News from around the clubs

Bexhill Club of Past Rotarians

We thank the Observer for an excellent report on the commemorative lunch held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club. There was much to entertain us. However, for many older members the most appreciated event was the presentation of a special candlestick that enabled the president to light the Flame of Friendship at all our future meetings. Ted Clarke, our oldest member, former president of our club and of the Past Rotarians Association, gave us this welcome symbol of fellowship. Consequently, at the first meeting after the celebration, president Derek Mills was able to begin by lighting the Flame. This revival of a valued tradition was much appreciated.

The dignity and formality of the opening procedure was in marked contrast to the disturbing true life stories told by our speaker, Ivan Biddle. He gave us two short talks based on his personal experience. The first was Humour in the Mortuary and the second A Man in a Woman's World. He could perhaps have called them Revelations of a Whistleblower in the Morgue and the Care Home. Tony Blair came to power promising a Whistleblower's Charter, but Ivan Biddle's talks showed that evidence of bad practice can easily be glossed over by management and ignored. Yes, there was humour in the incidents recounted, but it was macabre in the Morgue and a revelation of incompetence in the Care Homes. We have all seen reports of bad cases: Ivan Biddle has seen things as they happened.

On a lighter note, the Bexhill PR Oldies beat Battle Rotary in their annual bowls match, but the result was closer than last year's. Then all went to the pub for supper and an inquest: but not in the morgue!

Society of Bexhill Museums

On Thursday May 13, 46 members and friends went on an outing to Danson House and Hall Place and Gardens in Bexleyheath, Kent, on a partly sunny but cool day. Danson House is a classic Georgian Palladian Villa built in 1766 by City Merchant Sir John Boyd for his very young bride. By 1995 the House was the most famous 'at risk' building in London due to neglect and dilapidation, but was rescued by English Heritage and Bexley Heritage Trust with a 4 million and a 10- year restoration. Two groups of us had two very good and informative guides for over an hour to explain the history of the building.

From Danson House and 200 acre parkland we went on to Hall Place, only 15 minutes away, for lunch, picnic or otherwise, and then had a further guided tour in two groups with two more extremely good guides. Hall Place is a Grade I listed Tudor mansion built in 1540 for Sir John Campneys, using stone from a dissolved monastery. It also has a Stuart red-brick addition and has recently been fully restored and opened up as a partial museum. It is also set in award-winning formal gardens and parkland. We left for home at 4.45pm after a very good day's outing!

ATS/WRAC Association

May 6 was the date of our meeting this month and was sunny and bright, a tonic after the long and cold recent months. More members felt able to attend and it was a treat to see Dot and June, our ex-band members, once again. They come from East Grinstead and find the return journey through the dark rush hour daunting in the winter.

It was also voting day for the General Election. Our expected speaker, firefighter Mark Webb, was unable to come due to brigade personnel being very busy. Instead, we were delighted to be given a talk by John Drinkwater, district commissioner for Rother Fire and Rescue Service. He was interesting, held our attention, and gave us lots of very useful advice.