1

DECEMBER 2013

JANUARY 2014

SOUTH COTSWOLDS NEWS

Santa’s enduring appeal. ‘Our’ Santa puts in an appearance at Malmesbury’s late night shopping. The

younger admirers are the grandchildren of former Rotarian Kevan Hewitt.

From the President: Extraordinary things being done by ordinary people—you remember the slogan, but how ordinary is a good Rotarian (other similar organisations are available); the more time I spend retired doing ‘hands on’ volunteering with various charities, the more I realise that our active members are not ordinary. Consider the family to be the nucleus of our society, our members tend to be the ones to whom the other family members turn to for support, take that to the next level in the community, many turn to us to do the sensible thing; or they turn to a state/council employee, for a free service, paid for by the taxpayer.

As to the service we give to the community, the values that we represent, the core old fashioned values that surface every four or five years, but are quickly discredited by the chattering masses, those who put themselves at the centre of every physical and social map. How can we project our values, without being seen as dinosaurs? Everyone lives through a period of change, be it driven by war, political unrest or technical innovation, the key is to recognise that change and social evolution is constant; but it needs to build upon a skeleton. Every mammal can look different and evolve differently, but each needs a spine! Can we define those basic building blocks? Should we as a Rotary Club be doing more in the community to remind everyone that our core values form a part of the skeleton, upon which orderly societies are based?

Whichever version of the quote you choose; ‘every society is XX (two, three, seven or nine) meals away from collapse’, we are reminded of the fragility of life and livelihoods in the Philippines. The speed required of the response teams means that everything must have been packed and ready to deploy, in anticipation. Rotarians on the ground are essential to our knowledge that the aid that we send is being properly used. They are seeing instant and dramatic change from nature’s forces, we need to thank them, and hope they keep their faith, to help whole communities reform and rebuild.

2

MEET A NEW MEMBER

President Nigel and District Governor

Jan Harris were pleased to welcome

Chris as a new member. Chris was

introduced to the Club by his sponsor,

Andrew Lloyd.

CHRISTOPHER TUITE

Hakewell House

8 Riverside Park

Great Somerford SN15 5JE

D. o. B. 3rd November 1949

Tel. 01249 720723 or 07528 757211

I was born in Kenya and educated in the UK. I was an

undergraduate at Liverpool and did my Ph.D. research

at Bristol on the ecology and conservation of flamingos

and soda lakes in the Eastern Rift Valley of Kenya and

Tanzania. I also studied business, finance and economics at the Arizona State University and qualified as a CPA. I have spent twenty years working for NGO’s in various finance, executive programme management, and consulting roles. I directed the Wildlife and Habitat Program for the International Fund for Animal Welfare after serving as their CFO. Prior to this, I spent ten years with the Nature Conservancy as Controller and Chief Business Analyst.

I have experience with both applied on-the-ground conservation and development projects around the world and in international environmental advocacy, including campaigns on whaling and the international wildlife trade. I have developed a strong interest in the integration of conservation and development for a sustainable future, particularly in Africa, and the inter-relationship between environment, governance, peace, security, international politics and poverty. From 2005 to 2008, I directed the US office of the Green Belt Movement, the environment, democracy, and human rights organisation founded by Kenyan Nobel Peace Laureate, Wangari Maathai.

Since 2008, I have worked for Conservation International, in their Ecosystem Finance and Markets Division, focusing on the development, financing, and marketing of projects that protect tropical forests to generate carbon credits. My most recent projects are in Peru, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Kenya.

Personal Details

I met my wife, Debbie, an American Peace Corps volunteer, in Kenya. where we were married in 1976.

We have two children; one an actual rocket scientist who lives near Washington ,and the other a

computer software consultant who lives near Seattle. We also have two grandchildren. We moved back to

England last year and finally settled in Great Somerford in June.

