HB Digital Printing Ltd5-6 Kestrel Parade, Innsworth,Gloucester, GL3 0BJ

01452 731705

High speed, high qualitylaser printing of■ Training Manuals,■ Reports,■ Instructional Booklets,■ Leaflets and Newslettersand all types of short run colour work.

humanity in motion

In Gear can also be viewed on the Rotary Club of Gloucester's website

www.rotaryclubofgloucester.com

IN GEARDecember 2009 No. 952

THE ROTARY CLUB OF GLOUCESTERChartered 1920

Our sponsors are , HB Digital Printing Ltd and Rotarian Robin Morris

INNER WHEEL

Tuesday, December 8th VisittoBloomsGardenCentreforcoffeeandlunchafter atTheOrchardCarvery,Quedgeley

Tuesday, December 15th Christmas lunch with carols. Husband/partners invited.

Wednesday, January 13th 2010 InnerWheelDayServiceatSalvationArmyCitadeland lunchattheCitadelafterwards

In October members had a very informative talk about lingerie and specifically the correct bra fitting - apparently about 70% of ladies are wearing the wrong size bra. As a follow uptothis,severalmembersarebookedtoseespeakerJillyatherhomeforprofessionalfitting and advice which should prove both helpful and ‘fitting!’

TheOverseasRallyatMarlboroughprovedtobeanenjoyableeventandthreemembersattending won floral arrangements. Ten had been donated by the speaker for the fund raisingforoverseascharities.

One of our year’s highlights was the successful Interclub Lunch at the Brickhampton GolfClublastmonthwhenourclubwelcomedmembersfromotherclubsinourdistrict.President Janet welcomed special guests and members and after a delicious lunch,District Chairman Barbara Chapman (a former member of our club) but now living inWorcesterbroughtgreetingstotheclub.BarbarawasfollowedbyChrisPeak,whoasseniorvicepresidentbroughtgreetingsfromtheRotaryClubofGloucester.ThePresidentJanetintroducedguestspeaker,DrTimothyBrain,ChiefConstableofGloucestershire,whogaveusaveryinformativetalkonhislife,givingarealinsightintohisvariousrolesinthepoliceculminatinginhispresentposition.

With Christmas fast approaching there are many functions designed to put you inthe festive spirit. On December 6th the popular annual SalvationArmy Carol ConcertorganisedonbehalfoftheRotaryClubofGloucesterwilltakeplace.ThenonDecember9th, Tewkesbury Abbey’s Carol Concert is at 7.30pm. We have our own Christmas meetings - starting on December 8th with a visit to Blooms Garden Centre followed by lunch between 12.30pm - 1pm at The Orchard Carvery at Quedgeley. Our main meeting atTheFarmersClubonDecember15thwillbefollowedbylunchwithChristmasmusicandcarols.Husbandsandpartnersareinvitedtojointhisevent.

Looking to the New Year with some diary dates to note - our January meeting on Wednesday 13th will mark Inner Wheel Day with a service at the Salvation Army Citadel followedbylunch.OnFebruary9thourdistrictchairmanwillbevisitingusforlunchand,ofcourse,thealwayspopularpancakeandcoffeemorningwithJoyPickenaschef,isonShroveTuesday,February16th.

MayItakethisopportunitytosendeveryonegreetingsforahappy,peacefulandjoyfulChristmas and every good wish for the New Year.

Dorothy Allen - Club Correspondent.

Diary Dates and Speakers

Friday, December 4th - Special General Meetingfortheapprovalofaccountsandotherbusiness.

Sunday, December 6th - Salvation ArmyRotaryChristmasCharityConcertattheCitadelinEastgateStreet.FurtherdetailsfromJohnSmith.

Friday, December 11th - Rotarian Louie Recine, Job Talk, Vote of Thanks, thePresident.

Friday, December 18th - Christmas Lunch

Friday, December 25th - No Meeting

Friday, January 1st 2010 - No meeting

Friday, January 8th - Speaker finder, PaulWoodman

Saturday, January 9th - New Year Dinner at Brickhampton Golf Course. FurtherdetailsfromAmandaChamberlayne

Friday, January 15th - Speaker finder, JohnSargent

Friday, January 22nd - Buiness meeting

Thursday, January 28 - Evening meeting.Detailstobeannounced.

Friday, January 29th - No meeting

Friday, February 5th - Speaker finder, GrahamHowell

Friday, February 12th - Speaker finder, PeterCosgrif.

Friday, February 19th - Business meeting

Friday, February 19th and Saturday February 20th - Three Clubs Polio Campaigninthecity.FurtherdetailsfromPatCollins.

PROGRAMME

I have been asked to let members know that if they find it necessary to give apologies by phone or e-mail, could they please give them to Nigel Halls and not Angela until further notice. Nigel is on 01452 731993 or nigeljhalls@aol.com. Donʼt forget this needs to be done at the latest by noon on the previous day before the meeting.

