Page 1 The Rotary Club of Swindon Phoenix District 1100 England SPECIAL EDITION Weekly bulle n The Bargy President Nicole Price Issue number 249 Volume number 5 Number 48 of this Rotary Year (Excluding special issues) President Elect Nigel Causton Next weeks host is Rotarian Anne Pileggi Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club Honoured Recipient; 2016 Pride of Swindon Team Award Immediate Past President Geoff Beale This is what your Semi-Retired Editor has been doing in all that spare time he now has. Auditioning for a part in that well known film!!! Editorial rights this week are with Sub-Editor Scoop Parfrey Club Treasurer PP David Coe By email to all members of Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club and some members of Foothill Highlands Rotary Club USA, Tappahannock Rotary Club USA, also Rotary Club Members in Australia, Indore and Bhopal India and special supporters elsewhere Semi-Retired Editor Editor; PP Peter Goldsworthy (Golds) PHF Sapphire Sub Editor; PP Paul (Scoop) Parfrey PHF Secretary; P.P. John Fisher Sub Editor 2; PP Peter (Grumpy) Newson PHF Sub editor 3; Rtn Chris (Super Scribe) Sims
Club Night Host Report - Wednesday 24 May Host - Rotarian Lynn Harper Rotary started with grace This evening as Rotarians, Let us be thankful for whatever health, laughter, food and friendship that might come our way. But also let us be mindful of those, who at this time, or in the future may be without any of these gifts Amen. The meal tonight consisted of Chicken Noodle Soup followed by a Thai Green Chicken or Vegetarian curry which was Hot, Hot, Hot!!!! Tonight s meeting was a Business and Fellowship meeting which followed Club Council who met at 6:15pm, some key points from the meeting were: Treasurers Report Club Account balance Charity Trust Account balance but several commitments to come from this including Jaipur Limb Project money, Swindon Guide Dogs, Brighter Futures and a cheque to The Stroke Association from 2016 DB event not yet cashed. Dragon Boat Update Darren and Chris have been very successful in purchasing a PA system and Wireless kit connections for the DB event and all future club events. They have tested the equipment successfully. Membership Pradeep from the Hindu Temple will be inducted into Rotary next week on 31 May. Please remember this is a Partners Evening. Please be sure to let Lynne now ASAP if you will be bringing your partner along. Steve Birch (introduced by Andrew Whiting) has also expressed a keen interest in becoming a member of the club and will be invited to attend more meetings. The Jaipur Limb Project - has so far raised almost 4000 Under A.O.B - Peter informed those present that he has sent Certificates of Appreciation to all the nurses who helped on the Know Your Blood Pressure Day and also to The Hindu Temple and Pradeep for supporting the Jaipur Limb Project. Birthdays this week President Nicole Price (25 May) Peter Newson (28 May) People Returning from Holiday An interesting photograph of Darren from Barge Week!!!!! A Welsh Piggy Bank from John Fisher who visited North Wales.
Sunday 25 June is just 5 weeks away now and when the Swindon Dragon Boat Event will take to the water!! The Swindon Handy Mag which drops through letterboxes in the East Swindon Area has released an article in the June edition that has just come out. The event poster is still being published twice a week in the Swindon Advertiser and event banners are on display in Cheney Manor and at Coate Water Country Park. The HSBC railings in Swindon Old Town will see a banner displayed from 3 weeks before the event. A3 and A4 Posters are still available for anyone who can post them to help publicise the event
(Great Bedwyn to Hungerfiord) This was our first day aboard REBECCA which we use for our familiarisation day but this year we were joined by Tony who was a trainer with the Bruce Branch and the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (KACT). Tony was on board to provide refresher training in preparation for our Certificate in Community Boating Management (CCBM) that all the Skippers are undertaking in June and July. Tony was a great guy and we liked him so much that we invited him to stay aboard all the way to Hungerford. Skippers aboard were Paul Parfrey, Steve Coleman, Mike Slipper, Chris Sims, Darren Cranins, Phil Pett and Pete Newson. Our youngest guest was 4yr old Joshua who was nearly as tall as his Dad Darren.
(Hungerfiord to Great Bedwyn) This was day 2 and we welcomed aboard the Swindon Epilepsy Support Group (SESG) as well as guests, Rotarian PJ O Farrell and President Elect Nigel and Julie Causton. Skipper Chris Winded (a nautical term for turning around) the 62 foot long boat without touching the bank or the haven of bushes and trees which later in the week became a Team Challenge which Skipper Parfrey also succeeded on Tuesday Morning (16 ) when we were back in Hungerford. The Sun was out all day and everyone had a great time. Boat Crew were Paul Parfrey, Chris Sims, Steve Coleman, Darren Crannis and Phil Pett. The WINDING Challenge completed
(Hungerfiord to Great Bedwyn)
(Great Bedwyn to Hungerford) Today we welcomed aboard RIVERSIDE Project which provides support to Children with various anxiety and mental health issues. The group was led by Roger Bryan. Boat Crew were Paul Parfrey, Chris Sims, Steve Coleman and Mike Slipper who got a lot of satisfaction seeing the children having a great time as demonstrated in these photos.
