THE ROTARY CLUB OF FERNDOWN

Chris’s Chatter

Old Fossils walk

Youth Speaks

News from OZ

Environment Award

Gerry’s Scheme

Inner Wheel

Trucking into the Nineties

Presidents Evening

Fun Run

Flying High

Laugh with Longcroft

Alderney Airings

Rotary Walk

Special points of interest:

Meets at Cobhams Sports and Social Club

Merley Park Road Wimborne

Telephone: 01202 885773

E-Mail: cobhamsport@btconnect..com

RO

TA

RY

CLU

B O

F FE

RN

DO

WN

Ap

ril

20

14

Service above Self

Iss

ue

Te

n

Chris’s Chatter

Well, time is marching on in this rotary year. We had two good speakers in

March, Brian Haigh gave us a fascinating talk on his experiences flying the

Sea Harrier in the Falklands, and Martin Underhill talked about his role as the

Dorset Police Commissioner. And at the same time being the President of the

Parkstone Rotary Club! Our own Paul Bennett gave us a very thought provok-

ing and informative talk on the preparations we men should make in the event

that we have to depart for higher service. All our thanks must go to Derek for

organising the Charity run on 23rd March, and all those who helped to make it

successful. The bacon butties went down a treat in the hail and rain!!

Looking forward, we have the scatter week, which usually produces some

amusing reports. I hope that we have a good turnout for this. We also have the

Haskins collection on 5 and 6 April which this time, weather permitting, fea-

tures Howard-plus-one on the music front. Thank you to all those who have

volunteered to collect. On 9th April, after committees, we will be inducting

Lou Knight, who will be a welcome addition to the Club. He has been with us

for some weeks participating in our activities and also helped out at the Char-

ity run. Thank you Lou and welcome to the Club. We also have our AGM on

16th April where we will summarise how we have done over the past Rotary

Year. Derek will also brief us all on his new team.

On Friday 2nd May, we are conducting operations to try to deplete as much as

possible the food and alcohol that has been stockpiled at Canford Magna Golf

Club (see operation order 1/2014 dated 16 March). We need max effort to

make significant inroads, so as requested, send your details to Warrant Officer

Giles by 25th April. It is with sadness that we bid farewell to Ann Banks who

has to move up to Hertfordshire for family reasons. She has been a good work-

ing member of our club, and we wish her well for the future. We also have to

say farewell to Gordon Way, and we wish him every success in his new ven-

ture with Eddie ‘the truck’ Stobbart.

Chris

Group 1 Youth Speaks Final

On Wednesday 5th March, Jim Neil and myself attended the Group 1 Youth Speaks Final at the

Blandford School between teams from Ferndown Upper School and the Blandford School.

The Ferndown team of three girls spoke first on the topic of “Is it better to be different?” this

was followed by the Blandford team of three boys who asked the question “ Is the future prede-

termined”

Although the Ferndown team spoke well, they were only 14 years old and this was their first out-

ing in front of an audience. The Blandford team of boys were all aged 17 and had previous experi-

ence in the Youth Speaks competition, Accordingly, the Blandford team won and will go on to the

District Final to be held in Andover on Saturday 22nd March.

Having had much trouble in arranging entries from the local schools, it was graty=ifying to have

Sally Emms, the Ferndown coach, ask whether they can enter 2 teams in the Senior Competion for

2014/2015 and also an Intermediate team!!

My thanks to Neil for managing the stop watch and for Jim for asking questions to the two main

speakers, I should also like to record my thanks to John Bently, President of the Blandford Club

for his help in making all the necessary arrangemnents.

Mike Clampin.

The winning team from Blandford School

Old Fossils Walk

I think they found bones of their ancestors

Charity Golf Day

Wednesday 4th June 2014

Canford Magna Golf Club

The main event is sponsored by The Hendy Group, however we are still looking

for additional sponsors for the following:

Individual Holes: 1 to 18 at a cost of £50 per hole.

Nearest the Pin: Holes 5,8,13,16, at a cost of £50 per hole.

Longest Drive Men: 9th Hole.

Longest Drive Ladies: 9th Hole.

Halfway House: Cost £50.

Pims Refreshments Cost £100

So please give some thought to finding sponsors for our main fund raising event

“SCATTER WEEK 2014” Scatter Week has been an annual feature of the Club Calendar since its introduction in 1987.

