Rotary Club of Gloucester

Now for a bit of nostalgia. Past President Trevor Picken has unearthed a copy of In Gear from February 1983, which might resurrect some memories among our more mature members.
Although it doesn't contain the number of pictures (or the colour) we now expect in the club's magazine it was still an extremely comprehensive record of people and events.

There was even a captivating page one picture that showed Trevor (with hair) alongside a strangely dressed Bill Murray with the delightful caption "Now about MY problem doctor."
It seems that Bill had dressed as a Maori warrior for a Polynesian evening and had made a grand entrance by leaping and gesticulating his way around the tables. He was one of two warriors - the second being Peter Nesbitt who - we're told - danced in a way which was hauntingly familiar to a flousy from a fairground.

The evening had been masterminded by Mike Bartlett and one of the stars was songstress Audrey Hughes.

One of the more interesting news items was a progress report on the formation of a new club, Rotary Severn, which was to be chartered on May 12th. The President elect was Michael Holyoake and junior vice Paul Simons.

An event, which was covered by a news item and photo, was the Christmas party at the Home Farm Trust at Frocester, an annual event which survived until quite recently.
Another familiar feature then, and now, was the club's interest in golf with a number of matches arranged including one with wives.

This particular edition also included a Who's Who contribution by new member Don Barr and a tribute to former member Cyril George Rich by Rotarian Michael Seacome.

There was, as today, the familiar speakers programme, and among those acting as friends and proposing thanks were Roy Lewis, Jack Limbird, Ron Mogg, Bill Mullens, Mike Orchard and Barry Osborne. An upcoming event then was the senior citizen's Easter party - which still figures on the club's diary.

On the downside there was then a vibrant Rotaract club in existence that had just raised £1,200 with a Horse Show, Dog Show and Fete at Coney Hill Hospital and was able to publicise an action packed programme.

There was also a report from Inner Wheel which included details of a service at St Mary de Lode followed by lunch at The Fleece, which was attended by district chairman Pam Andrews.
Other members to warrant a mention in that particular issue was Sidney Smith, Sam, Angood , George Winfield, Stuart Hurran, Ton Southern, G. Gardner and J Clift.

THESE two certainly had something to smile about. Following on from the tremendous success of the Medieval Fayre (see centre spread) the club, who had helped organise the Westgate Street event, received a timely and generous cheque for our efforts.

On the left is Di Phillips who presented President Tony with a cheque for from the Westgate Traders Association and the Central Gloucester Initiative who were the other co-organisers of the event. It was our reward for a job well done and a tremendous return on the efforts put in my many of our members (and particularly Colin Rogers) on the day itself.

Two senior members spoke of times past at lunchtime meetings recently. Robin Morris reminded us of some of those who played a vital role in establishing the club in Gloucester in the 1920s. He also showed some of the banners from other Gloucester clubs overseas. In an earlier talk David Corbett exhibited some of the clubs memorabilia and gave a fascinating talk about correspondence between our club and that of Baden Baden in Germany in the early 1930s. It was a time of social and political unrest in Germany - a fact reflected in the letters. Below is a report from David on this unsual link - a story, as yet, without an end.

AMONG the fascinating discoveries in the treasure trove that is the Memorabilia of our club is the correspondence that was exchanged between our Club and the Rotary Club of Baden-Baden.

The correspondence began in 1931 but regrettably our records go no further than 1932.The letters were published in In Gear but the magazine was not published in 1933 and did not re-appear until 1945.

We do not know if the correspondence continued but we do know it would have ended by 1938 as in that year all remaining German Rotary clubs dissolved themselves and their charters were withdrawn.

The Nazi party saw Rotary as incompatible with the ethnic German movement and many German clubs ceased operation during the 1930s because of government opposition.
It is the political undercurrent that makes the letters so interesting.
So who were the correspondents?

