This week Pam Tunnicliffe, our Vice President inducted Sam Parkin into our club.

Sam is a former air traffic controller.

We’d like to welcome Sam….

Sam is a former RAF pilot officer.

He lives in Farnborough, is married to Christine and has 3 sons and 2 daughters.

In the RAF he belonged to the Air Traffic Control branch and served in the UK, on the island of Gan in the Indian ocean and also Singapore and Germany.

He retired from the RAF as a squadron leader in 1993, before going on to EUROCONTROL, an international air traffic control organisation based in Brussels, to provide operational advice to the Air Traffic Control authorities in the east European States on the implementation of new Air traffic management system.

Sam became full time retired in 2008, but is very much involved locally as a Committee Member of the ‘Friends of Farnborough Abbey, Member of the Catenians (West Surrey Circle) – an Association which provides practising Catholic laymen and their families with friendship, social activities and support.

He is also a Classic car owner – 1963 Rover – attending car rallies in summer months.

It is with regret we announce the death of one of our past Presidents Bill Cooke.

Bill passed away on 2nd March 2012. Below is the transcript of the eulogy that I gave at his funeral.

Bill Cooke

Bill Joined Farnborough Rotary Club in 1996. He was introduced by his very good friend Don Hartley, who no longer is a member of our club as he has left the local area, but is here today.

I joined in 2001, 5 years later, but Bill didn’t really come onto my radar until a couple of years after I joined. I noticed him, because of his wry sense of humour and always seem to add something to club debates that were thoughtful and considered.

The motto of  Rotary is “Service Above Self” and this is something that Bill, as you heard from Andrew just now in his job as a local government officer , espoused…But  not only at work but in his private life too.

In our Rotary club,  Bill always seemed to look out for the newer or younger members. He liked to encourage new members to put themselves forward.  In fact Bill would chastise you if you made disparaging remarks about anyone within the club, as I personally found out, Bill always thought the very best of people.

One of his favourite charities was Barnardos Children’s  Homes, Why I’m not exactly sure, but Barnardos does give a start and a helping hand to young people in difficult circumstances and I think this is something that inspired Bill.

Bill was President of our club in 2008-2009. In fact this was our 50^th anniversary year and I know that it was a proud moment for Bill when he became President.

But, as you know, Bill wasn’t always on time, even when he was president…

We start lunch every Thursday afternoon at 1 O’Clock sharp and members normally arrive at 12.30-12.45, so they can catch up with other members goings on and then  eagerly study their watches to make sure the bell goes  on time to start proceedings.

Nothing can start without the president…

Bill would often arrive at 2 minutes to 1 and amble across to his position at the head table, adjusting his skewed tie , just as the bell was about to be wrung.  He always seemed unconcerned and unflappable, almost surprised that anyone would think that he would actually arrive AFTER one!

As with any large organisation, even at a local level, things have to be debated and sometimes things can even get heated, yes Rotarians can get hot under the collar as they debate things like, whether we should be served  sausages more than once  a month..

But it was at the more serious debates that Bill was best at….( when he was president), especially when it came to the direction or stance the club should take as he adroitly handled debates with a steady hand and Always…Always with a sense of humour.

That Bill was President during our 50^th year was indeed fortunate. It was a job he handled gracefully. And because it was a special year, the president had extra undertakings.

One of them was to present a clock with the rotary emblem to the Kingsmead shopping centre in Farnborough.

After the presentations were over I asked Bill if I could interview him on video for our blog, of course the unflappable Bill said yes.

I have interviewed scores of people, but for some reason, I kept tripping over my words  (it happens sometimes) after the 4^th take and apologising to Bill profusely, I looked at the camera to start the 5^th.. Before I could open my mouth, I got a tug on my shirt by Bill who was smiling at me and said “don’t worry mate we’ll get it this time”…And so we both laughed out loud  and the 5^th take was easy.

Bill’s president’s night at the Camberley Heath Golf club was filled with a 150 people, consisting of  members, their wives and  local dignitaries , including the top man in Rotary in the Uk and Ireland.  But Bill was not fazed by this, I think he even relished the limelight for one just night.

I know that he was extremely proud that his family was there on the night to support him.

A small group of Rotarians went on a three day cruise a couple of years ago. On the first night, Bill, Wendy, myself and my partner Lisa went to the nightclub, for a late night drink…As Bill and I sat down and chatted and laughed, Wendy and Lisa danced the night away and often I glanced at Bill as he watched Wendy with love and admiration.

