Category: Uncategorized

Our weekly lunch time meeting was attended by seven invited guests. After lunch Past District Governor Gordon McGlone gave an informative and interesting presentation explaining the work of Rotary both at home and abroad pointing out the friendships that are made with other Rotarians world wide and the responsibilities and benefits of being a Rotarian. The Talk was well received by all those present.

Before Gordons talk President Mandy and Immediate Past President Dennis presented a cheque for £250. to Debbie Moore from Young Carers Derbyshire. Being part of last years Santa collection. We have now donated the full amount collected £2500 to ten local charities.

 

On Monday the 3rd of September we celebrated our 80th Charter Anniversary at Riddings Community Centre. The members were joined  by Cheryle Berry the District Governor and fellow Rotarians from our mother and daughter clubs together with other Rotarians from within the District, Mary Kerry the Mayor of Alfreton and other guests.

President Mandy Oldknow welcoming District Governor Cheryle Berry and Alfreton Mayor Mary Kerry

Following an excellent meal and speeches we were entertained by the    ‘Gold Leaf Duo’.

All present went home with an anniversary cake kindly supplied by Mandy our President.  The club now looks forward to our next 80 years serving the communities both at home and abroad.

On Sunday the 2nd of September we were present at the our local ‘Party in the Park’ demonstrating an Aquabox filtration pump and engaging with the public explaining how Rotary supports local, national and international projects and charities.

Kian congratulations from the members of Alfreton Rotary Club you set yourself a big challenge and you achieved it.

At the age of 12 years you have cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End in 14 days making you the youngest person to do it in less than 20 days. All in aid of the charity Dementia UK.

Well Done.

See our previous post of the 27th May 2018.  And  kianjoglebikeride.co.uk//cat=3

President Mandy and the members of the clubs International Committee had the pleasure of meeting the twenty children aged between 7 and 15 years of age from Belarus who are suffering from the after affects of the nuclear fallout from the Chernobyl disaster. The children are staying in East Derbyshire with volunteer hosts as guests of the Chernobyl Children’s Life Line Charity.

The aim of the charity is to provide the children during their four week stay is for them to receive the benefit of uncontaminated and healthy food, clean fresh air and a healthy environment in which to convalesce, together with medical assessment and treatment where necessary all in an effort to rebuild their much depleted immune systems and give them hope and the opportunity of improved health.

We met the children yesterday at the Genesis Centre Alfreton being one of the many outings and entertainments they will attend during their stay. The club is pleased to have paid the travel cost of £458. for one of these children to come on this worthwhile convalesce holiday.

President Mandy accompanied by three club members were privileged on behalf of the Rotary Club to be invited to attend the David Nieper Academy prize giving evening on Thursday the 19th July.

To hear the Head Teacher Dr. Kathryn Hobbs give a round-up of the years activities and an inspirational talk by the Guest Speaker Mrs Julie Richards Principal of Chesterfield College.

Followed by the presentation of the Awards to the many students who had earned prizes in their school subjects, Attitude to Learning Awards, Outstanding Achievements Awards and Special Individual Awards.

The photo shows President Mandy Oldknow presenting the Rotary Matt Bingham Award together a cheque for £50. to Joshua Green for his contribution to Academy Life.

Joshua was nominated for his work ethic, his work in the Academy library, his assistance in the IT department and his work as a anti bullying ambassador.

We were entertained during the interval by the Academy Choir and by pupils playing the piano. The evening closed with a talk by the Vice Chair of Governors David Nieper.

Alfreton Rotary Club members wish all of the staff and students for the next academic year an enjoyable and successful year.

 

We are pleased to welcome as a Corporate Member  Liam Alistair Carrington-Morris of the Voice Magazine.

The photo shows Liam being inducted by our President Mandy Oldknow at today’s club meeting.

Immediate Past President Denis Fretwell congratulating Mandy Oldknow on becoming the clubs first lady President

Mary Pearson from the charity Dukes Barn Trust attended the meeting and told us about Dukes Barn an Outdoor Education charity, based in Beeley it became a fully independent charity in its own right in 2000.   They run day and residential courses in outdoor adventure, team building and problem solving for young people with a wide range of abilities.

Their main focus is children with specific needs such as Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Downs Syndrome, children with hearing and or sight impairment and those with physical disabilities including wheelchair users. They also run courses for primary and secondary school children and those from disadvantage backgrounds or poor inner city areas.

A set charge is made for the courses however no child is refused a place due to lack of funds when their costs are met from a bursary fund, fund raising activities and donations. Money also needs to be found for the day today running and on going maintenance.

The photo shows Mary Pearson accepting a cheque for £250 on behalf of Dukes Barn from our President Dennis Fretwell.

 

Emma Stevenson and Andrew Cope from the South Normanton Motor Cycle Club attended our meeting. Emma gave a talk when she informed us that in 2016 the members of the South Normanton Motor Cycle Club together with other local volunteers formed the organisation ‘Gears of Goodwill’ their stated aims are:

To help the homeless and vulnerable people (including homeless former soldiers) in the Midlands and in the UK starting ‘at home’ in Derbyshire bringing friendship, food, warm clothing, support, advice and hope for better times in the future.

Emma told us that they distribute such items as sleeping bags, warm clothing, small 2 man tents, toiletry items and other essentials. Once a week in Derby they run a soup kitchen serving up to 250 hot meals and giving out up to 100 sandwich bags per session, some of their clients have not had a meal for 3 or 4 days.

Our club members found the stories she told us of the many reasons that their are so many people homeless and sleeping rough in Derby disturbing.

We were pleased to present a cheque for £250 to Emma and Andrew towards this good cause.

Also present at the meeting was David Reed the manager of Tesco’s Alfreton together with our Associate Member Julie Rossington also from Tesco. After the meeting both David and Julie had a conversation with Emma and Andrew.

Vice President Mandy Oldknow presenting the cheque for £250.oo to Emma Stevenson with Andew Cope in the background together with David Reed the manager of  Tesco Alfreton and Associate Member Julie Rossington