Apologies

112

l

LOVE ICE CREAM

Gloucester Inner Wheel President Janet Hayward with District Chairman (and former Gloucester member) Barbara Chapman at the Interclub lunch and talk at Brickhampton Golf Club

In India Christmas came early when children were given injections to save them from the scourge of the paralysing polio disease. Here is immediate Past President John Sargent in action in Lucknow during Rotary’s National Immunisation Day as part of Rotary’s ‘End Polio Now’ campaign. On November 8, 3000 vaccination stations were set up in Lucknow alone where Rotary volunteers and health workers immunised over 265,000 children. Once immunised, the children’s little fingers are dyed purple to keep track of who has already been given the protective medication. John will tell us more of his experiences in the next edition of In Gear. Locally the big news is the inauguration of the new Gloucester Quays Rotary Club - details of which are on pages 2 and 3.

End Polio Now

Robert Baxter • 20 Whimbrel Road • Quedgeley • Gloucester GL2 4LJ

E: red.admiral.design@btinternet.com • red.admiral.design@hotmail.co.ukwww.redadmiraldesign.uk.com

Advertising • Annual Reports & Accounts • Book Design • Business Stationery

Catalogues • Copywriting • Corporate Brochures • Corporate Identity

Direct Mail Packs • Digital Photography • Exhibition Graphics & Signage

Print Management • Publications • Vehicle Graphics • Website Design

Red AdmiralDesign AssociAtes LtD

Graphic Design Consultants

T: 01452 883239M: 07979 063621

RA In Gear Front Page Ad.indd 1 27/11/09 16:12:21

112

A joyful Christmas to all

So,ChristmasisnearlyuponusandwesoonhavetheSalvationArmyConcertto enjoy as well as our Christmascelebrations.Butpleasemakeroomtosupport theChristmasstreetandstorecollections. This is a major fundraiserand we must aim to raise a recordamountthisyear.

Then the New Year starts and a whole listofevents tokeepusoccupied,butletmementionjustthree.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to realise the President’s year is almost half over, many Past Presidents have said thesamebefore.Theannoyingthingisthatall those wonderful plans dreamt upbefore theyearstartedhavestill toberealised. That’s another thing which PPs have also struggled with - a relatively barren first half to the year followed by averybusysecond.

However it’s not as if committee chairmen and members have beendoing nothing - much has been achieved inplanningtermsandthereismuchtolookforwardto.

Thebiggestdisappointmentformewasourfailuretocreatealonglastingfundraiser in the form of the Spire of Lights at St Nicholas Church. It’s a great idea, as proven by Evesham Rotary ClubbutI feel we must look on this as asetback and not a defeat.There mustbeotheropportunitiesjustwaitingtoberealised.

In February we now have the official Rotary Day and around that is theEnd Polio Now campaign. The more supportwehavetoraisemoneyforourFoundation responsibilities, the easierit will be in the future - so please give everysupporttointernationalchairmanPatCollins.

Then there is our own 90th Anniversary dinner which will be a memorableeventbutwecoulddowithsomemoresponsorship. If any of you find your company has made an embarrassingsurplus this year, a donation shouldease the conscience!

Andlastly,IamreallylookingforwardtoisafullCathedral,wonderfulsingingbyExultateandmemorableperformancesby our Young Musicians in the CathedralConcert inJune.Thiseventpromisestobeastunningoccasionsopleasespreadthewordtofamiliesandfriends.

May I wish you all a very HappyChristmas and may the New Year bring allthejoyandprosperityyouwishfor.

President Jeremy pens a festive message

Seasonal Greetings

Barbara and David Seed wish everyone a very happy Christmas with family and

friends and hope you all have a healthy New Year.

This year we are sending a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Seasonal greeting to all fellow Rotarians and families also come from........

John and Pauline Smith, John and Lorraine Lovell, Ken and Caroline Watson, John and Mary WeygangColin and Tess Rogers

John Sargent

who have donated to their chosen charity in lieu of personal Greetings cards.

Happy New Year

Typical of these was Ashley Johnson, avolunteerwhospokeabouthisbackgroundand his educational and social difficulties whichincludesdyslexiaandADHD(AttentionDefecitHyperactiveDisorder).Healsotoldofhowtheprojectwasaddressinghisneedsandofhis futurehopesof joining theRAFasadriver.

Central to its success the project has amentoring scheme and Mike Jenningsexplained that his job was to removebarriers to learning including family issuesand to provide around 60 youngsters with the toolsandskills required toshape theirownfutures.Itisatributetotheprojectthatthe skills and confidence the volunteers acquiretherethatmanymoveontobecomevalued citizens.

ROTARIANS got ‘three for one’ when the Gloucester Furniture Recycling (GFR)Projectvisitedtheclublastmonth.Trainingmanager Christine Nash told how the concept had grown from a Matson self-help scheme in 1996 to the award winning countywideprojectitistoday.Bytheendofthisyearitwould have recycled around 150,000 items since its inception - an incredible feat.