There have been only modest changes in the Rules since “Scatter” started, and the following might be considered as the criteria that

currently applies, and which should be the basis upon which the 2013-2014 challenge for the “Ferndown Otter” is reached:

1. ALL Members are encouraged to arrange a joint visit to another Ro-

tary club during the designated period. Individuals who make a visit

will NOT qualify. 2. Members should travel together, hopefully in Groups of four, for

the specific purpose of visiting another Rotary club in order to take

part in that club’s weekly meeting. 3. Members finding themselves holidaying in various locations at the

time of the “Scatter” will NOT qualify for the trophy, whether or not they are accompanied by a Ferndown Rotarian!

4. All forms of transport are permissible.

5. The “Ferndown Otter” will be awarded to the Team who, in the

judges’ opinion, obtain the greatest number of points (see clauses 6-9

inclusive). 6. Each mile travelled shall qualify for 1 point and shall be multiplied

by the number of Rotarians that comprise the ‘Team’ (to a MAXIMUM

of Five Rotarians, only). 7. Teams bringing back a club pennant, or a duly completed Visitor’s

Card, shall qualify for an additional 50 points.

8. Teams visiting a club OUTSIDE of District 1110 shall also qualify for

an additional 50 points.

9. Teams daft enough to visit a Breakfast Club shall certainly qualify for an additional 50 points.

10.The judges’ decision is FINAL and he/she/they can award, at his/her/their discretion, additional points for ‘other’ club’s

items submitted by the visiting Rotarians, for consideration.

NEWS FROM OZ

Paul & Jean

4 March 2014

We left Brisbane on Qantas on 14th February and flew to Adelaide – city of Churches. This was our 4th

visit to the city which is just beautiful. Lots of parks and a very relaxing feel about it. We drove to

Glenelg which is at the beach just 6 miles from the city and met up with friends from the UK who

emigrated over 40 years ago. Had a superb dinner at a seafood restaurant right on the sea front.

Couple of days later we started our drive from Adelaide via Hahndorf where early German settlers

made their home. It is also close to the Barossa Valley

which is world famous for its wines. We then moved on to

Mount Gambier the home of the Blue Lake. Often the lake

is just a normal grey colour however

from December to March dependant on

weather it is rich blue in colour. We went

on a lovely day and the lake was indeed bright blue. You could see the reflec-

tions of the clouds and a building on the water. It was like looking at a mirror.

We travelled the Great Ocean Road from South Australia into Victoria. It is

magnificent and is a ‘must see’ if you visit down under. The coast line is staggeringly beautiful

and we were able to see dolphins in the ocean from the shore. Crossing into Victoria we visited

Sovereign Hill at Ballarat. Here an old goldmine is used as

a tourist attraction. It is just like the early settlers would

have found it. We were even able to pan for gold and yes

there still is gold to be found. All the staff are in period cos-

tume and it is a fantastic experience. From Ballarat we

drove to Melbourne met up with some British and Australia

friends and spent a couple of days in the city. After Melbourne we drove to Phillip Island where

we saw the penguins come in at night from the sea. We also saw a large lizard cross the road in

front of us as well as an echidna. From Philip Island to Lakes Entrance and then on to Eden. We

took a small ferry over to Raymond Island and there saw lots of wild koalas in the trees mostly

sleeping but some awake and just looking at us. It really was a highspot. We also saw kangaroos in

the wild. We spent our last few days of trip at Shell Harbour

which is south of Sydney. Beautiful beaches again and a

lovely area. We flew back to Brisbane from Sydney.

It was a great trip and we have now seen a whole lot more of

this vast coutry but there is still so much more to see. Next

time maybe up to Darwin and the north or over to Perth in

the west - we shall have to make some plans.

Now back ‘home’ in our unit at Flinders Village. Back to Ipswich

Rotary, back to normal everyday living in 30C temperatures!!

We look forward to catching up with you soon as we will be back in

the UK on 21st March.

Jean & Paul

RIBI Environment Award

2014

The best laid schemes of mice and men “aft gang awa”, but not for Gerry Clarke, another brilliant

idea of Gerry’s has come to fruition, is there no end to his talents. His latest has been awarded the

accolade of Highly Commended by the RIBI Environmental and Sustainability Group for the joint

effort with our Twin Club from Dublin. Well done Gerry, I wonder what he has up his sleeve for

the next one.

WATCH THIS SPACE

Another of Gerry’s Schemes

If you are passing through Ferndown town , stop by the KGV Memorial Gardens to see the

floral Rotary Roundel and purple crocus ribbon that we Ferndown Club Members planted a

few years ago! You will be pleased to know the flowers have just emerged and are continuing to

flourish!

Enjoy! Gerry

It was a full turn out from the ladies of Ferndown Inner Wheel plus the welcome presence of Pauline

Reynolds, the Mayor of Ferndown, for the presentation of a sack truck to the team involved in the

Sheltered Work Opportunities Project (SWOP) at the Cherry Trees Nursery at Northbourne.

