President Duncan and Angela hosting their New Year’s party on 2nd January.

2

Dear Fellow Rotarians Angela and I wish you all a Very Happy and Healthy 2015.

Most of us knew Rosemary Attridge and we were saddened at her passing away just before Christmas. I was pleased a lot of the Club members were able to give Graeme and his family support at her Remembrance Service.

The start of 2015 has lots of Rotary activity with the Quiz Night on 30th January and a Scottish Burns night on 14th February. Some Clubs worry about their lack of activities, clearly this is not a problem at Reigate Club.

On that vein I would like to thank all those who joined Angela and I celebrating New Year at our party on January 2nd, pictures elsewhere in this Bulletin. From the comments received I think all enjoyed seeing 2015 in with some good food, courtesy of Angela, and entertainment. My thanks for all those who contributed to the entertainment, and helped with the set up and clearance, and those who joined in the spirit of an Old Time Music Hall by dressing up.

(I heard some didn’t know about that – it was mentioned twice in last months bulletin and I mentioned it three times at Club meetings!!).

Continuing the home spun entertainment theme, thanks to Buz and Secretary Tony for some light hearted frivolity at lunch on 9th December.

The Christmas collection raised the wonderful amount of £4,500 and again thanks to the whole Club and others who contrib-uted in some way -

collectors, counters, tree erectors and dismantlers, and the choir on Saturday 20th.

I particularly enjoyed the Christmas Message lunch. In his inimitable style, David Skitt gave his usual thought provoking talk. We made a presentation to Maureen and Peter James from the St Matthew’s Food Bank of food and cheques from the Club, the Rotary ladies, and personal donations, which was very welcome to them. Again my sincere thanks to all those who so generously donated food. Further thanks to Don for auctioning Angela’s crocheted blanket for £75 to go to our Lend a Hand

PRESIDENT DUNCAN’S MESSAGE

3

Collection. With the egg money from this year we now have £225 to support that project.

As part of our support for the Local Community we entertain Young Carers for a Pantomime visit to take them away from their family duties, this Christmas it was on 22nd December and I am told a good time was had by all. On 2nd December we had a talk from Sue Skerritt that gave me, and I am sure others, a whole new picture of just how that organisation works, and the

challenges it and Young Carers deal with. It was moving to hear how very young children cope with the struggles of being a carer looking after a family member, or indeed family members, and trying to maintain some normality in their lives.

As I mention above, a very active Rotary Club, going into 2015 in good shape

Yours in Rotary

4

Our speaker on 16th December was our honorary member and member of the Oxted and Limpsfield Club, the Revd. David Skitt who gave us his Christmas message.

He began by relating a story he’d heard from his stepmother who had confirmed that it was absolutely true. A lady in her 90’s was visiting an optician for a DVLA eye test (which is required after you have reached a certain age to check that your eyesight is good enough for you to drive). The optician saw the lady get out of her car, go round to the passenger seat and let out a dog. On seeing this the optician told her that dogs weren’t allowed in the practice. “Ah,” said the woman, “but this is my guide dog.”! David assured us that she did fail the test!

He didn’t know if the Wise Men had to take an eye test, but they did bring three gifts and so his message was about gifts and what they might stand for.

His first story was about Emil Zatopek, an incredible Olympic Champion who had held a host of world records. Many of these had been broken by Ron Clarke but he had never won at the Olympics. In the late 1960’s Ron Clarke went to visit Zatopek in his native Czechoslovakia and they spent some time together. When he left Zatopek gave him a package and when he opened it later it was Zatopek’s 10,000 metre Gold Medal with a note saying, “You deserve this!”

So the first gift, David suggested, was The GOLD of Self-Giving

The story behind the second gift concerned President Kennedy who always kept a coconut on his desk to remember his gratitude to Eroni Kumana, a South Pacific Islander who saved his life during the Second World War.

