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MARCH 2016 ISSUE                                                  MUG SHOT
                                           More than twenty-five years ago, six members of The Rotary Club of Chichester
                                           Priory gathered to discuss the creation of an annual Chichester 10 km Road
Keeping Our Members Informed               Race. Last month the 25th race was held. Almost 2,000 runners competed, with
                                           the front-runners beating the magic 30-minutes’ completion time. Each runner
                                           historically receives a commemorative mug and our photograph shows three of
                                           the original committee members holding examples of the 1st-year and 25th-year
                                           mugs. Pictured are (left to right) Richard Doman, Graham Jessop and Maurice
                                           Hall. We remember, too, Henry Adams, Colin Thorne and Brian Taylor.

PRIORY POST

                                                    PRESIDENT’S INTRODUCTION
                                           As I sit here with the sun out, the sky blue and all the daffodils blooming in the
                                           garden, I feel as though we have exited the drab winter months and can look
                                           forward to a vibrant spring and summer.
                                           However, what a busy winter we have had in Rotary. We had a very successful
                                           Christmas Collection at the Cross and ‘thank you’ to all who braved storm and
                                           tempest to collect - Priory seemed to pick all the poor weather days to collect
                                           this year!
                                           Once we moved into the New Year it was full steam ahead for the 10K ,which
                                           was another great success and proved, yet again, that we at Priory can put on a
                                           great event. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all the participants. Thank you to those
                                           who were involved in the planning and also to those who turned out on the day,
                                           without whom we could not run the event. I know we have a new course next
                                           year, but, I am confident that the new event will be an equal great success.
                                           We then hosted the excellent Boxing Evening in February, which was enjoyed by
 The Rotary Club of                        all who both attended and boxed on the night. The hosts, Chichester College,
                                           were once again outstanding hosts I am very grateful to Ray and his team for all
  Chichester Priory                        their arrangements and planning. Well done!
           (District: D1145)
                                           Meanwhile, Bridging Generations goes from strength to strength. I know that
               Meetings:
                                           Chichester College is very appreciative for all that the Priory Club and, in
   Wednesday 6.15pm for 6.30pm             particular, Mike does with this project.
                  at:
                                           Looking to the future, we have a trip to the Chelsea Hospital, the Twinning
     The Chichester Park Hotel
                                           weekend and the build-up to the Dragon Boat races to look forward this year.
   Madgwick Lane, Westhampnett
                                           The Club Services Committee has planned an excellent programme for Priory
       Chichester PO19 7QL                 and I look forward to an enjoyable Spring and Summer ahead.
          www.rotarypriory.com             We have a vibrant Club and I have thoroughly enjoyed your support during my
www. Facebook.com/RotaryChichesterPriory   Presidential year.
                                           PRESIDENT PETER
PRIORY POST - Rotary-ribi.org
PRIORY’S BOXING EVENING REPORT

                                            Our Boxing Report this year has been compiled by
                                            GERRY LAVELLE of the St. Gerard’s Boxing Club
                                            On Saturday the 20th of February The Rotary Club of Chichester Priory
                                            hosted its fifth annual Sporting Night Dinner Snow at Chichester College,
                                            in collaboration with our local Amateur Boxing Club, St. Gerard’s. A
                                            dazzling display of lights, spotlights and music - Las Vegas style - were
                                            provided by Phil Haddow Electrical Ltd, to the delight of all the boxers. No
                                            less than twelve fantastically-matched bouts were contested for the
                                            Pugilistic punters to savour.
                                                             The evening began with three ‘skills contests’, featuring
                                                             three home-grown St. Gerard’s lads. The first of these was
                                                             between Ryleigh "Tiger" Friend and Jack Higgins Burnett of
                                                             Titchfield, with both of these ten year-olds, impressively
                                                             giving their all.
                                                             Second up was Harrison "Hunter" Bullen, grandson of Ro-
                                                             tarian Bill Bullen who was present on the night. Harrison
                                                             carried the Family Flag when he faced Ashraf Mohammed
                                                             of Gosport and these ten year-olds certainly gave of their
                                                             best.
                                            The third bout in this category was between Alfie "Awsome" Wilson and
                                            Lester Baylie of Battlebridge. These thirteen year-olds put on a cracking
                                            show. doing themselves proud.
                                            Next was a junior contest between fourteen year-olds Freddie Hayes of St.
                                            Gerard’s and Mark Fuller of Brentwood. Freddie put on a dazzling display
                                            of boxing and won the contest by a unanimous decision. He also went on
                                            to win the St. Gerard’s “Best Boxer of the Evening” trophy that is named
                                            after Jack Hood, who later presented the trophy to Freddie at the
                                            Chichester Boys Club.
             CONTENTS:                      It was now the turn of the young juniors. Thirteen year-old Holly Heffron of
1      President’s Message.                 St. Gerards took on fourteen year-old Elsie Pattenden of Hastings and they
                                            both displayed sublime technically skills. Holly won by a unanimous
2-3    Report on this year’s Big Amateur
       Boxing Evening.                      decision and also received the “Charlie Orr” trophy, for the most improved
       Poetry Corner.                       St. Gerard’s boxer of the year.
4-5    Boxing Picture Gallery.              We then moved on to a youth contest between sixteen year-olds; Dennis
6-8    Chichester 10km 2016 Race Report.
                                            Hayes of St. Gerard’s and Charlie Goodman of Battlebridge. This was a
                                            closely-fought contested, with Charlie winning on a split decision by one
9      An exciting future for the 10km.
                                            point. Both lads did their respective clubs proud.
10-11 10km Picture Gallery.
                                            It was now time for the ‘big boys’ in a series of Senior Contests. First up
12-13 Details of 2016 Twinning Weekend.     were two very keen novices; Neil Wilson of St. Gerard’s and Max Black-
14     News Round-up.                       burn of Battlebridge. Unfortunately, Neil sustained a cut eye in the first
                                            round and coach Jon Mills retired him accordingly.
                                            The next five contests were all ‘Senior Cross-Matches’, paired by the
                                            Matchmaker, Gerry Lavelle of St. Gerard’s. The results were as follows:
                                            Lewis Dentith of Team Wiseman beat Assim Malik of Bexley, on points.

                                                         2
PRIORY POST - Rotary-ribi.org
PRIORY’S BOXING EVENING REPORT

Ben Duncan of Brighton City beat Sher Khan of Crawley, on points.
                                                                                        POET’S CORNER
Jordan Hayes of "2-Para" beat Bola Boyejo of Bexley, on points.
Brandon Davies of Hastings beat Kealan McFadden of Brighton and Hove,                  The Poet’s Lament
on points.                                                                      Does anybody read my verse?
                                                                                I know it goes from bad to worse,
Eddie Simpson of "2-Para" beat Rahees Ali of Crawley, on points.                I know you chuck it with a curse,
                                                                                (fulminate and sometimes terse)
Jon Mills and Gareth Ferguson, the new coaches of Chichester Boxing             Does anybody read my verse?
Club, worked the St. Gerard’s boxers’ corner and what a terrific job they
did, too! There is no doubt that Jon and Gareth will take the Chichester        Does anybody read my odes?
                                                                                They’re pretty clear, and not in codes;
Boxing Club to even great success, together with their stalwart, Jack Hood.     Often short, but packed with loads
This year’s event was an amazing spectacle, which raised much-needed            Of spiky wit which prods and goads.
                                                                                Does anybody read my odes?
monies for local young people in Sussex. The Rotary Club of Chichester
Priory, in collaboration with St. Gerard’s Boxing Club, provides incalculable   Does anybody read my stanzas?
support to so many youth organisations in this area. Finally, I should like     I try to pen extravaganzas
                                                                                Like German battle tanks or Panzers
to make special mention to Rotarian “Wee” Ray Richardson. He does so            (but not as you’d find in the State of
much running around to get everything right on the night that we recipients     Kansas)
call him the “Roving Rotarian”!                                                 Does anybody read my stanzas?

PS: Rotarian Bill Bullen was shocked and surprise to see that in the            Will anybody read this sonnet?
evening’s official Programme he was to due to fight in Bout 5. Was this         A lady, perhaps, in an Easter bonnet?
                                                                                No-one, I fear, will ever con it
simply a typo, or did his selected opponent fail to show up?                    Or even cast a glance upon it –
                                                                                Will anybody read this sonnet?

