Visitors

About 15 members of the Farnborough Rotary Club met at the Farnborough Airshow to have breakfast with fellow Rotarians from America.

One of our hosts was Mel Crosier from Arlington Texas, who gave a very warm welcome.

In the picture from left to right…Thomas Kallman (our main host) Rotary Club Ridgewood New Jersey, Sean Usher Farnborough Rotary club, Mel Crosier Sunrise rotary club Arlington Texas, Kevin Holmes from Rushmoor rotary club and Kevin Flannagan from Glastonbury Connecticut.

We had an American style  breakfast, which was a little unusual for us Brits, with chocolate brownies, hot dogs, smoothies and other delicacies.

We plan to meet again in two years when the Airshow comes back in 2012

(Picture Graham Thomas)

Farnborough Rotary Club have unveiled a new clock to commemorate their 50th anniversary at the Princesmead Shopping Centre in Farnborough.

The clock was unveiled by the Mayor of Farnborough, Alan Ferrier and the president of Farnborough Rotary Club Mr Bill Cooke.

In a speech from the Mayor, he praised the work of the local rotary clubs and Farnborough in particular for its work in the community.

Mr Cooke said “Over 50 years the people of Farnborough and the local area have donated in excess of £650,000. 75% of which has been given to good causes locally and the other 25% to national and international organisations. The clock is a symbol and a gift to the people of Farnborough and it feels really nice to be giving back something to the community”.

The club raises funds through events throughout the year, such as the local Donkey Derby held every May in Farnborough, their annual Christmas street collections and one of the biggest two day music events locally, “Picnic To Music in The Park” to be held in July this year.

Jeremy Kayll, who is one of the club members responsible for coming up with the idea of a clock said  “We wanted to give something back to the people of Farnborough and we hope that this gift to PrincesMead and the people of the local community will be here permanently as a reminder of the work that Farnborough Rotary club does in the local area for on behalf of the local community”.

The club has set up an exhibition stand in Princesmead to show the work that Rotary does locally, nationally and on the international front. On the stand you will also be able to buy tickets for “Picnic To Music in The Park” and the local “Donkey Derby”. The mini exhibition is open every day and manned by members of the club.

And here it is;

Over 50 rotarians fro Farnborough Rotary enjoyed a weekend away in York. Here is a brief report from rotarian Graham Thomas

“A great, successful and well organised weekend with Farnborough Rotary members, partners wives and friends. Roy Sharpe did us proud as usual. Very comfortable new coach ride to York via Castle Howard.

Excellent accomodation at the hotel and good food and service. Steam railway trip across the moors and a visit to Harewood House in excellent weather conditions all helped to make the trip a journey of fellowship and fun.

Roy’s chat interspersed with jokes all assisted in happy travelling. Passengers patiently put up with a quiz but excellent prizes were welcome per Roy’s Penny in the pound shop purchases…but a ten hour  DVD  ‘Brideshead revisited’ prize was won by the Minetts who do not have a DVD player.

Freetime  included for some, visits to Betty’s tearoom and York Minster for Sunday service and the shops and other attractions in York.