The 33rd Anniversary Charter        back

Saturday 5 April 2008 saw members and guests together with visiting members from other local Clubs assemble at the Sheffield Park Hotel for the Club’s 33rd Charter Dinner. President John Smith welcomed everyone to what turned out to be a most entertaining evening and after Grace led by Rotarian Reverend William Eardley there was a substantial meal which prepared the way for the evening’s speeches.

After the Roll Call of Visiting Clubs Senior Vice President Alan Hepworth outlined the various International Projects that the Rotary Club of Dronfield have been engaged in during John Smith’s Year as President before proposing the toast to Rotary International. These included:- £600 given to The Bizweni Centre for disabled children in South Africa to help provide potable water with a further £245 ready to send. A donation of £600 to a young Pastor in Uganda who looks after a group of orphans and grows and delivers Maize to those in Northern Uganda displaced by Civil War.

Sierra Leone received 333 pairs of crutches, 5 Zimmer frames, 2 adjustable walking sticks, 9 helping hands, 5 long handle shoehorns, 2 large boxes of surgical instruments and 1 large box of sundry surgical equipment, with a total value well in excess of £10k . Other sundry tools were also sent and £572 was donated to the Rotary Mission Challenge operating through Mercy Ships. £500 provided 2 Aquabox 30’s to Bangladesh following the Cyclone they suffered. A sponsored concert raised £3325 for the provision of a Water Tanker in Andrha Pradesh in India. Working with other clubs a Carbon Offset Trust has been set up. District Governor Roger Pursey then responded on behalf of Rotary International and proposed the toast to the Rotary Club of Dronfield.

President John Smith proposed the toast to visitors and guests and this was responded to by Peter Slack who gave a highly entertaining speech which detailed the antics of Ramblers in the Peak District from the view point of a Hill Farmer. The talk was rib-ticklingly funny and had everyone laughing the whole time.

After a closing toast to Rotary and Peace the World Over it was time to leave the warmth and fellowship of so many Rotarians and Guests and venture out into a cold, wet and sleety night carrying memories of an excellent evening.

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