Guildford Bikeathon 2012 – open for entries

chantries — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:27:48 +0000

This year’s Guildford Bikeathon will be on 8 July 2012, raising funds for Cherry Trees and other Rotary Charities. Sign up today for routes of 12, 18 or 27 miles around the northern boundary of Guildford. Free t-shirt on the day for every rider.

Download your entry form here.

RIBI Youth Speaks Final 2012

chantries — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:57:18 +0000

The national final of the Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) Youth Speaks competition took place at Glyndwr University in Wrexham, North Wales, on the 28th of April 2012.

The country’s young orators had already competed at school and regional level.

Farnborough High School for Girls won the Intermediate Competition, together with Best Chairperson and Best Vote of Thanks.

Oathall Community College won the Senior Final, together with Best Speaker and Best Vote of Thanks.

“It was a very satisfying afternoon, with very high quality presentations. District 1250 teams fully deserved their collective and individual successes”, commented Mike Danson. District 1250 Youth Speaks Co-ordinator and member of Guildford Chantries Rotary Club.

RIBI Young Citizen Awards winners 2012

chantries — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:32:18 +0000

The achievements of young people were celebrated at the RIBI Conference in Bournemouth. Winners of the Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) Young Citizen Awards received their accolades live on the BBC News channel.

RIBI Young Citizen, in association with the BBC News Channel, celebrates the positive citizenship and vital responsibilities assumed by many young people. These incredible youngsters go above and beyond to help others, often overcoming adversity themselves.

President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, Ray Burman, said: “The achievements of these youngsters are lessons to us all. They have all earned their RIBI Young Citizen awards through hard work, selfless actions and by demonstrating that age and adversity need not be obstacles in the pursuit of helping others.

“Rotary is committed to helping young people develop life skills through our many youth opportunities including Young Chef, Young Photographer, Youth Speaks and other competitions. Interact and Rotaract clubs open the door for our younger members to try new experiences and work together on community projects while having fun in the process.

A Grand Night Out

chantries — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:20:25 +0000

Surrey residents raised over £1,000 for the Cherry Trees charity, which offers home and respite care for local children and young people with severe learning and physical disabilities, at a Burns Night Supper in Guildford on Saturday 21 January. The evening was attended by around 100 guests and was organised by Guildford Chantries Rotary Club to support Cherry Trees and other Rotary charities.

With all the Burns Night traditions of piping in and addressing the haggis, the evening included a good helping of Robert Burns’ poetry, plenty of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, rounded off with a lively Ceilidh dance. Favourite numbers included the Gay Gordons and Strip the Willow.

Cherry Trees charity was founded in 1980 by a group of parents and doctors and has become a lifeline for the families of more than 100 children and young people who are regularly cared for in East Clandon, nr Guildford – for a few hours, a weekend or even a couple of weeks.

David Greatbatch, President of Guildford Chantries Rotary Club said “Chantries is delighted to support the excellent work that Cherry Trees provides to our local community. It was a real team effort on the night and thank you to everyone who came along.”

Rotary celebrates India’s first polio-free year

chantries — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:08:34 +0000

Rotary members from Guildford Chantries and across the world are celebrating a major milestone in the global effort to eradicate the crippling disease polio. India, until recently an epicentre of the wild poliovirus, has completed a full calendar year without recording a new case since January 13^th 2011.

The milestone is seen as a testament to the determination of Rotary members across the world to eradicate the infectious disease through the mass immunisation of children, a goal Rotary took on 27 years ago. See the BBC interview here.

Celebrate Burns night with a Ceilidh

chantries — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:58:59 +0000

Last chance to get your tickets for a Charity Burns Night Celebration, organised by Guildford Chantries Rotary Club in aid of Cherry Trees and other Rotary charities. Taking place on Saturday 21 January at the Park Barn Day Centre in Guildford, come along for some traditional fare, poetry and a lively Ceilidh with Caller, starting at 6.30pm.

For further information, click here.

Carols for Guildford Action

chantries — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:11:29 +0000

Come along to our free ‘Carols for all the family’ event in Guildford High Street on Friday 16 December.

The Guildford Vox Community Choir will be leading the singing from 6.30pm outside the Guildhall, with song sheets provided so everyone can join in!

The event is aimed at raising awareness of the work carried out in our community by Guildford Action, who are celebrating their 30th anniversary.

For further information on the carol singing, please contact Martin Grant on 01483 303830.

Fright Night 2011 – supporting the Appeal

chantries — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:38:21 +0000

Volunteers from Guildford Chantries Rotary Club joined in to support the Royal Surrey Appeal for the Royal Surrey County Hospital in their first ever Fright Night 2011.

Around 200 people signed up to either walk 2km or run 6km through the Chantries Woods in Guildford, in spooky fancy dress and after dark, to raise funds for the Hospital’s Appeal.

A team from Chantries Rotary Club helped out acting as marshalls along the nighttime forest route with torches, glow sticks, water and encouragement to help the participants on their way. The event was a great success for the Appeal and we are pleased to have been able to help.

Goodwood Revival volunteering

chantries — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:44:15 +0000

Members from Guildford Chantries and their Partners were volunteering recently at the famous Goodwood Revival meeting. A social start to the day, found us eating baked potatoes and drinking coffee in heavy drizzle! Conversation swung around the impending fly-past of 10 Spitfires and where the best vantage point might be.

A couple of hours later and with many photos taken, it was time to turn to the main purpose of our visit – raising money for the Richard Burns Foundation. We stood at the main exit encouraging the departing visitors to contribute to a very worthy cause! During our shift, we enjoyed glorious sunshine and a shower or two, but we came away with the feel good factor warming the inner person. Next year, why not join us? You too might get to meet Laurel and Hardy!!

Chantries Golf Meeting

chantries — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:41:29 +0000

An enthusiastic band of Chantries golfers gathered at Rokers golf course on a recent Thursday evening with pleasant weather after a morning of heavy rain, which threatened to scupper the event.

The varying skills of the competitors enabled a division into two teams under the captaincy of President David and Past President Martin for a competition appropriately dubbed ‘The Presidents Scramble’.

The absence of television cameras or on-course commentators prevents an authentic report of the finer points of this hard fought nine-hole battle. Tales of incredible skill and remarkable shots were many and varied in a round that resulting in a very close finish.

After several ‘count backs’, rewriting the rules and adjustments by an impartial adjudicator, the result gave Past President Martin’s team the win by one hole.

The evening was rounded off with a light meal and liquid refreshment in the Rokers clubhouse.