Rotary Clubs’ District Conference

Over 600 Rotarians together with partners gathered in Bournemouth last weekend for the Annual District Conference of the Thames Valley Rotary Clubs. The five local Rotary Clubs (Ascot, Bracknell, Crowthorne & Sandhurst, Easthampstead and Wokingham) were represented by 45 Rotarians with 37 partners or Inner wheel members.

Attendees heard a range of presentations on the current status of various local, national and international Rotary projects, including Polio Plus, the most ambitious programme in Rotary's history, which is dedicated to eradicating polio, and which recently received a $100M contribution from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Entertainer Richard Stilgoe introduced a group of young people with disabilities from the Orpheus Centre, who are using the performing arts as a vehicle to develop their skills for independent living. Their performance drew a standing ovation.

Blind athlete Mike Brace, OBE, who is chairman/president of the British Paralympic Association and who is head of delegation for Beijing, spoke of the need to change people’s attitudes to disability in a very entertaining presentation.

Rotarians gather before Dinner

Award-winning presenter of the BBC’s “Watchdog” programme Lynn Faulds Wood gave an informative talk on bowel cancer, the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, and her work to develop quality assured colorectal cancer screening guidelines.

Other presentations included one on the “Skidz” project providing a range of opportunities for young people to learn about motor vehicles, the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home which provides hospice care in the client’s own home, and various Rotary educational and humanitarian projects.

Special guest speakers included former Labour MP Lord Roy Hattersley, and the motor sporting personality Paddy Hopkirk, winner of the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally.

During the Saturday evening dinner and dance, the Rotary Club of Ascot was awarded the shield for the “Best Club Web-site” in the district.

District Governor Tony Bacon presents the "Best Website" shield to President Ian Valentine

President Ian Valentine of the Rotary Club of Ascot said “The District Conference provides a wonderful opportunity for local Rotarians to hear about projects taking place beyond our local neighbourhood, and the issues that need to be addressed in our future humanitarian and educational planning. It is also the place for local Rotarians to network with Rotarians in other clubs in the Thames Valley district to identify the potential for cooperative projects”.