Busy Down Ponteland Way This Winter

Four prominent, highly respected Ponteland business men, the late Dick Dodsworth and Paul Syron, Bob Frame, now in his late nineties, and the evergreen Brian Parker, agreed, some 31 years ago, to entertain a number of customers, colleagues and friends to an afternoon's golf, followed by dinner, at Ponteland Golf Club.  "The Ponteland Masters" was born.  This wonderful tradition has continued thanks to the sterling efforts of Brian, now ably assisted by Graham Minett and Graham Wilson.

Last summer a raffle was held in memory of Dick and the proceeds donated to the Rotary Club of Ponteland of which he was, for many years a very active and productive member, including two terms as President.  He was a keen walker, gardener and countryman so it was mutually agreed that a fitting tribute would be to place a park bench at the junction of Rotary Way and the bridle path, a feature many local residents would find afforded a welcome few minutes' respite from their exercise.  As can be seen from the photograph, it does, indeed, look perfect.

In January 2008 the Rotary Club approached Ponteland Golf Club to determine if they could hold their weekly meetings and a number of annual functions there.  This suggestion was very warmly received and Rotarians are now frequent, welcome visitors to the clubhouse.  Almost simultaneously the wall plaque advertising the Club fell into disrepair so the opportunity was taken to replace it.  Within a few days of the positioning of the park bench this new plaque was fixed to enhance the entrance to the Golf Club.

Now the Club returns to normal arranging and organizing its many annual activities and so helping those less fortunate than themselves locally, nationally and, perhaps especially in these distressing times, internationally.

Stewart Blair

Top honour for duo

PONTELAND Rotary Club has given out prestigious accolades to two valued members of the local community.

President Raymond Tipping presented Paul Harris Fellowship awards to Mrs Bodil (Bo) Boanas and Mrs Marie Brydone.

Bo launched 'The Magic Trust' in 1995, a registered charity operating from Ogle Castle.

It provides the experience of carriage driving for disabled people – aiming to help people with very severe disabilities, such as muscular dystrophy, stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and spinal injuries, who could not otherwise benefit from this enjoyable outdoor activity.

Her team of helpers includes several doctors and nurses as well as other volunteers including qualified carriage drivers.

Marie is the wife of a Rotarian of long standing and she has been a member of the Inner Wheel organisation for many years.

She was involved with the Ponteland Stroke Club, a voluntary organisation, for 29 years until its closure in 2008 and was the club organiser and principal fund-raiser from 1983 until 2008.

She organised the weekly running of the club, including outings and transport for its members.

The Paul Harris Fellowship was established by Rotary International in 1957 and is awarded in recognition for service to the community or to the club. Each Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate and a pin.

Source: Morpeth Herald

Ponteland Rotary Club Christmas Events

The Toy Collection again produced an excellent return of good quality toys that were distributed to Ponteland Primary Care Centre, St Cuthbert's Care, Barnardo's, National Chidren's Homes, Children North East and others to benefit over 2300 children in the area.

In spite of the very inclement weather the Annual Carol Concert proved very successful, as a result presentations were made to Children North East £300 and to Bedlington Salvation Army £250.

The collection for Save the Children Fund raised a very satisfactory £1247 (the best to date) again in difficult weather conditions. The Club would like to thank all those who gave generously and also to thank Waitrose and Dobbies who gave permission for collections to be made on their premises.

The Rotary Club would like to thank all who supported the Club's fund-raising efforts throughout the past year.

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING ... AND FIDDLING!

" Tremendous!  - that was the verdict of the 300 satisfied guests at the 26th consecutive Ponteland Rotary Club Gala Concert at the Britannia Hotel.

This annual event in aid of various Rotary charities, local and worldwide, never fails to attract a full house and, this year opera star Graeme Danby (bass) had assembled a richly talented ensemble comprising Valerie Reid (mezzo), the American soprano Sena Larard and, this year's exhilarating innovation, the Northern Sinfonia leader, Bradley Creswick on violin.

As ever, the programme ranged from Gounod to Gershwin and Beethoven to Boswell, a perfect miscellany of quality music and mirth. Bradley Creswick delighted with a range of contrasting items and brought the house down with the exciting Hungarian 'Czardas'. Underpinning every item was the brilliant Lydia New lands on the piano.

Pictured are the artistes with Rotary President Ray Tipping and Audi sponsor Andy Maidwell.

The Rotary Club of Ponteland would like to thank the Ballinger Charitable Trust, Newcastle Audi, Cowells Garden Centre and the Britannia Hotel for their continued sponsorship and support for the event which this year raised over £3,200 for Rotary Charities.

ROTARY "FOCUS ON THE CROCUS"

Pupils in the Gardening Club at Ponteland County First School planting 250 purple crocus bulbs with Master-in-Charge Philip Vincent.  Also pictured are Raymond Tipping, President of Ponteland Rotary Club and Bob Crosby, Senior Vice-President. This is part of a nationwide Rotary Project to publicise steps being taken to eradicate Polio in the Third World. There are five and a half million purple crocus bulbs being planted nationwide during October with a headline publicity event in Trafalgar Square. This should produce a show of purple throughout the UK in February 2011 when Rotary's 'Thanks for Life' Campaign will reach its peak. The 'Ruby Giant' crocus represents the coloured dye dabbed on children's little finger to indicate they have been immunised against Polio.

Some 4000 bulbs will be planted by Rotary in Ponteland at schools, in Ponteland Park and on Rotary Way.

Ten thousand thanks to Ponteland Rotary

MORE than £10,500 has been given to good causes in the last year by local Rotarians.
The Rotary Club of Ponteland has revealed details of its charitable donations for 2009/2010, which range from a grant of £1,160 for Save The Children to £12 as the Handwriting prize in Ponteland Parish Flower Show.

Sums of £1,000 each were given to Polio Plus and the Rotary Foundation, with other large donations awarded to ShelterBox for Haiti earthquake victims, Help for Heroes, SSAFA, Aquafilters, Development Direct and Children North East.

International aid included grants for WaterAid, Sightsavers International, Nigeria Health Clinic Trust, SHADE and the Qinghai Earthquake appeal.

And locally sums were awarded to Merton Hall in Ponteland, St Oswald's Hospice, the 1st Ponteland Scout Group, the Great North Air Ambulance Service and Ponteland Memorial Hall.

A total of 38 charities, appeals and community groups have benefited, sharing £10,579 between them.
Source: Morpeth Herald

The Rotary Club of Ponteland Gala Concert

The Rotary Club of Ponteland recently held their annual Gala Concert with Graeme Danby and friends at the Britannia Hotel Attended by Castle Morpeth Mayor Milburn Douglas the concert was once again a sellout.This is a fund raising concert the proceeds of which go to Rotary charities and local charities.

A list of local charities which have benefitted from donations from the Rotary Club of Ponteland during the 2006/2007 Rotary year can be viewed here