The Rotary Club of Kenilworth 2005-2006
President: Maurice Holden

Officers 2005-2006
Plans for the Year: Club | Community | International


Handover night was on Monday July 4th with new President Maurice Holden returning full of vigor (note spelling) and enthusiasm after attending the Rotary International Convention in Chicago.

Monday, July 4th, President Maurice Holden (left) receives the Charter of the Rotary Club of Kenilworth for safe keeping during his year of office from immediate past president Zig Layton Henry. More pictures of the handover ceremony are here.

August 27th-29th, The Rotary Club of Kenilworth has its annual Art Exhibition at the Town & Country Festival. More pictures here.

President Maurice Holden welcomes the Kenilworth Town Mayor, Norman Vincett to the Meeting on Monday 5th September. The Mayor then addressed the members and commended them on their service to the community.

On Monday 12th September, Carol Stevens receives a cheque for £1,500 for Helen Ley Court, from President Maurice Holden, on behalf of Immediate Past President, Zig Layton-Henry who chose to support Helen Ley Court as one of his main charities for the year. Helen Lay Court is an annex to Helen Ley Care Home which provides permanent residence for those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. At the same meeting, Rotarian Oran L. Cogdill Jr from Fresno California exchanged banners. He told of support being given by Fresno to the victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. More information about Fresno Rotary here.

Kenilworth Talking News Association, one of Maurice Holden's chosen charities for his presidential year will receive a sum £511.00 from the Rotary street collection in Kenilworth town centre organized on Saturday 20th November.
Maurice reported at this week’s club meeting that the sum was a great start to the year and he wished to thank the citizens of Kenilworth for their generosity.
Kenilworth Talking News Association produce a fortnightly audio news tape using, with editorial permission, articles from the local press. Items of general interest are also included.
Over 100 tapes are distributed and a large team of volunteers record edit and distribute them to visually impaired people.


We learned that the Midland Team that we supported with a £250 grant to compete in the SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUMMER GAMES in Glasgow July 2005 was exceptionally successful.

In the 200 metres Kayak finals, Kathryn Smith and Richard Wood won the silver medals, Heather Osmond and Christopher Mills won the bronze.

In the 500 metres Kayak finals, Heather Osmond ad Richard Wood won gold, Christopher Mills silver, and Kathryn Smith won bronze.

We congratulate the teams and their coaches, Jon Hopkins and Victoria Hunt.


On a visit to Nazareth, Kenilworth Inner Wheeler Sue Tall and Rotarian David Tall meet Past District Governor Yusef Srouji of District 2490 (Israel). More pictures of their visit with President Jerries Boulos and members of the Nazareth Rotary Club are here.

Kenilworth Rotary and Guests visit Parliament as part of the club social programme to combine enjoyment with a wider awareness of our society. More pictures here.

Andy Williamson, from the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance based in Coventry, receives a cheque for £1450 from President Maurice Holden (right). Looking on, from left to right are Rotarians Iain Cockburn (Southam 2000), Niklas Brännström from Luleå Nyckel in Sweden (the most northerly Rotary Club in Europe), and Dave Pettifer (Kenilworth), who completed a 100 mile walk in June to raise money for charity.


On November 25th the Kenilworth Street lights were switched on. The Rotary Club of Kenilworth made its presence felt with the Tree of Light erected in Talisman Square in cooperation with Warwick Avon Rotary. We sponsored our usual fair-organ show for kids of all ages, provided soup to keep the crowds warm and collected money for charity...

The Rotary Club celebrate Christmas on Monday December 19th with an evening of Christmas Fellowship and Fun... (More pictures here.)

During the evening, a presentation was made to Harry Sunley as Citizen of the Year, the Christmas Message was given by Captain Steven Thomas of the Salvation Army, and donations were made of £250 to the Salvation Army and £250 to MacMillan Nurses.


Kenilworth Rotary continues its cooperation with other local societies to support the Town. This includes the recent replacement of the Kenilworth milestone on Warwick Road. Did you know that most mile-stones were destroyed in the war to confuse the enemy if they invaded? Our mile-stone is one of the few still remaining...


Kenilworth Weekly News December 30th 2005


Judy Woolfenden, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kenilworth, displays the Union Jack and the Rotary Club of Kenilworth banner as she participates in a 5 day dog-sledding expedition, living rough in the wild artic circle in Norwegian Lapland.

Judy reported:
‘It was my best experience yet.
In June I was presented with the Disabled sportswomen award. at the inaugural Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sports Awards.
I have also been invited to Norway to be the first wheelchair entrant
in the world to be pushed in the Midnight Sun Full Marathon in the city of Tromsø in the arctic circle.’


At the end of February, Applications Organiser David Sims was in receipt of over 200 entries for the TWO CASTLES RUN.

Monday, 6th March 2006, new Rotarian, Doug Leaf is welcomed to the club by President Maurice Holden.

Monday March 20th 2006, new Rotarian Geoff Burrows is welcomed by President Maurice ...

... after his sponsor Phil Highley had introduced him to the club.