But this is only part of the story. Not only does GFR encourage the recycling offurniture but it also provides training forlearners between 16-18 years old, many of whomhavebeenfailedbyformaleducationandhaveextremelychallengingproblems.To these volunteers the project offerspractical experience in areas such aswarehouseanddistribution,workshopskills,retailing, office administration, reception duties and customer skills. They are alsooffered courses in First Aid, Health andSafety and Moving and Handling Goodsand can acquire nationally recognisedqualifications.

From the left Mike Jennings, Ashley Johnson, Christine Nash and Rotairan Richard Graham.

l

Members of the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians visited a lunchtime meeting. Subsequently a few of our number led by senior vice president Chris Peak (third from left) joined them at Hatherley Manor. Other from the left are the Fellowship’s secretary Rodney Davis, treasurer Annette Lewis, Past Commodore Christopher Bishop, the current Commodore for Great Britain and Ireland, Michael Pooley and incoming secretary Murray Grubb. Far right is club member Peter Nesbitt.

l

Red letter day for Rotary

President Robert with club members at work on the new pond for Fieldcourt Primary School at Quedgeley. Picture courtesy of The Citizen

- again to raise much needed charity cash.Since joining Rotary, Robert and AustinDegge (Project Co-ordinator) have run the Stroud Half Marathon to boost the newclub’s funds.

Robertworksfromhomeandhistelephonenumber is (01452) 883239; his mobile is 07979 063621 or his e-mail is red.admiral.design@hotmail.co.uk. - just in case there areanyprospectivenewmembersouttherewho read this!

One of the other new members is Robert’s dad, Graham, who, at the age of 79 is also the club’s oldest member.

Justfortherecorditsyoungestmemberissocial co-ordinator Terri Stevenson who is in her mid 20s.

THEPresidentofthenewclubisfreelancegraphics designer Robert Baxter who wasintroduced to Rotary by one of his clientsMichael Carter, whose dad Brian was amember of Gloucester North.

WhileRobertwasaskedtotakeoverthejobof being Quays President, Michael is nowthe club’s speaker co-ordinator.

There were many facets of Rotary whichattracted Robert - one was its social networking, another being the opportunityofmakingadifferenceinthecommunity.

Healreadyhasclose linkswith theSpringCentrewhichwillbehisPresidentialcharityfor his remaining 18 months in office!

Next year Robert will also be running in the London Marathon - for the fourth time

Foundation members

Designing success

The new club’s foundation members are:- Robert Baxter (President), John Morgan (Senior Vice President), Wayne Organ (Junior Vice President), Ian Dewar (Secretary), Peter Morgan (Treasurer), Paul Baldwin (Membership Officer), Michael Carter (Speaker Co-ordinator), Austin Degge (Project Co-ordinator), Tim Harris (Foundation Co-ordinator), Terri Stevenson (Social Co-ordinator) and David McShee (Communications Officer).

Other members are Graham Baxter, Tony Colucci, Julie Cooke, Andrew Dickson, Peter Evans, Brian Griffiths, Neil Hamilton, Paul Kerrod, Sebastian Merritt, Bridget Rees, Sophie Rollin, Martin Seccombe, Hazel Scott and Chris Tilling.

■ If the name of David McShee is familiar to Gloucester members then it’s because David who runs HB Digital at Innsworth has generously sponsored In Gear for the past few years - a generosity which was acknowledged earlier this year when our club presented him with a well deserved Rotary Certificate of Appreciation.

Two well known faces at our club - Colin Rogers and Andrew Fox. Picture courtesy of The Citizen

Senior Vice President Chris Peak with Rotarian Genevieve Flight. Picture courtesy of The Citizen

l

l l

Recycling challenge

310

Red letter day for Rotaryi

New Quays Clubʼs debutbeing that of our daughter club Newent for whom Tuesday is their normalmeeting night. During the evening therewas a delightful meal and live musicalentertainment but the highlight was thedeclaration of the new club by DistrictGovernorStewartGilbertandhisinductionof25Foundationmembers.

These are headed by the QuaysFoundationPresidentRobertBaxterwho,inanaddress, listedsomeoftheprojectstheclubhadalreadyaccomplished.

These include completing a pond atFieldcourt Primary School, Quedgeley; organising a fund raiser at the ViningsRestaurant at the docks; providing city charityCoolRunningswithanewcamera

TUESDAY, November 10, 2009 was a redletterdayinGloucesterRotaryhistorywhen the new Gloucester Quays RotaryClubwasinaugurated.ItwasamemorableoccasionandtheRotaryClubofGloucesterwas represented byagroupofmembersled,intheabsenceofourPresidentJeremyKeck,byseniorvicepresidentChrisPeak.

While the club’s charter event might still be a fewmonthsaway, the inuguralmeetingat Gloucester City Council’s Civic Suite waswellsupportedandattendedbyseniordistrict officers led by District Governor, Stewart Gilbert and assistant governorMartynHarwood.