                                                                                And so the poet, I suppose,
                                                                                Must give up verse and stick to prose!
                                   During this year’s amateur boxing
                                   evening the Priory Club was                  P.P. Christopher Doman
                                   delighted to confer on Jack Hood a
                                   Paul Harris Fellow Recognition
                                   Award. Jack has been an unsung
                                   hero of the Chichester Boys’ Club for
                                   more than half a century and there is
                                   no doubt that the club’s boxing
                                   section would not have been as
                                   successful as it has been in turning
   young people’s lives around had he not dedicated an enormous
   amount of his life to it. Your editor of Priory Post was chairman of
   The Chichester Boys’ Club during the late Nineteen Eighties and
   saw at first hand not only what an unflagging stalwart he is of the
   club, but also how much respect he is given by the young people
   he has worked with over so many years. The photograph below
   shows Jack competing
   in the ring at The Boys’
   Club when he was a
   young man, whilst the
   photograph above sees
   him receiving his Paul
   Harris from our President .

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PRIORY POST - Rotary-ribi.org
AMATUER BOXING AT ITS VERY BEST

               4
PRIORY POST - Rotary-ribi.org
AMATUER BOXING AT ITS VERY BEST

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PRIORY POST - Rotary-ribi.org
THE CHICHESTER TEN Km

                                           RACE REPORT
                              February 2016 by GRAHAM JESSOP
                                      Photographs provided by John Donabie

Expectations were high that the 25th Chichester Priory 10 K was going to be a very special occasion. The athletes,
organisers and spectators were not to be disappointed in the way it all turned out – a day truly to be remembered.
The organisers were relieved to wake to a cold and dry Sunday morning. In spite of the very windy conditions, the
25th Chichester Priory 10km proved to be a resounding success, with fast times and a record entry of runners
completing in what is recognised nationwide as a top quality road race and an important part of the English road
running calendar. The heavy rain of previous days stayed away, making it a good morning for running, although
the strong winds on the Lavant course prevented any new records, despite a very strong field.
The high standard and depth of the race over the previous years resulted in a best ever turnout of runners who
enjoyed one of the most popular and prestigious events in the South of England. The exact number of finishers was
1710 – the highest number ever in the history of the race. Many athletes whether elite, club runners or recreational
runners were delighted to achieve their personal bests, despite the windy conditions and some running for the first
time commented on how much they had enjoyed the course and the scenery and how well organised the race was.
This year the race was once again organised splendidly by the Rotary Club of Chichester Priory, who were fortunate
to have for the tenth year running, the same sponsors Brooks, the International Shoe Company but in addition there
was Wannops LLP (Solicitors) and Henry Adams (Estate Agents). The starting party included the Vice-President of
Chichester Priory Rotary Club Julian Moores and the Chairman of the Chichester District Council, Nick Thomas, a
great supporter of sport in the area. The runners were an extremely impressive sight as they streamed up College
Lane and it was quite a spectacle as they wound their way along Connolly Road and into Graylingwell Park.
The race was expected to be very competitive with a large number of runners capable of going under or close to the
magical 30 minute mark for men. The race got off to a cracking pace and it was evident at an early stage that the
men’s race was going to be as predicted. After one kilometre had been, a group of twelve runners were forcing the
pace. The lead kept changing, with John Beattie (Newham and Essex Beagles), Scott Overall (Blackheath and
Bromley AC), and Phil Wylie (Cheltenham Harriers) taking turns to be in the front. This group kept together until it
reached the top of Pook Lane, when the pressure of the fierce competition took its toll and ensured a very fast race
to the finish.

