St Bartholomew’s Street Fair, Crewkerne
Friday 4th and Saturday 5th September 2015
Check out this amazing programme of events on our website
Tag: Rotary Somerset
Wessex Beer Festival
Once again the Rotary Club of Somer Valley is running its Wessex Beer Festival. Now in its ninth year it proves to be bigger and better than ever. Held in the grounds of the Court Hotel, Chilcompton, Friday evening 4 September and noon until late on Saturday 5th, it will offer a selection of 28 beers from around the country along with 30 ciders so drinkers can sample those they cannot find locally.
A selection of fine food will compliment the drinks, as well as free car parking and free soft drinks for designated drivers. All of this to a background of live music from a variety of local bands to complete the party atmosphere.
There is still the opportunity for businesses and / or individuals to promote themselves in the programme by sponsoring the entire event, or by just sponsoring a barrel. Tickets cost £8 if purchased in advance or £10 at the door, which includes a souvenir glass and several drink tokens. All profits go to club charities.
For further sponsorship details or to order tickets on line go to our own specialist website http://www.wessexbeerfestival.co.uk, or phone 01761 235835.
Rotary Club of Somer Valley Presidential Handover
March this year saw the Rotary Club of Somer Valley celebrating its twentieth anniversary, having been chartered on 6 March 1995. That first year was under the stewardship of Founding President Humphrey Henry.
Now, twenty years later, we were delighted to have Humphrey as the Guest of Honour at this year’s presidential handover, which took place at Cameley Lodge, Temple Cloud on Tuesday 14 July. President Steve Scott handed the chain of office to his successor Alan Bowhay. Alan in turn appointed Ali Moir as the President Elect and Sunder Ganapathy as Vice President.
The evening was well supported by club members along with their wives / partners and friends, some of whom were past members, and representatives of other local Rotary and Inner Wheel clubs. Following dinner and the formalities of the evening, everyone was entertained and enthralled by Magician Paul Preager of the London Magic Circle, making this handover somewhat different to the norm.
President Alan said, ”My aim is to keep the meetings enjoyable so that members are enthused to attend, with an equal mix of business and social activities, and build on the work started by Past-President Steve. The two watch-words will be ‘Fellowship’ and ‘Fun’. I also want to make the club more attractive to new members.”
The evening was well supported by club members along with their wives / partners and friends, some of whom were past members, and representatives of other local Rotary and Inner Wheel clubs. Following dinner and the formalities of the evening, everyone was entertained and enthralled by Magician Paul Preager of the London Magic Circle, making this handover somewhat different to the norm.
Last Night of the Proms Yeovil
Last Night of the Proms Concert
The British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
The Octagon Theatre Teovil, 4th September 2015
HEARTWORKS, THE STORY OF A ROTARY PROJECT
Background
A chance meeting, determination and resourcefulness have led to the successful completion of the Rotary Club of Wrington Vale’s biggest ever single project.
Figure 1 Peter Roswell |
In the summer of 2014 Rotarian Peter Roswell met Doctor David MacIver at a garden party. They had something in common in that Peter has a history of heart problems having had a heart bypass some 30 years ago and Doctor MacIver is a leading consultant cardiologist based at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton. Their conversation led to Peter discovering that Dr MacIver is responsible for training cardiologists in the South West of England and that he was very keen to acquire some simulator equipment called “Heartworks” to improve the teaching facilities available to him and his colleagues.
Figure 2 Heartworks in action |
Heartworks, developed and manufactured by London based Inventive Medical Ltd (IML), is used to train cardiac clinicians in the interpretation of the ultrasound heart scans known as Echocardiograms (EKGs). The equipment comprises a torso manikin (similar to the dummies used to train people in CPR techniques) which is connected to a computer. There are also two probes. One scans the heart through the chest wall. The other is passed down through the oesophagus and can look at the heart from the back. Trainees practice using the probes to generate the black and white EKG scans. At the same time these are also projected as views of the heart in graphic detail as it would appear in real life. With over 40 different heart conditions programmed into the equipment, using such equipment gives a trainee or researcher a concentration of experience that would not be possible when learning on real life patients or cadavers which is the usual way of gaining knowledge of techniques. Acquisition of the simulator will enable them to train cardiologists and others faster, in greater numbers and in more depth and ultimately more patients will receive lifesaving treatment.
Whilst the importance of the equipment was apparent it was not possible to obtain this through NHS budgets. There were 37 systems in various parts of the NHS but none had been directly acquired by the NHS. All had been purchased using charitable funds but, as we were to discover, none had involved Rotary.
The Plan
Inspired by what he had heard Peter came back to the club and shared his thoughts with a small number of members. From that a plan was hatched to raise the money within Rotary. Clearly the £60,000 price tag was too much for one club to raise on its own within a reasonable period of time especially as IML had agreed to hold the price for a while. Given that the training would benefit the whole of District 1200 and indeed the adjoining districts the original concept was to encourage all affected clubs to contribute to the required fund. District was approached and permission and support sought to visit all clubs to sell the project. It was hoped that sufficient support would be found within the District to make a large contribution to the target. At the same time Wrington Vale was working on fund raising plans of their own to make a substantial donation to the cause feeling that they must lead by example.