In all representatives of 22 Rotary Clubswere present with the biggest contingent

and printer and providing vital help forthe James Hopkins Trust, the city-based charity which provides practical help forseverelydisabled, life threatenedand lifelimitedchildrenwithnursingneeds.

SeniorVicePresidentChriswhometmanyof the new club’s officers said he was sure our club and theirs would spend manyhappy hours in each other’s company in theyearstocome.

■ThenewclubwillmeeteveryTuesdayat7.15am for breakfast at Coots Restaurant which is situated next to the National WaterwaysMuseumatGloucesterQuays.With the new club’s arrival it means that Gloucester now has breakfast/lunch/twilightandeveningclubs.

Above left:- District Governor Stewart Gilbert inducts new Rotarian Tony Colucci. Centre:- Graham Baxter with District Assistant Governor, Martyn Harwood (Picture - Citizen) . On the right is District Governor Stewart this time with Dave McShee - a great friend of our club.

Members of the new club with President Robert Baxter, centre front row. His father 79 year-old Graham, also a new Rotarian is standing immediately behind him. Picture courtesy of The Citizen

l

l

He explained that although - unlike car drivers - motorcyclists had noweatherprotection,noseatbelts,noairbagsandnosteelshellstoprotectthem,itneednotbeadangerouspastime.

He also reassured car drivers that riders who zoom into gaps betweenyouand thecar in frontmightnotbesufferingadeathwishorridingrecklesslybutbedoingsoperfectlysafely.

Eddy said the motorcyclists’ secret of survival was to exercise caution, read clues accurately - including (intriguingly) smells - use their greater manoeuvrability to check for road hazards and then use their machine’s tremendous acceleration to head for gaps in the traffic ahead.

To summarise - a rider’s safety depends on what’s between their ears,theirknowledgeandskills,andtheattitudestheytakeontothe road..........which, Isuppose,appliesequally toboth twoandfourwheels.

FEW motorcyclists are better qualified to ride their machines that Eddy Lambah-Stoate who spoke at an evening meeting at the end ofOctober. Eddy isan InstituteofAdvancedMotoristsObserverandaRoyalSocietyforthePreventionofAccidents(RoSPA)Goldstandardrider.

If that isn’t sufficient he also holds a RoSPA diploma in advanced ridingtechniques.

Which makes him the ideal author of ‘My Little Green Book of Advanced Motorcycling’ which, according to a reviewer is a light heartedlookatthewholeadvancedtrainingphilosophy,interspersedwithhumorousanecdotesandroadtripswhichillustratethepoint.Althoughsomeintheaudiencemayhavehadriddenmotorcyclesandscootersinthepast,fewattheWallsSportsandSocialClubevent are still donning the kit and experiencing the thrills of twowheels - apart from Rotarian Paul Wilkinson who introduced and thankedthespeaker.

With an intriguing talk title of ‘Two From Four’, Eddy gave us a unique insight into a motorcyclist’s viewpoint. In it Eddy told of the advantagesanddisadvantagesofmotorcyclesandhowriderscangatherinformationaboutroadconditionsahead,planastrategytocope,executeamanoeuvreandthenovertakewithsafety.

Mind games on two wheels

The speaker, Eddy Lambah-Stoate with the club’s own motorcyling enthusiast Paul Wilkinson. Above right:- John Weygang with Senior Vice President Chris Peak and his wife Jane. RIGHT Lorraine Lovell in conversation with Robin and Pat Morris.

l

During his talk Andrew illustrated the product’s development with trains from his own collection. Built up over many years, Andrew declined to value the collection but one model he showed members of the Princess Elizabeth loco made in 1937 is now worth in excess of £2,000 having originally sold for 5 guineas as new. Another Hornby model on display was the legendary ‘Flying Scotsman.’

It was a knowledgable talk on a hobby which continues unabated. In fact a recent acquisition in Australia caused much interest as Andrew and his wife Hazel passed through Customs.

In his vote of thanks senior vice president Chris Peak said the talk was sure to have evoked memories of childhood among many members.

A selection of expensive Hornby trains attracted considerable attention after club member Andrew Hurley gave a fascinating talk on a subject which has been a lifetime’s interest. In it he took members on a 40 year journey of Hornby locos from their introduction in the early 1920s through to the 1960s .

Mastermind behind the toy trains was Meccano maker Frank Hornby. In fact his early trains were held together by Meccano nuts and bolts but within a few years the trains had moved upmarket and had developed a brand name of their own.

Quick to see a marketing opportunity the firm also produced complete railway sets with rolling stock, stations, signal boxes, engine sheds and even fields with hedges.

Meccano and Hornby trains - what more could a chap want. Here we see Andrew Hurley with one of his many sought-after locos.