                                                         6
PRIORY POST - Rotary-ribi.org
THE CHICHESTER TEN Km

Eventually, the pre-race favourite, Paul Pollock of Kent AC, an Irish international, pulled away, but not by much as at
the line he was only a second ahead of Luke Caldwell (Dorking and Mole Valley) and Scott Overall, who were both
given the same time of 29.43.They were followed by a procession of runners with Lee Merrien, (also of Newham and
Essex Beagles) and Kevin Seaward (St Malachy’s AC) breaking the magical 30 minute barriers. A further five runners
were under 31 minutes with John Beattie (6th), Chris Zabocki (Chichester Runners -7th), Phil Wylie (8th), Alex Wall
Clarke (Southampton AC – 9th) and Joshua Grace (Aldershot, Farnham & D – 10th).
The quality of the field was demonstrated in that the first 17 runners all finished within 31 minutes and the top 100 in
36 minutes. In such a competitive field it was good to see three local Chichester Runners finish high in the results –
Zablocki, an American international based locally (7th), Peter Concannon (25th) and James Baker in 31st position.
The male 40-plus vet title went to Howard Bristow of Brighton and Hove AC, followed by Mike Ellicock (Lewes AC),
Lewis Sida also of Lewes in 3rd Place. Stewart Gregory (Holme Pierrepont RC) was1st Men’s vet 50 home, Martyn
West (Winchester), 1st man over 60 in an incredible time of 41.30 and Stubbington Green’s Michael Welland was the
first Vet 70 plus.
Thanks to the generosity of the Chichester Observer, the Ben Steppel memorial prize to the first local under 23 man
home went for the fourth year running to Harry Leleu of Chichester Runners & AC in a time of 34.10.
In the men’s team event there were 89 complete teams representing the counties of Hampshire, Kent, South London,
Surrey and Sussex as well as the Jersey Spartans from the Channel Islands. The eventual winners were Kent AC
(Pollock, John Gilbert and James Bowler) their first team prize at Chichester, followed by Brighton and Hove with the
Chichester Runners in third place. Dulwich Runners who frequently use the Priory 10 k for their Championships had
three teams in the top 26 places.
The women’s race was also of a high standard and again the pre-race favourite, Louise Damen of Winchester did not
disappoint the pundits. She had a fine tussle with Leigh Lattimore of Harrow AC, but came home the eventual winner
by one second in a time of 33.40. Although well known as an English cross country international, she demonstrated
admirably she is just at home on the road. In third place was Amy Clements a debutant at Chichester also from Kent
AC with Emma MacCready in fourth. Rebecca Moore of Worthing had to settle for fifth place this year with Rachel
Humphreys from Bedford and County AC 6th in a time of 35.42 Once again it was Kath Bailey of Winchester who took
the women’s veteran over 40 prize followed by Sarah Kingston (Worthing) and Sue Fry (Hailsham Harriers). The first
vet 50 home was Clare Elms of Dulwich Runners, Vet 60plus was Ros Tabor of Dulwich and Vet 70 was Carol Killick.
In the women’s team event there was a new Champion and this
year it was the Worthing team of MacCready, Moore and Kingston.
Arena 80 was beaten into second place with their team of Caroline
Hoyte, Julie Briggs and Dani Tarleton with Hailsham Harriers third
and Dulwich Runners AC fourth. Arena 80 showed their strength in
depth with three scoring teams in the top 11 places.
The Colin Thorne memorial prize for the first local U23 woman
finisher went to Suzy Bennett in a time of 50.13.
For the third year the organisers presented the Henry Adams
memorial prize to the person with the most memorable story or rea-
son for running. The winner selected for 2016 was Mark Roberts. Despite his learning difficulties, he has started to
run races, which, although he finds it a struggle, he is very determined to overcome his problems. He and his family
were particularly proud of his achievements in this year’s 10K in successfully completing the distance.
To mark the 25th Anniversary of the Priory 10 k there were special prizes awarded in a number of categories which
recognised a high degree of loyalty in participating in the previous races. The awards went to Paul Whittaker of
Southend AC but more locally to Jane Harrop, Kath Bailey, Carol Palmer and James Baker.

                                                             7
PRIORY POST - Rotary-ribi.org
THE CHICHESTER TEN Km

Pride of place in the loyalty stakes to the event goes to a Pine Grove man Michael Bevis who is the proud owner of 20
of the 25 race mugs that have been awarded. The organizers were extremely pleased that the Portfield Motor Group
sponsored the anniversary prizes as well as providing the lead car.
All the above awards were made at the traditional Prize giving event after the race at the Chichester Festival Theatre.
The presentation party included the Vice President of the Rotary Club of Chichester Priory, the event’s organisers and
the chairman of the District Council as well as representatives of the events sponsors.
There were once again many accolades about the organisation of this highly successful event. Indeed, the Rotarians,
athletes, spectators and officials went home to chill out, pleased that they had been part of yet another year.