Business News from President Nigel

I met Tony and Biddy Hadfield at the Nailsworth Rotary Club event to raise awareness of the work of the Philippine Community Fund (PCF), who work with children living off rubbish dumps. Because of the coincidence with the storms hitting the Philippines, the evening was oversubscribed. In addition to raising funds for the PCF, with a matching donation from the Club, they also raised enough to fund a Shelterbox, for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

Nereide and I joined 90 other D1100 Rotarians with their husbands, or partners, at the dinner given by Worcester Severn, for RIBI President Nan McCreadie. The staff at the new hospitality suites, next to the cricket ground, looked after us well. I would recommend the venue. After inducting a new member, President Nan gave us the usual speech about embracing change, membership, retention and Polio plus. The e-club was also mentioned.

3

SEC’S SPOT. Well, what a busy time for the Club! Just as we were recovering from the Horseless Team Event, we plunged into the District Quiz and Skittles competitions, ran a very successful Fireworks Display despite the weather, started to prepare for the Sleigh, enjoyed a number of useful speakers, attended district meetings, received a visit from our District Governor, inducted yet another new member, and enjoyed together the annual Carol Service, followed by a Christmas meal. I feel exhausted just writing about it! The quiz team excelled itself by beating all of its opposition to date (I know, I know, they've only played one, but still worth a cheer). Incidentally our newest member, Chris Tuite, attended that night (as did our President, Andrew and I) and took personal credit for the team performing so magnificently!! I won't expand on the skittles team’s last performance, it will be covered in the next issue, but when our star player gets a 'two' and their weakest player a 'nine' in the final round, you can guess we were in trouble and, no it wasn't me - but of course you know that by the mere mention of the word star. We may have lost the match but in practising the art of 'sledging' (all) and 'fast bowling' (Hughes), we excelled - Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson, eat your hearts out! The fireworks display, very well led and co-ordinated by Anthony, struggled for numbers because of the bad weather, but that didn't stop a good crowd enjoying the best display ever, and the weather cleared just in time to allowed the assembled spectators to thoroughly enjoy a splendid evening. Reflecting on our recent speakers, the highlights of the last few weeks came from within our own number, David Britten and his wife Jackie giving a very interesting update on their work with the street children in Nepal, Charles Nicholls recounting some astonishing memories of his time as a wartime Bomber Command navigator, and the inimitable Tank Nash giving a comprehensive account of his military career, delivered with his usual panache and humour - I can only reflect that the enemy must count itself so very lucky that he was not, as he puts it, 'a warrior'. We were also entertained to an informative talk by experienced local estate agent, James Pyle of Sherston, who has recently set up on his own. Having listened to each of them, I was struck by how lucky we are to have such varied talent in our midst - after all, Charles could make sure that David got to Nepal by the quickest route, with Tank ensuring that he had enough sugar in his tea when he got there (in-joke). There are more developments on the Website and Facebook and, thanks to Tony Hadfield, we are now publicising the Club - our events such as the Fireworks and the sleigh and separately the Horseless Team Event. As a direct result, I have been contacted by email by people from Charlton and Cowbridge asking for Santa to call by, and Tony is receiving messages via Facebook regarding the 2014 HTE. The lesson to be learned, as a Club is, that whilst many of us find the benefits of social media difficult to understand, it is crucial that we embrace it, if we are to reach out to the next generations of Rotarians. Chris Tuite joined the ranks of South Cotswolds on the occasion of our visit from the District Governor in October. Welcome Chris and Debbie. Thank you Jan for your visit and for inducting Chris. Finally, to all our avid readers who enjoy South Cotswolds News, both within the Club and without, may I take this opportunity to wish you and yours the very best for the coming festive season - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Philip

Members’ birthdays:

19th December David Britten

29th December Derek Langston

22nd January Tom Sheppard

4

Latest news:

UK Flood Relief The news coverage of the storm damage on the East Coast has been overshadowed by the events in South Africa. However, Peter Wyman took the opportunity to offer the dehumidifiers that we inherited last winter, to the flood damaged region. He contacted a local Club, who were grateful and arranged for a council van, to come and collect them. The van did not materialise so Peter drove to Lincolnshire and delivered the dehumidifiers, to Boston on Saturday. He had lunch with two members of the Boston St Botolph Rotary Club; they asked that their Club's regards and thanks be passed to the members of South Cotswolds. He handed over a South Cotswolds Rotary banner, which will be taken to their Club Meeting on Wednesday.