Andrew's loco magic

l

94

Daveʼs heartfelt plea - get tested

A sombre warning as Dave fights for his life

Back in the swinging 1960s a group called Mike and the Mystics entertained at numerous local gigs. Headed by our own Mike Westbury it also included Dave Courtney. More recently the duo have reformed and raised considerable sums for a Gloucestershire brachytherapy treatment unit. Here we seem them at a local fundraising event ............. now there’s a chance they will cut a CD to mark their 50 years of making music together.

l

behind an appeal to bring the treatmentto Gloucestershire. Since its inceptionjusteightyearsagotheappealhasraised£300,000 for a brachytherapy treatment unit, specialist training and to pay for 105 patientstohavethetreatment.SincelastApriltheGloucestershireHealthTrusthastaken over responsibility for the unit sotheappealhasendedinsuccess.

Unfortunately in Dave’s case it would appearthatsomeofthecancercellshadescaped and he is now suffering frombonecancerandfacingagruellingcourseofchemotherapy.

HeendedhistalkwithapleaforallmaleRotarians to ensure they ask for and

DAVE Courtney may not be a public speaker but few guests over the years have held the rapt

attention of members as he did when describing his battle against prostate cancer and now, sadly against bone cancer.

ItwasasombretalkbutoneinwhichDaveconstantly repeated theneed formen toask their GP for a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test.Although not conclusive itcan be an indicator of prostate cancer - which was true in his case in 2001.

AraisedPSAlevelcanbeasignthatyouhave prostate cancer. The PSA level isoften raised well before any symptomsof prostate cancer develop. So the testcanhelptodetectearlyprostatecancers(whichmayhaveabetterchanceofbeingsuccessfullytreatedthanmoreadvancedprostate cancers.)As a rule, the higherthe PSA level, the more likely that youhaveprostatecancer.

It was in 2001 that Dave heard on the Jimmy Young’s programme that all over 50s were entitled to a PSA test. Although hehadnosymptonsheaskedfor,andgotthetest.Theresultswerefrightening.

TworaisedPSAtestresultsplusabiopsyconfirmed Dave had prostate cancer. There were a variety of treatmentsavailable but the one chosen by DavewasBrachytherapy.

Thisisthetreatmentofprostatecancerbythe implantation of a radioactive isotope(sealed or encapsulated into ‘seeds’) intotheprostate.Atthattimeitwasonlyavailable in Leeds and Guildford - so Davetookhimselfofftothelatter.

Thankfully he was sufficiently impressed bytheresultsthathewasthedrivingforce

receive a PSA test. Dave came to theclub as a guest of Mike Westbury whoin proposing a vote of thanks spoke ofDave’s incredible fortitude and bravery.

When Mike introduced Dave hecommented that it was almost 50 years to the day when they had first met during a workassignment.Realising theyshareda common interest in making music thetwoteenagerswentontoplayinabandtogether.

More recently they have used theirmusical talents to raise money for thebrachytherapyunitaswellasentertainingGloucester’s elderly at our club’s annual Senior Citizens’ party.

During the early stages of prostate cancer, there are usually no symptoms. As prostate cancer advances, symptoms may include:

l blood in the urine

l frequent need to go to the toilet, particularly at night

l weak urine flow that stops and starts

l inability to urinate (urinary retention)

l persistent pain in the back, thighs and pelvis

l inability to get an erection (impotence)

However, these symptoms usually occur for other reasons including a urine infection, or an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), but not prostate cancer.

Therefore, you should not immediately worry and think you may have cancer if you have these symptoms. Nevertheless, they must be assessed by a doctor.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

who is evidently well known to the familyhaving exercised his thespian talents inopenairproductionsatChavenage for thepast 20 years. Sadly this has now come to anend............butthememoriesliveon.

FOOTNOTE: Each Anzac Day, there is a memorial service at nearby Leighterton cemetery for 23 Australian and New Zealand servicemen of theAustralian Flying Corpskilled while learning to fly in World War I. Chavenage had a military airstrip, andheldopenhouseforairmen.Manypicturesremainondisplayofthatera.DuringWorldWar II, a scale model of Omaha Beach,one of the D-Day landing beaches, was constructedhere.

CHAVENAGE House - a splendid Cotswold Manor house - was the setting for a delicious meal enjoyed

by Rotarians at the start of October. Many at the occasion had visited previously to enjoy Shakespearean plays on the lawn but few had enjoyed the privilege of either eating there or hearing of the home’s fascinating history from the present owner Colonel David Lowsley-Williams.

Only two families have owned this placesince Tudor times and Mr Lowsley-Williams inherited the house and estate from hisuncle, John, in 1958. A natural raconteur with anencyclopaedicknowledgeofthemanor,Davidhasadelightfulwitanddeliverywhichkeepshislistenersfullyengaged.For entertainment value alone he wassuperbrecountingstoriesofresidentghostswithrelishandsavouringthetreacheryandintrigue which is part of the manor’s colourful history.

Chavenage’s most famous ghost first appearedafterthelordofthemanor,ColonelNathaniel Stephens, voted to impeach CharlesIfollowingtheEnglishCivicWarin1641-45.