Major A.A.H.Beaman of The Manor Farm, Frampton-on-Severn joined the club in December 1926. His classification was Dairy Farming......some milkman! Ardern Arthur Hulme Beaman was born in 1886 in Mount Abu, the son of Sir Frank Beaman.Educated at Rugby and Sandhurst he married the daughter of Sir William Guise in 1920 He spent 20 years in the cavalry and served in India, Afghanistan and the 1914/18 war. He commanded The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars from 1926 until 1930.He is listed in Gloucestershire Whose Whose in 1934 as Lt.Col Beaman D.S.O., J.P.of Kingscote Grange,Tetbury. So we can assume that by then he had left the club at that time.His talks to the club were clearly memorable. One in May 1929 was entitled "Blood and Guts."I would like to have known this man

.The Rotarian with whom Ardern Beaman exchanged letters was Dr. Arthur Flehinger. He was a lecturer in modern languages at the 'Gymnasium' (public school) of Baden-Baden.
But why Baden-Baden? In May 1931 Ardern Beaman went to the hospital in Freiburg to be treated by a famous German doctor for wounds received in the First World War. He had received a bullet through the stomach. The doctor had also been weakened by seven wounds in the same war and said: "What an extraordinary situation. Perhaps we may have wounded each other." Freiburg is 100 kilometers south of Baden-Baden so it is easy to imagine how Rotary connections were made. Dr. Flehinger's first letter to Ardern was on 10th June 1931.
Ardern had written to the secretary of the club and the doctor was asked to reply.
His letter contained the following:- "The Secretary of the Club gave me your kind letter. No doubt the whole Club will be as delighted as I was when hearing of your very sympathetic lines."and "I am very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Freiburg. I hope our doctors are clever enough to repair the evil that the Demon War has given you as a sad souvenir."
In subsequent correspondence Dr Flehinger talks about the deep impression that Beaman's letters make on the members of his club with what he says about his military career and the foolishness of war .

The early letters are of friendship and hope for the future.
But by October 1931 Dr. Flehinger writes that the masses have become radical. The extreme parties of left and right were getting stronger and the more moderate Social Democrats were having great trouble in standing their ground. Both the Communists and the Nazis were united by their hatred against the democratic state. The Nazi power was growing with every election.
In April 1932 and Dr. Flehinger writes in despair at the growing political and economic situation.

Some of his pupils who had just left school were at a loss as to what profession to choose because all professions are overfilled. The economic crisis had become a mental crisis.
"One hardly needs to be astonished at the further increase of the Nazis - distress and uncertainty being their chief allies," commented Dr. Flehinger? The final letter we have from the doctor is dated 5th June 1932. In this he refers to global economics with no specific reference to German politics. It's a story without an end. Did the letters continue until the start of the war?What happened to Ardern Beaman and Dr. Flehinger? There is a Rotary Club in Baden-Baden and there may well be descendants of Ardern Beaman in Tetbury.

Should we try to find out more?

AS always the Presidential handover was a time of reflection and anticipation....with a lot of Rotary fellowship thrown in for good measure. This year our distinguished guests were headed by Gloucester's Mayor Harjit Gill who paid tribute to Rotary's work in the city and wished incoming President Robert Hall best wishes for his year in office.

Other guests included the incoming presidents of Gloucester North and Severn - Ivor Wakefield and Jeff Dawson respectively, the outgoing and incoming presidents of Inner Wheel, Joy Picken and Sue White; our first ever Friend of Rotary (and City Centre manager) Richard Dennery, outgoing President Tony Tetley's wife Jo and incoming President Robert's two sons Stephen and Stuart and his lovely wife Heather (a member of Cheltenham Sunrise Rotary Club)......to name but a few.

The first order of business was a sad but proud one....the presentation of The Bill Murray Award to Di Limbird, widow of former Rotary member Jack who worked unstintingly for the club for many years and who won the respect and affection of all. Jack is sadly missed and the award very well merited.

In his outgoing address President Tony said his intention at the start of his year was to bequeath to his successor a settled club in a settled venue, which he had achieved.

He thanked all members for their efforts and then outlined some of the highlights of his year. This included the successful aquabox appeal, the Senior Citizens' Easter Party, the Christmas collections, Kids Out, the concerts at the Cathedral and Salvation Army, the Medieval Fayre, the excellent relationship with Inner Wheel, Bob Short's fellowship dinners and the District Conference.

He concluded by saying that Robert was going to be a great president for the coming year and it was a privilege to hand the chain of office to him.

Congratulations to our friends in Inner Wheel, who have now handed over a 00 Interactive Plasma Screen to Gloucester's Milestone School after a year of fund raising which included a Desert Islands Disc evening, a Musical Soiree and a Bring and Buy event. There were also modest contributions from our own Rotary Club and and from Lincoln Finacial Services.
Outgoing President Joy Picken handed over the new piece of equipment to the school's head, Lyn Dance and it wasn't long before eager pupils gave it a test run.