       This year’s winners give us their thoughts about the race.
Paul Pollock: His was the first name picked out by the organisers pre-race as a contender for the title and to be
among those most likely to break the 30-minute mark. And Kent AC’s Paul Pollock proved their judgement to be spot-
on by taking first place, winning in 29min 42sec in a thrilling sprint finish ahead of Luke Caldwell and Scott Overall.
He said he was delighted to have come out on top in such a strong field.
“It just so happened that everyone targeted this race – it was the first big race of 2016,” said 29-year-old Pollock.
“I knew there would be tough competition and the wind definitely didn’t help.
“After the first 2k I think we all realised the wind was strong to fight and there was a group of about nine or ten of us
until about 7k and then Scott Overall and Luke Caldwell got about a 100m gap ahead of me.”
“I knew there was 2k to go and I slowly caught them and with about half a kilometre to go passed them, and then we
had the sprint finish at the end. I’m very happy to have won it.”
“It’s my first time here but it’s a beautiful course and it’s been a beautiful day. Although it was windy the sun was out
and there was a great atmosphere around the place. It’s defintely one to consider coming back for.”
Pollock said he was not too fazed when he saw how many elite runners there were on the start line.
“I think everyone looked at the course record of 29.02 and thought it must be a fast course. Everyone came here think-
ing it was a good course, and when you get three or four good runners it attracts more of them. And there were nine or
ten guys who were all very capable of breaking 30 minutes.”
“It’s ended up being a good race and a good day out for everyone.”
Pollock is in the throes of marathon training and is looking forward to his ‘big race’ – the London Marathon, which could
lead to qualification for the Olympics in Rio.
Before then he will run the Wokingham half marathon which can put him into the world half marathon in Cardiff.
He added: “Fingers crossed I will be back for the Chi 10k next year. It’s a good time of year for a 10k for me.”

Louise Damen: Running in the Chichester Priory 10k in 2016 was altogether happier for Louise than her previous
participation in the race. Nine years ago she had a difference of opinion with a crash barrier and ended up injured and
out of the race. This year, she won!
The Winchester athlete said: “I knew it was going to be tough today. I’m in heavy marathon training for the London
Marathon. “It took me a good 5k to really get going. My endurance is good at the moment, but my speed is lacking a
little bit. But it was good for me to come and have a good hard race”.
“The ladies pushed me hard all the way and I think it was quite a close finish. Coming back down the hill I knew my leg
speed wasn’t the best it could be right now. So it was a case of gritting my teeth and making sure I held them off.”
She recalled her previous venture into the race and is able to smile about it now. “I was last in this race in 2007, nine
years ago, and I had a bit of an accident at the very start. I collided with a big pedestrian barrier and picked up some
nasty injuries. “So it was good to come here and get rid of my demons.”
Damen said she hoped to be back at next year’s race and said: “For me now it’s a case of getting my head down and
training hard for the London Marathon. That’s my big target for this year.”

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PRIORY POST - Rotary-ribi.org
THE CHICHESTER TEN Km—THE FUTURE

                                   2017—A NEW COURSE
                                        A NEW BEGINNING
With another successful 10k Road Race behind us, making twenty-five in all, it is time to move our thoughts and
planning on to the 2017 event, which will take place on 5th February 2017 and to be run on our new course, which
is based at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
Our intention is to replicate the High Quality and Safe Environment we have
succeeded in creating over the years and to try also to make it as attractive
a race on the new course as it was on the old. The superb work done by
Geoff Hardstaff has resulted in the route plan below, with road closures and
marshal requirements all identified,
Colin Kaye has, meanwhile, been instrumental in getting the agreement of the
Goodwood owners.
Our next steps are to finalise the Priory Team required to manage the event and to start the necessary detailed
planning work. We already have preliminary agreement with the Highways Department, which we need to formalise
through our ‘TTRO’ (Temporary Traffic Regulation Order) application. This we will do in the next few weeks.
We shall then need to submit our overall plan (including a Risk Assessment) to the Safety Advisory Group at the
Council for review. These are the two key actions which get us formal approval to host the event next year and are
activities that need to be performed each year. With these actions under way, we can progress to the detailed
activities, which will result, we hope, in another excellent 10k race in 2017. Bob Syme.

