The Salvation Army Development Services Secretary and the Divisional Officer for Ntcheu District of Malawi visited the village of Chibweya in May 2011 where they met representatives of the local community who said they wanted help to build a Pre-School. They were encouraged by The Salvation Army to start their Pre-School under the trees in the open air to demonstrate their resolve. This they did, starting two schools, one in Chibweya and one in David village, with about 30 children attending each one, five days a week. They soon discovered they needed play and educational equipment for the schools, and this is where the Luton North Rotary Club Malawi project was born.

President of Luton North, Gerald Peacock, had worked in the area and appreciated the need to support this venture, which Luton North agreed to do.

It also fitted the desire of the Wolfsburg, Germany, Rotary Club to fund an international project with the £1,000 they had given Luton North. £150 was added by Luton North, and the project was up and running.

This is a national competition organised by RIBI (Rotary In Britain & Ireland) and the local heat was held on Saturday last (4th Feb) at Monk’s Walk School.  It was organised on behalf of Mid Herts Rotary by Welwyn Garden City (WGC) Rotary Club and attracted 15 entries from across the area.  Prizes were sponsored by John Lewis Welwyn and the finalists’ ingredients were sponsored by Waitrose WGC. 

Six finalists cooked their menus for the judges who were David Aitken, chef from The Waggoners pub and restaurant, Michael Burn from John Lewis Welwyn, Ryan Stannard from Waitrose WGC (himself a successful competitor in the early days of the competition) and Choon Teoh, owner of the Hakalok restaurant at Shoplands WGC. 

Robert Girvan, President, Hitchin Priory Rotary Club reports that the club sold almost 4000 copies of the quiz, received 300 completed entries and 35 all correct entries which are being judged on the tie breaker question this week.  Click on the icon below to download answer document.

 Watch this space for the winners!

 Hitchin Priory Quiz 2011 - Answers 72.15 Kb

A novel event was run by Amwell Rotary Club last September – a Duck Race on the White Water Course at Waltham Abbey, newly constructed for the Olympic Games Canoe Slalom competition.  2000 ducks were launched into the turbulent waters for a dash to the finishing line.

The concept was to invite support from other organisations who were able to raise money for their own causes as well as Amwell’s charity funds.  The money remitted to Amwell that had been raised by the efforts of other Rotary clubs was pledged to the charity WheelPower.  This organisation is based in Stoke Mandeville, the home of the first disabled competition that led to the Paralympic Games, and provides sports wheelchairs to aspiring disabled sportsmen.  On Saturday 4th February Roger Williams, President of Amwell Rotary Club, presented a cheque for £730 to Martin McElhatten, representing WheelPower.