant Vora from District 3150 India represented RI President Ray Klinginsmith and Past RIBI President John Hockin represented RIBI President Jim Moulson

Conference - Visiting GSE team from District 3230 Chennai

Our visiting GSE team from District 3230, Chennai, India has spent a very busy month with us and thoroughly enjoyed the experience whilst making many new friends.

The team entertained us with a rain dance and I was then blamed for the bad weather that arrived!

My thanks go to GSE Chairman Rob Gray and his committee who once again organised a superb programme. Also I thank the hosts who opened up their homes and made our visitors so welcome.

Inner Wheel District 22 and Rotary District 1220 Presidents

It was great to see so many of our Inner Wheel colleagues at the District Governor's reception for Presidents and guests on Saturday evening. Many more were also at the Conference during the weekend.

Congratulations toRIBI Chairman Pam McConnell on her appointment.







District 1220 Presidents for 2010/ 2011

Conference - Ambassadorial Scholars

We have a superb group of five Ambassadorial Scholars with us for a year and they are a very diverse group from different backgrounds.

On the left is Kate Davies who has returned after studying for a year in the USA.

Then, from left to right,are Lily Gong from China, Mari Nakamura from Japan, Yuko Homma from Japan, Selina Mlambo from Zimbabwe and Jessica Bruce from the USA

Conference - Visiting District Governors

I was delighted to have Visiting District Governors Chris and Stephanie Fairhead and Les and Norma Fay with us for the weekend.

Friends from the class of 2010 / 2011!

The District Team at Conference

Conference - Team

I pay tribute and thank the entire Conference team and make special mention of a few:

Conference Director and Conference Secretary - Mike and Yvonne Neville
Sergeant at Arms - Don Mackenzie
Registration - Malcolm and Joyce Whitt
IT - Steve Lawes
Chief Steward - Ed Thompson
Conference Treasurer - Margaret Hunt
Entertainment - John Shipman
Hotels - David Curtis
Golf - John Gilby
All of the ever smiling Stewards from Sherwood Sunrisers!