Soonafterthekingwasbeheaded,Stephensalsodied,andhisghostly formwasdrivenawayfromChavenageHousebyaheadlesscoachman wearing royal vestments. Fromthen on, so the story goes, the king’s ghost cametocollecttheheadofthefamilyonhisdeath, until the line died out in 1793.

For those of us who were there’s David’s minitourofthehousebeforeourmealandhisanecdotesoflifeatthemanorduringthetwo world wars were two of the highlightsofthevisit.DuringourbrieftourDavidtookRotarians and guests to the manor’s most famous room - Cromwell’s bedroom - named after the Lord Protector who once slept there - and which is also claimed to be haunted. In fact one visitor fled in the middle of the night - an experience which prompted the family toholdanexorcismafterwards.

David’s delightful stories should not detract fromanotherhighlightoftheeveningwhichwas the three course meal itself............a selection ofmouthwateringstartersanddesserts interspersedbyamaincourseofsalmonorlamb(orboth).

Thefoodwassmashing,thesettingdelightfuland the whole evening marvellous...........whatmorecouldonewant.

A big thank you to all who arranged theeventbut inparticular toPresidentJeremy

A Cotswold legacy

The delightful Chavenage House .... at peace now but with a fascinating history of intrigue and treachery.

On the right is the owner David Lowsley-Williams whose commentary on the house was one of the highlights of the evening. Below are some of the guests who enjoyed a memorable visit and meal.

l

l

58

Theatres of yesteryear

TWO welcome guests at an October meeting were honorary members Major Adrian and Lieutenant Claire Allman, the new officers in charge of the Salvationalist Army Citadel in Gloucester’s Eastgate Street. They were invited to the club by Salvationist and Rotarian John Smith (left) and welcomed by President Jeremy Keck (right). We hope our two organisations will continue to work together under Adrian and Claire.

l

Birmingham. Unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in 1939 and demolishedin1959.

Not to be outdone, Eastgate Street was home to both the Odeon andGaumontcinemas.Theformer,previouslyknownasthePlaza could house 1,800 customers and boasted an excellent restaurant but in the 1970s was converted into a Bingo Hall - a use which continues today. Nearby was the Gaumont which began life as the 400 seat Theatredrome in 1911 for vaudeville acts. It was later converted to a 1,600 seat cinema but after the Second World War was destroyed by fire.

Perhaps one of the best known of Gloucester’s former theatre was The Regal in King’s Square built on part of an old cemetery.FormanyyearsaftertheSecondWorldWaritwasthevenueforGODSmusicalsandhostedvisits fromtopTV,StageandFilmartists.AfterabriefperiodasacinemaitisnowaWetherspoonspub.

The final emporium mentioned by Jean was the Parkend Empire - known ‘affectionately’ as the Flea Pit but one popular withyoungcouplesasthebacktworowscouldbeconvertedintodoubleloveseats.Itclosedin1956andisnowthesiteoftheElimPentecostalChurch.

THERE was a time (mainly in the 1920s/30s) when entertainment options in Gloucester were almost limitless. In addition to pubs, dance halls, cafes and

hotels, the city also boasted many cinemas and theatres.

How times have changed! Today there is one multiplex cinema and two theatres - one in Barton Street and the other in KingsbartonStreet.

The fascinating story of Gloucester’s theatre scene was recountedatanOctobermeetingbylocalthespiananddirectorJeanHomer.ShewasintroducedbyColinDunfordwhosewifePhyllis is another well-known Gloucester actress.

Jean began with an overview of recent theatrical history inGloucester from 1960 when the Salvation Army vacated its premises inKingsbartonStreet foranewCitadel inEastgateStreet.ThiswasthecuefortheGODS(theGloucesterOperaticandDramaticSociety) toestablishabase there forabout25years when it moved to the bigger Picturedrome in BartonStreet and renamed it the New Olympus.

ThisheraldedthearrivalinKingsbartonStreetofthePhoenix Players and St Barnabas Players (now Crown Players).Together they refurbished the theatre at a cost of £25,000 - a resultofhardwork,creativefundraisingandagenerousdonor.The revamped theatre re-opened in 1987 with Michael Horden asitspatron.WhenhediedhisrolewastakenoverbyhusbandandwifeteamTimothyWestandPrunellaScales.

Havingbroughtmembersup todate, Jean thengaveabriefhistoryofvarioustheatresinGloucesterstartingwiththePalace Theatre in Westgate Street which began life in the 18th century. On its centenary in 1891 Ellen Terry and Henry Irving graced its stage,gavetheirservicesforfreeandtheeventraised£165forthe city infirmary. It continued to entertain Gloucester citizens into the 20th century.

Jean then recalled the short lived Palladium Theatre whichwas established in 1913 to show silent films and closed in 1927 by which time it was in opposition with the 800-seat Kings TheatrealsoinWestgateStreetwhichhadbecomeacinemain1919 having started life in the 1860s. This continued until 1938 when it too closed and the building was demolished in 1957 to makewayforanextensiontotheShireHall.

