Chesterfield Schools Public Speaking Competition 2018

The winner of the annual public speaking competition for local secondary schools this year was Beverlyn Agyemang of St Marys Catholic High School with her thought-provoking talk entitled ‘Who Am I’. The event was organised for the 52nd consecutive year by the Rotary Club of Chesterfield and held as part of the club’s weekly meeting at the Olde House, Newbold, on Friday 23 March 2018. Following a high-quality competition, Chesterfield Rotary president Peter Barr presented the cup and certificates to winner Beverlyn Agyemang (St Mary’s), and the two runners-up Matthew Perryman (Whittington Green) and Anton Causey (St Mary’s).

Chesterfield Rotary president Peter Barr presents the cup and certificates to winner Beverlyn Agyemang (St Mary’s), and the two runners-up Matthew Perryman (Whittington Green) and Anton Causey (St Mary’s)

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.”