(Hungerford to Great Bedwyn) Today we welcomed aboard 50 SHADES community group organised and led by Rotarian Jan Kilby. The Boat Crew were Paul Parfrey, Chris Sims, Steve Coleman and Mike Slipper. How big? Wheel Chair Hoist
(Great Bedwyn to Hungerford) Today we welcomed aboard Millbrook Primary School (Nurture Group) Lead by Jewels Burrows and supported by Marina Newbury who were joined by 9 great excitable children from the ages of 9 and 10 years. This was the wettest day of the week, but this didn't deter any of the children or even Jewels and Marina who were out in the rain alongside the Skippers, Paul Parfrey, Chris Sims, Steve Coleman and Crew, Peter Goldsworthy and his trusted friend Animal
(Great Bedwyn to Hungerford)
(Great Bedwyn to Hungerford) Thanks to Jewels Burrows who surfed the Internet and found this article on the steam Train that passed us on the canal just East of Bedwyn Photo taken by Jewels herself Wednesday 17th May 2017 **Sighting** - A1 Class Pacific Tornado with the Belmond British Pullman to Bath and Bristol We are accustomed to seeing the old Orient Express Pullman stock on our line on its twice yearly journey to Bath or Bristol for Belmond Hotels. Their steam-hauled excursions feature a dedicated locomotive in recent years the Merchant Navy pacific Clan Line, although Tornado has been standing in while the other loco has been undergoing heavy overhaul. Clan Line was due to be taking over again with this trip to Bath, but unfortunately it will not be ready in time (nor for the ACE on 27th May, which has had to be postponed to later in the year). On the day: a morning of heavy rain will have deterred all but the most ardent supporters from venturing out to see what type of haulage was eventually arranged for this excursion train. Evidently the operators were able to pull a few strings as it was no. 60163 Tornado which appeared from the Kintbury direction as I cowered under the small amount of cover afforded by the thicket at the far corner of Hungerford Common. This loco, already famous as a new-build of an original LNER design, has recently had its status elevated even further after achieving the magic 100mph on a night-time test run on the East Coast main line the first time that speed had been achieved with steam in the UK since the end of steam on British Railways in 1968. No doubt the operators were able to impress their passengers with this information, and perhaps even the A1 Loco Group is able to charge a premium for its services now. However none of this magic is apparent in the rather gloomy shot I was left with after the train had passed:
(Hungerford to Great Bedwyn) Today we welcomed aboard OAKFIELD PROJECT lead by Rotarian Paul Wainwright along with our Guest (soon to be a Rotarian) Pradeep from the Swindon Hindu and Cultural Centre. Skippers were, Paul Parfrey, Chris Sims, Steve Coleman and Crew, Peter Goldsworthy.
(Great Bedwyn to Froxfield and back) Our last day aboard REBECCA and we welcomed board the ORCHID CARE HOME from Haydon End, Swindon. This was a first for us Skippers to have 2 Wheelchair Users and 3 people who needed to use walking frames so the Hydraulic Passenger lifts both at the front (Stern) and the back (AFT) were used to full capacity. The Group were managed by 1 x General Nurse, 1 x Senior Carer, 1 x Carer and 1 x Activities manager. A great day had by all apart from the challenge to WIND (you know what that is by now) the boat in what was shallower than normal water at Froxfield. Skippers were, Paul Parfrey, Steve Coleman, Chris Sims and Darren Crannis.
COMING EVENTS 25 June Swindon Dragon Boat Racing Event - Coate Water Country Park, Swindon Other items are in the planning & Will be added as & when this list Is not exhaustive! r The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of Service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in par cular, to Encourage and foster: 1)The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; 2) High ethical standards in business and professions, the Recogni on of the worthiness of all useful occupa ons, and The dignifying of each Rotarian s occupa on as an opportunity to serve society; 3) The applica on of the ideal of service in each Rotarian s personal, business, and community life; 4) The advancement of interna onal understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and profes -sional persons united in the ideal of service. Find more information on Swindon Phoenix Rotary on your pc; Just control + click on these hyper links below swindonphoenixrotary.org.uk Previous bulletins Our Santa Run Dragon Boat Event thephoenixbulletin.weebly.com swindonsanta.org.uk www.dragonboatswindon.org.uk Ffind us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/swindonphoenixrotary?ref=hl On twitter https://twitter.com That s all Folks!- but remember, we are a Rotary Club of the 21st Century Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club Pride of Swindon Award 2016