SHREWSBURY SEVERN ROTARY CLUB

 

SUCCESSFUL TREE OF LIGHT CONTINUES TO INSPIRE

Shrewsbury’s Tree of Light continues to inspire local people wishing to remember loved ones at Christmas.

 

The latest appeal organised by Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club has raised around £4,600 with gift aid included.

 

Club secretary Gareth Watkins, who organises the Tree of Light sponsorship, has told members of the significant fundraising success once again.

 

“It is a big thank you to Dyke Yaxley for preparing, printing and posting the sponsor letters and as a result of the continued support of their wonderful team there was minimal cost associated with the campaign.

 

“I would also like to thank Ann Watkin and her sister Susan Wylie for preparing no fewer than 500 Tree of Light envelopes for posting which was also a major part of the organisation which has contributed to the success of the appeal.”

 

He added: “The Tree of Light is a marvellous annual event which has been running for 28 years.

 

“As a result, this magnificent enterprise has raised a total of nearly a quarter of a million pounds which is used to support charities and good causes in the local community.”

 

Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club will be announcing beneficiaries of the latest Tree of Light campaign in the coming weeks.

 

For further information about Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club contact president@shrewsburyrotary.co.uk or vicepresident@shrewsburyrotary.co.uk

Long-standing Rotary club turns to social media for recruitment

A Shropshire Rotary club has launched its first ever social media recruitment campaign to help fill upcoming posts within its structure.

By contributor Peter Love

For the first time in the club’s near 40-year history, ambitious Shrewsbury Severn Rotary is now looking to explore social networking platforms for new member recruitment.

The campaign will be driven by its social media officer and vice president Marcus Watkin, who said: “Although this is a first for our Rotary club, evidence from elsewhere within this world-wide organisation indicates it should produce a highly successful campaign – and outcome.

“We think the time is now right to more vigorously use these platforms which have been so spontaneous during our successful Santa sleigh campaign in December.

“We attracted so many more people through this medium which has clearly indicated there are new avenues which we must now further explore and hopefully develop.

“There are an exciting number of specific tasks we shall be looking to fill in the coming weeks, from club secretary and events organiser, to officers for entertainment, charity liaison, youth liaison and a website content creator.”

Shrewsbury Severn Rotary are seeking to recruit men and women through their new campaign announced today. Seen are a group of Rotarians enjoying a meeting.

 

He made it clear the club would always value the support of other news outlets in its quest to achieve new recruits who could strengthen its ranks.

Added Marcus: “Since becoming a Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club member, the challenge has really opened up new and unexpected opportunities for me.

“I sustained a serious spinal injury when I was 35 and have subsequently spent many years as a volunteer for several organisations including disability groups, Midlands Air Ambulance, the police and more recently the Shrewsbury food hub

 

 

Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club and Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust (SaTH) working together on a new project. Julia Clarke (SaTH), Johnathan Callwood (Rotary) and Nicola Brockley (SaTH).

 

“The Rotary club has offered great opportunities for me - even with my disability - to help many local good causes and charities.

“And I would encourage both men and women, some of whom may have life limiting health issues, to consider joining the Shrewsbury Severn Rotary as the club has some great ideas in the pipeline.”

Said Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club president Johnathan Callwood: “We are absolutely delighted to have Marcus on board – he has already proven he is a valued Rotarian and will continue to be a great asset to our club in the years ahead.

“I hope Marcus’s story will encourage more like-minded people to consider joining Rotary at a time when there are so many worthy and exciting opportunities available for people with the same positive outlook.”

Marcus will become Shrewsbury Severn Rotary president at the end of his stint as vice president.

For further information contact president@shrewsburyrotary.co.uk or vicepresident@shrewsburyrotary.co.uk

 

Rotary club of Shrewsbury Severn

I am a member of the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury Severn.

 They raise money for local good causes and in December each year we operate the Santa Sleigh, which can be seen at supermarkets around the town, and on the streets of Shrewsbury 

 if you are interested in joining the club and help us to keep raising money, then please get in touch with me or the Shrewsbury Severn rotary club  

im on 07974424703

A Rotary club has heard that a child of five is the youngest to be taken on by Shropshire Young Carers.

 

Speaking to members of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club, Simon Jones, team co-ordinator for Shropshire Young Carers, said the five year old’s mum had bad epilepsy.

 

He said that as time has gone on, the child has had to spend more time at home with her mother.

 

“It is difficult for them,” said Simon, “and to see them in the street they don’t look any different to any other child.”

 

In another case, a girl of 14 was the ‘mother’ in the home. She prepared breakfast, then went to school and did the housework on her return.

 

“It was a 20-hour day for her,” said Simon. “She went on to university and she is a great success story. It is all about determination.

 

“A young carer, who is under the age of 18, is looking after a family member with a disability or mental illness, finding that they have to cope with so many different situations, from housework to looking after siblings. These siblings don’t go anywhere because the ill person comes first.

 

“As a service we give support and respite to young carers and sometimes they come to groups and meet other kids. We do crafts and games and fashion and make them laugh.

