President July 2019 to July 2020
David Matthews is our current president of the club in his second term in that position. Here he is receiving the chain of office from Past President Linda and after in the first few minutes of his new role.
This year 2019/20 is an important year for our Rotary Club with one of our members Simon Wood becoming the new District Governor for the Devon and Cornwall areas of Rotary International. Certainly it is the club’s wish to support Simon and ensure he enjoys a very successful year. Simon is only the sixth member of the club to hold this office in its 94 year old history. Previous members to hold the office included Honorary Member Eric Watts in 1989/90 and a former Past President Adrian Lunnon in 1997/98.
This was the day that Simon made his first club visit to our club of course and the day that Dickson Tolman, Rotarian for 34.5 years retired.
Club Meetings
At club meetings we have some great speakers throughout the year. Some of them have done great things in their lives, some do great things in the community and some are just really good speakers. Here are some examples of the speakers we have heard at meetings over the last year.
A speaker from First Responders who demonstrated some of the equipment they use with the help of club member Dirk:-
New Member Jane Wood Spoke to us about her life and times.
Safer Driving – Mike Hull
A thought provoking talk by Mike on safer driving.
Activites
The 2019 Avocet Rotary Walk was blessed with good weather. Funds raised for The Avocet Learning Trust.
Ian and Cliff layout the route.
The route through beautiful East Devon scenery.
Certificates for the walkers
Last Night of the Proms 2019
This annual concert has become a great club tradition much appreciated by many in Exmouth. The concert in September 2019 produced a great programme and its success is summed up below.
When you think that the children had learnt all the words of A Million Dreams, Sing and a World in Union in just three weeks they gave a wonderful flawless performance all sang with great gusto and enthusiasm. A special thanks go to Assistant Headteacher at Marpool Primary School for co-ordinating the children’s choir.
In Part 2 of the concert Nikki Atkins from Exmouth Community College thrilled the audience with her special interruption of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables and the Aretha Franklin classic Natural Woman.
As we moved on the finale we were delighted to welcome back Soprano Val Howels to The pavilion to lead the audience in Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and Auld Lang Syne and her very own rousing rendition of Rule Britannia.
Throughout the evening these individual performances were more than equalled by the Exmouth Town Concert Band who delighted the audience with a programme of music and popular classics ranging from the Dam Busters to The Greatest Showman Ol’ Blue Eyes to a Second World War Singalong. The Band concluded their performances with a Fantasia on British Sea Songs and Pomp and Circumstances No 1.
A big thanks to everybody who contributed to this most enjoyable and successful evening. To Keval for his hard work and support in producing the excellent programmes, to Linda for all her hard work with the raffle and the bouquets, to Loraine, Jane and Simon’s sister who is visiting from Australia for their energetic sale of raffle tickets. A big thank you to all the Rotarians and Rotary friends who helped in the afternoon and the evening.
All the proceeds from the event will go towards the Avocet Learning Trust project to build a Educational centre for vulnerable children in the community.