District Skittles. Our first skittles match of the 2013/2014 season saw us drawn against our mother Club Cirencester, and was played at the Rose and Crown, Lea on Tuesday 5th November.

It was game on and everyone was scoring well and after 3 legs we were 13 pins up. we must have felt sorry for the opposition because in the 4th leg we started with a 4 and 3 but still managed to tie the leg. After that we never looked back and finally won by 27 pins in a high scoring game.

I had better mention that there was only one spare, which was 11 scored by Gary Warner.

The game was played in a very friendly manner with as usual plenty of banter. We had supper at the beginning of the 6th leg which was either chicken curry or ham, egg and chips both of which were excellent. The following morning I had an e-mail thanking us for the friendship, game and enjoyable food.

Result : South Cotswolds 382, Cirencester 355

Scores : 52 Nigel Walker & Doug Hughes, 50 Peter Wyman & Nigel Gilhead, 49 Gary Warner, 44 Philip Selwood & Tom Sheppard & 41 David Britten. Nigel W

District Quiz. On Thursday, 7th November, the South Cotswolds Quiz team of Doug Hughes, David

Britten and Pete Sheppard met, in friendly rivalry, the Rotary Clubs of Swindon North and Royal Wootton

Bassett Town at Blunsdon House Hotel.

Under the inimitable question master, Peter Hayman, they answered questions on a range of subjects.

Royal Wootton Bassett took an early lead after Transport and Mathematics rounds, but it was the third

round on History, namely British Prime Ministers, and on Literature in the following round that South

Cotswolds dramatically soared ahead, never to be overtaken so wide a gap had they gained.

On the subject of prime ministers, the team not only scored maximum points on their own questions, but

took nearly all the points from the opponents’ wrong answers. Pete even lectured the question master on

the valid claim of Clement Attlee to be the greatest peacetime Prime Minister of the 20th Century.

Houses and Gardens were followed by TV programmes, All at Sea and Plants used by Man, with only

Music letting South Cotswolds down. The half way scores of 40 for South Cotswolds, 21 for Royal Wootton

Bassett and 17 for Swindon became full time scores of 68, 50 and 48—a large winning margin! The win-

ning score was the highest achieved in all the rounds held so far and, hopefully, augurs well for future

rounds.

Supporters from the Club who left after two rounds to adjourn to the bar must have been pleasantly

surprised to hear of the result. Pete

We were delighted to hear the result and we were sorry to have missed the latter rounds ,but we were

also there for the Information Meeting for Chris Tuite and the bar did seem a sensible place to meet! (Ed)

5

A HISTORY LESSON THAT BRINGS US BANG UP TO DATE:

On or around 13 April 1570, Edward and Edith Fawkes had the second of their four children; this son went by various names in his life but the one that we all know, is Guy. When Guy was 8 years old, his father died and his mother married a recusant Catholic, However, in later life Guy converted to Catholicism and left for the Continent, where he fought in the Eighty Years War on the side of the Spanish Catholics against the Protestant Dutch reformers – he was now known as Guido Fawkes. It is during this time that he travelled to Spain, looking for support for a Catholic rebellion in England but was unsuccessful.

