certificate from district
governor Judy Barnard-Jones
MELKSHAM Rotary Club recently celebrated its 50th birthday with a weekend of entertainment with friends from its twin club in France, the Rotary Club of Guingamp in Brittany.
Peter King, Melksham club press officer reports, “A party from the French club, led by president Baillon and his wife Catherine, spent the weekend staying with their English hosts.
“They received a warm welcome from president Steve Fivash at a reception in the Art House Café before a formal dinner at Bowood attended by just over 80 people, including the district governor Judy Barnard-Jones and a good representation by local Rotary clubs, and an impressive number of past presidents and their ladies from the Melksham club.
“Incoming president Sarah Hiscocks, who organised the whole of the weekend with her committee, proved to be an admirable master of ceremonies.
“Both presidents spoke of their pleasure that their clubs were working so well at the joint Senegal Project – building classrooms and drinking water wells and improving local facilities for a village in Senegal – whilst president Steve drew amusingly on older members’ recollections of the club’s earlier days.
“District governor Judy said it was a real pleasure for her and other guests to be invited to join in the celebrations, and congratulated the club on continuing to be such an inspiration to their local community.
“The evening concluded with some enjoyable singing of well-known songs.
“Saturday provided an opportunity for an enjoyable visit to the Railway Museum at Swindon before a ‘fun evening’ in the town hall and a hilarious series of table races courtesy of the Chippenham club. with the proceeds donated to the Senegal Project,
“The serving of English speciality fish and chips followed, helped down by champagne kindly donated by a Guingamp past president Gerard Desgranges, who is an honorary member of the Melksham club.
“Sunday was a day of farewells, with a reception at president Steve’s home in Melksham before a farewell lunch at the King’s Arms where the French president, in impeccable English, again expressed his pleasure at the co-operation between the two clubs, before inviting the Melksham Rotarians to visit Guingamp in 2016.
“President Steve thanked his guests before expressing his pride at leading such a fine club and, as in his opening speech, showing a confidence in his use of French. He particularly thanked incoming president Sarah for her excellent organisation of such an enjoyable weekend.”
