Visit to the Caenhill Countryside Centre
Many thanks to Chris and Helie Franklin at the Caenhill Countryside Centre for showing Alan, Nita and I round the Centre yesterday. This gave us a great insight into the wonderful work they are doing to give various community groups hands on experience of both agriculture and horticulture projects in a warm and very supportive environment.
See below a note and some ‘photos of the day from Chris.
Best wishes,
Cliff
Greetings Alan, Cliff
Thank you for your visit today and time to look around the project. Sorry no time for tea, but next time.
Pics attached
Chris 🙂
Chris Franklin
Caen Hill Countryside Centre
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 5TF
Rotary fellowship at its best with a step back in time
Devizes Rotary President Alan Martin and his wife Nita, enjoyed meeting up with his Past District Governor Ken Broad. Ken was Governor of Rotary District 1100, when Alan was the President of the Rotary Club of Marlborough in 1988/89. The picture shows Past District Governor Ken, who is soon to celebrate his 100th birthday, with Alan’s wife Nita.
Ken and his wife Nancy have recently moved to a retirement village in Sandford near Western Super Mare.
For some ten years following his term of office, PDG Ken and Nancy hosted an annual reunion for Ken’s fifty-three past Presidents. Since then Alan and Nita, together with three other of Ken’s past Presidents and their wives, have enjoyed meeting with Ken and Nancy several times a year, for a lunchtime get-together.
Devotees of cricket may recognise in Ken’s surname, an association with members of the England Cricket team. Not only are he and Nancy the proud parents of son Chris Broad but grandparents of Stuart Broad – each a past and present member of the England squad!
Paella Party in support of Julia’s House
Back in July, a certificate for a Devizes Rotary Paella Party was auctioned at the Julia’s House Summer Ball. It was won by Craig Collingwood, and so a couple of Saturday’s ago the Devizes Rotary Cooking Team were delighted to be able to cook some of their delicious paella for Craig, his wife Vicki, and around 20 other guests.
A note from Craig together with some ‘photos from the evening are shown below. All the profits (£348.78) from the event have been donated to Julia’s House.
Regards
Cliff
Hi Cliff
Just wanted to say a MASSIVE thanks to you and the team for last Saturday evening. We all had a great night and really enjoyed the food. Please pass on our thanks to everyone.
Best regards
Craig
CaenHill Countryside Centre
Below is a note from Devizes Rotary’s new President, Alan Martin, regarding a presentation last month about the Caenhill Countryside Centre.
Devizes Rotarians were joined by friends for a presentation by Chris Franklin who, together with his wife Hellie manage and run the not for profit Caenhill Countryside Centre. Its seventy acres are host to local primary and secondary school children who benefit from their time spent at the centre’s working farm, where they gain an insight into the countryside in general, while learning about animal husbandry.
Also benefiting from spending time at the centre are vulnerable children and adults. The refreshing, calm atmosphere of being ‘down on the farm’ has a proven dramatic effect on their well being.
Devizes Rotary is grateful to Chris for giving us his presentation, which he illustrated with magnificent photographs depicting the Caenhill Countryside Centre from its conception to the present day.
Alan
SuperChoir 2017 – What a concert!
The Devizes Rotary SuperChoir Concert went ahead as planned earlier this month. The Rotary Team, together with Artistic Director Carol Berry and Technical Director Chris Berry, spent the morning setting up the hall so that everything was ready for the choirs when they arrived in the early afternoon.
The Rotary Team then set up the canteen so that the children could enjoy their tea after they’d had time to practise together on the stage.
After tea it was suddently time for the performance, and what a performance it was as the children sang their hearts out to the 8 songs featured in the first part of the show.
The last song before the break was Peace will Come by Tom Paxton, and some of the children got an opportunity to explain to an enraptured audience what they believe the meaning of ‘peace’ is:
Time for a bit of fun during the break:
Thanks
From Councillor Nigel Carter, Mayor of Devizes
From Mrs Ellen Stile
The performance was wonderful, so proud of my little boy. All of the children were marvellous, such a wonderful event and a lovely way to spend an evening.
Well done to all involved.
To our supporters
The Devizes Rotary SuperChoir 2017 Concert could not have happened without the help of our many supporters. These of course are primarily the children, but also include their teachers and family, Carole and Chris Berry, the Devizes Rotary Team and the following organisations:
