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President 2023-24 Chris Byard

Over sixty years of service to the community

We meet at the Cock Hotel on the second, third & fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Cock Hotel in Stony Stratford. The 'Cock' a famous coaching inn dating back to around 1300 has been doubly immortalised through its name. The nursery rhyme "Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross" is said to refer to a horse from the hotel's stables. And the phrase "a Cock & Bull story" is believed to derive from the exchanges of sometimes exaggerated news from passengers of the forty or more mail coaches which at one time called daily here, and at the Bull Hotel just up the High Street. Please notify apologies for absence or attendance by guests to Rotarian Marcus Rixon by 11.00am on Monday by email. After then please notify the Cock Hotel direct on 01908 567733.

Rotary in Action

Ukraine Aid Collection

Thank you to all who donated to our collection in Stony Stratford High Street on 24th August to mark the occasion of Ukraine Independence Day. In total we raised £333.25 which we will be donating for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Pictured are two of our club members with one of our local residents donating to the cause. Thank you also to our volunteer collectors.

Robin Haseldine

It is with much sadness that we convey the news that long standing and valued club member Robin Haseldine passed away at home on 8th August after a short illness. Robin, a member of our club for well over 40 years and a past club President on two occasions, will be greatly missed by all his friends. Our thoughts are with Ann and the rest of her family at this sad time.

Collection for Ukraine Humanitarian Aid

On Thursday 24th August (Ukraine Independence Day) we were on Stony Stratford High Street/Cofferidge Close from 10.30am onwards collecting donations for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. After 18 months of war there is still a desperate need in the country for medical and humanitarian supplies, and all donations will be gratefully received.

Update: We raised over £330 on Thursday. A big thank you to all those who helped collect on the day and to the public for their donations.

Anyone for Coffee?

Please come and join us for a coffee and a chat and to hear all about what your local Rotary Club is doing in your area. A few members of Wolverton & Stony Stratford Rotary will be in Stony Stratford's Bistro & Cafe (Cafe Latte) on Tuesday 1st August 11.30hrs for an hour or so. We look forward to seeing you.

Upcoming Club Meetings

Some visitors may experience difficulty opening the club diary page (menu bar above) via Internet Explorer. You might have better success via other browsers e.g. Google Chrome. However, all our meetings for the next few months are listed below: -

Meetings at the Cock Hotel unless specified otherwise.

Tues. 4th July: Meeting 6.15pm. Club Presidential handover for new Rotary year.

Tues. 11th July: Business meeting.

Tues. 18th July: Meeting 6.15pm. Pop in and say hello, perhaps stay a while for a drink or a bar meal, you will be most welcome.

Tues. 25th July: Meeting 6.15pm.

Tues. 1st August: Meeting 6.15pm. Speaker, Rotarian Jane Lynds.

Tues. 8th August: No meeting this week.

Tues.15th August: Business meeting.

Tues. 22nd August: Meeting 6.15pm.. Speaker, Chris Dancaster 'Livery Companies of the City of London'.

Tues. 29th August: No meeting, day after bank holiday.

Tues. 5th Sept: Informal get together and meal at Cock Hotel 6.15pm. Please advise Rotarian Marcus by 31st August.

Tues. 12th Sept: Business meeting.

Tues. 19th Sept: Meeting 6.15pm. Speakers, Ali and James Tully 'Stony Radio'.

Tues. 26th Sept: No meeting - scatter week.

Tues 3rd Oct: Informal meeting this week, visitors welcome.

Tues. 10th Oct: Business meeting.

Tues. 17th Oct: Meeting 6.15pm. Speaker, Marie Osborne CEO Future Wolverton Ltd.

Sat. 21st Oct: Interested in finding out what Wolverton Stony Stratford Rotary are doing in your area? Pop into the Cock Hotel in Stony Stratford between 12.30 and 2.00pm for a chat, all welcome

Tues. 24th Oct: Meeting 6.15pm. Fellowship, visitors welcome

Tues. 31st Oct: Social event and meal at Voongs Restaurant, Bletchley 6.00 for 6.30pm.

Tues. 7th Nov: No meeting this week.

Tues. 14th Nov: Business meeting.

Tues. 21st Nov: Meeting 6.15pm. Speaker, District Governor Barbara Middleton.

Tues. 28th Nov. Meeting 6.15pm. Speaker, Rotarian Indra Patel 'Tibetan Children's Village'.

Tues. 5th Dec. Meeting 6.15pm. Planning meeting, Christmas Float collections.

Thank you to Rotarian Allan for organising our recent fun evening at the Warbler-on-the-Wharf.