He later met Thomas Wintour with whom he returned to England to continue his quest. Thomas Wintour introduced Guy Fawkes to Robert Catesby and it was now that the plan was made to assassinate King James 1st and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne of England. During the early hours of November 5th 1605, after the receipt of an anonymous letter, authorities searched Westminster Palace and found Guy Fawkes with a stock pile of gunpowder. He admitted his intentions, although he concealed his real identity, going by the alias Thomas Johnson (his father’s Christian name and his mother’s maiden name).

For three days, he was tortured to find out his real name and who his co-conspirators were and he eventually gave in. On 27th January 1606, the trial began and, despite admitting his intentions when he was captured, pleaded not guilty. The trial didn’t last long, and, on 31st January 1606, Guy Fawkes, along with Thomas Wintour, Ambrose Rookwood, and Robert Keyes were all sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, and their body parts to be placed in the far corners of the country as a warning to others. Guy Fawkes was the last to be hanged but, whilst climbing up the scaffold, he slipped (or jumped) and fell, breaking his neck, but they still went ahead with the remainder of his sentence. On the 5th November 1606, the first Bonfire night was held and has been held ever since, and not only in the UK!

Now the history lesson has finished, how about our Bonfire Night! Well, it all started for me in late May/early June, when the first letters of intention went out to the Police, Fire Service and the Sir William Romney School, along with emails to Event Consultants and UBE (the PA man). Later on it was decided that we would do the Fireworks Night in aid of Lewis Munday. It was at this point I contacted Event Consultants again to see how much they would charge to do Fireworks to Music. After being told that we would have to have a price increase anyway and for only a few extra hundred pounds it was decide to go for fireworks with music.

We were then into mid September, with only the flyer to redesign and the bales to find. The flyer was the easy thing to do, with the help of a friend whose job, before she had children, was a graphic designer! One evening, and a bottle of wine later, we had a new flyer with all the relevant information on the front and all about Lewis on the back. The bales were becoming a bit of a white elephant, and the closer we got to the day the more apprehensive I was becoming about not actually having a bonfire to burn the Guys!

Thankfully, at the last minute, on the morning of the day when we were to build the bonfire and start setting up, we still didn’t have any linseed bales and a received call from Richard Whitchell that he had secured a few bales for us to burn – crisis over!

With everything now in place all we needed was a nice evening, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. The heavens opened, and everyone who turned out to help was getting wetter and wetter, and I was starting to resemble a drowning rat! With the rain still coming down, thankfully people still started to turn up in true British fashion and stiff upper lip, a little bit of rain wasn’t going to spoil their fun. Fortunes changed and the rain stopped and a clear evening ensued, and, although wet under foot, more people started to turn up.

We had the cheque presentation to Lewis, and then the Guy Competition – which was won once again by Lewis and his brother, even though he did have some competition this year!

The Guys were duly placed on the fire and the fire lit with the help of Event Consultants – the bales were now very damp.

The anticipation was mounting and you could cut the atmosphere with a knife when the countdown be-gan. Lewis set off a few staged fireworks, and then Event Consultants took over, and put on what I can only describe as one of the best displays I have seen, and I didn’t think they would able to outdo the previous year, but yet again they managed it - at several points during the display all you could see in the whole sky was filled with fireworks and it was difficult to decide where to actually look! Water got into some of the firing system and the music finished before the fireworks but I don’t think that anybody noticed – and if they did they didn’t mention it!

6

Unfortunately because of the weather, numbers were down this year and so were the takings, so we were unable to donate any further funds to Lewis on this occasion, but he still got the £500 we pledged before the event.

I now have only a few thank yous to make; first of all to Event Consultants for once again surpassing themselves and putting on a tremendous display; to UBE for supplying the PA system and all the lighting; to Tetbury Rugby Football Club for supplying the food; to Avonvale Football Club for helping to tidy up on Sunday morning; to Richard Whitchell for getting hold of the bales for the bonfire and building it, as, without him we would have had a display without a fire; to Dr Tony Walsh for stepping in at the last minute as the medical office on site; and last but not least, all you Rotarians for turning up on the night and helping make a most enjoyable evening – there are too many of you to name but you know who you are!