Among its many virtues is the apperance on screen of symbols which children with speech difficulties only need touch to indicate the help they require - such as going to the loo, having a drink etc.

Joy said the screen was 'absolutely super and an extremely worthwhile piece of equipment'.............we're sure the school and its pupils agree.
The presentation was a very fitting end to Joy's hugely successful year in the Inner Wheel Presidential chair.

ENTHUSIASTIC sportsman and successful entrepreneur Robert Hall is the Rotary Club of Gloucester's new president having taken over from retiring President Tony Tetley.

Fifty seven year old Robert was born in Longlevens, although his parents came from Fishguard in West Wales. He has two brothers and a sister. After his primary education at Longlevens infants and junior schools, Robert transferred to Linden Secondary School where his prowess on the soccer field was encouraged. On leaving school he became an apprentice professional at Swindon Town Football Club. Just two months before his 18th birthday Swindon decided Rob was not for them so it was back to job hunting in Gloucester.

For two years he worked for builders' merchants Haine and Corry at their head office in Bristol Road, Gloucester before joining the staff of a newly started business equipment firm by its founder Ken Morris. Originally Kingsdale Morris was based in Westgate Street but later moved to St Oswald's Road. Here the young Rob started as a sales rep for the Forest of Dean, Lydney and Chepstow areas - a good grounding since, after 21 years he had moved to the dizzy heights of sales director.

In 1991 Rob started his own Business Equipment firm at the Innsworth Technology Park until he moved to his present premises at Staverton about five years ago. Here he employs 26 local people.

Thwarted in his bid to become a full time professional, Rob subsequently played for Gloucester City, Cheltenham Town and Ledbury football clubs. He also coached Bishop's Cleeve for three years and was the club's manager for two. He still hasn't entirely shaked off the soccer bug and still coaches Staunton in the Northern Senior League.

On a wider sporting sporting front, Rob continues to play cricket for the Down Hatherley Club, which he originally joined at the age of 15. He has also successfully completed two marathons and is hoping to run a third in his presidential year (if only to get £10 from Ken Watson!). He enjoys golf but mainly for the fellowship. He's hoping to improve his handicap when he eventally gives up cricket.

On the domestic front Robert is happily married to Heather, a 'super lady' (his words not mine- editor) whom he met on a business trip/holiday in Cape Town. Heather hails from Marlow in Buckinghamshire where her father John is a local Rotarian. Heather herself was in Rotaract and is now a member of the Cheltenham Sunrise Rotary Club.

Robert has two sons, Stephen and Stuart, from his first marriage - Stephen works at Shire Hall in the HR department and Stuart has worked for Robert now for eight years.

Rotary sporting 'Oscars' for four of the best

EVERY week many dedicated local people devote many hours and evenings of their time to coaching, inspiring and enthusing young people in a whole range of sporting activities.

It is impossible to honour them all but in June the club presented Rotary community awards to four coaches and by doing so focused our attention on the work of them all.

President Tony Tetley, a keen sportsman himself, spoke of how his life as a schoolboy had been changed by outstanding coaching and said that the club was acknowledging four people who had reached the pinnacle of their coaching careers.

He presented Rotary 'Sporting Oscars' to netball coach Sue Wainwright, cricket coach Dave Collinson, rugby coach Dave Pointon and ladies football coach Ian Powell.

SUE WAINWRIGHT

Sue was a founder member (35 years ago) of the Hucclecote Netball team and has been senior coach for many years. Under her guidance the club has progressed and are now in the Premier Netball League and many of her players have represented county and country. Sue still coaches 60/70 youngsters in a club that now has 170 members and can field three Saturday and three Sunday teams.

DAVE COLLINSON

In presented Dave's award Tony said that the city's two leading cricket clubs - Gloucester City and Winget - had gone through hard times which at one time threatened the club's very existence. However an amalgamation of the two clubs had turned things around and the new club flourishes - but things might have been different if Dave Collinson had not continued to coach the young cricketers during the difficult times so creating the next generation of club cricketers.

Every week close on 75 youngsters get coaching and the chance to represent the club in the Junior Leagues and many of these youngsters are feeding into the senior teams on Saturdays and Sundays.

