NEWS
Every year Berkhamsted Rotary
Club joins with the Town Council
to make two Civic Awards (one
for adults and a Junior Civic
Award for under 18s). They
recognise special contributions
to the local community.
This year’s junior winner was 14 year
old Nathan Whale who is known for his
Nate’s Bakes stall in the market - which
generates enjoyment for his many customers and regular donations to
charities.
Here Rotary President 2023/4 Mike Hart gives Nathan his award at the
Town Meeting.
Student briefings on humanitarian crises.
What happens when natural and manmade disasters occur? The
horrors of Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan and the ravages of Hurricane
Beryl in the Caribbean are current examples.
The short answer is that
ordinary peoples’ lives and
livelihoods are upended.
Close to the end of their
summer terms Berkhamsted
Rotary Club ran
Humanitarian Disaster
Briefing joint sessions for
some 170 Lower Sixth
students from Ashlyns and
Berkhamsted Schools. The purpose of the briefings was to introduce
participants to the humanitarian sector and its responses and to map
out career opportunities.
Harriette Purchas, a local Mum and experienced Humanitarian
Engineer, facilitated the sessions
hosted by Ashlyns School.
Fiona Tan from Save the Children
described her own career in this
US$ 50 billion sector where some
380 million people are impacted by
humanitarian crises worldwide.
Berkhamsted resident John Borton
from Herts Welcomes Refugees
spoke of local aspects where the
charity has 140 volunteers supporting 350 resettled refugees across
Hertfordshire and 500 asylum seekers living in 6 hotels and dispersed
accommodation in our area.
Many students said the event gave
them new understanding and opened
their eyes to new perspectives. A
number from both schools are keen to
volunteer locally.
This is the third year Rotary has
organized these events with the aim to
promote peace and understanding
through practical action and the ethos
of “Service above Self”.
For more details about Shelterbox and the Impact of
our partnrship in Rotary Year 2023-2024, please click
HERE
Our latest member, Ian
Allison, was formally
welcomed to the Club on
25th February, by our
president, Jim Binyon.
The Obejcts of Rotary
were read and reflected
on.
Ian is the Manager of Castles, Berkhamsted branch.
Ian says that he is looking forward to spreading the word about
Rotary to newcomers to the town: its commitment to the local
community and to fellowship.
Technology Tournament 2025
The Rotary Clubs of Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead held their
hugely successful annual Technology Tournament on 13th March at
Ashlyns School.
This year’s event involved the students designing, building and
demonstrating an electrically operated, remote controlled vehicle
capable of moving forwards and backwards to crawl along inside a
drain and clear the internal debris.
The 27 teams of 4 students each worked enthusiastically on their
model and you could feel the healthy competitiveness between the
teams.
We were pleased that nearly all teams had a working model to
demonstrate and the majority met the brief set by the judges.
The Foundation Shield went to Astley Cooper School
The Intermediate Shield went to Berkhamsted School
The Advanced Shield went to Tring School
The Silver Salver Team Prize went to Adeyfield School
Rotary received very positive feedback from both teachers and
students as they left for home and they promised to be back next year.
The event was again oversubscribed which indicates the popularity of
this challenge.
Thanks goes to Ashlyns School, Paul Chambers for sound and video,
the guest Judges and the army of Rotarians.
The organisers have commented: 'Why not encourage your child to
apply through their Dacorum based school?'
Visit to Battersea Power Station
A group of members and their spouses/partners enjoyed a day at
Battersea Power Station. A guided tour provided a history of the
power station and its later development as an aspirational
entertainment and living complex. Some brave souls enjoyed Lift 109
(109 metres above sea level) inside one of the one four iconic
chimneys restored by a Club Sponsor, Maylim.
The group had time to window shop and a spot of lunch in the food
court. Highlights included a private visit to Control Room A used to
host functions, and views of the impressive exterior and luxury
apartment blocks in the 45 acre site on the Thames.
Half-Marathon and Fun Run 2025 Appreciation evening
At a regular meeting on 15th April, the Club President and the Chair of the
Half Marathon & Fun Run Committee welcomed guests and members to
an Appreciation evening. The purpose was to show the Club's
appreciation on behalf of the community for the support in kind and
provision of volunteers that made this year's Run such a success. 25 of
the 32 organisations involved were represented. The Mayor of
Berkhamsted Cllr Susan Jordan, attended in her role as Starter.
Chairman Paul elaborated on the record-breaking numbers of runners
(2,000) and the net £31,000 raised by the Club for local charities; on top of
this amount, over £36,000 was raised by runners for their own causes. He
even took credit for the weather.