Due to the appalling weather forecast on Saturday 10th August, a barbecue at a club member's home was cancelled.  However, all was not lost, because over 20 members rallied round to help turn it into a very successful Cheese and Wine party. In spite of intermittent showers and very blustery winds everyone had a great time, and managed to eat most of the pre-ordered food (and drink quite a lot of the pre-ordered wine too!). Thanks to Peter and Lin for their hospitality.

Thanks to an excellent discount offered by French Brother Passenger Boat Cruisers, on Wednesday 7th August over 50 people from the Community of Maidenhead were treated to an afternoon trip on the river by Maidenhead Rotary Club. The idea was to provide a little treat to a wide range of Maidenhead people (and their carers), especially those who might find it a little hard to get out and about and have as good a social life as they would like.

​The guest list was drawn up in conjunction with Mens’ Matters, Give and Take Care, Maidenhead Social Prescribers, the Brett Foundation and the Maidenhead Community Wardens. In addition there were a few guests who had previously experienced Rotary hospitality. Some of the less mobile of the guests were driven to and from the event by Rotary volunteer drivers.

Well done to our intrepid President Sean and club member Peter Graham who bravely committed themselves to a sky dive to raise funds for this year's charities. Sean's wife Pippa and their two sons and Peter's son also did the jump.

Sean writes:
"There were plenty of pre-jump nerves and lots of nervous chatter in the lead up to the event.
 
The group shot is of me, Pippa, our sons Kieran and Michael, Peter Graham and his son Alistair. We all did the tandem sky dive, from 15,000ft (about 3 miles up)  just outside of Salisbury last Sunday morning.  It involves skydiving at 125 mph for about 1 minute, before the parachute opens!  We were fortunate with a lovely sunny day and the Go Sky Dive team were extremely professional and put us at ease…mostly!
 
It was a truly nervous experience in the hours before the dive and particularly just before leaving the plane, but thereafter, it becomes an almost surreal experience as you fall towards earth, you can feel the speed of your descent, but the fear disappears and it is pretty euphoric. When the parachute opens everything becomes extremely quiet and calm as you drift towards the landing zone. I think most of us would do it again!
 
The great news is that between us Peter and I raised just under £2,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, Child Bereavement and Pancreatic Cancer."

If you wish to help these charities please follow the link below:
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=SeanEgan3&pageUrl=1

At the last club meeting in June on Monday 24th, our President for the last year, Anne Matkin, handed over the Presidency to Sean Egan. The club currently has 55 members and is in a very sound position, but Sean wants take the club forward and boost the image of Rotary in our local community, as many people still do not know what Rotary is or does. His aim is also to ensure a 'joined up' approach to running events as a club and when in partnership with other organisations.

The new Vice President is Mary Spinks (below right) , who will take over for the year 2020-2021.

Our annual Charity Golf Day was held on Thursday 13th June at Maidenhead Golf Club.  The weather was not kind, but the teams persevered and managed to complete the course. 

Eleven 4-ball teams were entered in a Stableford competition, which is where the 2 highest scores count. It turned out to be a  close finish at the end between two teams. 1st prize was won by Cordwallis Commercials with 85 points, and 2nd prize Donald Reid Group with 82 points. The day was concluded with a really superb 4 course supper which was enjoyed by everyone.
Many thanks to all who contributed on the day. Their efforts amounted to a sum of £3000 for local Rotary Charities.

Please note the date for next year has already been booked for Thursday 11th June 2020

Article from the Maidenhead Advertiser Friday 7th June:
​Former Advertiser and Express editor Martin Trepte has been awarded a British Empire Medal for training young reporters and driving a number of major charitable campaigns.

​He also helped establish the Cracker Appeal, which has run for more than 20 years and helps elderly people get the chance to socialise and enjoy a meal around Christmas. It has raised £250,000 since it started.

Martin had no idea he had been nominated for the award. “It came out of the blue,” he said. “I got a letter a few weeks ago. It was very unexpected. “I feel very honoured to be recognised with an award. It is a great honour.”

Martin was made news editor in the mid-Nineties before being promoted to deputy and then editor in 1997. He was a director at the paper from 2000.He spearheaded the Great Debate in 2006, which aimed to get people to talk about Maidenhead’s future. He has also been heavily involved in civic life. He has chaired the Maidenhead Carnival Committee, served as trustee of Maidenhead Civic Society and Maidenhead Talking Newspaper, and a member of the Rotary Club of Maidenhead.

He believed his award is a ‘reflection on the paper and the contribution to the community’ and said local papers are ‘part of the community’ and can ‘stand up’ for them. “Above all its a recognition and endorsement of the vital role local newspapers play in the communities they serve,” he said, adding: “In local papers you don’t really achieve anything as an individual. “Everything that gets done is the result of a team effort and I have been privileged to have always been surrounded by a great team here at the Advertiser.”

Martin gives talks and presentations, is called upon to judge competitions and has raised money for charity by running in the Maidenhead Half Marathon.

He now serves on the board at press regulator IPSO, which sets out a code of conduct and can take action against titles which breach its rules.​

The annual Skittles Evening was held on Friday 7th June at the Jack 0' Newbury pub in Binfield. It is one of the few remaining pubs that have a skittle alley in our area, and Maidenhead Rotary Club joined forces with Maidenhead Rotaract Club for a light-hearted competition. We were split into 2 teams and the players, reinforced with the local brew, hurled balls down the alley (not always in the right direction...). 

The score was one all when we paused for supper - large amounts of chicken, salad and chips, and more liquid refreshment.  Suitably fortified, play resumed and the final result was a win for Team A.

Thanks to Pat and June Moore for once again organising a most enjoyable evening.