Chatterbox 0612 - Rotary Club of Belper

Thoughts at the End of a Rotary Year
Much against my expectations I have enjoyed my year as President. The start
of the year was clouded in uncertainty. It was not clear how long it would
take me to recover from my first ankle operation and the date of the second was
shrouded in mystery. I was very much afraid of being a lame drake president! But
with such a supportive and friendly club I need not have worried.
One casualty of the uncertainty, however, was the date of the Club’s charter.
With singular inaccuracy, I predicted an autumn operation and persuaded the club
council to put the charter back to May. Come the dark days of November we missed
our normal celebration and so had a birthday party instead, complete with cake. It
was a happy and enjoyable occasion. I have never hidden my lack of enthusiasm for
the formal Rotary charter dinner. I suspect that this may be an attitude shared by a
number of members given the general lack of support (with a few honourable
exceptions) for attendance at charters of other clubs. So with May fast approaching
I took the decision to replace the charter dinner with a wine tasting evening. It was
well supported by members and by U3A (but not by other clubs) and the wine was
entertainingly presented and copiously poured. Those who did come (including the
District Governor) hazily recall enjoying themselves.
It was a good year for fellowship which, to my mind, is one of the most
important aspects of Rotary. The district conference at Scarborough was well
attended with brilliant weather and good fun. We had a number of very successful
outside visits – the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, the Rolls Royce
Heritage Centre, the Nottingham Playhouse to see Forever Young, a pate and pud
evening (with games) at the Milford Social Club and a district organised evening at
Southwell races in support of the End Polio campaign. When we stayed at home we
had a varied programme of speakers and other entertainment. Two occasions
stand out in my mind – the Christmas celebration dinner when we were entertained
by the very gifted Sam and Lily from Ilkeston and St George’s night when the ladies
of Green Garters managed to get many of the mobilely unchallenged up for some
English country dancing.
The pleasure of our meetings has been enhanced by the generally high standard
of catering and service that we’ve had from the Lion Hotel during my year of
office. The staff are always pleasant and helpful and, apart from the odd hiccough,
things have gone pretty well.
On the sporting front the Club achieved a first. By beating Ashbourne we got
through to the second round of the District ten pin bowling competition. That was
Cover picture - two District Governors
Gordon McGlone hands over the badge of office to Belper and Duffield Rotarian
Dave Ashley at the District Handover Lunch. Report of the proceedings on page 16.
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