                                                            9
PRIORY POST - Rotary-ribi.org
THE CHICHESTER TEN Km PICTURE GALLERY

                 10
THE CHICHESTER TEN Km PICTURE GALLERY

                 11
TWINNING WEEKEND 2016

Weald and Downland Museum
                                            TWINNING WEEKEND
                                                May 20th, 21st and 22nd
                                                     An update by Colin Kaye
                                Now that the weekend’s events have been planned, and we know the
                                number of visitors we expect to arrive from Aschaffenburg and Bar le
                                Due, we have reached the stage when positive responses are needed
                                from as many members as possible regarding their attendance at these
                                events and also their assistance with hosting.
                                THE SCHEDULE
                                Friday May 20th: 5.00 pm Reception for Guests at the Chichester
                                Park Hotel.
                                Saturday May 21st: 10.30am Guided Tour of the Weald and
                                Downland Museum, followed by lunch in their Gridshell Building.
                                At 6.30pm there will be Dinner at West Dean House.
                                Sunday May 22nd: 12 noon a Farewell Lunch at Pump Bottom
                                Farm, Apuldram.

                                THE COST
                                All the weekend’s events are open to Rotarian’s partners.
                                To attend all of the Events:                                £70 each

                                Tea at the Park Hotel                                       No charge
                                Weald and Downland Museum Tour and Lunch                    £20 each
                                West Dean House Dinner                                      £45 each
                                Pump Bottom Farm Lunch                                  £10 each
                                Please let Colin Kaye know which events you wish to attend.
                                HOSTING
                                 Four of the German couples required B&B accommodation with Priory
                                members on the Friday and Saturday nights. However, Graham Jessop
                                together with David and Caroline Easton, have signed up for this and,
                                therefore, only two further homes are required. Please inform Colin
                                Kaye as soon as possible if you can help. Both of the German couples
                                speak English.

                                On Friday evening our Twinning Guests are to be entertained ‘at
                                home’ and given dinner by Priory members. You can invite other
                                Chichester Priory Rotarians, and their partners, for the evening as
                                guests, or to help out. All the Germans, and the three French couples,
                                speak English, so language should not be a problem. The Club will pay
                                £10 per head for each foreign guest entertained in this way.
                                Graham and Carol Jessop, Tony and Marion Kerly, and Colin and
                                Monica Kaye have already agreed to do this but several more offers to
                                cater for all our guests are needed. So, Offers Please!

                                         12
TWINNING WEEKEND 2016

                     Meat on the Bones
                                                                           West Dean House and Gardens
The following gives more detailed information about the weekend’s
schedule and events:

FRIDAY 20th May:
4.00 pm to 5.00 pm (depending on time of arrival of our guests) A
welcome reception and tea in the dining room at Chichester Park Hotel.
Evening Dinner with hosts, who will receive £10 per head for visitors.

SATURDAY 21st May:
10.30am: The Weald and Downland Museum for coffee and brief talk
followed by Guided Tour
1.00 pm: (or there abouts) Buffet Lunch in the Museum’s Gridshell
    Building.
Afternoon: Optional inspection of artefacts in the basement of the
Gridshell building; spend more time in the Park; visit the West Dean
Victorian Gardens; return with hosts for shopping in Chichester; or
simply rest.
6.30 pm: West Dean House – take a short walk around the Grounds
and House, if fine weather.
7.00 pm: Drinks Reception on the Terrace if fine, or Oak Hall.
7.30 pm: Dinner will be taken in the Old Library.

SUNDAY 22nd May:
Morning: Church Services as required. Possible Boat Trips on the
Canal, around the Harbour, or Harbour-side walks.
12.00 Noon: Lamb Roast Lunch at Pump Bottom Farm, Apuldram.

The Priory Club has a Twinning Fund, which is being used to subsidise
the weekend’s costs. Nonetheless, the dinner at West Dean House is
more expensive than is usual for our club. However, this is a truly
spectacular venue that President Peter is keen to use. And one must
bear in mind the standards shown to us when we visit the German and
French Clubs.
So, come and push-the-boat-out and enjoy a superb dining experience!
Initially, numbers will be restricted to seventy persons, which includes
our visitors, but this can be increased, if necessary.
Please put these dates in your diary and discuss the weekend with
your partners. We need host families for that weekend and Priory
members to participate the very exciting programme of events.