Meanwhile in Northgate Street, the Theatre de Luxewith itsWurlitzer organ could accommodate 1,000 cinema patrons and was one of the first in the country to offer ‘talkies’, an innovation whichbroughtcustomers toGloucester frombothBristoland

An interest in common - the local theatre - Rotarian Colin Dunford and actress/director Jeam Homer.

l

David stands in for the

RI President

experienced Rotarians and their partners to represent him. Barbara and I felt very honoured to have been chosen for this purpose to visit District 2370 in Sweden.

“OnOctober16wearrivedinStockholmwhereweweremetby two Rotarians - a man and woman - both of whom were fluent English speakers. They were to be our aides for the visit. After a journey through countryside ablaze with autumn colours we arrived at Strangnas, a small town about 45 minutes fromn Stockholm.

“TheRIPresidenthadsuggested that Ibasemyaddressontopics related to his theme - ‘The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands.’ The initial programme sent to me by the District Governor of D2370 showed a major address of 30 minutes on theSaturdaymorning.

“This Ipreparedwell inadvanceaswewouldnotbearrivinghome from holiday until a few days before we were due inSweden. However not everything goes to plan and just twodays before our holiday an e-mail arrived telling of changes to theprogramme.AsaresultIhadtospendafewhoursofourholidayonRotarybusiness.

“IntheeventIgavetwomajorpresentations,onewithpowerpointandanoffthecufftalkwiththeDGandhisDistrictteamaswellasafewwordsattheGalaDinnerwhereIwasaskedtopresent five Paul Harris awards.

“Mytalksenabledmetooutlinepossiblechangesofmeetingtimesandtosuggestotherideaswhichmightpropelclubsintothe21stcentury.Asawholethedistricthadafallingmembershipalthough Strangnas itself has two successful clubs of mixedgender.

“The DG had the courage to ask me to urge members to ‘think outside the box’ and many were interested in this provocative view.

The World President this year is John Kenny who I know some of you have met. Obviously he is unable to attend all 534 District Conferences so he invites

David and Barbara with the two aides - both fluent English speakers - who provided invaluable help during their visit.

l

David Seed recalls his recent Rotary visit to Sweden with his wife Barbara.

“

“The District’s hospitality extended to returning us to Stockholm on theSundayafter lunch inanotherpart of thedistrictwithanothershortaddress.AttheirexpensetheyarrangedforustostayinatopqualityhotelsowecouldsightseeStockholmonthe Monday before flying home at 6pm. It took me several hours afewdayslatertocompletemyreporttotheRIPresident.

“We left Sweden with happy memories and the warmth andhospitality of the people we met. A subsequent messageconveyed their deep appreciation of our efforts which madethem ‘proud to be Rotarians.”

David and Barbara with some of the leading District officers at the Conference where David gave the main address.

Some of the colourful Group Study Exchange students who also took part in the District Conference.

l

l

76

MAKING A DIFFERENCE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Dursley and North Cotswoldareas.

The cost of the DVD was in the region of £7,000 and lasts about 105 minutes. It includes warm upexercises,amenuof three levelsofexercisesdepending on the patient’s clinical state and advice fromtherehabilitationteamandacooldownperiodof15minutes.Theprogrammeisdemonstratedbyaphysiotherapistandtwopatients.

Coronaryheartdiseaseisaverycommonconditionespecially in Western Society where eight out ofevery 10 patients are male. The DVD is particularly aimedatpatientswhohavesufferedaheartattack,or those being treated following angina, coronarythrombosis, stent insertion or coronary bypassoperations. Last year 85% of patients took up the offerofrehabilitationclasses.

Bookletsforpatientsarefundedoutofanexisting

GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S heart attack patients, or those who have had cardiac surgery, now have an innovative DVD to

help them on the road to recovery thanks to a unique local project.

Itwas thepatients themselveswhorequested theproductionoftheDVDasanaidememoiretohelpthem with exercises, diet information and othersafety information after visiting the county’s cardiac rehabilitationunits.

Neither the local NHS nor the British Heart Foundationwereabletofundtheprojectsomoneyto cover production costs has come from 14 local Rotaryclubsincludingourown.

The DVD was officially launched before an audience of medical, university and Rotary representativesin the Conservatory Room of the Queen’s Hotel, Cheltenham on Thursday, October 15 when thecelebrity guest was the explorer Sir RanulphFiennes.

Sir Ranulph gave a fascinating and humorous20 minute talk in which he touched on a range of experiences from childhood, in the military andmorelatterlyasanexplorer.

Butthemosttellingmomentswerewhenhespokeof his own heart attack on an Easy Jet plane atBristol when he was resuscitated no fewer than 13 times.Earlier thisyearhekindlyagreed togiveafilmed introduction to the DVD.

The original idea for the project was mooted byretired doctor Michael O’Dowd, a former patient of the Gloucestershire Cardiac RehabilitationUnit. He spoke of the unit’s excellent national and internationalreputationatameetingofSevernValeRotary Club in the autumn of 2007 and of his idea foraDVDwhichpatientscouldtakeawaywiththemtohelpontheroadtorecovery.

