Christmas has come and gone but I am sure with the arrival of all the snow, the temperatures reminded us of all those cold nights out on sleighs,  walking the streets with Santa or standing outside shops with a bucket or walking in a Carnival like Harpenden Village. Thank you to everyone for the hard work over the Christmas period – probably Rotarians busiest time.

I am sure you all celebrated New Year in fine style and as I watched the fireworks on television from London and everyone said how cold it was I wondered why I had said I would take part in the City of London New Year’s Day Parade. However we left home at 8.00am and drove into London to meet some 50 Rotarians and a bus covered in Thanks for Life Posters and purple streamers.

I was amazed at the number of people there, in excess of 200,000 along the route, 26 Marching Bands from America, Lotus Racing Cars, numerous floats and lots of children and adults in amazing costumes.

The whole event was televised live to America via Sky and Rotary was interviewed at every point along the route so lots of publicity for all of us. A great day of fun and fellowship and money raised at the same time. I think everyone I saw had Thanks for Life lapel stickers on – we certainly got the message across.  The Hoddesdon Carnival Queen and attendant were also there but I only saw them at the end,

I am sure the club will be inviting her to join them in some of their Rotary activities.

  The launch of the Milton Keynes Swimathon was a memorable event in more than one way as I had the honour to meet a remarkable lady, Doreen Adcock, who won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero Award. A remarkable lady of 70 years young who has been teaching swimming to children and adults with disabilities for years and who will be swimming herself in the Disabled Swimathon to be held at Middleton Pool in Newport Pagnell on the 27th February. The main event takes place on 13th March at Stantonbury School pool. Are there any brave District Team Members or A.G’s who would risk a swim? - I will if you will !

My visit to Luton North was as informative as ever. A whole container of wheelchairs delivered to St Vincent, an appearance on the local television and the story of a man receiving his wheelchair on his birthday had me reaching for the Kleenex. They were the only club in RIBI to send an entire container.

I have to apologise to Stevenage Club as they drew the short straw on District Quiz Night with me in their team. My only real contribution was for the anagrams of different wines of which I managed quite a few – names that is, not drinking of !!  A great night organised by Harpenden Village, last year’s winners - the penalty for winning they say- great food by the ladies and lots of fun and fellowship. Congratulations to the winners Hitchin Priory.

While some of us freeze, the G.S.E Team were packing light weight clothes ready for Chennai. Sadly, despite enormous efforts by Paul Manning, Team Leader, and hours at the Embassy, Fasil was unable to get his visa in time – it will be another 6-8 weeks before the paperwork returns from Delhi where it had to be sent.  On Wednesday the 20th we went to Heathrow to see them off in fine style, where after a good English breakfast, their last for a while, they weighed in their luggage, holding their breath and set off for a ten hour flight. I look forward to hearing all about it and following their trip by visiting: The 2010 GSE Team Chennai Blog;

http://www.rotary1260gse2010.blogspot.com/

The finale of my week was the Royal Marines Band Concert organised by the St Albans clubs and what a fantastic event and evening that was.

The picture in the last newsletter of the musical Rotarians was of course the excellent “Gentle Jazz” available for hire for Rotary events for the cost of a donation to Charity. For more details contact Hemel Hempstead Rotary Club.

As January was Rotary Awareness Month, I think I can say there has been a lot of Rotary Awareness in the District not least with the tremendous response by you all to the Haiti earthquake. I know many of you have been out collecting and sending off Shelter Boxes by the dozen along with Water Survival Boxes and Aquaboxes. Congratulations to you all.

HAITI 

Thanks to our International Chairman for keeping us abreast on Haiti developments and how we in D1260 have responded so far.

As we move into February which is World Understanding Month I am sure all Rotarians will see the poignancy of the words in these troubled times.

Obituary

It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the passing of Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, Frank Dellamuro.  He was a founder member of the original Berkhamsted Bulborne Club and previously a member of Hemel Hempstead. A great advocate of Vocational and Youth Projects and much involved with Technology Tournament. A modest man, always with a smile on his face, never seeking the limelight but undertaking any task allotted to him with professionalism and quiet efficiency. He will be much missed by Rotary and his fellow Rotarians in his club and District. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.