The Rotary Club for Mid Hampshire
Webmaster: Hans Wustefeld
It have been a busy few Months for the members and friends of Alresford Rotary.
At the end of March as part of New Alresford Town Council’s litter picking initiative we tidied along Tichborne Down, Winchester Road, the Cheriton Road (past the golf club) and New Farm Road. Why is that litter there in the first place?
Early in the morning on April 6th as Alresford Rotary carried out what has become a regular annual attempt to spruce up Broad Street. In just a couple of hours gutters and kerbs and drain covers were cleared with the mud and other “arisings” collected filling two large “grab bags” kindly supplied by New Alresford Town Council.
In the past few years Alresford Rotary has done “outdoor works” at both Perins and the Sun Hill schools. Last month a day was spent at Sun Hill including tidying up the nature pond and its surrounds (created by Alresford Rotary some twenty years ago) and installing a water feature. Further work will be carried out later this year.
On 11th April Alresford Rotary hosted “Probably mid Hampshire’s Quiz of the Year 2025” at which 19 teams demonstrated an admirable knowledge of matters trivial and otherwise with “Ferrets Forever” claiming victory for the second year running. Who knew the connection between Ronald Reagan,Charles Kingsley and Keith Moon? The proceeds of the evening will be shared between Wessex Heartbeat and ShelterBox. As well as thanking Wessex Heartbeat for donating a hamper as a raffle prize we are also very grateful for the support of IVC, the Flowerpots, the Eco Winchester Bike Hub, Soles Butchers and the Academy of Beauty Therapy for their support. The event sold out by the end of March justifying our message to “Book early to avoid disappointment”!
Looking ahead preparations are well under way for the 18th Alresford 10 k run on 15th June which will be a busy day as the monthly Hampshire Farmers market, the Alresford Pigs Association Duck race and the New Alresford Town Trust Open Day will all also be happening. Its also not too early to do something about supporting the annual Rotary Wessex Shoebox Christmas scheme for disadvantaged and displaced children in eastern Europe. The relevant scheme leaflets and suggested knitting patterns are available now.
James Pinniger,
President Alresford Rotary
wjrp@hotmail.co.uk
END POLIO NOW
Alresford Rotary marked the start of Spring by planting Ruby Giant (deep purple) crocus corms in Alresford. For the last nine years Rotary internationally, as a member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, has planted spring flowering purple crocuses to raise awareness and to raise funds for the End Polio Campaign. A major benefactor of such initiative is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates has written that “The world’s progress in fighting Polio might be one of the best kept secrets in global health”. The relevance of the purple crocuses is that in developing countries millions of children are vaccinated in the course of a few days in frequent, mass polio vaccination campaigns…
It is important that children do not receive duplicate vaccine. Once the child has received two drops of vaccine (by mouth) their left little finger is painted with an indelible purple ink. Vaccinators always check a child’s finger before administering polio vaccine. If it’s purple they do not vaccinate. In 1988 Rotary made a pledge to the children of the world that Polio would be wiped from the face of the earth and since then the number of cases has been reduced by 99.9% There is no cure for Polio but it is preventable by vaccination and until it is eradicated every child is at risk. For further information please look at https://www.endpolio.org/
At the Sun Hill Junior School the nature pond and decking was replaced and tidied up and more purple crocus corms were planted for a good show this Spring.
Alresford Rotary raised £4,500 for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
The Alresford Rotary 10k road race and children’s fun runs raised the money last year, and on January 20, Alresford Rotary treasurer Peter Kidman handed over a cheque to Judith Stephens, a support engagement officer for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA).
The money will help fund the charity’s life-saving missions, which cost an average of £3,500 each.
The charity relies entirely on voluntary donations.Alresford Rotary treasurer Peter Kidman handed over a cheque to Judith Stephens, officer for Judith also provided an update on the charity’s work and its move from Thruxton to Southampton Airport, which will improve response times and efficiency.
Since the first Alresford 10k road race in 2008, the annual event has been organised by the same project manager with the support of Alresford Rotary.
However, due to other commitments, a new project manager is urgently needed if the event is to take place this year on June 15.
The ideal candidate should have some knowledge of the local running scene and experience in event organisation..
If you feel you could take on this role, contact Alresford Rotary at indri50@me.com or 07743 698841.
Thanks to all our wonderful customers for supporting us through what was probably our worst ever weather christmas tree sale. Thanks also to all our helpers…The Scouts as always supported us with moving the trees to cars. Town traders were hugely supportive – Tesco so generous with warm croissants, The Swan and Alresford Linen Co doing rounds of coffee, Paul and Pat for the sausage rolls, the Toyshop and D&G hardware helping with surplus trees… not forgetting George with his trumpet! Despite the weather it was Rotary at its best in the heart of the community once againxxx
As a celebration of all your activities in the past Rotary year, I wanted to offer my thanks on behalf of ShelterBox for the amazing fundraising that you have carried out with your community and as a club. The Rotary Club of Alresford has raised a total of £8,000 in Rotary year 2023/2024.
Congratulations on becoming a Gold Partner Club!
Sanj Srikankanthan, CEO ShelterBox
As a humanitarian organisation ShelterBox must remain neutral and a-political. We go wherever in the world the shelter need of civilians is the highest, right now that is in Gaza“.
If you would like to learn more about ShelterBox have a look at: https://shelterbox.org/ and international support – Alresford Rotary (alresford-rotary.org)
The modest contributions that Alresford Rotary has been able to make over the years to ShelterBox have only been possible because of the support the local community has given to its events and Alresford Rotary is most grateful for that.