The club's success was nationally acknowledged when Gloucester City/Winget were Wisden Club of the year in 2005 - the citation particularly mentioned the team's junior section as being a real strength of the club. Dave now has a band of dedicated helpers but back in the bad old days it was his work that helped keep the club alive.

DAVE POINTON

Tony said that while Dave had been a very talented rugby player, it was a coach that he excels and the rise of Gloucester's St. Peter's High Schools rugby teams to National renown is a great achievement for Dave and the team of coaches he has built up at the school.

At a local level St. Peter's dominate and in the National competitions when they play all the country's top schools they have reached the later stages of the competitions - this year they were narrowly beaten in the semi-final and the year before in the U18 competition.

Many of the talented players have gone on to represent the County and National teams and some are already playing in the Premier League - they owe a lot to Dave Pointon.

Twenty years ago last month Dave had a near scrape with death - on the cricket field. An article on the front page of The Citizen read: "Cricketer Patrick Burford saved the life of his brother-in-law Dave Pointon after a match almost ended in tragedy when Dave swallowed his tongue while trying to take a catch. Patrick used lifesaving skills he acquired while working at the ciuty's Leisure Centre.

IAN POWELL

Ian Powell found his way into Ladies football through the interest of his daughter and a few of her friends in 1999.

From these unpromising beginnings he and the other people around him have built the club up to its present flourishing state with a national reputation and with over 120 youngsters being coached. There are now eight teams and the club can boast of two England internationals.

Tony added: "We as a Rotary club have been happy to help the Gloucester Ladies Football Club improve its facilities and are pleased to acknowledge the great contribution Ian has made to this now very successful and thriving Club."

ONCE again the weather kept fine - but only just - for our annual Kids Out outing to the popular Cattle Country Adventure Park at Berkeley. While it remained dry during our young guests' stay the heavens opened shortly after they left to return to their respective schools.
This year around 600 children descended on the Park on Wednesday, June 13th of whom 180 were guests of our Rotary club. All came from inner city schools and included, for the first time, an infants school (Calton Road). The other children - all juniors - were from Linden, The Moat and Finlay Road,Joining them and hosted by the Rotary Club of Gloucester Severn were children from other Gloucester schools (Milestone and Tuffley Community).

Other Rotary clubs were also invited from as far a field as Ledbury and Nailsea and all children had a great time sliding, bouncing, paddling and rambling, to name but a few of the many activities which brought smiles to their faces.

As usual the day was free to all particpants which also included transport to Berkeley, a delicious lunch and entry to Cattle Country.

Once again the mastermind behind the event was the indefatigable Andrew Hurley who in turn would like to acknowledge the help received from Tony Cullimore of Cattle Country and the Inner Wheel Club of Gloucester who arranged more than 600 lunch packs in less than two hours.

This was one of President Tony Tetley's last official duties before he hands over to the incoming president Robert Hall

NEW member Patrick Collins is a highly qualified engineer who has worked not only all over this country but in many countries overseas ending his career as a consultant electrical engineer involved with projects at most of Britain's major airports.

Coming up to 70, Pat (pictured right) is now retired and lives with his wife Margaret at Sandhurst where he is a churchwarden, a lay member of both the Gloucester North Deanery and Diocesan synods and chairman of a committee which runs an annual equestrian event for charity.

If that's not enough he has been involved for several years with a medical missionary charity which supports a hospital in Malawi and about which he talked to our club about a couple of years ago.

Even before he was inducted several members had already met him on the golf course - one of his hobbies along with walking and running (he's still recovering from an injury sustained in the Paris marathon earlier this year).

Pat's link with the city began when he was evacuated to Gloucester (his mother's home) from Maidstone in Kent in 1941. After the war he returned to Kent but his father was relocated to Eastern Avenue RAF Records Office...so it was back to Gloucester and to school at Finlay Road and the Central School in Derby Road.

After school he was apprenticed to the Ministry of Works and successfully obtained an HNC in Electrical Engineering. The came National Service with the Glosters before returning to Gloucester to work with Fielding and Platt in several capacities, eventually as head of electrical installation on high cost projects in the UK and Europe.