                                                            13
Bridging Generations identifies                                           A CLOSE ENCOUNTE
                                                                                                              R OF THE
        some amazing stories.                                                         FEATHERED KIND
                                                                                                                   .
                                                                    While visiting Tortola in
                                           ing,                                                 the British Virgin Isles las
 At a recent Bridging Generations’ meet                             January, I took the opp
                                                                                              ortunity to swim in the war
                                                                                                                              t
                                        ct”, we heard
 Priory’s “Hands-on Community Proje                                 Caribbean Sea. I was
                                                                                              about fifty yards off the be
                                                                                                                              m
                                         Health and                watching a pelican skimm                                  ach and
 from Megan, a 17 year-old student of                              looking for its lunch, whe
                                                                                                  ing the waves, presumabl
                                                                                                                                 y
                                          in Sussex.
 Social Care, who lives with her family                           substantial hitting the wat
                                                                                                n I was rocked by someth
                                                                                                                               ing
                                              whilst                                             er a few feet from my hea
 Her father became blind after a trauma,                          As I turned and looked
                                                                                             in that direction a large
                                                                                                                                d.
                                            help from                                                                     brown
  her sisters and brothers are in need of                         pelican surfaced, with a
                                                                                              fish hanging out of its bea
                                             tal                  more than a yard way from                                  k, no
  Social Services for their subsequent men                        BIG, and this one was
                                                                                                   me. Now, these birds
                                                                                                                             are
                                        runs     the                                       roughly the size of a swa
  problems. Megan cooks, cleans and                              me intently for a while,                                 n. It eyed
                                              time to                                      tossed its head back, sw
  house for her family and she also finds                        the fish whole and then
                                                                                            flew off, leaving me sha
                                                                                                                          allowed
                                                 at the                                                                  ken and
  study for Level 1 Health and Social Care                      in no doubt that I was the
                                                                                               intruder in its territory.
                                            in question!        few seconds, while we                                      Those
   College. That Megan is a “star” is not                                                 looked each other in the
                                                                such close range, will stay                              eye at
                                                                                                with me for a long time.
                                                                Rtn. Ritchie Stevenson

                                                                      RIBI AWARD FOR OU
     SOUTH AFRICAN GLOBAL                                                               TSTANDING
                                                                         INTERNATIONAL SE
                                                                                          RVICE
         GRANT PROJECT                                             The    Rotary Club of Godalming
                                                                                                       Woolsack nominated
                                                                    Norman Coward for his quit
                                         under the
The Rotary Club of Chichester Priory,
                                                                                                  e remarkable humanitarian
                                                                    in one of the poorest areas                                 work
                                           mittee, has                                            of Ethiopia over the past 15
guidance of Gordon Jones and his com                               years, actively supported by
                                                                                                   his partner, Carole Andrew
                                         l Grand
been active in its support of the Globa                            It is based on his unstintin
                                                                                               g dedication and personal com
                                                                                                                                 s.
                                   anya  ECD Centre.                                                                              -
project in South Africa; the Zisuk                                 mitment to improving the live
                                                                                                   s of thousands of people living
                                           of 170                 in the remote Amhara regi
Our club recently helped in the delivery                          are mostly nonexistent and
                                                                                               on, where the simple basics
                                                                                                                               of life
                                           t application
chairs and 88 tables to the Global Gran                           charitable activity.
                                                                                                where there is virtually no oth
                                                                                                                                  er
                                    photograp   h shows
 to furnish the new building. The                                 For the past 15 years Norm
                                            e’s new                                             an and Carole have visited
 some of the children enjoying the Centr                         Ethiopia four times a year
                                                                                              for 2-3 weeks at a time to
                            Sensory Garden. More                 local Woreda officials resp                               meet
                                                                                              onsible for education, wate
                             information about this              health to discuss, identify,
                                                                                              and then visit, sites for pos
                                                                                                                            r and
                                                                                                                           sible
                             project, and the Priory            new projects. In the first year
                                                                                                s they personally funded all
                                                                these projects, and paid their
                              Club’s involvement, from                                            air fares, accommodation
                                                                                                                              and
                                                                vehicle costs. 56 projects
                              Gordon and his team.                                          have been completed and
                                                                27,000 lives improved. It has                             arou  nd
                                                                                                 taken just two Rotarians!

                        THE ROTARY CLUB OF CHICHESTER PRIORY
                         www.rotarypriory.com www.facebook.com/ChichesterPriory

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