So asked one of the young people on the last day of this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards course (RYLA) whch was held at Kingswood near Albrighton in August.

39 boys and girls aged between 16 and 18 attended the residential event which presented physical and mental challenges that allowed them, in teams, to experience leadership, communication and problem solving, based on outdoor activities led by experienced and qualified staff with each team having a Rotarian mentor.

The course was designed to encourage the youngsters to learn the importance of competition, gain confidence through pride in achievement, build character and tolerance as the building blocks to the quality of life.

Our own club, The City of Wolverhampton, sponsored Frankie Walker, Mandeep Bagwal and Zahra Rashid. They were taken to the course and returned home by club members Michael Hardacre, Lynne Plant, Sylvia and Derek Morgan and Richard Green who was accompanied by Alder Allen.

In every case, we experienced the usual apprehension by each of the youngsters as they travelled to Kingswood, followed by enthusiasm, delight and praise at the end. New friendships were formed as can be seen in the photograph of the whole group, and these friendships, based on past experience of RYLA, will remain in place for many years.

Numerous challenges put to the youngsters included buggy building, archery and ‘blindside’ in which each team member had to negotiate an obstacle course wearing a blindfold while the other members guided them by describing the obstacles.

On the Thursday evening, it was ‘Talent Night.’  Parents, guardians and Rotarians were invited to a fun event at which each team had been challenged to entertain by putting on a show. The results drew loud applause not only from the other RYLArians but from the whole appreciative audience.

Designed to give the participants an unforgettable experience, its success was summed up by one departing participant as ‘the best week I’ve ever had!’

PDG Richard Green

On Friday July 19^th. the Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and the Youth Wind Orchestra comprising over 80 extremely talented young musicians under their conductors Catriona Roberts and Russell Lock performed to a packed house in the Wulfrun Hall as they thrilled the audience with their pre tour concert before setting off to play in Italy.

Venues on the tour will be Montevarchi, Perugia and Montecatini Terme.

Rotary in Bilston,Wolverhampton, Wednesfield and Willenhall and District Governor Jane Cooper together with colleagues from The Wolverhampton Free Trade Association and the Susan Vickers Foundation were in attendance in large numbers, to back up the generous support and donations they make available as clubs and individuals to support the Youth Orchestra though the Friends of the Wolverhampton Schools Music Service. These donations make it possible for every young musician to be part of the tour.

A wonderful variety of musical treats were presented ranging through the classics, jazz and pops  from ‘Jai Ho’ from ‘Slumdog Millionaire ‘ by A.R. Rahman, the Adagio from ‘Spartacus’ by Khachaturian, the march ‘Liberty Bell’ by John Philip Souza and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Freddie Mercury of Queen, and a selection from ‘Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schonberg.

The musical achievement and standard of performance was superb. To quote Julia Farrell of the Free Trade Association: “ Music is very much alive in Wolverhampton and these young people were incredible.”

PDG Richard Green

As the 2024 school summer term comes to an end, it’s pleasing to report that the Rotary club of the City of Wolverhampton has been able to supply 3100 b

ooks this academic year, bringing our overall total to 7645 to 8 local schools and settings, including the Haven Refuge for the victims of domestic violence.

The scheme – illustrated in the attached – provides a constant supply of good quality books for school pupils of all ages, competely free of charge. The children are able to keep the books and our appointed Rotarian maintains the supply by staying in touch with the appointed school staff member who selects the books, collecting them from our store and delivering them to the school. We start with an initial supply of around 200 books and top up the stock, usually once a term.

We can also make book storage units available, free of charge, if the schools need one.

Our stock is usually around 90,000. The books are donate

d to us and each one is carefully checked for suitability and quality.

Our thanks go to Wolverhampton Rotarians Polly Bhambra, Mike Boyce, David Cheadle, Norman Holmes, Richard Horrell and Sally Woods who have been involved under the leadership of the District Alumni Association co-chair Beverley Ricketts and PDG Richard Green.

A significant number of clubs across the District are also involved and we recently passed the milestone of 100,000 books supplied.

The Rotary club of the City of Woverhampton is pleased to be a partner in a Rotary Foundation global grant project valued at $92,000 by which a series of check dams are being constructed in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

In conjunction with the local clubs of Bangalore Sadishavanagar and Pavagada we joined hands with a Rotary club in New Hampshire, USA to bring a flavour of international cooperation to the project due for completion in August, and which is also supported by a grant from our own District’s Designated Fund.

It was realised that during the monsoon season, the rivers flood and the water used to run away to the sea. Now those waters will be retained, The farmers will be able to irrigate their crops all year round and the water table in the surrounding fields will rise.

A project truly in keeping with one of the Rotary Foundation’s 7 seven Areas of Focus – community and economic development.

PDG Richard Green

At it’s meeting on Tuesday, July 9th., the Rotary club of the City of Wolverhampton had several reasons to celebrate. Our second lady President Lorraine McCarthy was inducted and in her acceptance speech Lorraine told us she was honoured to take on the role leading the club which had been a force for good in the local community for over 100 years. She recalled that the club had been responsible for the founding of Compton Hospice (now ComptonCare) and the Wolverhampton MS Therapy Treatment Centre as well as high profile and significant fund raising  activities such as the annual Dragon Boat Race, Best Foot Forward and the Tree of Remembrance. These enabled the club to provide many grants to innumerable deserving causes.

The good news didn’t stop there. We were thrilled to welcome 2 new Rotarians, Doctor Michael Hardacre who has just competed his year as the Mayor of Wolverhampton, together woith his partner Lynn Plant. Michael told us that he had been extremely impressed by the wonderful work done by the club and he and Lynn were looking forward to becoming closely involved, playing an active role.

President Lorraine rounded off the meeting by announcing that Geoff and Carol Lowndes were to be granted honorary membership of the club in recognition of their superb service to the cause of Rotary for over 20 years, having been closely involved in the leadership of so many aspects of its life.

She noted that so many Rotarians had suggested to her that this was a fitting tribute to Geoff and Carol so that, as she said, it was an acceptable ‘breach of protocol’ in that such honours were normally not granted until the Annual General Meeting which is held much later in the Rotary year.

Every year one of our Rotarians has an open garden to promote fellowship and raise funds for the National Garden Scheme. A charity that since 1927 has been raising funds to support nursing and health care charities.
6 th July was the date and a goodly number of Rotarians had a lovely time enjoying the garden of Brian Bailey and his wife Anne. A beautiful garden hidden away in the heart of the City. A real gem with lots of hidden features and cakes you cannot resist.
Four potential members were invited and impressed with the fellowship offered. Hopefully events like this will encourage people to come and join rotary and enjoy fellowship and fun in our city.