The Rotary Year, 2010 - 2011
President John Cannell.
Chosen charities, the Migraine Action Association & Christie's.
District 1280 Conference was held in Douglas, Isle of Mann, the President's homeland.
Highlights of the year:-
A Club Day Out. - Llangollen International Eisteddfod 2010.
Paul Harris Fellowship Presentation to Rotarian Peter B Smith.
Stan Fielding's 2nd evening Car Treasure Hunt.
Mike Lucas is made a Paul Harris Fellow.
Club outing on the SETTLE to CARLISLE RAILWAY.
The St. George’s Day Concert.
RIBI Conference in Dublin.
Our annual crown green bowling evening
The 84th Charter Night, with musical entertainment from the John Hallam Trio.
The Walk this year was held on Sunday 20th March 2011 and again consisted of two routes. A 6 Mile walk round Watergrove Reservoir for the less energetic and a 12 mile walk in the Pennine Hills for the seasoned walkers.
Despite poor weather conditions stalwarts from the club and friends set out across rather wet Moorland and more than £100 raised for the club's Charities Christie Hospital and Migraine Action Association.
Thanks once again to Wardle High School for their kind use of the reception area of the school for registration and refreshments.
Last Year was the first Charity walk in Wardle organised by Rochdale Rotary Club. On a fine sunny day in March walkers were welcomed by President Elvet and the club at Wardle high school reception and set off on a fairly stiff challenge over Brown Wardle There was a choice of a 12 mile(more for regular walkers) or an easier 6 mile flatter route both coming around Watergrove reservoir.
Registration and Sponsorship moneys were divided between walkers own charity and Rotary charities Samaritans and Petrus day centre.
Wardle high school have had close links with Rotary over the years and kindly allowed use of their reception area as a starting point for registration and as a finish point(each walker received a signed certificate from the club).The amateur radio organisation RAYNET helped with communications and Rotary members marked out the route with flags and a refreshments were provided for the walkers. Rotary has experience of organising charity walks over the years and previously did a Water walk around Hollingworth lake and over the Littleborough Pennine way route.
Over £300 was made for the Rotary clubs charities .Despite illness Mayor Keith Swift came to give encouragement to the club and walkers.
A regular long distance walker Harry Moody who completed the 12 mile walk said 'all of us from Rochdale Ramblers enjoyed the walk and look forward to a repeat performance next year'
The Rotary Clubs of Rochdale and the Rochdale Inner Wheel Club held a charity Banquet on Wednesday 10th November 2010 to raise funds for :-
Springhill Hospice
The Dell Cook Memorial Foundation
The Northern Cleft Foundation
Management of China City, Nelson Street, Rochdale OL16 1NL
kindly sponsored part of the cost of a lavish Chinese banquet for over 200 Rotarians, Inner wheelers and their friends. The Rochdale cold weather was forgotten as everyone tucked in to their extensive range of starters main courses and sweets.
A Raffle was held on the night with prizes galore
Over £1500 was raised for above Charities
Thanks to all involved for a good night out and money for Charity as well.
The Rotary Club of Rochdale organised a St George's Day Charity Concert at Heywood Civic Hall on the evening of Saturday 23rd April 2011.
The Rossendale Male Voice Choir, conducted by Kate Shipway, and Ashton Brass Band with its conductor Martin Evans featured on this musical evening.
The funds raised are in aid of The Christie Hospital (Oldham) and Migraine Action . These are both very worthwhile charities and have been nominated by the Rotary Club's President John Cannell during his year in office.
Rotarian Tom Hobson, who was in charge of organising the concert said " This was a great evening. Both Rossendale Male Voice Choir and Ashton Brass Band were top rate".
Over 150 people attended a great musical evening with more than £750 made for the above charities.Many thanks to Heywood Civic Hall staff for their efficient service allowing the event to run smoothly and to the musicians ,singers and audience who made it such a memorable occasion
Last Years event May 10th 2010 The Sounding Brass and Voices Concert at Gracie Field's theatre was another resounding success. The Milnrow Cooperative Band under Andrew White started the proceedings with The Dam Busters theme and all was just quality music after that. .'I dreamed a dream' really mesmerised the audience with back-tingling musicianship. A fourteen year old musical prodigy Owen Middlemass with lightening hands on the xylophone gave an exceptional rendition of Bach's toccata and fugue.
The audience were charmed by the Rochdale Girls choir singing so beautifully under direction of Christine Willis 'A Cat Called Alexander' (including a marvelous miaoow) and 'Humpty Dumpty' contrasted with the Spritual 'Steal Away' and 'Beautiful December'. Their youthful enthusiasm and enjoyment of their singing never waned and later were unrestrained in Flag Waving finale
The youthful Wardle Anderson Brass and Sean Conway started with a robust Olympic fanfare with playing full of energy and gusto. Amy Smith a charming tall blondhaired Euphonium player mastered this difficult instrument producing a controlled graceful performance of 'La Belle Americaine'
Then up stood Mr Brass Band himself - Dr .Roy Newsome (photo in Galery) -ex presenter of Radio 2's 'listen to the band' and over 30 years conducting, lecturing and adjudicating. He has spent his life promoting Brass band music in many countries and he conducted the finale of the combined Milnrow and Wardle Bands.
Our very own Tenor soloist Peter Ruane was in fine voice with a rendition of Nessum Dorma. The girls choir sang Jerusalem and the whole performance rounded off with Pomp and Circumstance to a whirl of hundreds of Union Jacks.
The Gracie Fields theatre was well filled despite the Rochdale Football Clubs open top bus celebration and Samaritans and Petrus Day centre in Rochdale will benefit from the proceeds, Thank you Tom Hobson and everyone for all your efforts