29th NOVEMBER 2007

AUSTRALIAN Patrick Fleming (41), a post graduate studying criminal law on a Rotary scholarship at Leeds University, gave an excellent power point presentation about his home area on the Queensland coast. He is a member of the police force in Hervey Bay, with responsibility for the management of a large and very successful youth and sports club there. He had previous experience with a Rotary educational programme when he gained a place on a group study exchange team, which visited a Rotary District in the north-eastern United States.

Since he arrived in Yorkshire as a Rotary ambassadorial scholar in September, he has visited and spoken to three other clubs, accompanied by his counsellor from the Wakefield club, Rotarian John Harrison.

Patrick was clearly demonstrating his ‘ambassadorial' role in that he had invited two Rotary scholars from Japan, also studying at Leeds University, to join him on this speaking engagement.

A vote of thanks was given by Rotarian Geoff North.

8th NOVEMBER 2007

FOUR former Kettlethorpe High School students, backed by Wakefield Rotary Club, have become the local Outward Bound Association's first youth ambassadors.

Helped by funding from the club and a Rotary bursary provided by one of its honorary members, Sir Rodney Walker, the quartet went through a series of challenging Outward Bound courses. They were so successful they have been now appointed to play a special role in promoting the organisation's outdoor pursuits courses to other groups and young people throughout the district.

Pictured here they are Peter Arnott and Emma Chivers, both 17 and from Sandal, Richard Green, 16, from Walton, and Matt Gough, another 17-year-old from Durkar. Emma is now working in the travel industry while the other three are all continuing their studies at New College, Pontefract. Also in the photograph are Rotarians Dennis Edwards, Peter Gallivan and Colin Moran, respectively OBA treasurer, Club President and OBA chairman.

As well as helping raise funds for Outward Bound projects, they will go into schools where they will describe their experiences and the benefits they gained from the courses in which they took part, said Colin Moran, chairman of Wakefield OB Association.

The new youth ambassadors will also be involved in the selection of future Outward Bound projects suitable for support by the Wakefield Youth Opportunities Fund. This is a district council scheme through which young people can bid for funding. 

One of their first challenges was to make a presentation to their Wakefield Rotary Club sponsors at a meeting at the Chasley Hotel in November. They described how they had first attended a one-day Outward Bound course for local schools at Featherstone Rovers ground. From there they progressed to a one-week course at the Outward Bound centre at Ulswater before finally being awarded the accolade of selection for a three-week OB Classic course at Loch Eil in Scotland..

They told Rotarians about the pains and pleasures of the challenges they had faced, an "amazing experience" that they said they would remember for the rest of their lives. Not only did they develop their leadership and team skills, they had the opportunity to work with students from all over Europe.

All four will be attending the Outward Bound Trust's national conference at Ulswater at the end of November, together with Colin and Wakefield OBA treasurer Dennis Edwards.

The Wakefield club has developed a close working relationship with Outward Bound. Colin and Dennis, a former OBA chairman, are both Rotarians and three other club members, plus one from Ossett Rotary, sit on the association's governing body.

Any individuals or groups wishing to find out more about Outward Bound can contact Colin on 01924 240494.

1st NOVEMBER 2007

IT WAS a mix of old and new at the club's November guest night when Judy Moate was inducted as a member by president Peter Gallivan, who went on to present long service awards to three Rotarians, all of whom joined the club in 1982.

The trio were former presidents Richard Edge and David Oughtibridge, and club member Richard Taylor.

Judy is only the third woman to join since the first, the late Brenda Ward, was inducted into the club in 2001.

The presentations took place at a dinner at the Chasley Hotel, Wakefield, where the speaker was Moray Bisset, former headmaster of QEGS junior school and a founder member of Wakefield Chantry Rotary Club.

In an address entitled ‘Goodbye Mr Chips', he talked about his own school days in Edinburgh and recalled some of the highlights of his time with QEGS juniors, including the Queen's visit in 1992.

When he retired in May 2006, he said, he was only the fourth headmaster to have held the post since the junior school was founded in 1910 - and last year three of the four were still alive.

A vote of thanks was proposed by Harry Livesey.

11th OCTOBER 2007

PRESIDENT of Wakefield Civic Society, Kevin Trickett, sounded a warning about the rapid growth in the number of apartments in the city.

He was speaking at a meeting of Wakefield Rotary Club, some of whose members - Peter Slater, Bill Forrest and Harry Livesey - sit on his committee. All three were there to listen to him.

After describing the work and achievements of the society, which he has led since 2002, he said: "We know there is pressure for affordable homes but the proliferation of apartments in Wakefield is something that needs watching."

Recalling problems in Leeds, he said: "There will come a point when enough is enough. Although we may not have reached that point, we are getting close." He told Rotarians that the Civic Society had been formed in 1964 in response to the redevelopment of the city in the fifties and sixties when some much-loved buildings had been demolished. Since then, the society has been lobbying the council and developers to retain the best of Wakefield's architectural heritage while trying to encourage high standards of town planning and building design. It has a planning sub-committee that scrutinises proposals to see if comments or objections are necessary.

Another aim is to stimulate public interest in the built environment. Kevin said: "Visitors - and local groups too - are surprised at what they find. If you look above the shop fronts and lift your eyes from the pavement, there's a lot to see in Wakefield."

He referred, too, to the city boundary signs which were paid for some years ago by Wakefield Rotarians and built in the smithy of club member, the late Frank Foley. They were now in need of refurbishment and he wondered if this could be a future project for the club. What he didn't know was that this is already being investigated and one possibility is that sponsors might be sought.

A vote of thanks was proposed by Brian Lawrence, who congratulated the society on its success as a community watchdog.