At a recent club meeting we welcomed Jason Fathers as our guest speaker. Jason, whose 18-year son Jay died as a result of a knife attack in 2021, explained how he and his family have been campaigning to not only help stop the culture of youngsters carrying knives but to also install Bleed Control Kits in as many publicly accessible places across Milton Keynes as possible. The Club intends to fund the purchase of some additional kits, which contain various dressings that can be easily used by members of the public to control a serious bleed before the arrival of the emergency services.

Turkey/Syria Earthquake Appeal

The scale of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in February, with over 50,000 deaths, was truly horrific. Your local Rotary club immediately donated £500 to the ShelterBox charity for the humanitarian aid effort.

On Sat. 25th March 2023 we spent several hours outside the new Tesco Express store in Stony Stratford collecting further donations for the earthquake appeal and together with donations from club members and friends sent a further £500 to ShelterBox. A big thank you to all for your generosity.

Kings Community Centre, Wolverton

We are very pleased to have been able to help Kings Community Centre with its food, friendship and support scheme for those in need within our local community. We have donated almost £2,500 to the Centre for the purchase of an additional potato oven, and an enlargement of its food preparation area, allowing it to hugely increase its provision of free hot meals for the needy.

Wolverton Fayre

We don't just sell mulled wine in Stony Stratford (at the Stony Lights Fayre). Here we are again, this time dispensing good cheer and mince pies at the Wolverton Town Fayre on Saturday 10th December. All funds raised will be directed to charities and local good causes.

Marathon Lady

Rotarian Karen Lower has hit the road again, this time completing two marathon runs in one go! She completed the Milton Keynes Autumn Marathon on Sunday 2nd October, and on the same day competed (virtually) in the London Marathon.

Karen has undertaken a number of marathons now, all for charity, but on this occasion she dispensed with the sponsors sheet and just competed in Sunday's race for the sheer pleasure of it!! Well done Karen.

Citizens Advice MK

Pictured above is Citizens Advice Milton Keynes' Director Ben Thomas receiving a donation of £200 from President Stuart on 12th July 2022. This important service is particularly needed at present, and many do not realise it is a charity and one that Rotary is very pleased to support.

Other News

We were very pleased to play a small part in Milton Keynes Grand Union Rotary Club's marshalling of mile 7 of the MK Midnight Moo event in July and supporting all those lovely walkers raising funds for Willen Hospice; it was a lovely experience.

Well done Andrew

Well done to Rotarian Andrew Hulme who recently completed an epic sponsored cycle ride from London to Bruges in three days. He has raised a whopping £8.500 for Parkinson's UK which will help fund research into developing treatments for this condition.

Cheques' Presentation Evening

A very enjoyable event yesterday evening (8th March 2022) when we handed out cheques to some of the main beneficiaries of our Christmas Float collections. The recipient charities on the evening were Willen Hospice, Talent Unlimited MK, Inner Wheel Club of Wolverton, Medical Detection Dogs and Wolverton/Hodge Lea and Stacey Bushes Jubilee Parties Fund. A huge thank you to everyone who helped with the collections and the general public for giving so generously.

Do you want to raise a free donation for Wolverton & Stony Stratford Rotary when you buy something on line?

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Welcome on board our two new supporters, Andrew and Rachael, who have signed up to help us by shopping via the 'easy fundraising' website

Googling? Try the search engine 'easysearch' instead and raise even more money for Wolverton & Stony Stratford Rotary

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Keep Britain Tidy Campaign

Out collecting litter again! On 5th June we were litter picking in Ouse Valley Park and along Stratford Road near Wolverton Mill. All in support of Keep Britain Tidy's Great British Spring Clean campaign supported by Milton Keynes Council.

MK Litter Pick Weekend

Working with Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association your local Rotary Club helped with the great MK litter pick that took place the weekend of 27/28th March - picking up the litter near your homes!

About a dozen Rotarians, including Club President Stuart (pictured) and partners picked up litter near their own homes so they remained Covid compliant but could support this superb event.

Working with Saeed Nazir, President of AMYA MK, our President, Stuart Clarke, joined on a wonderful community project and great collaboration between community based organisations.

Thanks to all who helped.

Tool for Self Reliance

Club members hard at work refurbishing donated old tools at the Milton Keynes workshop of 'Tools for Self Reliance'. The tools will eventually make up carpentry kits for onward distribution to Africa. Our visits are always rounded off with some well earned fish and chips!

Details about TFSR at http://www.tfsr-mk.org.uk

Going on Holiday?

