November 2010

Subject to validation, a new world record for simultaneous bulb planting has been achieved for RIBI (643 planters!) and 5.2million bulbs have been distributed and/or planted across Great Britain and Ireland.

The Bill Gates $200 million Polio Challenge is now up to the three-quarter mark and stands at just over $150 million raised, but this still means we have some way to go to complete the challenge by 30th June 2012.

For further details: www.focusonthecrocus.org

October 2010

Purple Pinkie Crocus Planting

On the afternoon of the 6th October the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay planted 5,000 purple crocus corms in Southchurch Park, Southend-on-Sea as part of the Purple Pinkie – Thanks For Life Campaign.   A good turnout of members lead by President Garry Lowen ensured that the planting was completed in 30 minutes and we now wait until February next year to (hopefully) see the result of our labours.   We hope to be able to plant the second lot of 5,000 at Garon Park Golf Club, our meeting place.

For further details: www.focusonthecrocus.org

20th October

The planting of Thorpe Bay’s second 5,000 crocus bulbs at 8.30 on a freezing cold morning at The Garon's Park Golf Complex.

September 2010

The Cat and Logray meet District Governor at Another Successful Bike Ride

Red Dwarf star Danny John Jules (The Cat) and Rotarian Mike Edmonds who starred as the Ewok Medicine Man, Logray in Star Wars, joined Distict Governor Bob and his wife at the start of this year's Foulness Bike Ride. They waved off 1,400 riders raising funds to support the work of Macmillan nurses in Havens Hospices - the aim is to fund a nurse for a year.

This year for the first time riders were able to book online via a system developed by club members Nigel Gayner and Mahboob Raja which reduced our admin burden considerably. The Ride was given fantastic support from the community as volunteer marshals who were joined by Rotarians from Rochford, Rayleigh Mill, Hadleigh Castle and the President of Blackwater Valley, District 1140, making up the 130 that played a vital role in ensuring rider safety.

Last year's Ride raised £25,000 which went to Southend Hospital's Bosom Pals Appeal. Our aim this year is to raise as much again. We also support the Foulness Island Heritage Centre which incidentally is open to the public April - Oct on the first Sunday of the month. Planning for next year's Ride has already started so keep your eyes on our events website for confirmation of the date at www.thorpebayrotaryevents.co.uk or telephone 01702 525514

September 2010

Purple Pinkie News

Rotary has now raised $144 million towards the Bill Gates $200 million Challenge but there is still a need for fund raising for the polio project.

Rotary District 1240 has ordered over 120,000 purple crocus bulbs, whilst in RIBI as a whole the order now extends to over five million! That should ensure a spectacular display nationwide next spring to publicise the Rotary involvement in the End Polio Now campaign. The crocus initiative will help to make the general public aware of all that we have done, and continue to do, to eradicate polio from the world but the need is still for further donations to finance the essential NIDS (National Immunisation Days) that must continue until eradication is achieved.

The "Focus on the Crocus" website has been developed to publicise exactly where Rotary Bulb Planting events are taking place. These include a major event in Trafalgar Square on Friday 1st October and events such as that by the Stevenage Club in D1260, working with primary schools to get sponsorship of bulbs at 20p each and prizes for the best show in the wackiest container in February! In our District, the Chelmsford Clubs are working together for a mass planting in Bell Meadows/Central Park, Chelmsford and the Colchester Clubs are also working on a similar project.

For further details: www.focusonthecrocus.org

The latest full 'Purple Pinkie News' is available from this website as a PDF document    HERE

September 2010

The Rotary Club of Cwmbran Vale with the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay Land Mines Initiative

This RIBI approved appeal has been supported by clubs in District 1240 for the last four years. The principal aims of the Mines Awareness Trust are to provide support and training for local de-mining teams and help for the victims of mines.

No-one who has heard of the widespread and gruesome nature of the minefield problem has not shuddered to see the results of indiscriminate and un-charted mine-laying upon innocent populations and has yearned to be able to do something tangible to help. We hope that Rotarian pudding-eaters and their friends and families will buy at least one of the puddings and will then be able, while munching away at Christmas, to reflect on the help they have thereby given to the clearance of another 3.5sq m of a minefield. Full details are available at www.rotaryxmaspuds.co.uk.

Most families buy a Christmas pudding. If they buy the pudding from us, Mines Awareness Trust makes the profit. Even if members don't want to buy the pudding for themselves, it is a remarkably easy item to sell or give as a gift to friends and family. Last year several clubs purchased puddings to donate to local organisations as part of the club's Community and Vocational Service commitment - why not do the same in your club?

You will be aware however that the minimum order is normally one case of twelve puddings at £10 each - a total of £120 and we are aware that some Clubs may wish to order lesser quantities of puddings. The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay has therefore received the permission of DG Bob Barclay and the Rotary Club of Cwmbran Vale to once again act as distributors of the Christmas puddings within District 1240 and to accept minimum orders of just two puddings. The price will remain at £10 including shipping and all proceeds will be forwarded to the Rotary Club of Cwmbran Vale for the Mines Awareness Trust Appeal.

Last year 24 clubs in District 1240 purchased 468 puddings and we received many compliments about the quality of the puddings - even repeat orders! Please help us to do even better this year.

August 2010

PC Fay Edwards with President Garry Lowen, Pam Watson-Jones and Past President Eddie Edwards,

The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay and Essex Police Air Support Unit have teamed up to help save lives across the county.

The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay has generously presented a defibrillator which is used to diagnose and treat life threatening cardiac arrhythmias. The defibrillator cost £1,100.