From F&P he moved to Moog in Cheltenham as a service engineer for high tech CNC tools and continued to travel throughout Europe eventually becoming their European Service Manager. Far many years he lived out of a suitcase flying to his office in Stuttgart on a Monday morning and from there wherever the job took him. In fact it took him throughout Eastern European including Russia, to Scandinavia and the Middle East. He was eventually shipped off to Italy where one of his projects was to install the robotics for Fiat in their new car production plant in Milan.

Having not seen much of the UK for many years he subsequently returned to Babcock Electrical hoping for a quiet life but was soon en route to Longbridge to oversee the Metro project, the first car in the UK to be manufactured on a line with robotics.

After the Metro project he was moved to Milton Keynes by Babcock - a move and location which didn't impress him so he moved to DIS as the manager of the electrical installation company....which he left to become a consultant.

Pat and Maragret have two delightful daughters and four grandchildren. We are delighted to welcome both he and Margaret to our club.

Cheltenham Racecourse boss Edward Gillespie gives a brillant talk on the sport of kings....and queens....horse racing.

AN insight into the fascinating world of horse racing was given to members by celebrity guest Edward Gillespie when he spoke at an evening meeting of the club at the end of June.
He was introduced to members and their guests by President Tony Tetley who told how he and Rotarian Eiffion Rees had spent an 'education information week' with Edward when they were respective heads of Gloucester's Beaufort and Oxstalls schools.
Ostensibly the week had been arranged to give both headmasters an overview of job prospects for young school leavers in the racing industry................
Edward started his talk by telling how 'Steeple Chasing' had first begun in Ireland in the 18th/19th centuries when wealthy landowners and farmers would challenge each other to horse racing over hedges, ditches and other obstacles using the church spire/steeple point as a landmark.

From its beginnings, hospitality and hostelries have played a vital role in the sport's enjoyment with contestants invariably repairing to a local pub after the event.
In the 1800s steeple chasing came across the Irish Sea and became particularly popular in East Anglia where church spires can be seen for miles.

The Cotswolds also proved popular as a racing venue with an owner of the Frog Mill at Andoversford organising a race where the riders rode a circuit, which began and ended at his pub.

Moving to more recent times Edward said that in the 1940s a generous benefactor presented the land on which the present Cheltenham racecourse is situated. Since then it has become the home of such pretigious events as the Gold Cup. He then outlined some of the dramatic changes that had taken place at the course during the past 20 years.
Edward pointed that all sports benefited from the 'stardom' factor and racing was no exception although here the stars came on both two and four legs. Of the latter he recalled such 'stars' as Desert Orchid, Best Mate and Mill Reef.

These magnificent 'athletes' - like their human counterparts - are sensitive, fragile and vulnerable but often raise their game and become true performers with real star quality. Such stars can encourage thousands of extra punters through the turnstiles and can be almost worth their weight in gold.

Edward inevitably spoke of the sports's royal connections.....in particular the late Queen Mother whose knowledge of bloodstock and racing was immense. It was a love of the sport which is shared by her daughter Her Majesty the Queen.
Edward laced his talk with numerous anecdotes ....of how many tanker loads of Guinness are purchased and not always consumed and of how seven Irish men shared a single room at Cheltenham's up market Queen's Hotel.

On a more serious note, he said that although a very small proportion of the millions gambled on racing was ploughed back into the sport this was now under threat by the growing trend towards 'On Line' gambling.

This was doing great harm to racing and racecourses so like any other business manager Edward has had to diversify with car boot sales, caravan rallies, wedding receptions, dances and, more recently, the successful theatre presentation of the West End hit musical 'Cats' being used to balance the books.

However, undoubtedly the racecourse continues to be a jewel in the county's crown as well as being a massive earner for the local economy.

A vote of thanks was expressed by Nick Bury who, by coincidence has know Edward for many years. It was a tribute to Edward's fine oratory that, on this occasion, Nick played a supporting role.

Thanks also go to Paul Woodman for organising the whole evening.
This was a sparkling five star occasion with a great speaker in the best traditions of Rotary...a shame the food wasn't better.

PRESIDENT Rob Hall's incoming party was billed as a summer evening cruise along the meandering River Severn up river from Gloucester to Haw Bridge.
In the event the weather over the preceeding two weeks - and on the night itself - had the appearance more of autumn than summer.

Not that that made a great difference to the warmth of the partygoers on board which more than made up for the inclement weather around them.

