Community

Ice and frozen snow hs stopped our street collections for the 6th night in a row.

There is disappointment at Farnborough Rotary club today because for the sixth day in a row we have had to cancel our nightly tour of the streets of Farnborough collecting money for local causes.

All collectors have been asked to stand down.  The main reason that the collections have to be canceled is safety.

Although most of the roads are clear following the snow downfalls over the last week, the foot path are treacherous and extremely slippery.

In the 8 years that I have been with Rotary, I have never known so many canceling of nights.

Rotarian John Grenham, who is the the coordinator of the collections is also extremely disappointed, not because of the work that has gone into the organising of the collections, but because we will have less money to distribute this year, to those that need it locally.

Today I along with rotarians Neil Wilson and Andrew Clarke played interviewers at Oak Farm School.

These were mock interviews. It gives the teenagers, aged 15-16 a chance to take part in an interview as if they were applying for a job. This is an annual thing that members of our club attend to.

We interview 6-8 teenagers for around 20 minutes each. We cover all areas, their background, ambitions, the grades they hope to achieve and then give then an analysis on how the interview went.

Although not a pressure interview, it does however make some of them nervous as they are marked individually and a mini report is written by us to pass back to their careers teacher and then back to them.

I believe they get a great deal from this, however although we may hold the sessions next year, the school is closing within 18 months and they may not get the opportunity again.

I think all schools should at least offer an opportunity for teenagers to brush up on their interviewing skills.

At Farnborough rotary club we have been involved for several years. We can hope that other schools will take up the baton and run with it.

Its fast approaching,  one of the biggest local events in Farnborough.

On Monday 26th May the traditionally English event of racing donkeys over 100 yards ridden by 10 year old children screaming with fright and delight is coming.

Unfortunatley, the last two events have been cancelled, but the event has been a feature in Farnborough’s community since the 1960s and we are hoping that the good weather will return.

But as I write this on the Monday before, it is looking grey and overcast, but its not raining so it would have still gone ahead. But lets hope it’ s sunny on the day, after all, it wont hurt you…. but it does effect how you go about eating your candy floss..

Talking of which, yes the fun fair will be there and no doubt the mini railway ride will feature as always. There will be lots of stalls manned by volunteers, displays in the centre circle, lots of laughter, a few tears from the donkey riders when they realise that its not so easy to stay on a a bony donkey going 7 miles an hour …..

Of course all the proceeds are going to local charities, so it makes it all worthwhile. We hope to have a crown of around 5-7000 and I hope you can make it.

In fact we are selling entry programmes in advance door to door and if the event is actually cancelled, we will still have some funds to cover our expenses, so that we can set it up again next year and give what’s left over to those nominated charities.

So take pity on us when we appear at your door and please buy a program, they are only £1 but £1.50 on the day

Yes its going to be a good day we hope we will see you there.