Pc Fay Edwards from the ASU says:
“This defibrillator is a fantastic piece of equipment and it will undoubtedly help save lives. Only recently I was called to an emergency incident and if we had the defibrillator the outcome could have been very different. It is absolutely vital. Everyone in the ASU is now being trained to use the defibrillator and will soon begin putting it to good use should the situation arise.”

The Club was initially alerted to this need by Pc Fay Edwards, whose father, Eddie Edwards. is the Immediate Past President. Thorpe Bay gladly accepted the challenge and presented the portable electronic device to the ASU during a ceremony on August 29th. The defibrillator will be available for use at emergency incidents from October 1, once all ASU team members have received their training.

August 2010

Rotary Clubs of Southend and District join forces to raise funds to send shelter boxes to Pakistan

The Rotary Clubs of Southend and District joined forces to raise funds to send shelter boxes to Pakistan. Led by the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay the clubs organised, in just 3 days, a street collection in Southend High Street thanks to the help given by Southend Borough Council.

The Rotary Clubs of Southend and District joined forces to raise funds to send shelter boxes to Pakistan. Led by the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay the clubs organised, in just 3 days, a street collection in Southend High Street thanks to the help given by Southend Borough Council.

The Rotary Clubs of Southend and District would like to thank the Council and the people of Southend for their help and generosity

Shelterbox, a Rotary Sponsored Charity, responds instantly to natural and manmade disasters all over the world by sending green ShelterBoxes full of lifesaving equipment Each box provides an extended family with a tent and lifesaving equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless for at least 6 months.
The contents are tailored depending on the nature and location of the disaster with great care taken sourcing every item to ensure its robust and gives lasting value.

For further details: www.shelterbox.org

July 2010

Southend Hospital Trust Press Release

The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay paid thanks to two members of our staff recently by awarding them a century old honour.
Judi Sharpe, medical education manager, and Barbara Warner, senior fundraising manager, were delighted to receive the Paul Harris Fellowship award, set up in honour of the Rotary founder over 100 years ago, for their outstanding contribution to the club and the community.

The unsuspecting duo received their awards at a celebration ceremony held at Southend's Sands Bistro last month, also attended by our chairman John Bruce. Barbara became the club's first ever non member to receive the award in recognition of her fundraising work at the hospital and its benefit to the community.

"I was honoured and very surprised to receive the award. The work the fundraising team does really is a team effort so I will be sure to celebrate this success with them," said Barbara.

Judi, who has been a member of the Rotary for nine years, has held pivotal posts as programme secretary and, more recently, secretary; a role which is key to ensuring the club operates effectively. The award was also given in recognition of Judi's huge contribution to the education of doctors in Southend and, in particular, her support of junior doctors.

Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay president, Garry Lowen said: "The club was delighted to honour Barbara and Judi whose work and support to others extolled the key values of Rotary which are service above self."

June 2010

Southend Entertains Kids

Firstly on behalf of the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay we congratulate our fellow Rotarians at the Rotary Club of Southend-on-Sea for organising a superb day in conjunction with Philip Miller of the Adventure Playground.

This year there were 50 children from Milton Hall Primary School together with 5 staff and five of our Club members, all suitably attired in white T-shirts and blue Baseball caps. There was no doubt that this event was a resounding success with Jon Baker the Home School Liaison Officer informing me that the children were still bubbling the following day. While we could have invited more children it was decided to select 50 children who had shown some improvement in any aspect within their school - so from better behaviour to better attention and work in the classroom to better performance in school activities - the competition was strong as they strived for their 'ticket'.

This also helped to keep up the high standards in the school which had recently been recognised by OFSTED and placed a positive marker down for next year. Their behaviour and politeness was a credit to the children and the staff - indeed it was a real joy to be part of this day with the possible exception of the decibels in TALK. I was reliably informed that the volume was at a lower level than usual - can you believe that! So a fantastic day with so much joy and fun had by all - a really worthwhile initiative and I am up for it again next year subject to my ears recovering.

June2010

The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay held its traditional annual Charity Golf Day at Thorpe Hall Golf Club on Monday 7th June. Rachel Riley from Countdown presented the winner, Gary Wavell, with the Peter Lagden Trophy which was donated in memory of Peter Ladgen, a founder member of Thorpe Bay Rotary Club, who organised the event for many years. The winning individual Gary Wavell came in with 41 points (won on a countback ).
Lyn Cast won the Ladies Individual Trophy. The winning team, The Dampers scored 122 points.

152 golfers from all over SE Essex took part and in spite of the difficult economic climate, the event raised close to £6433. A cheque for £9000, including monies from previous golfing events, has been handed over to Celia Riley of Peaceful Place, an organisation which offers specialist care and support for people living with younger onset dementia. The members at Thorpe Hall Golf Club, many of whom paid to play on their own course, gave free use of their superb facilities! The event raised £2000 from generous sponsors, especially Fairfield BMW/MINI, French & Associates Ltd. and DMG Delta who gave their support in tough times. A huge thank you to all members of Thorpe Bay Rotary Club who worked to make this a very successful day.

April 2010

Two new members have already joined in 2010:

They are:

• Gaynor Thompson
• Judith Hansford

Judith, pictured here with President Eddie Edwards, Immediate Past President, Penny Popham and Honourary Junior Member , Nicholas Popham, has been attending Thorpe Bay events for a number of years, spured on by Daughter, Penny and Grandson, Nick.

Nick in fact has been attending since before he was born!

July 2010

Another three new members have joined in 2010:

They are:

• Jill Cole
• Tony Coe
• Ed Spacey

All three can be recognised in our members section and we look forward to a long and happy association with all our members in the coming years.

Thanks go to Loretta Andrews, our Membership Services Chairman for her amazing efforts during 2009-10.
She truly deserves the Rotarian of the Year Award!!