April to June 2009
18th June 2009
ABOUT 100 Rotary ambassadorial scholars are studying in the UK this year - and three of them are in Yorkshire.
One of that trio of international students is Muneyuki Nakata, who has been sponsored by a Tokyo Rotary club to work for his Master of Science degree in environmental economics at York University. He explained just what that meant when he visited Wakefield Rotary Club on June 18.
Inevitably he touched on the issue of global warming and its possible impact on world economies. His aim, he said, was eventually to join a Japanese governmental or international organisation where he would be able to bring his skills to bear on problems such as this.
He was accompanied by David Hirst, of the Pocklington and Market Weighton club, who is his host while he is in the UK. A vote of thanks on behalf of the Wakefield club was proposed by Roland Mold.
Twenty five year service certificates were also presented to John Addison and Joe Colley.
11th June 2009
A TALK by one of West Yorkshire's sports heroines turned out to be more like an old boys' reunion.
Nearly 60 years ago Eileen Fenton, now a retired teacher, was the first woman to finish in the Daily Mail's first international cross-Channel race, earning herself £1,000, the price in those days of an average house.
For many years she was a teacher at Sandal Endowed School and she returned to Sandal on Thursday (June 11) to talk to Wakefield Rotary Club about her experiences and the work in which she is still involved, encouraging long-distance swimmers.
A vote of thanks was proposed by Stuart Livesey, a Rotarian who was one of Miss Fenton's pupils at Sandal. He paid tribute to her achievements, saying that when she returned in 1950 to her home in Dewsbury, 20,000 people thronged the streets.
Another of her former students, Rotarian Ken Pinder, whom she had taught at Earlsheaton, recalled his happy school days and presented her with a bouquet.
The hyperlink via our speaker's name will take the reader to further information about her and here via The Times to an article dated the 2nd February 2009.
At the same meeting certificates to mark 25 years as Rotarians were presented to Martin Perry and William Forrest.
14th May 2009
Up ‘n' under for Alzheimer research
THE MEMORY of legendary Dewsbury-born Rugby League commentator Eddie Waring is helping to raise money for the Alzheimer's Research Trust.
Harry Waring gave his most recent talk about the life and times of his much-loved uncle to Wakefield Rotary Club, who presented him with a cheque for £100 for the trust. It was, he said, the biggest single donation he had received since he had begun his series of presentations about a man who became a household name through his television match commentaries and his appearances in the BBC's It's a Knockout series.
Mr Waring said Eddie, who retired in 1981 aged 71, had become the voice of Rugby League. He had devoted his life to promoting the sport and in the process had become an unforgettable character known to millions. One of his biggest fans was the Queen Mother.
His last years had been difficult ones as a result of his deteriorating condition following the onset of Alzheimer's. He eventually died in 1986.
30th April 2009
WAKEFIELD Rotary Club honorary member David Grace was obviously delighted when he was unexpectedly presented with the highest award the club can bestow - a Paul Harris Fellowship, named after the founder of the movement.
David first became a Rotarian in Wakefield more than 20 years ago. Making the award, president-elect Sue Parkin thanked him for his contribution to the club's work over many years, especially for his support for the club's gala. This was held each May for 18 years in Thornes Park, Wakefield, until the last took place in 2007.
Sue said: "He has helped raise a great deal of money towards the funding of various Rotary projects. The club is very grateful for all his support."
The presentation took place at the club's annual president's night at the New Brookhouse Club, Wakefield. The event went ahead despite the absence of president David Pickover, who was in hospital.
30th April 2009
A SHADOW was cast over the club's annual president's night because of the absence of the president himself, David Pickover, who was ill in hospital. But, as the guest entertainer would have said, the show must go on and the event went ahead at the New Brookhouse Club with president-elect Sue Parkin in the chair.
Entertainment was provided by comedian Gerald Holden, a Rotarian from Lancashire, who has worked with some of the big names in comedy. These include the late Les Dawson, for whom he has a particular affection.
Master of ceremonies was Martin Perry and a raffle made more than £160 for Rotary charities.
The occasion was also the draw for the club's major annual raffle, which made £2,500 to shared with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The winning tickets were, in order, 0428, 2406, 3561, 0651, 2142 and 0240.
16th Apil 2009
THE ‘ASTONISHING' range of activities the club had undertaken in the past year was highlighted at the annual meeting.
After the chairmen of committees had given their reports, president David Pickover said: "This is a phenomenal example of the diversity of the work done by this club."
He added: "What has been done helping people materially both at home and overseas is truly astonishing."
Activities ranged from the annual community service awards and the club's first arts festival to projects further from home, such as Mercy Ships and emergency boxes for disasters in any part of the globe.
Committee reports came from Peter Clarke (community service), William Smith (international), Roland Mold (vocational), Sue Parkin (ways and means, youth opportunities), Peter Rhodes (club council and membership services), Guy Cliff (Foundation) and Jonathan Eastwood (communications).
Council members for 2009-2010 will be Peter Clarke, Guy Cliff, Richard Edge, Stuart Livesey, Peter Rhodes and Ron Sagar. Officers already appointed are: president Sue Parkin, president-elect Philip Platts, vice-president William Smith, treasurer John Harrison and secretary Nick Castle. They will take up their duties with the start of the new Rotary year in July.
Next year's committee chairmen will be Colin Moran (youth opportunities), Richard Edge (ways and means), William Smith (international) Peter Clarke (community service), Roland Mold (vocational), Ken Pinder (communications), Guy Cliff (Foundation) and Peter Rhodes (membership services).
William Smith, Colin Robertson and Peter Gallivan were elected as club representatives on district council. Their deputies will be David Pickover, Dennis Edwards and Roland Mold.
15th April 2009
FIVE members of Wakefield Rotary Club have been awarded certificates for helping young students prepare for the world of work.
Over two days last year they put nearly 60 youngsters aged about 14 through mock interviews at Wakefield's Cathedral School. The Rotarians received certificates from Compact Education Business Services, who were organisers of the programme. There was also a certificate for the club.
The five, pictured here with club president David Pickover (centre), are (front row) Roland Mold, Colin Robertson and Harry Livesey, (back) Peter Clarke and John Harrison.
