President's Report, October 2005Due to our visit to Gran Canaria to recharge our batteries, Gordon Butcher took the first meeting of the month. I'm told that Neville Avens gave an interesting talk about his life during which he reminisced that he had really intended to make a career in the navy. On reflection his chosen career probably paid rather better! October 12th saw the first joint meeting of Rotary, 41 Club and Round Table. Around 52 members and friends from all three clubs enjoyed a convivial evening - the highlight of which was an illustrated update on the Ascot Racecourse Redevelopment by David Demolder. David took us through the development of the racecourse from its earliest days of Queen Anne, indicating how important the involvement of royalty was to when and how the racecourse progressed. It was very clear that the new building would provide some excellent facilities and not only on race days. On Sunday 16th, 45 Rotarians, wives and friends enjoyed a well-organised tour to central London and Greenwich to mark the 200 year anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson. At Greenwich, a Nelson and Napoleon Exhibition detailing the events that led up to that battle particularly impressed us. Geoff Donovan ably organised the day including a dry run to test the restaurants! On a rather colder Tuesday 18th some 40 of our members and wives joined Jennifer Newport and her family at a dedication ceremony of a tree planted in Broomhall Park in remembrance of Malcolm. The Reverend David Uffindell delivered an appropriate message to mark the event. Roy Bowles donated the tree and a bench to be placed in a new park on the Ascot Racecourse. Our lunchtime meeting on the 19th was enlivened by Barry Moutrey reporting on his visits to other clubs which this time involved Dar-es Salaam. He reported that their District Conference cost US$50 - Beverley please note! Also at this meeting we were pleased to welcome Gordon Parris who is one of our honorary members The final meeting of the month was the Business Meeting attended by 19 members and a guest. An unprecedented number of members regaled us with highlights of their holidays such that the meeting almost became a travelogue. Friday 28th members and Inner Wheelers enjoyed a visit to Windsor Theatre to see a performance of The Rivals. A fitting end to a busy month. Alan Penny |