The presentation formed part of campaign initiated by the Inner Wheel, nationally, in this its 90th year,

with all clubs being invited to support local charities by donating anything with wheels.

A full turnout at the Cherry Tree Nursery

by the ladies of Ferndown Inner Wheel

Diana Marshal, President of the Ferndown Inner Wheel presents

The Sack truck to Jessica Davies manager of Cherry Tree Nursery

Inner Wheel Trucks into it’s “Nineties”

President Chris thought that this picture was too good not to share

Nice pair of legs Geoff

Cherry Tree Nursery Cherry Tree Nursery

The Wheels Project

The local plant nursery “Cherry Tree Nursery” was the choice of the Ferndown club to supply a

“wheels” item. This establishment was set up many years ago as a Sheltered Workers Opportunity

Project (SWOP) and finds horticultural employment for an increasing number of suitable appli-

cants. The nursery is run on a commercial basis selling a large variety of plants and shrubs to the

trade and general public. My own garden has been established mainly from the healthy stock, which

is raised on Cherry Tree premises.

We have supported SWOP financially several times and felt it was an ideal venue to donate some

wheels. After some discussions with the manager Jessica Davies, she suggested we buy them a Sack

Trolley. This may not be the most glamorous item but certainly extremely useful. Decision made

and agreed by our club the presentation has finally happened. In addition to ourselves, we were

graced by the presence of the mayor of Ferndown, Pauline Reynolds, and accompanied by balloons

and posters we arrived en mass to hand over the sack trolley.

The excitement amongst the volunteer workers was amazing and on arrival we were introduced to

Ivan who was the “Chief Sack Trolley Pusher” He was already raving about the technical advance-

ment of this particular model. Many of the other volunteer workers were clustering around our cam-

eraman, Ferndown Rotarian Trevor Longcroft, who kindly agreed to help us. With his usual good

humour Trevor took pictures of them all, then rounded up the Inner Wheel members, including our

lady Mayor and Cherry Tree trustees and we all posed around this bright blue truck, decorated with

blue and yellow balloons.

Once the pictures had been taken, we were all invited into the main building for tea or coffee and

then given a tour of the establishment. As well as the admin and recreational rooms we saw the

plant sales area and the polytunnels where all the propagation was done. It truly is a splendid or-

ganisation, which makes 60% of all its costs on the sale of the plants. The shortfall is made of

grants and donations. A truly deserving charity, we are so glad of our choice of Wheels.

Sheila Smith

Club Correspondent.

OPERATION ORDER No 1/2014 from Wing Commander Christopher Marshall

SITUATION

Over the last few weeks, covert operations have shown that in the area of Canford Magna Golf club, food and alcohol supplies

are being stockpiled. This has caused much consternation to the local inhabitants. To discover who was responsible, two secret

agents were sent in disguised as golfers wearing baggy tartan trousers tucked into their socks, swanky waistcoats, peak caps

and a bag of golf clubs each and hailing everyone they met with "Anyone for golf?" However, as there was no communication

from them for some time, it was assumed that their cover was blown, so a snatch mission was sent in to try and rescue them.

They were successfully rescued from the clutches of enemy golfers after being found wandering back along the road clearly

drunk as skunks and with increased waistlines, and loudly shouting "Fore". They had clearly been caught and indoctrinated

by golfers. Intense diplomatic efforts have been unsuccessful in trying to resolve the situation, so it has been decided to mount

operations to devour these stockpiles.

MISSION

To devour the stockpiles of food and alcohol in the area of Canford Magna Golf Club.

EXECUTION

On Friday 2nd May, we will assemble between 1830-1900 with wives and partners (after all, the RAF does have ladies as air-

crew!), conduct a mission briefing, then carry out attack operations to devour the stockpiles of food and alcohol.

PLAN OF ACTION

Broad Mission Details

Friday 2nd May Canford Magna Golf Club

Black Tie (DJ) or Dark Suit

Price £25 Includes Welcome Drink

1830-1900 Assemble 1900 (Sharp) Mission Brief

1910 Engines Start 1915 Take-off

Post Flight Entertainment by BBLOC ‘Bitesize’ Cabaret Singers

TARGETS FOR ATTACK

Choose One from Each Section Below

Initial Targets Cream of Mushroom Soup finished with Fresh Chives and Sauté Wild Mushrooms

OR Atlantic Prawns and Crayfish Cocktail presented On Crisp Salad Leaves and topped

