For many years, Bassetlaw District Council has granted a licence to the Rotary Club of Retford to collect donations from the public in Retford Town Centre for one day during December. In 2021, this took place on Saturday 4th and, as in recent years, was made more festive by the appearance of reindeer (coming in spirit from the North Pole, but more directly from Haughton Park Farm). The weather was far from kind, but the two animals involved took it in their stride – Chewy, an old hand at the event, joined this time by Blue. Everyone was generous and £602 was collected.
At the Club the following Monday, members divided into their respective committees as is normal for the first meeting of the month. What was different, however, was that Rotarian Michele Honey-Floyd and her friend Liz Prime put on a display of handmade Christmas decorations which they sold in aid of The Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF). CHUF is an organisation that members recently agreed to add to the Club’s list of supported charities.
Rather than send Christmas cards to each other, members of the Club now make a charitable donation instead, organised by Rotarian Derek Turner. This December, the fund added another £292 into the Club’s charity account.
The Omicron strain of COVID-19 started to take its toll, and it was agreed to cancel the traditional Christmas Party for members and partners. Instead, members met on Zoom for light-hearted entertainment. Several Rotarians had party pieces and there was a monologue from Rotarian Tony Wakefield’s wife Elizabeth.
Finally, the result of the Lottery Lunch Raffle. This was a very generous offer by Ye Olde Bell Hotel, Barnby Moor and raised £1,700 for the Club’s charity account. The winning ticket belonged to Derek Turner. Derek and his wife Joan will have a lunch at the hotel once every month throughout 2022.
Club President Andrew Avery thanked the Hotel Manager and Rotarian Kate Firth for arranging this. He added: “Ye Olde Bell’s support for this lottery has ensured the Club can tackle more needs in our community. Kate and the Community Committee of the Club have plans to spend these funds to make better lives for local people. We are very grateful for the support of the staff and management of Ye Olde Bell.”