Meanwhile, the Inner Wheel sends its representatives to the National Conference in Belfast (March 20-23). More pictures here.

Monday 27th March, 2006. President Maurice Holden presents a cheque for £1500 to Helen King and Kate Whiting for Burnaid as his chosen charity. These two dedicated ladies provide a personal service to young burn victims, helping them re-integrate into the community bearing horrific scarring by talking at their schools, and supporting their families to face the future. The National Health heals their bodies, this remarkable pair heal their minds. Helen and Kate, we salute you!

(In the background, Roy Shearing, Speaker's Organiser for the Club, looks on in quiet contemplation.)


This photograph, taken by Past President Philip Southwell on a recent visit to Phuket, Thailand with his wife Joy, to make contact with those benefitting from the Louise Willgrass Tsunami Appeal to whom the town of Kenilworth gave £4000. Phillip and Joy took presents to the children and told us of the progress being made and the good use to which the Appeal money is being put. More pictures are here.

Keeping fit! The Rotary Walking Club out on one of its regular rambles...

On Monday April 3rd, Karen Mercer gave a stimulating talk to the Club on the charity Pump aid.
Tne charity provides and installs simple, easily maintained pumps to an ancient Chinese design in Zimbabwe .
The pumps Known as Elephant pumps cost £200 and can transform the lives of the villagers where they are installed providing a reliable clean water supply for the first time.
Many questions followed the talk always a sign of the the interest in the subject.
Pump aid web site www.pumpaid.org

The Easter Grocery Grab is here again. Raffle tickets are being sold on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at Kenilworth and Warwick Sainsburys.
Here Rotarians Graham Tall and David Sims sell tickets to the younger generation of Lawrence and Zachary Hirst.


Founder member Tom Roberts tells the Club of the days when the Kenilworth Club was founded in 1960 and the events that preceded it. [10 April.]

Founder member Tom Roberts welcomes new member Tony Thompson with President Maurice Whitfield looking on.

The draw for the Kenilworth Rotary Club’s Grocery Grab took place at Monday’s Club Meeting on April 10th at the Quality Inn.

The  winning ticket drawn had been assigned to Helen Ley house by the purchaser. Helen Ley will send a representative to ‘grab’ the prize of up to £250 of groceries in a two minute dash on Bank holiday Monday in the Sainsburys’ Warwick store.

Second Prize of a voucher for £100 pounds went to: Catherine Nass of Leamington Spa.

The third Prize of a voucher for £50 Pounds went to Jane Sample of Warwick.


Click here to see the Grocery Grab!


The Kenilworth Rotary Club’s free blood pressure check session in Talisman Square on Saturday April 9th was visited by a record 100 members of the general public to be tested by a doctor.
Ten people were advised to visit their GP to seek as a matter of urgency further advice or treatment. One person was advised to seek immediate help at A&E.
Rotarian David Pettifer said, ‘It was satisfying to be part of National Stroke Awareness Day; the session proved the necessity for people to seek a check as a way to reduce the risk of a stroke.’

Rotarian Colin Wilding is presented with the Paul Harris Fellowship for his service to the International Community as Chairman of the International Committee of Kenilworth over recent years. [Tuesday 25th April at the Stratford Catering College.]

Kenilworth Rotary visits the European Parliament to meet our MEP Philip Bushill-Matthews (centre in black, with President Maurice next to him (in blue jacket) [Tuesday May 2nd]. Click here for many more pictures and here for Roy Shearing’s photos.
ROTARY PREPARES TO WELCOME OVER 2000 RUNNERS TO KENILWORTH CASTLE.
Kenilworth Rotary Club’s annual Two Castle Run takes place on Sunday 11th June The event is now a top date in both serious athletes and fun runners calendars starts in St Nicholas Park Warwick at 9 am and the first runner will finish in a little over 30 minutes in Kenilworth Castle for the 10 Kilometre route.
The event is the major fundraiser for the Kenilworth Rotary Club, the proceeds last year allowed the club to give £15,000 to local, county and international charities.
Over 150 people are needed to run the event on the day, 70 will be marshalling along the route to provide a safe passage for the entrants.
On the advice of the Police and Warwick District Council, it has been necessary to close Castle Road and Clinton lane from 9.00 am until the main volume of runners have passed at approx 11.00 am. All residents involved have been personally advised. Alternative routes are available for through traffic. We regret any inconvenience but trust all will understand the need to do everything possible to minimise the risk of accidents.

Blythe Liggins, our main sponsors, reveal a winning team. Holding the tape are Rotarian Bob Kelley, Press Officer, and Kenilworth Rotary President Maurice Holden.

Run Committee Chairman–Mike Lewis, Rotary President-elect–Phil Highley and President Maurice Holden giving a final polish to the main Trophies.


Saturday afternoon June 10th, preparing to close Castle Road and Clinton Lane on Sunday morning from 9 am to 11 am for the Two Castles Run.

Rotarian Roy Shearing takes time off from setting up the Run Finish at Kenilworth Castle to welcome visitors from the Rotary Club of Mainz-Chermentz, travelling with Soroptomists and Lions from Germany.


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