If you are a member of Rotary you can earn 10% commission for charity every time you book with Riviera Travel. Whether you travel as a group, a family or on your own every holiday can earn funds for your club. Request a free brochure from Riviera Travel at: http://www.rtyriviera.co.uk

Please mention Wolverton & Stony Stratford Rotary Club when you book.

Poppy Appeal Sales

Once again we were very pleased to support the Poppy Appeal on behalf of the Royal British Legion. This weekend (28th to 29th October) we staffed the poppy appeal merchandise table at Wolverton Tesco's and raised over £3,800 a fantastic total Thank you to the volunteers at our table, and to the public who have been so generous with their donations.

Our new Club President 1st July 2023

Pictured (left) is new Club President Chris Byard receiving the chain of office from retiring President Stuart Clarke.

In reviewing the past year Stuart reflected on just how much as a relatively small club Wolverton & Stony Stratford Rotary has achieved through its numerous fundraising and service projects.

For the year ahead Chris has prioritised membership growth, more contact with the general public, more social events and the continuation of our successful programme of fundraising activities and community service projects.

Indra Patel was inducted as the Club's new Vice-President. Congratulations to them both.

Visit to Kings Community Centre, Wolverton

In May we unveiled a plaque at the Kings Community Centre in Wolverton to mark our support for the Centre, most recently with the purchase of an additional oven to help feed more who are in need of a meal.

Pictured above (L to R) is Rotary President Stuart Clarke, Jane Lynds - Rotary Community Lead and Andy Forbes - Centre Manager

Busy Day at Stony Stratford Fayre

We did a roaring trade with our mulled wine stall at Stony Lights Fayre on Saturday 26th November, dispensing good cheer along with a delicious selection of mince pies and gingerbread goodies. A big thank you to event organiser Rachael Hulme, all our server volunteers and of course the general public who visited our stall.

Poppy Appeal Sales - 9th to 12th Nov. 2022

A huge thank you to all who donated at our poppy appeal merchandise stall on behalf of the Royal British Legion. We were very pleased to support the Poppy Appeal once again; over the four days we helped to collect at Wolverton Tesco's Store the huge sum of £10,347 was raised - fantastic.

Queen Elizabeth 11

We were very saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11. For over 70 years she has dedicated her life to service for her country and the Commonwealth. All of us at the Rotary Club of Wolverton and Stony Stratford wish to express our deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time.

Our new Club President - 1st July 2022

Pictured (right) is new Club President Stuart Clarke receiving the chain of office from retiring President Alan Swann. For the year ahead Stuart has prioritised membership growth and a continuation of our popular and successful programme of fundraising activities and supporting charities both locally and internationally.

And in turn Stuart was pleased to hand over the Vice-Presidency to Chris Byard. Congratulations to them both.

Rotary Ukraine Appeal

At our street collection in Stony Stratford on 5th March we raised over £1,800, an amazing total. Thank you everyone for your most generous support; more collections are planned. Out of those funds we have already sent £1,000 to the Rotary Club of Warsaw Winalow International, to fund medical supplies being sourced in Germany where Rotarians are loading them onto lorries for transport to hospitals in Lviv, and £500 to ShelterBox for immediate humanitarian aid.

We also organised and collected a lorry load of bedding and other essential clothing supplies, for transport to Ukraine by a local Ukrainian gentleman, and purchased £200 worth of first aid kits for the devastated region.

Update: Following two more public collections we have been able to donate a further £1,000 to the Rotary Club in Warsaw (for medical supplies for Ukraine) and an additional £350 to ShelterBox. Thank you to all who donated for your generosity.

Update, May 2022: We have sent a donation of £813 to the Rotary Club of Kyiv International to help fund its humanitarian relief efforts, after we heard all about its work during a zoom meeting with its Charter President which was hosted by East Anglia District.

Update: On 24th August 2022 in Stony Stratford High Street (Ukraine Independence Day) we raised almost £500 for Ukraine humanitarian aid. Thank you to our collectors and a big thank you to the public for all their donations.

Update: On 24th August 2023 we held another collection in Stony Stratford for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. The sum of £333 was raised, a big thank you to all who donated and to our volunteer collectors.

Santa at Sainsburys

Santa Tours - New Bradwell/Wolverton, Fairfields/Stony Stratford 8th/10th/15th/17th Dec.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped with our Santa collections at Sainsburys CMK and on our evening Santa tours. And thank you to everyone who came out to give Santa a wave and kindly donated.

Since 1985, Rotary's key humanitarian priority has been to rid the world of polio. Rotary spearheaded the campaign at a time when there were over 1,000 polio cases a day in 125 countries, paralysing and even killing children. Today, the number of cases is down by 99.9%.