Kennedy and another soldier had been washed ashore after their boat had been sunk and this man had paddled 35 miles across the water to the American base with a coconut with an SOS message. (David wasn’t sure about the details, but as he reminded us, ‘you can make the sound of two coconuts being knocked together by riding a horse down a cobbled street!’) Kennedy, who remained firm friends with Eroni for the rest of his life, was so grateful that thereafter,

wherever he went, including the Oval Office, had a coconut placed on his desk to remind him to be thankful for what had been done for him. So the second gift, David said, was The FRANKINCENSE of Thanksgiving. We need to be thankful. We might have dreadful things happening to us but also some really precious things, the

Blessings. And we need to have that gift of gratitude and appreciation.

The third gift concerned myrrh and the story was about Simon Weston, who was very badly injured during the Falklands’ War but was firm friends with the Argentine pilot who had caused his injuries and they met up three or four times a year.

So the third gift was The MYRRH of Forgiveness.

David concluded, “We can all offer these gifts of Self-giving, Thanksgiving and Forgiveness.

My dog barks at cats but one day was sleeping so my two year old grandson, William, on seeing a cat cross our drive, got onto the windowsill and barked on her behalf!

We may not always be aware of God’s activity in the world but perhaps we can

bark self-giving, thankfulness and forgiveness on his behalf.”

The Christmas Message

5

.

At our Christmas Message meeting (Top) President Duncan with Maureen and Peter James with our gifts to the St. Matthews’ Food Bank.

(Below) Rev. David Skitt, Alison, Angela and President Duncan.

6

Enjoying ourselves at President Duncan and Angela

7

Children Are Quick TEACHER: Why are you late?

STUDENT: Class started before I got here. TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor? JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.. TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?' GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L' TEACHER: No, that's wrong GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it. TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water? DONALD: H I J K L M N O.. TEACHER: What are you talking about? DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O. TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago. WINNIE: Me! TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty? GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are. TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ' I. ' MILLIE: I is.. TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.' MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.' TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him? LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand..... TEACHER: Now, Simon , tell me frank-ly, do you say prayers before eating? SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mum is a good cook. TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his? CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.

TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested? HAROLD: A teacher. ——————————————————-

Recently a new supermarket opened locally. It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh.

Just before it starts misting, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you pass the milk section, you hear cows mooing and you experience the scent of freshly cut hay.

In the meat department there is the aroma of charcoal grilled steaks with onions.

When you approach the egg counter, you hear hens cluck and cackle, and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of eggs frying.

The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread and cakes.

I don't buy toilet paper there any more…

——————————————————--

A group of senior citizens were sitting around talking about all their ailments. "My arms have got so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee," said one. "Yes, I know," said another. "My cataracts are so bad, 1 can't even see my coffee." "I couldn't even mark an "X" at election time, my hands are so crippled," volunteered a third. "1 can't turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck," said a fourth. "What? Speak up! What? I can't hear you!" shouted another. "My blood pressure pills make me so dizzy!" exclaimed another. "I forget where I am, and where I'm going," said another. "I guess that's the price we pay for getting old," winced an old man as he slowly shook his head. The others nodded in agreement. . "Well, count your blessings," said a woman cheerfully…. "thank God we can all still drive."

8

Our speaker on 2nd December was Sue Skerritt of Surrey Young Carers, part of Action for Carers, which has been supporting young carers across the country since 1996.

Sue said that the young people who they deal with are aged between 5 and 18 years of age and they all offer some sort of care, practical, physical or emotional to someone in their family who is chronical-ly ill or has mental health issues.

The impact on the young carer includes not having the time for their homework, not being able to go out with their friends, etc “which is why it is so lovely that Rotary supports us in getting some of them out to the panto,” she said.

Lots of young carers help to look after children who are autistic or have other mental disorders and that has a major impact on their lives. But there are positives as well. Young carers tend to be quite mature and very resilient, “which makes us very humble because they are so amazing.”

