Welcome to our website - from President John Newberry
I thought that this year it would be good to 'officially open' the Airshow just before the flying displays commenced. We tried to get a well known celebrity and in the end decided to invite our own local celeb Tom Noblett , aka The Gladiator. It was a bit of fun that seemed to be really well received by our visitors. President John escorted Tom from the pier and numerous photographs were taken. Rob did an interview at the PA tent and then we were underway - or at least so we thought!
Despite the weather on Saturday doing its utmost to ruin things we had an absolutely wonderful Airshow weekend and hopefully this was a fitting way to celebrate our 10th anniversary and to take our bow as organisers.
It looks as if we had a record number of visitors - this year not only were they on The Glebe and the steamer quay etc but we had masses in The Showground where we had set up a really good two days of entertainment - primarily aimed at children and families. There was so much to do in The Showground that even on Saturday when we had heavy drizzle all afternoon the majority of the crowd did not depart until past 4.30. On Saturday we had a long visit from the Huey helicopter, a veteran of the Vietnam War, and our visitors clambered all over this.
Sunday was much kinder weather wise and the crowds were enormous - numbers not girth size! - and thnakfully we got a full afternoon's flying. There were so many highlights but the favourites had to be the Breitling Wing Walkers and the Aerostars (who needs the Red Arrows?!) and we also had the RAF Falcons parachute team and the Twister Duo to name but two.
Money is still being counted but it looks as if we will be close to matching last years results so charities will do well and in particular our headline charities - St Mary's Hospice Ulverston and Rotary Shelter Boxes.
A truly memorable weekend made possible by everyone in Rotary and Inner Wheel who gave of their time, our 230 sponsors, all those exhibitors and entertainers who joined us at the weekend and the massive numbers of visitors.
Next year Windermere Airshow will be held 23/24 July and will be organised by Bluestone Events Ltd. Make a date in your diaries!
Paddington Green, Dixon of Dock Green and other Stories
Paddington Green Police Station is perhaps widely recognised as the main police station where terrorist suspects in the UK are taken for questioning. The current building, constructed in the late 1960’s, is in a typical ‘office block’ style with 16 floors, several of which are below ground level.
Paul Smith, our speaker at a recent meeting, worked as a Police Officer at Paddington Green during the 1970’s & 80’s. He joined the Metropolitan Police after a Short Service Commision in the Army, in which he saw service in Northern Ireland. As a probationer, arriving after training at Hendon Police College, he undertook a variety of jobs within the Station. When he was assigned to the ‘front desk’ he was surprised by the number of members of the public who came in to confess to ‘killings’. Paul’s time at the Met embraced a period when there were National Front riots in Lewisham, the Notting Hill Carnival riots, the Miners strikes, the Southall riots and a series of IRA bombings. Paul’s work has provided him with a good supply of interesting and amusing tales to tell.
Paul mentioned that at one time a picture of Jack Warner (Dixon of Dock Green) graced the staircase of the Paddington Green Police Station. The Station had a long association with the actor, firstly through the 1950’s film Blue Lamp and later with the Dixon of Dock Green TV series. Officers from Paddington Green Police Station acted as coffin bearers at Jack Warner’s funeral in 1981.
Back, uncontested, liked, loved, suave, handsome, in toto (adde parvum parvo magnus acervus erit)
For almost the last 12 months the Club has been missing one of its most jovial and popular members. Finally Mike Pollard has returned to the Club after taking a self-imposed Gap Year. It’s great to see Mike back.
New Member (to Rotary)?
Not Quite! We are pleased to welcome to the Club, Malcolm Green, an architect living in the Lakes but until recently working in Barrow in Furness. Malcolm has transfered to the Windermere Club after being a member, for many years (25+), of the Barrow in Furness Rotary Club.
President Elect
Pat Crowfoot, recently returned from holidaying in Mexico (note the suntan), received his chain of office as President Elect from President John Newberry.
ITV Films Second Series; The Lakes
Wednesday saw a visit from a 'Shiver Productions' film crew, working on a new series of 'The Lakes' for ITV. The initial filming of the Airshow Committee Meeting will serve as an introduction to the main content to be filmed on the Airshow Weekend. Shiver Productions (www.shiver-productions.co.uk) has produced hundreds of hours of Television including; Les Dawson's Lost Diaries, 50 Terrible Predictions, Live the Dream, Top of the Cops, Best Ever Worst Dance Moments, The Ultimate Bikini Guide & Living with the Cheeky Girls.
New President
Worldwide, Rotary Clubs start their year in July when a new President, Secretary, Council & Committee Members take up their positions. This year members of the Rotary Club of Windermere welcome John Newberry as President together with Geoff Stocker as his Secretary.
Local Police Presentation
Outgoing President Rob McGraw recently organised a talk by Inspector Janice Spedding & Police Community Support Officer Sarah Blacow to members of the Club about policing issues in Windermere. Inspector Spedding transferred from Barrow, less than two years ago and since that time crime figures have fallen, particularly vehicle and criminal damage. Sarah Blacow has been in Windermere for 5 years and as well as standard community policing is organising alcohol free night club evenings at the Stags Head and a BBQ at Miller Ground, for young people. They gave a lively and interesting talk, explaining about the the role of the Police in interacting with Schools and young people, and the need for education on the effects of drugs and alcoholism. One technique for demonstrating excessive alcohol consumption to youngsters was the use of ‘beer’ goggles. These googles when worn distort vision and upset balance.
New Member
Club Members recently welcomed new member Paul Harkness from Windermere, who was introduced to the Club by President Rob McGraw. Paul will help to boost the number of younger club members!
Millennium Games 2010
For a second year running the McGraw family, President Rob and Inner Wheel President Christine, hosted the annual Millenium Games at their home. The day posed two challenges, firstly, to overcome the weather and, secondly, to win back the Trophy from the Ladies of Inner Wheel, who have had it in their possesion for the last two years. This was a major motivation for the Windermere Rotarians and for their masculine pride!
The McGraw’s hospitality was perfect, and everyone enjoyed the buffet before the games. The buffet had been prepared by Christine with the help of the ladies of Inner Wheel. The excellent food, together with wine & beer, was obviously a cunning ploy by the ladies to induce a post lunch complacency amongst their male opponents and thus ensure they kept the Trophy for a third year. The games - quoits, Jenga, putting, pick up sticks and basket ball - all required some degree of hand-eye coordination.
It was a miracle for the men that the afternoon ended in a draw. A play off was required and basket ball was chosen, with the best atheletes from each side competing for the prestigious prize. Finally, the men won in a closely fought game. Possibly a height advantage was a factor in their success as their skill was a somewhat questionable. It was a superb afternoon and we were all a little sad when it came to an end. Thanks to all those who worked so hard to make it such a success.
OUR CLUB
Our Club meets every Wednesday evening at 6.30pm when we enjoy an excellent two course meal at the Windermere Hydro Hotel.
At present we are preparing everything for our upcoming Annual WINDERMERE AIRSHOW, GOLF AM/AM AND ANNUAL WALK. All these Social/Community/Fundraising activities must be organised to the best of our abilities and we are hard at work.
As well as having fun and speakers on our evenings we are also working with the World Health Organisation and other bodies to eradicate polio throughout the world. Rotary and our club are always there to respond to local and International disaster situations. We, and many other local clubs have been at the sharp end of assisting in the recent Cumbrian flood responses. We have also purchased ShelterBoxes to be sent immediately to Haiti where they will be instrumental in providing tools, water purification and shelter for ten people for several months until more permanent accommodation and aid can be provided.
Council has also approved a donation of £1000 to send Shelterboxes to Chile following the disaster there.
if
you, Dear Reader, are a local
resident and you have been considering widening your
circle of friends and acquaintances whilst helping the local community
and needy people overseas we could well be the friends you haven't yet
met..
Would
you like to join our club? Surf on................
Our Rotary Club is sixty three years old and is one of the seventy six Clubs in Rotary District 1190 and we presently have thirty six members - all male, but who knows what the future may hold for us? If you are a Rotarian visiting our website, we hope to give you all the information you need to encourage you to visit us on a meeting night or at one of our functions which are listed on our programme page.
But what is Rotary and who are Rotarians?
Rotary International is a world wide organisation of clubs whose members are
all of like mind in their desire to serve their fellow human beings and to do
all they can to relieve some of the problems which people have throughout the
world. Rotarians are the members of Rotary clubs - they are male or female, no
age, colour, creed or race restrictions exist to preclude membership of any Rotary
club.
All members are or were employed in a vocation which would see them as self employed
or in a decision making position within their employment. Rotary meetings are
generally held weekly, usually over a meal when members have the opportunity
to enjoy each others' company in a social and pleasant atmosphere. Membership
is normally effected through a club member but we welcome enquiries. Our membership
subscription this year is £105.00.
If you are not a Rotarian, but are interested in us in any way then this site will, we hope, also give you the information about us, about Rotary International and about what we do and who we are. In our pages we aim to provide information of interest to many folk and to help you find just what you are looking for.
So, please use the links in the column at the left to take you to what
interests you most.
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