Burns Night Celebration 2018

The Rotary Club of Chesterfield held its 21st annual Burns Night Celebration at the Olde House, Newbold, on Tuesday 23 January 2018, when past-president Jim Savage addressed the haggis.

This was followed by a traditional meal, which included haggis and bashed neeps, the playing of bagpipes by Pipe Major Tom Varley, and music from Brian Freeman on keyboards.

A Roll-A-Coin competition and an auction raised £120 for local charity, Hope Springs Recovery Centre, which supports those recovering from alcohol and drug addiction in Chesterfield.

Special Rotary Art Prize Awarded

Congratulations to Chloe Allison of Parkside Community School who has been presented, by Chesterfield Rotary president Peter Barr, with the special Ian Gordon Rotary Art Prize for her outstanding exhibit at the 2017 Chesterfield Senior Schools Art Exhibition held at St Andrews United Reformed Church in October 2017.  

The presentation took place at the school’s GCSE Awards night, held in the presence of the Mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Maureen Davenport, on Thursday 30 November 2017. This special Rotary art prize of a signed certificate and £50 art voucher is being awarded in memory of the late rotarian Ian Gordon, who provided the inspiration for the annual senior school’s art exhibition, now in its third year.  Chloe Allison’s winning art work is also being used by Parkside Community School as the basis for its 2017 Christmas Card.

Chloe’s work was described by independent adjudicator and Chesterfield artist Lynne Evans as “An outstanding piece of work with a textured/layered view of Chesterfield and the Spire.  The Art Department is commended for challenging Parkside art students with its Urban View project.”

Chesterfield Rotary president Peter Barr making the award to Chloe Allison,
along with Rev John Cook, who represented joint sponsor of the recent art exhibition
held at St Andrews United Reformed Church.  The winning picture is in the background.

Charity Quiz Night Raises £1000

The second annual Charity Quiz Night, arranged by the Rotary Satellite Club of Chesterfield, has raised a record £1,000 for local charities. The winning team of ‘DJPAR’, led by rotarian Alison Hankey, received the coveted Rotary Satellite Club Challenge Trophy, which was presented by Satellite Club chairman Peter Blant. The event attended by over 100 local business people, rotarians, and Inner Wheel members, was held at the Fox & Goose on Thursday 16 November 2017.  It was organised by rotarian Paul Davies.

Record Attendance for Chesterfield Senior School’s Art Exhibition

Talented local art students from eight local senior schools were rewarded with a record attendance at this year’s Chesterfield Senior School’s Art Exhibition, which provided a showcase for over 200 high-quality art exhibits.

Held over the weekend of Saturday 7^th October and Sunday 8^th October 2017, it was once again jointly organized in conjunction with local schools, by the Rotary Club of Chesterfield and St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Newbold Road, Chesterfield, where the event was held.

It was officially opened by the Mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Maureen Davenport, who commented on the quality and variety of art work on display. She was accompanied by the Mayoress, Mrs Liz Archer.  Also in attendance were Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins, Chesterfield Rotary president Peter Barr, and St Andrew’s Minister, Rev John Cook, who hosted the opening ceremony.

All the art students are being presented with a certificate of participation, and one student is being presented with independently adjudged, Ian Gordon Art Prize for an Outstanding Exhibit. This is in memory of Chesterfield Rotarian Ian Gordon who, as an elder of St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, was the inspiration for the schools’ art exhibition, now in its third year. He sadly passed away just two weeks before this year’s exhibition. The award will be presented at the art student’s own school on a later date.

The eight participating senior schools were: Brookfield Community School, Hasland Hall Community School, Netherthorpe School, Outwood Academy Newbold, Parkside Community School, Shirebrook Academy, St Mary’s Catholic High School, Whittington Green School.

On behalf of the joint organizers, Chesterfield Rotary president Peter Barr, said: “A big thank you to all the talented art students, and art teachers from the participating schools who supported them, and the steady stream of visitors who turned up in record numbers to make the exhibition this year such an outstanding success.”

Farmer’s Daughter booked for Rotary birthday celebration

A Derbyshire hill farmer’s daughter is set to entertain guests at a special 95th birthday celebration with hilarious tales about growing up in the countryside. 

Having been raised on a hill farm in the Derbyshire High Peak, Lydia Slack has now become a highly-rated public speaker and shares her character-building experiences to audiences all over the country at lunches, dinners, and conferences. She will be the guest speaker when the Rotary Club of Chesterfield celebrates its birthday, which is the 95^th year since the club receiving its inaugural charter in 1922. 

The five course anniversary luncheon is being held at Ringwood Hall Hotel on Sunday 5 November 2017 (12.30pm for 1.00pm), and guests are welcome to attend. To book a place contact Mike Cudzich-Madry on 01246 450179 or 07832 130 511.

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Recognition for Rotary’s new Satellite Club

Members of the recently formed Rotary Satellite Club of Chesterfield have significantly contributed to a prestigious award presented each year to only one club in Rotary District 1220, which covers 69 Rotary clubs throughout Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and parts of Lincolnshire. The Gordon Taylor Trophy for the Best Club in District 1220 has been presented to Chesterfield Rotary Club by District Governor Michael Longdon, not only for its varied programme of charitable events, but mainly for being the first club to set up a thriving satellite club of busy younger business people in the town. Chesterfield president Peter Barr shared the success with satellite club members at their July monthly meeting held at Brampton Manor. For more details about the Rotary Satellite Club of Chesterfield contact secretary Rachel Trueman 07792 719 238.

Chesterfield receives ‘Best all-round club’ award

The Rotary Club of Chesterfield has been adjudged the best all-round club, out of 69 Rotary clubs in the district covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, and parts of Lincolnshire, for Rotary Year 2016-17.

The Gordon Taylor Trophy for the Best Club in District 1220 was presented by district governor Michael Longdon on his official visit to the Chesterfield Rotary club on Friday 7 July 2017.

This prestigious award not only recognises the club’s varied programme of charitable community projects for both young and old, but success in promoting Rotary’s aims by the innovative setting up of an associated satellite club for busy younger business people in the Chesterfield area – the first such club in District 1220.

The Rotary Satellite Club of Chesterfield with fifteen founder members is chaired by local independent financial adviser, Peter Blant, and meets monthly at Brampton Manor. Ring 07977 730 354 for details of satellite club membership.