Sue said that when they get a referral

from a school, social services or another charity they visit the family and talk to the young carer. That is very important because sometimes it is the first time they have been able to voice their feelings. We try to find out what we can do to support them. Sometimes it isn’t much but just listening to somebody can be enough in some instances.

Often in the families they visit there are safeguarding issues and they have to liaise with social services and ensure that the safeguarding issues are followed.

Sue said that they work closely with lots of local schools and try to start up young carers’ and lunch time clubs. She was running a senior group of 19 young people and if she finds out if any of them need support she sets up that support.

“And we also have fun,” she concluded, “so tomorrow we’re having the Christmas Party and I’m dressing up as Santa Claus! And I would like to thank you for supporting Surrey Carers for so many years and continuing to support us.”

9

Surrey Young Carers

10

.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Many Happy Returns to: Val Bishop 5/1; David Dick 8/1; Barry Lambert 28/1

CLUB HOST January P.P. Peter Coxon

February P.P. Don Lawrence

March P.P. Barry Lambert ATTENDANCE OFFICER January Gerard Kerbegian

February Val Pinnington

March Mick Bryant

11

And finally...The Origin of the White Wedding Dress A son asked his mother the following question: 'Mom, why are wedding dresses white?' The mother looks at her son and replies: 'Son, this shows your friends and relatives that your bride is pure.' The son thanks his Mom and goes off to double-check this with his father. 'Dad why are wedding dresses white?' The father looks at his son in surprise and says: 'Son, all household appliances come in white.'

That Sheer Nightgown A husband walks into Harrods to purchase a sheer negligee as a surprise present for his wife.

He is shown several possibilities that range from £30 to £120 in price -- the more sheer the negligee, the higher the price. Naturally, he opts for the most sheer, pays the £120, and takes it home. He presents it to his wife and asks her to go upstairs and model it for him. Upstairs the wife thinks 'This is so sheer it might as well be nothing. won't put it on, but I'll model in the altogether, then return it tomorrow, and keep the refund.' She comes downstairs naked and strikes a pose. The husband says, 'Good Grief You'd think for £120, they'd at least have ironed it!' He never heard the shot. Funeral on Thursday at noon.

Editor: Eric Cotter, 7 Sheldon Close, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7HP. Tel: 01737 247541. E-mail: EricACotter@aol.com

CLUB DIARY Tue 6 Jan Lorraine Martin ‘Reigate Community Counselling Centre’

Tue 6 Jan 6pm International Committee Gatton Lodge, Gatton Park

Tue 6 Jan 2.15pm Community Committee at The Reigate Manor.

Tue 6 Jan 2.30 pm Youth Services Committee at the Reigate Manor.

Tue 13 Jan Mark Bryant, Brooklands School

Tue 20 Jan The charity “Circus Starr”

Tue 27 Jan Business Meeting

Fri 30 Jan Quiz Night, St. Joseph’s Hall

Tue10 Feb Intermediate Youth Speaks Semi Final, Sandcross School

Thu 12 Feb Senior Youth Speaks Semi Final, Bushy Hill School

Sat 14 Feb Burns Night, Betchworth Village Hall

Sat 21 Feb Young Musician District Final

Mon 23 Feb Rotary Day

Tue 24 Feb Business Meeting

Tue 10 Mar Membership Cocktail Party

Tue 17 Mar 12.50 Mayor’s visit (TBC)

Tue 17 Mar District Council

Tue 24 Mar Business Meeting

29 Mar - 4 Apr RYLA

Apr Scatter Raid (TBC)

10 -12 Apr RIBI Conference Belfast

Sat 11 Apr Charity Auction, Community Hall, Methodist Church

May Elderly Citizen’s Outing

Wed 13 May Boat Trip River Wey (TBC)

Sun 31 May Disabled Sports K2 Crawley

May Shuttleworth Collection trip (Date to be finalised)

Wed 10 Jun Kids Out to Chessington

Tue 30 Jun 19.00 Presidential Handover

Tue 7 Jul District Council

2 - 4 Oct District 1145 Conference Bournemouth