Tuesday 26 May. I attend a black tie event at Camberley
Rotary Club, who are celebrating their 70th anniversary, and the DG
tags along. The special celebration was held at Camberley Cricket Club, where I
came for my official visit to the club earlier this year. That previous meeting
was memorable for being one of the best Rotary meals I have had all year, so I
had high hopes for tonight’s repast. The Earl and Countess of Wessex are
honorary members of the club, but as on my previous visit, they were not in
attendance. I wondered if anyone had actually told them I would be present. It
might have made a difference.
Camberley Cricket Club
President Chrissie Lawson treated us to her usual warm
welcome, and I was also delighted to meet the new mayor of Surrey Heath, Joanne
Potter, who was attending one of her first engagements after becoming Mayor.
Joanne’s father, Bob Potter, was the founder of the Lakeside Club, one of the
country’s leading entertainment venues and the home of the World
Professional Darts Championship every
year. I met Joanne Potter at the Lakeside Club some years ago, when she was
general manager there and I was working for Brooklands College. We discussed
training for her staff. When I reminded her of this tonight, she graciously
said that she remembered me.
Girl Power - Joanne Potter, Chrissie Lawson and the DG
The dinner, as on the previous occasion, was superb. Avocado
& Mozzarella followed by Roast beef and then a trio of desserts enhanced
the caterers’ reputation even further in my opinion. If I ever need to hire
caterers for an event, I think I will ask these to do it.
Dessert looks too artistic to eat
After dinner we were treated to a slide show by Peter Allin,
showing photos from the previous 70 years of the club’s existence. It really
was very well done, with pictures going back over several decades, in many
cases showing members who are no longer with us, showing what terrific work the
club has done in the local community over the years. The club founded an Old Folks Retirement Home
in the town, they funded the original senior citizens tea room in the town
centre, helped provide Frimley Park Hospital with a hydrotherapy pool and
equipment for their ophthalmic unit, and renovated playground equipment at Frimley Childrens Centre.
The DG can hardly get a look in
We also saw photos of the club’s participation in local
carnivals, the Rotary Kids Out day in June, Christmas Collections and the
Wellington College firework display. They have sponsored young people on Rotary
Youth leadership programmes, the Young Chef competition and Youth Speaks among
others. Peter’s presentation brought home to me how much good work Rotary clubs
do in their communities, and how often people probably enjoy an event without
ever realising that it was organised, or sponsored by the local Rotary club.
The club has a marquee for hire
We also had a visiting Rotarian from the Philippines, called
Peter Emata, who spoke to us briefly about the Charity ASCT (Asian StudentsChristian Trust) which is registered in the UK and seeks to fund education for
children in the very poorest parts of the Philippines, where children live on
rubbish tips. It seems Camberley Rotary Club have been involved with this
worthwhile project, hence Peter’s visit today.
Peter Emata (standing, right) talks about ASCT
It had been another very enjoyable evening at Camberley,
with good food and good company. I’d be happy to go back there any time.
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