Ever since the announcement of the hose-pipe ban the heavens seemed to have opened and it has rained - I suspect this is an example of the well-known law that we all refer to from time to time!  I hope that you all had a great break over the Easter period and that only a minimum of chocolate was consumed.  With reference to sweet things it seems my choice of Diabetes UK as the chosen charity has been very timely with a big report on the subject having been published during the last week.  I look forward to hearing the President of Diabetes UK - Richard Lane expand on the report at Conference next month.

April was also the month for the RIBI Conference - this year held at the BIC in Bournemouth.  The number of attendees was slightly down on previous excursions to Bournemouth, but the content was very much up to the usual excellent standard.  Amongst the speakers was Sir Terry Wogan talking about Children - in - Need (CIN).  He came over very well and I feel certain that Rotary will figure in all future CIN events. He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by RIBI President Ray Burman.  He was looked after at the Conference by our very own Past District Governor Amanda and she managed to recruit him to be an Honorary Rotarian during the brief period that he was in Bournemouth.

The Young Musician finals were held during the weekend and our own vocalist entry - Louisa Haggerty did a sterling job and was only just piped to the winner's post.  Many, many congratulations to her and I am sure we can wish her the best of luck when she takes up her place at The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester.

Share my passion for Rotary at the District Conference in Jersey in 2013. We're delighted to invite you all to come and be inspired by the stories of fellow passionate Rotarians and invited speakers as they bring our theme of 'Peace through Service' to life.

If you're like me and have enjoyed being part of Rotary fundraising activities such as Lend a Hand Day, collecting for Shelter Box, welcoming Group Study Exchange Teams and painting 'pinkies purple' in the slums of Delhi, you'll love hearing how others have contributed to such an important worldwide movement.

See you in Jersey! 

Debbie 

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The GSE Team D9680 Sydney, were welcomed to the UK by District Governor John and his wife Ann, together with a host of D1260 Rotarians.

A superb welcome rally was held on Monday last at the Sun Hotel, Hitchin, hosted by Hitchin Mimram Rotary Club. With presentations by the outgoing UK team led by Team Leader Cheryl Law and the Aussie Journo team led by Team Leader Mark Wallace.

"GSE Chair Gary Eastman later described the efforts of the team as the best he had seen in 17 years of hosting GSE.

High praise indeed, given the high standard set by the District 1260 team that visited Australia in March. That team also made their own presentations to the meeting, giving the audience a unique insight into the issues that piqued the interest of the respective teams from their own Australian or British perspectives.

Negotiations are under way for a joint presentation to the upcoming District Conference in Torquay. This could be the most sensational GSE presentation ever seen at a District Conference anywhere in the world. Seriously!"

Extract from Aussie Journo Blog by Team Leader Mark Wallace.

Follow the Aussie Journo Blog | http://rotaryjournos.posterous.com/#!/

We will again be featuring the popular 'Big Picture' giving you the opportunity to showcase your year.  

The theme for Torquay will be 'A Celebration of our Club and what we did to End Polio Now'.  Show us what's happened for you in 2011 - 2012and include your perspective on the great Rotary End Polio Now Programme.  Dig out your photos and get creative.

Photos of all the entries in last year's 'THE BIG PICTURE' display at District 1260 Conference in Scarborough 2011 can be seen at: http://bit.ly/IaDtKz 

Nigel Milway

District 1260 Conference Committee