A visiting plan was drawn up. Armed with a PowerPoint presentation teams of 2 were dispatched to District 1200 clubs. It was quickly discovered that timing is everything. The visiting plan started in August 2014 which, whilst early in the Rotary year, was after clubs have normally made their plans for the year. Whilst encouraging messages were received it was to be some time before the commitments to provide funds started to come in.
Fundraising
Wrington Vale members, keen to show commitment, had already made personal contributions to kick start the fundraising. The first contributions from clubs were received in November. At the same time we were approaching local companies and had a list of Trusts that we understood would be sympathetic to medical projects. Wrington Vale Rotary Club also held a Musical Evening which raised nearly £2500 and undertook bucket collections at Wyevale Sanders Nursery and Sainsbury.
We had always known that the target was going to be difficult but felt that with continued encouragement we would achieve the objective even if it meant going into a second year. There were the neighbouring districts which we had conversations with and the ongoing approaches to District 1200 clubs and local businesses.
Then a stroke of good Rotary fortune. Peter undertook a Heartworks presentation to Taunton Rotary Club and met with Peter Renshaw who is not only a Rotarian but Chair of The Friends of Musgrove Park Hospital who raise funds for hospital. He felt that it might be possible for them to contribute a substantial sum to the project. Any application for funds required to be presented by medical staff. Following the initial presentation, a final decision was deferred pending further information. We were not too down hearted at this since we were advised that several of the projects competing for funds had been declined without the opportunity to present again. We had an ally in Dr David Grant, Associate Dean Simulation of Health Education South West which is responsible for Post Graduate Medical Education in the South West. He had already committed his organisation to fund ongoing maintenance and future upgrades. Following the further presentation we were delighted when we heard that The Friends had agreed generous and substantial support for our project to acquire the Heartworks equipment to be based at Musgrove Park and used for training across the South West.
Suddenly, with the funds we had already collected, we were over two thirds of the way there and the Rotary target had been considerably reduced. We were just contemplating an application for a Global Grant to get us to the goal when a second huge bit of good fortune came our way. Peter Roswell was talking to Trusts. One of them agreed to an anonymous five figure donation. Therefore we had virtually achieved the target and were just waiting for the final promised funds to arrive.
At the time of writing the Heartworks equipment has been delivered and paid for and we are awaiting the official presentation of the equipment on 25th June 2015
We acknowledge and are grateful for the support of all donors, many of them individuals, members of Rotary Clubs and their families and local businesses both directly and indirectly and, of course the exceptional contributions by The Friends of Musgrove Park Hospital and the anonymous trust. Special mention must also be made of the following Rotary Clubs several of whom put on special fundraising events:
Brue Valley, Chelwood Bridge, Weston super Mare, Bathavon, Melcombe Regis, Wells, Ilminster, Bath, Midsomer Norton & Radstock, Langport & Somerton, Taunton Vale, Minehead & Quantocks, Mendip, Bridport, Wellington, Bridgwater, Crewkerne and, of course, Wrington Vale.
Our “heartfelt” thanks go to everyone for their support and their faith that we would achieve our goal. It may have been achieved differently than planned and anticipated but, in reality, it was Rotarians operating in the best tradition of using skills, knowledge and professional contacts for the benefit of others.
On a personal note, Peter Roswell wishes to thank all those concerned for supporting his original idea. Without the initial backing from his own club, the hard work and innovation by clubs and individuals his dream of raising this money would not have been possible. It has been a unique experience and challenge for Wrington Vale Rotary Club. Peter has fulfilled a wish to thank the NHS for the life-saving treatment he has received over the years in a way that means many more people can benefit from the excellent treatments on offer.
Footnote: We are also delighted to report that David MacIver, following many years as a leading cardiologist, has been appointed a Professor.
SOMER VALLEY ROTARIANS DONATE TO THE NEPAL EARTHQUAKE DISASTER
The Rotary Club of Somer Valley recently donated £3,000 to World Wide Water Works Ltd to help with water aid in Nepal. Lawrence Kettle, Chairman of the Club’s International Committee was also hoping to obtain £2,000 matched funding from The Big Gift. The donation was gratefully received by Ray Lithgo, member of Chelwood Bridge Rotary and a Director of World Wide Water Works Ltd.
Ray explained that they are desperate for donations to ensure water boxes can be filled with survival equipment and shipped out urgently. Therefore this contribution will be used immediately to purchase the survival equipment needed.
As a follow-up to the recent donation, in one hour during the morning of Thursday 4 June members of Somer Valley filled 60 Water Boxes in readiness for a second consigned to be sent to Nepal.
Circa 1200 - Rotary Mid Wessex 
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