The next issue of South Cotswolds News will be distributed at the end of January.

Closing date for copy is Saturday 25th January. The entire editorial team (editor, copy

writer, proof reader, photographer, graphic designer, compositor, printer, distributor

and stamp licker) wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and peaceful and

prosperous New Year.

to and from RCSC members, 2013.

“Krismas ko subhakamana tatha nayabarsha ko subhakamana. –

0r Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Dave & Jackie Britten and from

‘Our Street, Our Children’, Nepal”

David & Maggie Bush

“Christmas Greetings from Martin & Ruth Dence at Longtree House, Minchinhampton,

ex Essex”

“A very sincere ‘thank you’ to all members for the way you received me into Rotary. I wish

you all a very Happy Christmas and great New Year. John & Edna Edwards”

“Nigel & Nereide Gilhead wish everyone in Rotary, and their families, a very happy Christ-

mas and peaceful New Year”

“We wish all 0ur fellow Rotarians and families a happy and healthy Christmas and New

Year. John & Helen Greenhill, Sarah, Karl &Grace”

7

“We wish all of you a Happy Christmas, and I would like to thank you for the warm

welcome you gave us when I joined RCSC earlier this year. With best wishes for 2014.

Tony & Biddy Hadfield”

“Thanks to you all for your concern for Margo’s wellbeing this year. With very best wishes for

the festive season and for a happy, healthy & peaceful 2014.

David & Margo Holborow”

“Doug & Mary Hughes wish all our friends in Rotary a joyous Christmas”

“Derek & Gill Langston wish everyone in the South Cotswolds Rotary Club and their

families, A Very Merry Christmas”

“With best wishes for the festive season and for continued good fellowship in 2014.

David & Margaret Lewis”

“Andrew & Diana Lloyd wish all our good Rotary friends an enjoyable and memorable

Christmas & New Year of challenging, interesting, fun and fellowship.”

“Many thanks to all members of RCSC for your concern for Ann earlier in the year, it is

deeply appreciated. Warmest best wishes from us both. Tank & Ann Nash”

“With all good wishes for Christmas and every happiness in the coming year.

Charles Nicholls“

“Keith & Sue Phillips wish all in RCSC a very merry Christmas, a happy New Year and the

best of wishes for 2014.”

“Pam and I thank you and yours for your friendship, fellowship and support over the last

year. May you all enjoy good health and every happiness in 2014.

Philip Selwood”

“With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Peter & Caroline Sheppard”

“Tom & Yvonne Sheppard wish Rotary members and their families a very Happy Christmas

and a Healthy New Year.”

8

“Anthony, Estelle & Ollie StJohn Smith wish everyone in RCSC a very Merry Christmas . May

all your wishes for 2014 come true.”

“Happy Christmas to all new friends in Rotary. I look forward to seeing you all in the New

Year. Chris & Debbie Tuite”

“Nigel & Liz Walker wish all our Rotary friends and families a very Happy Christmas and

Healthy New Year”

“All the season’s greetings and a Happy New Year to all, from

Geoff & Diana Wallis”

Jenny and I would like to wish all members, wives, partners and families of RCSC a very

merry Christmas and happy New Year. Gary Warner”

“Christmas and New Year Greetings from Peter & Sarah Wyman”

“To all RCSC members and their families, a very happy Christmas and a healthy, prosperous

2014, from

Arthur, Janetteand the Horse Guards team”

“Christmas Greetings to our Rotary friends at RCSC, from darkest Worcester.

John & Liz Wright”

Proceeds from the publication of these seasonal greetings will be forwarded to the Association for International Cancer Research, for further investigations into prostate can-cer. Past greetings to fellow Rotarians have contributed £2,119 (incl. Gift Aid) to AICR’s ‘Spotlight Appeal’. These should add £161.

Thank you all, very much. David Holborow