Over the last 30 years, Rotary has donated US$1.8 billion to the eradication effort and has protected over 2.5 billion children from the disease through vaccination programmes. Inspired in part by Rotary's volunteer commitment and fundraising success, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched in 1988. This partnership includes Rotary, World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the US Centre for Disease Control & Prevention and, more recently, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

There are only a handful of cases left in the world but continued vaccination programmes are essential to stop the disease returning and ensuring the world is certified polio-free. Rotary members continue to be key players in many aspects of the polio programme, including on the ground support and fundraising. Members of Wolverton & Stony Stratford Rotary Club, along with Rotary members throughout Great Britain and Ireland, have been huge supporters of 'End Polio Now'.

Donation of Equipment to Willen Hospice

Rotary Clubs in Rotary District 1260 (Herts, Beds and Bucks) joined forces to apply for a grant from Rotary International to support hospices throughout the district. On 16th July we joined with our District Governor, Vijay Patel, and representatives from four other local Rotary Clubs (Leighton Linslade, Newport Pagnell, Woburn Sands and Winslow) to present equipment worth £8000 to our own local Willen Hospice. Pictured above is Nikki Poole and other staff at Willen receiving the donation. The amount raised within our district was boosted by matched funding from the Foundation of Rotary International and a donation from the Rotary Club of Bloomington, USA.

A socially distanced presentation took place and a plaque handed over to commemorate the occasion.

MK CAN Challenge - Monday 16th October 2023

They did it! MK Foodbank supported by well over 200 local businesses, charities and community organisations helped Milton Keynes to achieve a new Guinness World Record title for the longest line of food cans. The total number of cans counted was 102,447 beating the previous record of 44,966 (3.28kms) in 2014 held by Montreal, Canada.

Wolverton & Stony Stratford Rotary Club was very pleased to take part in this challenge to support a very deserving cause. Each participating organisation signed up to collect a minimum of 350 cans and set these out in allocated 25 metre lines, forming a continuous single line of cans snaking all over Campbell Park. Our own club tally was 504 cans, well in excess of the minimum requirement, so we displayed the extra cans collected alongside our section of the line.

At the end of the challenge all the cans were collected up by MK Foodbank, enough to supply food to local families in need over the coming winter months. A whole range of foodstuffs was collected including fruit, vegetables, tomatoes, soup, meat, fish, baked beans (very popular!), other pulses, rice pudding, custard, pasta etc.

Thank you to everyone who so generously donated cans. And thank you to everybody who worked so hard with all the various tasks involved with our participation in the event including transportation of the cans, setting out, supervising the line and clearing up afterwards.

Pictured are President Chris, Alan, Jane, Indra, Denise and Mike setting out the cans on our section of the line.

http://mkfoodbank.org.uk/mk-can/

Out on the Streets Again!

In May we were out litter picking again! President Stuart, Jane, Mike, Allan and Chris ignored the inclement weather forecast and turned up to help. This time we were on Millers Way/H2 as part of 'Big Help Out' day in celebration of the coronation of King Charles. We collected about 10 bags of rubbish. Thanks to Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council for the equipment and MK Council for the bags and quick collection.

Distribution of Santa's Float proceeds

Your local Rotary Club was delighted to welcome various local charities to a special meeting at the Cock Hotel in Stony Stratford on 28 February in order to present them with the proceeds from the club’s Christmas events and Santa tours.

Happily displaying their cheques are representatives from Baby Basics (MK), Motor Neurone Disease Association (MK Branch), Willen Hospice, Talent Unlimited (autism support) and Wolverton Inner Wheel, together with Community Chair Rotarian Jane Lynds and Club President Stuart Clarke.

Stuart said, “It is only through the kindness and generosity of the local community that Rotary is able to support charities such as those here this evening, and we wish them all the very best with the marvelous work they do”.

A number of other local charities have also benefitted from our Christmas events.

Listed below are the areas visited by Santa and his Rotary helpers. See you all next Christmas.

Wolverton Lights Fayre Parade - Sat 3rd December, leaving the Square at 4.30pm

Fairfields - Tues 6th December 6.00-8.00pm

Start & Finish: Apollo Avenue, near School

New Bradwell - Wed 7th December 6.00-8.00pm

Start & Finish: Chippy in Newport Road

Wolverton - Thurs 15th December 6.00-8.00pm

Start: Radcliffe School car park

Finish: Osbourne Street

Stony Stratford - Fri 16th December 6.00-8.00pm

Start: Church Street

Finish: Market Place

Santa and his sleigh will then visit Sainsbury's Central Milton Keynes Store for four days as follows: -

Tues 20th, Wed 21st, Thurs 22nd - 10.00am to 7.00pm

Friday 23rd December - 2.00 to 7.00pm

International Lunch

Thank you to Indra and Ila Patel for hosting our 'international' lunch on 21st August 2022. Glorious weather, good food and great company. A most enjoyable event which raised almost £700 for international good causes.