With a Lemon and Chervil Mayonnaise

Main Targets Roasted Sirloin of Beef accompanied by Yorkshire Pudding and a Red Wine, Baby On-

ion and Mushroom Sauce OR

Braised Shoulder of Lamb in a Rich Redcurrant and Rosemary Jus OR

Poached Fillet of Scottish Salmon presented on a Pesto Mashed Potato and Topped With a Prawn Salsa

OR

Alternative Main Targets If Unable to Attack Main Targets above

Penne Pasta accompanied By a Wilted Spinach, Mushroom and Mixed Herb Sauce

topped With Parmesan Shavings OR

Baked Peppers Stuffed with Braised Rice and Char-grilled Vegetables set on a Spiced Tomato Sauce

OR Sauté Mixed Vegetables Presented in A Sweet and Sour Sauce Accompanied with Pilau

Rice

Secondary Targets

Baked treacle Tart with Fresh Clotted Cream OR

Coffee and Caramelized Hazelnut Parfait accompanied by Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Or

Fruit Salad …………………..

Coffee and Mints Included

Ferndown Rotary

Fun Run

The Ferndown Rotary Charity run turned out to be a mainly family affair. Brother and sister

Robert (10) and Lilly (8) Jones from Hale School in Fordingbridge were first to break the finishing

tape in the 2.5km race for children up to 12. Youngsters Martha (11) and Atticus (13) Pawson

showed a clean pair of heels to the rest of the field to lead the ladies and gents home in the 5km

race.

In the 10km race Matthew Brown from Littledown Harriers got a lightning start and quickly left

the field trailing to eventually break the finishing tape in record time. Not far behind, Lynn Hut-

chins from Wimborne AC paced herself beautifully to comfortably take the top slot in the ladies

race.

Winners of the 2.5km race,

Lilly and Robert Jones

pictured with Ferndown Rotary president Chris Marshall.

Winners of the 5km Race

Martha and Atticus Pawson

Led the field home in the 5km race.

Gents 10km finalists. Winner Matthew Brown, in the yellow vest, with the second and third

placed - Mike Greenwood (right) and Denis Merciere (left). Pictured

with Norman Hendy from the event sponsors, the Hendy Group.

Ladies 10km finalists. Pictured with Norman Hendy from the event sponsors, the Hendy

Group, Lynn Hutchins (left), Mandy Wales, and Amanda Pearson

(right), first second and third, respectively, in the ladies 10km race.

Trevor Longcroft

“ Falklands Experience”

By

Brian Haigh

From Southampton to South Georgia training all the way, ready to meet what ever the Argentini-

ans throw at you. A brilliant talk by Brian Haigh kept us all enthralled, it was real “ Boys Own

stuff.” understated by Brian but those of us that had experienced combat new how hard and diffi-

cult and heroic it must have been for all those who made up the Falklands Task Force. The logis-

tics of a campaign that far away was incredible and a credit to everyone concerned.

Longcroft’s Laughter Lines

A British father goes into his daughter’s bedroom and sees a letter addressed

to ‘Mum and Dad’ on the bed. With a heavy heart he opens it and reads:

Dear Mum & Dad

It is with great regret and sorrow that I’m telling you that I’ve eloped with my new boy-

friend. I’ve found real love and he is so nice, Especially with all his piecing, and scars,

tattoos and his stolen Harley. But it’s not only that, I’m pregnant as well, Ahmed said

that we will be very happy in hois caravan in Epping Forest. He wants to have many

more children with me and his other wives and that is one of my dreams too.

I’ve learned that marijuana does not hurt anyone and we will be growing it for us and

Ahmed’s friends. They’re the ones providing us with all the cocaine and ecstasy we

could ever use.

In the mean time we’ll pray for science to find a cure for Aids, so that Ahmed can get

better. He deserves it. Don’t worry about money. Ahmed has arranged for me to be in

films that his friends Leroy and Jamal make in their basement. Apparently I can earn

£200 per scene and I can get a £200 bonus if there are more than three men in the

scene and an extra £100 for the Alsatian.

Don’t worry Mum. Now that I am fourteen I know how to take care of myself. Someday

we’ll visit you and Dad so that you can meet your grandchildren.

Dad, found the cash you were hiding from mum, but don’t worry we left you a few quid.

Your loving daughter

Angelina

P.S. Dad. For God's sake, calm down. It’s not true. I’m actually watching TV

at the neighbours. I just wanted to show you that there really are worse

things in life than England loosing the bloody Ashes.