Because of the swollen river above Gloucester the boat's captain decided to take a southerly course down the Gloucester and Sharpness canal - a trip which enabled Rotarians and their guests to see the ongoing development at the docks as well as enjoyed the tranquillity of the canal beyond.

In addition to the new Gloucestershire College, which now fronts the canal, there was a glimpse of the work which is progressing on the bridge which is to cross the canal from the Peel Centre, One of the highlights was the opening of the new swing bridge on the city's south west bypass to allow our boat through. The passage gave partygoers an up close view of this impressive engineering project and from an angle few would normally see it.

On board Rotarians and guests were entertained by a jazz duo with the intriguing name of 'Ain't Misbehaving.' Their music and amply stocked bar and a delicious buffet all combined with the canal trip to produce a delightfully informal, relaxed and successful evening. We are grateful to Rotarian Chris Soane for arranging it.
President Rob launched his year in style .....may it continue.

Gloucester has a great history and once again the fayre reminded us of its ancient heritage with such events as a knights' tournament, archery, medieval music, squire training and dancing. In addition there was a tug-of-war (won by The Citizen), rare animals from the City Farm, basket making, spinning, a chainsaw sculptor, jugglers and even the chance of drenching valiant souls who had volunteered for a stint in the stocks.

But the fun didn't end even there.

The whole of Westgate Street was packed with multi-coloured stalls with an eye catching selection of arts and crafts and, in some cases, a mouth watering selection of refreshments to eat and drink including a delicious pig roast.

Other organizations taking part included the Plantagenet Medieval Society, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, the Fire Brigade, the Rococco Players, St Nicholas Church, the Newent Choral Society, a Youth Choir, the Gloucester Dance Studio and Gloucester Cathedral's extremely talented and award winning team of stone masons.

One could go on ......... to talk of the Gloucester Cathedral treasure hunt, the funky rock band, candle making, the drunken monk and his mead tent, friendly rats ... and even a belly dancer. To add to the enjoyment many entered into the spirit of the fayre by dressing in period costume - a theme continued in the evening at a Medieval Banquet in the Cathedral's Chapter House.

From the fayre's official opening at 10am by Councillor Janet Lugg (standing in for the Mayor) and assisted by Rotary president Tony Tetley through to the end of the day the Westgate area buzzed with fun.

This year the Fayre was in two sections. Westgate Street was mainly set aside for more modern entertainment while the Cathedral area hosted most of the medieval displays. It was in the shadow of Gloucester's glorious Cathedral that the Plantagenet Society put on a day filled with activities which were well received by a larger than usual crowd.

All in all the success of the day was a tribute to all who organised it including not only the traders themselves but also the club's own team of helpers headed, for the umpteenth time, by Colin Rogers who kindly took the photos on this page.

He writes: "As a club we are indebted to the hard work of Di Phillips and Chris Brooks for their pre-event planning. This event is now a firm favourite on the annual Gloucester Street scene and is going from strength to strength. Rotarian stewards, who were there from 7am made all the difference, ensuring a smooth and successful stress free event. From our perspective the Fayre not only raises valuable charity cash but also has a strong social impact."

In a strongly worded note of intent to In Gear he writes: "I would like to fine anyone who stands up to say our club is too old. Just look at the last two years and the projects we have successfully achieved and then tell me the club is too old.

"We have some fine members who do a great deal of charity work both home and abroad and we should be proud of what we have achieved.

"Over the last three to four years the club has changed and my aim is to bring back fellowship as Tony has been doing in his year of office. We'll not be just talking about it but DOING IT."

To this end the present social events such as hostings and evening dinners will continue and expand.

Rob has chosen as his presidential charity the National Star Centre at Ullenwood. The centre, which is 40 years old this year, is an independent further education specialist college working with learners who have physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties.

He writes: "I cannot begin to tell you why I think this charity is my choice but I have seen the superb work they do there, the staff are outstanding and the students are always extremely helpful."

On the international front Rob is seeking a project of which the club can be proud and has already had meetings with senior vice president John Sargent and junior vice president Jeremy Keck to discuss whether a larger project might span over more than one or two years.

On the domestic front Rob has pledged to continue the excellent work already undertaken to fill aquaboxes. He has also thrown his weight behind the popular Old Folks Easter Party, the successful Westgate Medieval Fayre and the existing Christmas collections. Rob has also decided to opt for another Chapter House Concert at the Cathedral - the first one of which was held earlier this year.