Thisstartedaprocesswhichbrought together themedical knowledge of local cardiac experts andother NHS bodies, the audio visual expertise of the University of Gloucestershire who producedthe DVD and funding from Rotary Clubs in the

budgetbut therewasnomoney for thenewDVDwhich is expected to last for 10 years and can easily becopiedintheRehabilitationUnititself.

Saving lives with a box

have filled between 800-900 boxes in the last five years.

The campaign was launched with thehelp of The Citizen and in consequence we had a flying start with schools, WIs, Mothers’ Unions and even a playgroup helping to fill the boxes.

Theyareusedinplaceswherehumanlife is threatened and our last 200 boxes were sent to Gaza in the wake of the Israeli incursion which left thousandsof people without homes or drinkingwater.

Following the recent devastating earthquake and tsumani in Sumatra, Samoa, the

Philippines and American Samoa, an appeal went out to UK Rotary Clubs for help in providing vital help for those who had lost their homes as a result of the natural catastrophes.

Shelterboxes, aquaboxes and watersurvivalboxeswererushedtothesceneandmoreareonthewayasUKclubsrespond to the national appeal. ForourparttheRotaryClubofGloucesteris perhaps the leading Rotary club inthe country supporting the life savingAquabox appeal. We immediatelyresponded by filling a further 100 boxesanddespatchingthemtotheUKheadquartersinDerbyshire.

Thestoutplasticaquaboxescontainawater filter which can be a lifesaver in areashitbytherecentdisasterswherecleanwatersuppliesareoftendisruptedand water courses are polluted andmanydiefromwaterbornediseasesinconsequence.

This is where aquaboxes come in - the water filter turns polluted water into drinking water and ensures a family’s survival. In addition to a water filter theboxesalsocontainessentialtools,toiletries,clothingandeventoys.Our club has a remarkable record offilling aquaboxes. Led initially by Peter Nesbitt and latterly by Ken Watston we

We have been extremely fortunatein having a vital partner in the localtransport firm of Joseph Rice of Hempsted which transported all theboxestoDerbyshire .....fornothing....and then brought a further 100 boxes for us to fill!!!! Their help over the past five years has been invaluable.

■ The national response to the RIBIappeal has been sensational. RotaryClubs around the country have beenon the streets collecting from thepublic to provide much needed fundstoenableourwork tocontinueat thisextraordinarytime.

ShelterBox Founder and CEO RtnTom Henderson said: “We’ve been completelyoverwhelmedandhumbledby our supporters’ generosity and compassion.Donationsoftime,moneyandenergyhavecomefromallquartersand we’re so very grateful. But there’s stillalongroadaheadandweneedtoensurewehelpasmanypeopleaswecan.”

Andy Holland, who has been inIndonesia since the beginning ofSeptember dealing with the earlierearthquake inJava,added: “Wehave200 boxes already in country which are goingoutassoonaspossibleandwearebeingboilsteredbythearrivalofafurther 424 boxes on the way. The rainy season has started and it’s important we get help to those in need quickly.”

An aquabox with its life saving water filtration equipment which is so vital in areas where clean water supplies have been disrupted.

Our picture shows Nigel Rice from the Hempsted transport company with project co-ordinator Ken Watson at a lunchtime meeting when president Jeremy Keck expressed our thanks to the firm for its continuing generosity. Inset is the previous co-ordinator Peter Nesbitt.

Explorer launches life-saving DVD

The cover of the new DVD being distributed to cardiac patients and which was paid for by contributions from 14 local Rotary clubs

Two faces of Sir Ranulph Fiennes - the first on the left as an intrepid explorer and on the right as a motivational speaker. In his latter role he has been voted one of the world’s top ten speakers.

£71/2 million for different UK charities and this figure has increased significantly since.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes set foot on the summit of Everest in May 2009, two failed attempts and a heart attack after he first tried to conquer the mountain in 2005. He is, at 65, the first British OAP to reach the summit of Everest.

He is a man of astonishing force who has been voted one of the world’s top ten

One of the world’s greatest explorers, Sir Ranulph Fiennes has launched a series of record-breaking expeditions that have kept him ahead of international rivals for over 30 years.

He was the first to reach both Poles and the first to cross the Antarctic and Arctic Oceans. In 2003, only 31/2 months after a massive heart attack, a three day coma and double bypass, Ranulph Fiennes (with Mike Stroud) achieved the first 7x7x7 (seven marathons in only seven days on all seven continents).

By 2006, Ranulph Fiennes had raised over

speakers. His motivational talks provide fascinating insight into human determination and give inspirational examples of what can be achieved by extending the limits.

In his talks Sir Ranulph tackles the questions of leadership, teamwork, goal setting, determination, and self-belief, using the many analogies that can be drawn between the challenges faced on his adventures and life in the everyday world.

Ranulph - a record breaker

l l

l

l