Eighty-six Rotarians, partners and friends representing a large number of clubs assembled at Linden House on 13th March to celebrate Vocational Study Exchange (VSE) and the Michael Beetham Aircraft Restoration Centre (MB). Cormac Doyle, VSE team leader, introduced Maddie and Adam who presented aspects of their recent trip to Bangalore where they werevery well looked after by local Rotarians. 
They visited factories with a technological gamut from ‘welding in flipflops’ to ‘lathes the size of this room’. The cultural aspect of their two week visit was not neglected as several colour slides of temples , pilgrimage sites and a wedding attested. Maddie, Adam (and the absent Nicola) were inducted as Rotary Alumni before it was the turn of several apprentices at the MB Centre to present themselves and their activities, including their visit to a similar group in Norway last year. Brian Bailey, Wolverhampton’s chairman of Youth and Community Service surveyed the many youth activities which we support before trainer Mick Shepherd introduced Daniel, Corey, Tom, Maddie again and Josh. Their three year apprenticeship at Cosford (combined with college courses) involves them in marvellous aircraft restoration activity with transferable skills for their later careers. Josh Sault was awarded the George Sidebotham trophy (with instructions not to break it!) but it was the view of us all that he was a peer amongst equals in this impressive group.Thanks to the staff of Linden House and the organisers for a very convivial evening. Stuart Williams.