On Monday 19 August Nick Winton, who refers to himself as a storyteller, came to the club and gave an extremely interesting talk and told stories about his father Sir Nicholas Winton's early life and experiences which played a huge part in shaping the man he was to become in later life.

His father was educated at Stowe, and in spite of his dislike of sport, found that he was very good at fencing, and ended up in the Olympic fencing team.

After joining Rotary in later life, Sir Nicholas was instrumental in starting the local Abbeyfield Society, providing homes for people who no longer wished to live alone or needed care. He also started the local Maidenhead Mencap charity.

Nick, the son of Sir Nicholas Winton (who was a club member for many years until his death at the age of 104) travels widely and gives talks in schools, encouraging students to work together to solve problems and find a way around challenging situations.

Stephanie urges members to adapt, recruit, encourage and be proud of being part of the Rotary family.​

“Don’t misunderstand me – we are not going to end polio or bring peace to the world by waving a wand and saying some funny words,” Urchick told incoming district governors at the Rotary International Assembly on 8 January. “It’s up to you. You create the magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member.”

Urchick, a member of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA, said she saw the magic of Rotary on display when she was helping install water filters in the Dominican Republic. Two boys were watching as dirty water entered the filter, then ran out clean at the other end.

“One of the boys grabbed my sleeve and said, ‘Show me the magic again,’” she said. “Obviously, the water filter wasn’t magic. We worked hard to transport those filters, install them, and work with community leaders in the area to maintain them. But those boys knew that easy access to clean water would change their lives. Knowing that I played a small part in that certainly changed my life.”

​On Monday 24th June the club was delighted to continue a very important tradition – the President's handover dinner at Maidenhead Golf Club. After enjoying three delicious courses, the assembled club and special guests heard three speeches.

The outgoing President John Hudson shared his successes for the year – including a sky dive in April 2024 to raise funds for a new toilet block in a Zimbabwean school.

The new incoming President Matthew Burdett then spoke about how our club could share the ‘Magic of Rotary’ (Rotary International’s theme for the 2024/25 year) here in Maidenhead and globally. 

​He reflected on the opportunities the year ahead presents and how to best lay the foundations for some special celebrations of the club’s 100th birthday in 2026!

The club was also excited to hear from Maria Scavetta who is taking on the role of President Elect (and so will be president in 2025/26). She reflected on her journey as a Rotarian and how the guiding values of Rotary have inspired her.

The evening was a real celebration of everything that makes Rotary and our club special. New members who share our club’s and organisation’s values of Service, Fellowship, Diversity, Integrity and Leadership are always welcomed to join.

While attending the Bonn Quadrilateral, we had very sad news that on 30 May our very good friend Raffaele of the Tivoli club passed away suddenly at the age of 63 from cancer.

I first met Raffaele in 1999 at a dinner party at Francesco and Maria Francesca’s home during Quadrilateral. He was on his own as Caterina was at home looking after a young family. Although he spoke very little English we just gelled together. I was struck by his enthusiasm and curiosity about the world at large. He was a great Internationalist.

As a new member in the Tivoli club he was infused with the idea of Quadrilateral and indeed became the lead person in Tivoli for many years in organising Quadrilateral, and during this time we met his lovely wife Caterina. He was also the instigator of family exchange, and a keen supporter of Youth Camp. It was through these two events that we hosted his children Maria Carolina and Giovanni. Eileen and I became their English 'parents' as our friendship with Caterina and Raffaele developed into a close family relationship. We also attended Maria Carolina’s wedding.

When staying with Raffaele and Caterina during Quadrilateral we would spend hours talking over a whisky or two. I can still hear him say “Eddie, pay attention you must know this”.

Of course staying up late was no problem for him, being the sub editor of the Rome newspaper Messaggero. He had a very nocturnal life leaving home in time to start work at 8.00 pm and often not returning to Tivoli until 2.00 am.

He had recently retired, which he was excited about particularly as he said “ It is wonderful I am being paid for not working”.

​He wrote two books on Roman history and Brutus and lectured on the subject. He was a writer and scholar, had a great sense of humour and was enthusiastic in all things. His catch phrase was “why not” which he often used to dispel objections and lack of enthusiasm by others.

He was a great family man and was very proud of his Southern Italian roots. Eileen and I had the good fortune to experience them when we holidayed in Cilento, south of Salerno. Caterina and Raffaele visited us in Florida and England.  Our friendship gave us a wonderful insight into Italian life. 

Eileen and I have just returned from Torre Orsaia, Raffaele’s home town, for his internment. Once again meeting his extended family, we both felt we were walking in his footsteps and felt privileged to share this day with the family.

As one travels life’s highway you are lucky if you come across a person who enriches your own life. Raffaele Alliegro was such a person for me and I am very appreciative and proud to have called him my close friend. I am a better person for knowing Raffaele.
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He will be missed by so many.

Eddie Clarke

Rotary Club of Maidenhead's fund raising group "Bag a Bargain" had a field day at Taplow Giant Car Boot last Sunday. Handbags and shoes have always been doing well, but never before have so many wanted to buy pots and pans! 

Helper extraordinaire Cameron Mullin-Brown, 13, did his first car boot sale and he's already volunteered to assist again (and without being nudged by Rotarian Yvonne Johnson-Mullin, who is his Grandmother!).

Together the little team's takings were nearly £300, which will go to local charities. 
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ShelterBox was started as a millennium project by Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall and has grown into the largest Rotary Club project in the world, with affiliates across the globe.

ShelterBox and Rotary are project partners in disaster relief, providing an instant response to help thousands of people following disasters such as severe flooding or earthquakes, or conflict crises in countries such as Ukraine or Syria.

Rotarian Greg Wilkinson from RC Reading Abbey is the ShelterBox's co-ordinator in the Thames Valley,  and he came to talk to the club at the meeting on Monday 13 May. 

His presentation of the charity's response to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and war zones was not only impressive but heartwarming. 

Their typical aid items are tents, tarpaulins, ropes, kitchen utensils, sanitary kits, blankets, water filters and sometimes cash. And solar lights, a remarkable invention which comes as a flat pack Ikea style and converts into a cube of light – with a charger for the mobile phone!
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More about the charity's amazing work can be seen on ShelterBox.org.uk