July to September 2010
19th August 2010
ROTARY AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLAR Saya Kurita made her farewells to her counsellors and other members of the Wakefield club at their meeting on August 19.
Saya, who was sponsored by the Rotary club in her home town of Kashiwa in Japan, gave a power point presentation which covered her experiences at Leeds University, where she has been on an MA course in development and gender studies. She has been living in accommodation with 16 other foreign nationals from all over the world.
During her time in the UK she has been involved in various Rotary events, joining all the other Rotary scholars and peace fellows at a district governor's welcome at Pontefract Rotary Club in October.
During her year in this country Saya visited six clubs throughout the Rotary district, giving presentations at each. Her visit to the Leeds club's lunchtime meeting in February included a tour of Leeds Civic Centre and a meeting with the Lord Mayor for tea.
At her final meeting at Wakefield she showed she had learned some of the local language and she said she had sampled a number of Yorkshire dishes with relish. She stressed her appreciation of what she called the ‘openness' and welcoming nature of Yorkshire people. She had especially enjoyed a day with children at the primary and nursery departments at Wakefield Girls High School.
She presented a banner from her sponsor club to Wakefield president Philip Platts and showed warm appreciation for the gifts from her counsellors
THE WORK of the Safe Anchor Trust in providing canal trips for the disabled and disadvantaged provided the focus for the August 12 meeting when the speaker was the trust's chairman, Jane Gummer.
This narrow-boat group was formed 15 years ago and today its main object is to support organisations whose members need social and recreational facilities to help their health and enjoyment of life. Those who have benefited from the trust's activities have ranged from the visually impaired to patients from local hospices.
Mrs Gummer said: "This is a fantastic, wholesome charity that has done a huge amount for a huge number of people."
The boats are based at Shepley Bridge Marina at Mirfield and the trust has a team of skippers to man the helms. One of these, Rotary club member Mary Peace, proposed a vote of thanks.
MEMBERS had a busy week which ended with a flourish yesterday (Saturday) when West Yorkshire Police Band starred in the last of the summer charity concerts organised by the club.
The music at the event at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School had a distinct Proms flavour, ending with resounding, flag-waving renditions of Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. The first half of the evening featured the crowd-pleasing talents of the Junction 41 Band, a choir, soloists and other groups from Outwood Grange Academy.
At the club meeting on Thursday, the speaker was Judith Evans, from the Second Chance Headway Centre at Pinderfields Hospital, where it has been based for the past 32 years. She explained that because of the changes at the hospital, the charity, which helps those with head injuries, would be located in Wakefield city centre for the next three years. During that time they would be looking for permanent premises.
On the same night the club welcomed another new member, Ann Hallaways, head of voluntary services at Pinderfields and other hospitals in the district. She was proposed by Roland Mold.
The previous Saturday the club held its annual barbecue at the Netherton home of Rotarian Richard Hensby and his wife Yvonne. It was the first event for the club's new president, West Bretton farmer Philip Platts, who took over from Sue Parkin on July 1.
