The Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside

Five members of the club volunteered to help with the clear up after the V-Festival event at Chelmsford.  Rotary was there to salvage as many of the tents that they possibly could for use in future disaster appeals.  Oranised by the Rotary Club of Havering East, all of the volunteers, made up of men and women of clubs all over Essex met in the designated car park for their instructions.  There were volunteers from about 15 different clubs.  All would work in teams of five to dismantle and pack up the tents and sleeping bags for collection.  As we walked into the field one could hardly believe the sight that was in front of us, it was just like a hurrican had sped through and reeked its destruction.  We soon got stuck in, having to empty the tents of a wide variety of rubbish and abandoned equipment.  Tents were soon dismantled and packed up, marked as to their size and piled up for the vans to collect.  Some of the tents were unsalvageable due to the state in which the occuants had left them.  Some had been used as toilets and other such unpleasant functions.  Nevertheless we carried on and several lorry loads of equipment were collected for the good causes.  All the Rotarians entered into the work with the usual sense of fun you expect from them, but the work was hard and often unpleasant.  Having worked all Monday afternoon and then a full day on Tuesday we felt as though we had done a worthwhile job.  One couldn’t help thinking of the absolute disregard of those who had attended the festival, there was unbelievable ammounts of food, drink, clothing, chairs, barbecues and sleeping bags just abandoned.  Some of these were expensive items.  It is a sad reflection on todays throw away society, but from the carnage Rotary was able to retrieve sufficient to assist those who may suffer when the next disaster hits the world.  Well done to all who took part.  From our club they were Brian Price, Clive Yallop, Pete Burfoot, Danny Lawrence and David Fenn.

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