Oh no there isn’t

Alderney “Airings”

I hope all is well in Ferndown, it has continued to be an interest-

ing few weeks for weather with storms and winds and then get-

ting cut off for 3 days through fog which left many people frus-

tratingly wishing for wind! I thought in this missive I would tell

you a little about how the Alderney Rotary club functions. It has

an informal approach and takes a relaxed attitude to ‘things’ in

Rotary and a fairly circumspect view to anything that is promoted

from RIBI and its associated ‘structure’. I suppose you get used to being isolated and so just get on

with doing things your own way; and ‘if it ain't broke, don’t try and fix it’. Membership is about

40 with meetings held on Tuesday evenings at 5.30. Activities follow a rhythm of once a month

sitting down to a formal evening dinner at one of the local hotels / restaurants and then for two

evenings holding an ‘informal’ meeting which is a general get together in a local pub, the Geor-

gian, during ‘happy hour’ where small bits of business and catching up on activities can take place.

The fourth meeting in the month is a formal business meeting, in the same pub, but in a separate

room where we run through whole club activities, sectional activities, and information from RIBI,

membership etc. If there is a fifth Tuesday in the month then a member holds ‘an open house’ on

the bring and share approach with partners.

Events we have coming up are a curry night raising money for a Shelter Box. This event is open to

anyone on the island and through having a good relationship with the Indian restaurant owner we

get a good price for the evening as he knows he will be full. The International committee then

takes the remainder of the ‘profit’ from the evening as we

can put a charity premium on the tickets. It also means

we are widening our fund raising to non - Rotary mem-

bers. We also promote things differently being a much

smaller and focused community (2000 individuals) by

displaying an open Shelter box in a local empty shop for

the preceding month and the local pharmacy just up the

High Street sells tickets for us. This approach just made

me think how we bemoaned the fact that Ferndown Rotary wasn’t an integral part of the Ferndown

community and might be a way for raising its profile? At the end of March we are holding a

Spring Fair and in September a half marathon, both of these events are good fund raisers and en-

able us to make a contribution to a range of charities both on island and off island. Once again the

people who are contributing are for the most part non- members so we can widen our net of fund

raising. Our other big events are holding a Christmas lunch for all the OAPs on the island (a local

restaurant ‘gives’ us their kitchen and members pitch in with a Turkey lunch over three days for

300) and an OAP cream tea railway afternoon in the summer. Yes we do have a fully functioning

railway on an island only three miles long, one that Mr Beeching

didn’t know about and which goes very slowly with either stem or

diesel locomotives pulling ex London Transport underground car-

riages which fit the guage I have attached a few pictures of Spring

here in Alderney and as ever there is an open invoitation to come

and visit, though over the last few days we have been fogged in with

nothing moving on or off the Island by air or sea.

YIR

Ian Carter

Rotary Walk

Good walk, lovely weather, local history and an excellent lunch - shame about the coffee!

On a fine, early Spring morning, 9 Rotarians and wives set off on a 4 mile walk around the village

of Pimperne on the edge of Camborne Chase. This is an area steeped in history and the walk took

in:- the longest Bronze Age barrow in Dorset (4000 years old) a memorial to the Royal Navy Divi-

sion's Collingwood Battalion, which was based at Blandford Camp and which was virtually wiped

out at Gallipoli in 1915

Pimperne Church was originally Norman (it still contains a wooden Norman font) but was

rebuilt in the 19th Century by Lord Portman (of Portman Building Society fame) who lived

at what is now Bryanstone School

-

a 14th Century preaching stone outside of Pimperne Church which was used by friars as they trav-

elled around from village to village in the Middle Ages

An excellent lunch followed at The Anvil Inn at Pimperne. This is highly recommend for the

lunchtime offer but avoid the small cups of mediocre filter coffee at £2.50 a cup!.

Tim Lee

Pimperne Church

Bronze Age Barrow

Bryanstone School

The Anvil Inn

Pimperne

Collingwood Memorial

Preaching Stone

The Object of Rotary

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as

a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and fos-

ter:

1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.

2. High ethical standards in business and professions, and the

recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations and the

dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to

serve society.

3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s

personal, business and community life.

4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill

and peace through a world fellowship of business and

professional persons united in the ideal of service.

The “Four-Way Test”

First: Is it the truth

Second: Is it fair to all Concerned?

Third: Will it build goodwill and better friendships

Fourth: Will it be beneficial to all concerned

Business Partners of Ferndown Rotary Club

Helping Our Community

Haskins Garden Centres

Henderson’s Opticians

Hendy Group Motor Dealers

Insley & Partners,Solicitors

A.E.Jolliffe & Sons, Funeral Directors

Merlo UK Ltd

Moors Pharmacy

Simon R Puddle, Certified Accountant

Swift Body Repairs

The Practice at Ferndown, Osteopaths

The Roman Group Printers

Wellstead & Wellstead Estate Agents