Update: On 1st November we enjoyed another 'international' event kindly organised by Rotarian Indra when we had an evening meal at Voongs Restaurant in Bletchley. Excellent food and very good company. Billed primarily as a social event we still managed to generate a profit of £256 for our charitable funds - well done Indra.

Update 10th July 2023: Another 'international' lunch is planned for next month, to be held once again in the garden of Indra ad Ila Patel. Watch this space for further details.

Helping Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries

Wolverton & Stony Stratford Rotary is celebrating a landmark charitable achievement as one of hundreds of Rotary Clubs from across the country to contribute in total over £1 million to Lendwithcare.

LendwithCare is a microfinance lending website from the development charity CARE International UK. Launched in September 2010, it allows individuals and groups to make small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries, and help them work their way out of poverty. These can be farmers, tailors, market stallholders and food producers to name just a few of the types of businesses Rotary have helped. Wolverton and Stony Stratford Rotary Club has been pleased to lend, so far, a total of £2284 in loans to entrepreneurs in eleven countries.

Queen's Jubilee Parties

The Wolverton & Stony Stratford Rotary Club was especially pleased to support some of the local celebrations organised by Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council that took place in June on the occasion of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The sum of £1,000 was donated towards a Special Needs Jubilee Party at Stacey Bushes Meeting Place and an Older Persons Tea Party at the Old Bath House Community Centre. A further £310 was given to Frederick Smith Court in Hodge Lea as a contribution to its residents' Jubilee Party.

Club Meetings

NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR CLUB MEETINGS WITH EFFECT FROM 1st August 2023.

Second, third and fourth Tuesdays each month we meet at 6.15pm at the Cock Hotel, Stony Stratford (no meeting on 1st Tuesday). Visitors are always welcome, please contact the Club Secretary via the contact tab at the head of this page.

Please click on the 'diary' tab on the top menu bar to access details of upcoming club meetings and speaker events.

What are you doing this week-end? If you are clearing out your loft or garage, and have items you no longer require and do not wish to sell, then please give Rotarian Chris a call. We can convert your pre-loved items into cash, via further car boot and internet sales, to go towards our Rotary charities.

Our car boot and internet sales of donated goods over the last four years have been very successful (£600 raised in 2016, £350 in 2017, over £100 in 2018 and a similar sum in 2019). Everything then went on hold due to Covid-19 but we are now back in business. So, if you are kicking your heels at home have another go at decluttering your home!!

Message from President of Rotary International

https://cdn2.webdamdb.com/md_wXN5hVeVmG29ViP9.mp4?1626981413

Rotary Magazine

Read the latest news from around Great Britain & Ireland

http://www.rotarygbi.org/magazine/

Members' News

It was with regret that we learnt that honorary and founding member Norman Cosford passed away in October 2021 at the age of 101. Norman, of Chard in Somerset, always looked back with fondness at his time as a member of our Rotary Club. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

Our thoughts are with Gareth and the rest of his family following the death of honorary member Marshall Pobjoy PHF, who passed away on 26th August 2021. A lovely gentleman. Marshall moved to our area to be near family and became a club member a few years ago having spent many years with Melton Mowbray Rotary Club. A memorial service was held in Melton Mowbray on 3rd November.

It was with much regret that we reported that John Waters, friend of Rotary and past member & Vice-President of the Club, passed away on 7th July 2021 following a short illness. John was very popular with members past and present. He served our Club with great dedication and will be particularly remembered for his friendly manner, sunny disposition and sense of humour. Oh, and not forgetting that he organised three most enjoyable 'club away' weekends' visiting Kent, Stourbridge and Stratford-upon-Avon. We will remember John with great affection.

It was with sadness we learnt hat honorary member Alan Harradine passed away on 26th December 2020 after a period of illness. Alan was a very dedicated, inspirational and hard working member of the Club for over 20 years and will be missed by many. A past Club President he will be particularly remembered for instigating and organising the Milton Keynes Rotary Technology Tournament, which has inspired many hundreds of young aspiring engineers of the future. Alan was honoured by the Club for his service to Rotary with two very well deserved Paul Harris Fellowship awards.

We were sad to report that Colin Richardson passed away in March. Colin was a a very good friend to Rotary and supported many of our social and charity events.