Trefoil Guild at Berkswell Reading Rooms
The Guild is an international organisation which is part of GirlGuiding. Most of the members have been in Guiding and the aim is to support Guiding as much as possible. The Berkswell Branch has over 50 members. The event at Berkswell is an annual one, very informal, but this year also forms part of Berkswell’s week-long celebration of the Royal Wedding. The aim of the day was to raise a lot of money for various charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, County Air Ambulance, RNLI, Liver Foundation Trust and of course the Trefoil Guild itself. We were pleased to help them as much as we could in this.
ShelterBox in Warwick
Sheila and I, together with President Keith from Knowle & Dorridge R C, went to the Newburgh Primary School to do our usual talk to the school promoting Shelterbox. One of their Year Groups was doing a project on disasters. We do have to make clear that we are doing this as volunteers, in fact as Meriden Rotarians. The children are always fascinated by the tent and the amount that is sent in the green box and how comprehensive it is.
Presentation of Certificates for Teaching Assistants at the North Solihull Schools Federation
Training and development is important and motivating for all staff and it was good to see the effort that was being put into this at the NSF. The assistants received certificates recognising their training, but so also did the coachers and trainers. There was a lot of enthusiasm present and without doubt this will be reflected in their work with the children. The event and training has been actively supported and encouraged by the Teacher Learning Academy and the Solihull Learning Academy. The presentations took place at the beautiful new Banbury Club near ASDA at Chelmsley Wood; my first visit there since its move.
Solihull Twinning – welcoming visitors from Cholet
Solihull has a twinning association that runs independently of the Council and we were pleased to go and help give a welcome to the visitors from Cholet that had just arrived on that day (Thursday). It was good to practice my French again, although sometimes I do seem to get tripped up by the simplest of words, as I tried to explain the differences between the French and British system of mayors, as well as the elections that were going on at the moment.
“The Poem 2011″ Launch of the Anthology at Lyndon School
What a large audience of enthusiastic poets, friends and relatives packed the hall for this event. There had been over 500 entrants from children at eight schools across the Borough and the short listed poets had been brought together in a nice book for the event. Judging had been done in year groups, for the written poems and separately for those that were read on the evening. Personally, I think it takes a lot of courage to stand up in front of such a large audience of adults and children, then read your poetic work: in some cases they had been learned by heart. I was one of the judges and it was very hard to decide on the winners. After the judging, I did a little talk on how important I thought poetry was: the fact that it has been used as a medium for over 3000 years, to our knowledge. Some history and culture is only known through being passed down in poetic fashion over the years.
I defined a poem as an imaginative composition in rhythmic lines. ( I had borrowed this definition from a dictionary). Poetry can be entertaining, make you think, it can convey messages, be a therapy, or it can be just downright enjoyable. I had written my first poem as recently as December (2010) and have since dome about eight works that I have inflicted on people at different functions. It is a different way of expression. I decided to read my Christmas poem.
Opening of the Plough “Beefeater” in Stratford Road Shirley
The restaurant has been refurbished and we were asked along to look at it and help launch it. The staff were all very enthusiastic. I decided to splash out on buying the Mayoress and me a first class lunch and really the quality was excellent and price very reasonable. Set me up for a snooze in the afternoon…oh dear, no time. How the Beefeaters have changed over the years, In fact I had grilled salmon with loads of vegetables, also tasty grilled prawns as a starter.
“Kids run free” http://www.kidsrunfree.co.uk/An early start for the Saturday morning to help launch this new series of events, aimed at getting children involved in running and exercise. The name says it all really; there were races for all ages from 2 – 16, with the length varied progressively as the
participants were older. This inaugural venue was at Solihull School and is intended to serve the Solihull area. The aim is to set up venues all over the country and the next events are already in the planning at Leamington and Gloucester. There were also some refreshments available, including rather tasty looking pancakes, everything healthy of course.
participants were older. This inaugural venue was at Solihull School and is intended to serve the Solihull area. The aim is to set up venues all over the country and the next events are already in the planning at Leamington and Gloucester. There were also some refreshments available, including rather tasty looking pancakes, everything healthy of course.Some basic details taken from their above website:-
Not for profit organisation.
Mission: to change the lives of young people across the UK, through a co-ordinated monthly running event series.
Aim to achieve this through FREE monthly running events.
- Participation is FREE.
- Age:toddlers (walking age) to teenagers (16 years maximum) are eligible to compete.
- Races on the first Saturday of every month at 9am at selected venues.
- FREE goody bag for every competitor.
- Registration is FREE online and must be completed by 18:00 the Thursday before the race on Saturday.
- Results will be published on this website and allow kids to compare times with other runners from different areas.
- Same distance, conditions and terrain every month at every venue, guaranteed.
- Prizes awarded every month for the most improved runners.
Rotary Club of Shirley – Donkey Derby in Shirley Park
The 42nd Donkey Derby organised by Shirley Rotary Club; that is quite a record. The weather held good for us all and the
sun even came out for a while. The event was well attended by local people as always and there were many attractions, including of course tombolas, which we always have enjoyed. Rotary President Jim and District Governor David Butler escorted us around and there were many charities represented there.
sun even came out for a while. The event was well attended by local people as always and there were many attractions, including of course tombolas, which we always have enjoyed. Rotary President Jim and District Governor David Butler escorted us around and there were many charities represented there.
Walsall Choral Concert at Bloxwich
We went in support of the Mayor of Walsall’s charity appeal, which was for the local hospice. There were several senior choirs, and one from a local junior school, as well as solo and duet performances. Very fine entertainment.
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