November was another very busy month for the Club. On Saturday 3rd, over 300 guests attended the Bollywood-themed Grand Charity Ball at Ye Olde Bell. This raised over £18,000 for various charities including Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, Bassetlaw Hospice and Rotary Charities.
The club played its part in the remembrance programme over that poignant weekend. On the Friday, members manned the British Legion stall kindly permitted by Morrisons. The following day, Saturday 10th found a packed Town Hall for a very moving service and concert. The proceeds of £1,612 being split between the British Legion and Rotary Charities. On the Sunday, President Eddie laid a wreath as part of the service at the War Memorial in the Market Square.
The speaker at the Monday Meeting was Richard Dent. He gave a brief history of food banks and especially our own in Retford and how it operates. He dispelled many myths about who is entitled to benefit and how much food is distributed.
On Thursday 15th businesses were invited to a Partnership Evening at Ye Olde Bell to promote Rotary’s charitable community activities and explain how they could join forces.
Our attention now turned towards the Festive Season. Community Services Chairman Tina Offer led a team that decorated a Christmas Tree in St Swithun’s Church. The club put on a stall at the Christmas Market with a variety of amusements: throwing balls at a stack of cans, raffle mulled wine and a tombola, over £800 going into the charity account.
Purple crocuses have become a symbol of Rotary’s Polio Eradication Programme. Purple dye is used to indicate which children have been immunised in Pakistan and India; the two places still with the disease. Members have planted 5,000 more bulbs in Kings Park. Hopefully, there will be a sea of purple in the spring.