Of course as soon as the slow songs came on Bill, didn’t amble…He  was up like a rabbit.. dashing towards the dance floor eager to dance with Wendy …Great fun to watch..

I don’t which of us went to bed first, but I do know that Bill didn’t resurface for 18 hours..it must have been a good night.

Bill was a private man, I wish that I had known him better, I wish I had known him longer and maybe there’s a lesson for us all there.

But we were lucky to have him as a Rotary member….

We were lucky to have him as our president during such an important year

and

We were lucky to have him as a friend…

Nigel Baines a past president and former Rushmoor councillor passed away.

Nigel was President of Farnborough Rotary club from 2005-2006.

He had suffered with illness for the last couple of years.

He passed away at the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham. on 25^th February

One of Nigel’s favourite charities was Farnborough-based Parity For Disability.

He took part in many fund raising activities for Parity, including walking on hot coals and scaling large buildings, despite being in his late 60’s.

At its regular lunch meeting today, Farnborough Rotary club presented a cheque to the local charity, Step By Step

Amanda Dubarry the Chief Executive gave a presentation and showed a video made by some of Step byStep’s clients to show off its facilities, she  also thanked the club for its previous donations of nearly £4,000 last year.

Amanda also reminded the club of the charity’s mission “To offer friendly advice and to empower homeless people and those facing adversity to achieve their full potential.

They work with young people aged 16 to 25, (in some cases older than this), through a structured combination of services including accommodation, support, training, and counselling.

As she re-iterated yesterday, “We don’t just provide emergency accommodation ‘to keep people off the streets’, but a structured scheme of accommodation and support giving opportunities which can lead to independent living”..

Step by Step work with their clients to progress them through the scheme as they experience decreasing levels of supervision, but they remain fully supported throughout their stay with them.

Farnborough Rotary Club’s President Jim Thomson, thanked Amanda for her presentation and presented a cheque for £500.

Amanda is pictured with Jim Thomson and one of Step By Steps’s clients, who gave a brief description of living at the accommodation.

Farnborough Rotary Club raised £13,000 over the Christmas period 2011 and is busy distributing monies to local charities.

Farnborough Rotary Club has announced the death of one of its former presidents Mike Gosney, who died Wednesday 15th February after a short illness aged 73.

Although he was born in Raynes Park London, he spent most of his life in Farnborough and attended Farnborough Grammar School.

After leaving school, he join the RAF as a medical orderly for his National Service.

He trained as a Quantity Surveyor in London, after being discharged from the RAF, but returned to Farnborough to set up his architectural services business with his wife Jo.

In the early days Mike concentrated on house extensions and small building projects, but soon found a niche in altering houses for the disabled and ensured they received the grants to which they were entitled to.

Mike was very much involved in the local community for the last 54 years, when he joined Round Table and helped to establish the annual donkey derby held on King George playing fields.

Mike joined Farnborough Rotary club in 1977 and continued to organise the donkey derby and was the main director of the event which benefits many local charities.

He became president of the Farnborough club in 1984 and later became a District Governor in 1993, which has the honour of leading and advising 52 other local clubs throughout Surrey and Hampshire.

As District Governor, he travelled to America for annual conferences and made many friends worldwide in the Rotary movement. He was honoured by Rotary and awarded one of its highest accolades the Paul Harris Award for his work locally and nationally.

The current president Jim Thomson said “He will be great missed within the Rotary community in Farnborough, where he was a leading light, a real “Go To’ person but also at district, national and international level. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Mike’s Family”.

Mike leaves a wife Jo, two daughters Debbie and Dawn, four grandchildren and a brother Bill.

Today we inducted a new member to the Rotary Club of Farnborough.

Peter Gardener, who is a director of resources at Rushmoor Bourough council.

He lives in Farnborough and has worked with the local council for over 36 years.

Peter is keen on water sports and enjoys water skiing in his spare time.

We warmly welcome Peter to the club.

He will serve on the community committee.

In the picture Peter Gardener (left) and President Sean Usher

Its been announced that the Picnic To Music In The Park, will take place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July 2011.

All proceeds are going to the Phyllis Tuckwell hospice in Farnham.

On the Saturday we will be entertained by PLATINUM…The Live ABBA tribute band, followed by KILLER QUEEN

On the Sunday, its a jazz evening with performances from Jacqui Dankworth and Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen.

Again two totally different entertainment nights in Farnborough.

More details from our website http://picnictomusicinthepark.co.uk/

You can get details of ticket sales, opening hours along with details about our sponsors who help to make this possible