 

“We organise group activities and for many of them going to the park is a dream.”

 

Said Simon: “The main thing is awareness. We ask whether there is a young person in the household and mention Young Carers. We search for young carers and get them involved. We can then give them support and help.”

 

There was a situation where a young child was looking after a single dad. The doctor wouldn’t say that the medication should be done, but the child was the one giving the medication.

 

“We are trying more and more to get GPs throughout the county involved and we recognise that schools are the best places to identify young carers.”

 

Currently Shropshire Young Carers have a total of 196 children under their umbrella. “But there are loads more out there that we haven’t spotted and haven’t seen,” said Simon.

 

“Activities currently being developed for older young carers include meeting with benefits people for financial advice. Even cooking to give them other life skills.”

 

Simon added: “If a family wish to make a referral, they can call 0345 678 9021 which is also the number for professionals and our usual first point of contact.

 

“They will be able to take the young carer details and also assess if there are any other appropriate services available to them.”

 

Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club president Johnathan Callwood said members would be giving full consideration to ways in which they could assist with a project that would benefit young carers.

 

SHREWSBURY SEVERN ROTARY CLUB

OUTGOING ROTARY PRESIDENT PRAISED FOR ‘REMARKABLE TWO YEARS



A ‘remarkable two years’ was how an outgoing Rotary president’s two-year term of office was described at his handover ceremony.

Rotarian Gareth Watkins, secretary of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club, told members and guests that the two years of David Morris’s presidency had been ‘exceptional’.

“All the amount of graft and work you have done, I just don’t know how you keep all those balls in the air,” he told David. “It’s been fantastic.

“All of us here want to mark your handover with a big thank you - and I have a tangible thank you.”

Gareth, on behalf of members, presented David with a case of six red wines from Tanners to rapturous applause from members and several guests.

He commented that it had been an ‘exceptional’ presidency, full of graft, wit, humour, achievement and fellowship.

David also received his Rotary tankard and vice president’s medal from Rotarian Johnathan Callwood who becomes Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club’s second president elected to serve a two-year term of office.

David, who said he was handing over to a ‘fantastic’ new president, spoke of how his late father was president of Shrewsbury Rotary Club decades ago.

“When you selected me,” he told Rotarians and guests, “it was a difficult evening and I feel that way tonight. The two years have flown by.”

He outlined a number of highlights of his two years in office, not least how the Santa sleigh replacement had been ‘frenetic’. “But we pulled together and got there in the end. It was very stressful, but it brought us altogether.”

Other highlights included the recent VE Day celebrations, Krazy Kart races in The Quarry, a trip on the Severn Valley Railway for friends and families, a canal trip at Ellesmere for elderly residents and Christmas party also for elderly residents which Rotarian John Yeomans organised with ‘military precision’.

A number of other Rotarians were also praised for their contributions as well as for their friendship.

In conclusion, new president Johnathan said: “One of the things I have learned is service above self. “It is about giving and helping other people and I am so proud to be given this honour.

“I really look forward to working with everyone and fulfilling our aims and objectives over the next couple of years. We are one lovely family.”

 

SHREWSBURY SEVERN ROTARY CLUB

 

HOSPITAL SKY GARDEN ON ROTARY CLUB PRESIDENT-ELECT’S MISSION

 

From creating a sky garden at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to hiring out their enviable new Santa sleigh, a Shropshire Rotary Club’s president-elect has been outlining his mission for the next two years.

 

The sky garden project would be a legacy in memory of his father Godfrey, Rotarian Johnathan Callwood told members on the occasion of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary’s Club Assembly.

 

He said the legacy project would take the form of a critical care sensory garden and establish stronger links with the RSH, other Rotary clubs and was among more than 20 activity ideas in his presidential mission which he described as ‘ambitious’.

 

Further tasks which he is setting include garnering new corporate members and gaining new active members.

 

“With the club’s help and co-operation, I hope to encourage an increased membership, a better members’ experience and a greater range of social activities.”

 

He also described establishing a situations vacant, igloo media tent with an updated web presence and social media. In addition, creating a video and an entertainment post.

 

He told members that further improvements would be made to the club’s new sleigh which took to the streets and appeared at local supermarkets last December. The club would also be looking to hire out the sleigh.

 

His mission also included improving fundraising efforts, organising a summer fundraising event, a president’s ball – a Bridgerton themed large event in the autumn or spring of 2026 – and a twice-yearly charity appraisal.

Johnathan added: “I want to see this club flourish on my watch – we are doers.

 

“I would like to build on the incredible achievements of our current president David Morris these past two years and continue making this club vibrant and successful. I will maintain our great reputation in Shrewsbury and Shropshire.”

Below is from a recent meeting when we had guests from District Rotary 

 

 

On the weekend of 31st May/1st June there will be an event in Abbey Foregate,Shrewsbury, to celebrate 80 years since VE Day ! 
  There will be many attractions, food stalls and vintage vehicles . Along with a concert on Sat 31st. The road will be closed at the side of the Abbey, so it will be very pedestrian friendly.